How to Improve a Garage Door Opener's Signal Range (5 Tips)

Tip 1: Adjust the Antenna of the Opener

Most of today's openers have a thin antenna wire dangling from the unit. This antenna receives signals from your remote. If it is not hanging straight down, but is instead pointing to one side or another, it will negatively affect its ability to receive a clean signal from your remote. The solution here is simple and straightforward: adjust the antenna until it is pointing straight down.

Do NOT wrap the antenna permanently around something else. Make sure it is hanging free and independent. Also, if you discover the antenna wire is frayed or otherwise damaged, contact the opener's manufacturer. If the opener is still under warranty, they may provide you with a replacement wire free of charge.

Tip 2: Replace the Batteries in Your Remote

The state of the batteries in an overhead door remote often goes overlooked. But like any other batteries, they eventually wear down and wear out. If your signal strength used to be fine but is now struggling to open the door until you are right on it, you probably don't need to call A Better Garage Door for garage door repair. Instead, replace the batteries in the remote and see if that does the trick.

Keep in mind that even if you do not use your overhead door a lot, the batteries can and will lose potency over time. But before you install the new batteries, check the battery contacts to ensure they are free of dirt and corrosion, as that can also affect signal quality. And lastly, if the remote is an older model, consider upgrading to a new one from the same manufacturer. They are often more powerful and have a larger range.

Tip 3: Eliminate Sources of Radio Interference

Most modern overhead door openers operate on frequencies such as 315 or 390 MHz. Unfortunately, these are not dedicated frequencies, and other devices in your home or neighborhood can interfere with them. This, in turn, can reduce the effective range of the opener. While there is little you can do about other devices in the area, there may be devices in your home that are getting in the way of your signal.

Wi-Fi routers, wireless security systems, LED lighting and more may be at least partially responsible for your diminished overhead door opener signal strength. In some cases, moving a device can solve the problem. In addition, some LED lights are known to create electronic noise that can interfere with the opener signal quality. In that case, you may want to replace them with different LED lights. Lastly, if you recently installed a device in the garage unrelated to the overhead door, it may be the source of the interference.

Tip 4: Eliminate Sources of Physical Interference

If there are any large, metal storage boxes in the garage that are close to the path of the signal as it moves from the remote to the opener, that may be enough to interfere. Maybe you have overhead storage above the garge door itself where you've stored an old Radio Flyer wagon on it's side. Test the remote from different angles and from inside the garage itself to help rule out physical interference.

Tip 5: Consider Using Use a Signal Repeater or Antenna Extender

If all else fails, consider investing in a signal repeater or antenna extender. Signal repeaters work like Wi-Fi extenders in that they capture the signal from the remote, boost it and relay it to the opener. Repeaters are often employed on large properties, or on properties where the garage has thick, concrete walls that could be interfering with the remote signal.

Antenna extender's on the other hand are physical extensions of your opener's built in little antenna wire. Liftmaster sells this kit: https://www.liftmaster.com/antenna-extender-kit/p/041A3504 and A Better Garage Door can match pricing and install this item as a Certified Liftmaster Dealer.