I figured out something very cool today. We’ve had a problem where it’s hard to open the garage door from within the vehicle when arriving home at night. We’d figured out it was related to the house lighting which are now all CFLs and LEDs. Everything was fine during the day, but most nights I’d have to back the bumper to the door, or wave the transmitter outside the vehicle. We tolerated this for years, until bringing a new-to-us vehicle home which simply couldn’t do it.
I saw where people were getting remote transceiver modules like this, https://a.co/d/6WxGOY0, and mounting it above the door, on the inside of the exterior wall, where it was closer to the outside and above the metal door. This gets the antenna within better range of the vehicle. I ordered one, and then quickly cancelled the order.
I thought maybe I could make the little antenna wire coming out of the garage door motor longer. Seems like that would help. Double it, and then double that if needed. But also considered that while the door opener signal could be better received, the antenna would also pick up more interference from the offending lights, potentially offering no help, and thus didn’t try that.
But here’s what I did, and at least testing today, it definitely helped. I found about 10 feet of coax wire. Cable TV wire would be perfect but just used a long, cheap audio patch cord. I stripped about 8” of insulation on one end and 2” on the other. The 2” end goes to the garage door motor where the shield of the cable was snugged beneath a screw, and the inner wire was soldered to the antenna wire. I cut off as much of that antenna wire as I was comfortable, removing about 7” of it.
I tacked the coax to the ceiling and went to the wall above the door. Then I sent it horizontally along that wall. I sent it straight, and simply pulled the shielding back against the wire, so about 7” of the center conductor (still in its protective insulator) just went straight out. Zip ties got it to the wall, and gaffer’s tape has it temporarily in place.
It has made a difference. Just using one of our cars as a test mule, it catches the door on approach now before getting right up against it. However, it also can’t open it at all if it’s backed up right to the door, with the cars roof blocking line of sight. I’ll try it through the week and see how it does.
Note, lengths matter with antennae, and what I did was crude. Doing the math would help, but trimming close to the opener motor, and trying to maintain the original length at the far end of the coax at least paid respect to the existence of math.
Might save us $60!
-m
I saw where people were getting remote transceiver modules like this, https://a.co/d/6WxGOY0, and mounting it above the door, on the inside of the exterior wall, where it was closer to the outside and above the metal door. This gets the antenna within better range of the vehicle. I ordered one, and then quickly cancelled the order.
I thought maybe I could make the little antenna wire coming out of the garage door motor longer. Seems like that would help. Double it, and then double that if needed. But also considered that while the door opener signal could be better received, the antenna would also pick up more interference from the offending lights, potentially offering no help, and thus didn’t try that.
But here’s what I did, and at least testing today, it definitely helped. I found about 10 feet of coax wire. Cable TV wire would be perfect but just used a long, cheap audio patch cord. I stripped about 8” of insulation on one end and 2” on the other. The 2” end goes to the garage door motor where the shield of the cable was snugged beneath a screw, and the inner wire was soldered to the antenna wire. I cut off as much of that antenna wire as I was comfortable, removing about 7” of it.
I tacked the coax to the ceiling and went to the wall above the door. Then I sent it horizontally along that wall. I sent it straight, and simply pulled the shielding back against the wire, so about 7” of the center conductor (still in its protective insulator) just went straight out. Zip ties got it to the wall, and gaffer’s tape has it temporarily in place.
It has made a difference. Just using one of our cars as a test mule, it catches the door on approach now before getting right up against it. However, it also can’t open it at all if it’s backed up right to the door, with the cars roof blocking line of sight. I’ll try it through the week and see how it does.
Note, lengths matter with antennae, and what I did was crude. Doing the math would help, but trimming close to the opener motor, and trying to maintain the original length at the far end of the coax at least paid respect to the existence of math.
Might save us $60!
-m
