[RE-wrenches] garage door opener interference with enphase

[Exeltech]

Hello Chad,

Moving the antenna worked in your example below by separating it away from the interference source, and that is clearly the preferred option (as is oft suggested by FCC Part 15 statements).  However, it does leave a possible issue:  If there's that much interference emanating from the system, it may also be affecting openers or other devices at nearby homes.

I wasn't aware antenna "extension kits" existed for garage door openers.  This would be a MUCH simpler solution to the one I mentioned as long as the above "possible issue" doesn't exist.

To that, I would have one other concern: Does the extension kit increases the sensitivity of the garage door opener (and thus its range)?  If not, no worries.  If so, it might increase the possibility of unwanted activation by other remote controls.

This sounds far-fetched .. but it happened in our neighborhood several years ago, where a garage door opener appeared to be operating on its own, at least until some ham radio friends of the affected homeowner (working with some kind of special receiver) discovered another garage door opener for a home two streets away was the same brand of opener, and it somehow ended up operating with the same set of "open" codes.  When the extension antenna was installed, it increased the range of the receiver, and opened up that can of worms.  Thankfully, once the cause was discovered .. the fix was easy.  A "reset" and re-program of  was all that was needed.


Dan

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On Sat, 1/18/14, Chad Waits <chadwaits at netzerosolar.net> wrote:

Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] garage door opener interference with enphase
To: "RE-wrenches" <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Date: Saturday, January 18, 2014, 6:28 PM
 
We found the only solution to work is an antenna extension kit for the garage door receiver. Install the antenna outside of the garage (preferably low on the wall) and it will solve your problem.

We've had complaints from almost every installation with modules directly over garage door openers. Some people live with it (for most it's a non issue as the problem is worse in the middle of the day when the array is crankin' and they are not at home) other folks want it solved ASAP.

Best,

Chad Waits
President - Net Zero Solar