Homelink 3 feet max distance

aminga · July 29, 2015

I think it's the receiver in the opener. I've got 3 openers, all of them are genie, 2 are < 1 year old and one is about 5 years old. Homelink will open the two newer ones from about 300 ft, the older one from 150 ft which outperforms the genie transmitter in the other vehicles. FWIW the range may be better than that but the house is sheilded from the road by heavy trees and in the summer the vegitation cuts the range considerably.

crankman · July 30, 2015

Try extending the antenna on the RECEIVER. Attach a piece of wire that you can stretch out and staple to the wall or ceiling in side the garage. See if it makes a difference.

That is a excellent idea and being an electrician tried that right away buts rats it didnt help. Thanks for the tip ember1205.

jerryw1000 · July 30, 2015

I think it's the receiver in the opener.

I just cannot believe it is the receiver in the opener since the HomeLink units in my '11 Jeep Grand Cherokee and my '14 Jeep Grand Cherokee AND the 2 original 10 year old or so remotes open the door from between 50 and 100 feet away pointed backwards, forwards, or sideways but the '15 Chevy 3500 HD has to be within 6 feet or so of the door and pointed nose in. The first unit I had to be within 3 feet of the door and after 2 replacements I am up to 6 to 8 feet.

I do not know what they have done different to the HomeLink units but they have changed something. The HomeLinks in both of my Jeeps only took ONE step to program. Basically punch the learn button on the garage opener and then, within 30 seconds, push and hold the HomeLink button in the car for a few seconds until the LED blinked. They work fine. This HomeLink unit in the new truck requires that extra step of holding an original remote up to the HomeLink for the first step, I assume to learn the frequency, and THEN push the learn button on the opener and within 30 seconds push the HomeLink button for 2 seconds...1, 2, or 3 times until the door responds. At any rate.....the Jeep units work fine and this one kind of sucks.

jerryw1000 · August 21, 2015

To bring this to a close.....GM and I called a truce today. I give up and am keeping what I have. GM had me submit a picture of the data plate on my home opener to them. The dealer called and said they had shipped him a Homelink unit "just for my opener". Upon further query it turns out that if I put that unit in I would lose forever any chance of it working with newer openers that use different frequencies and security code systems. Since I already have to access a door with the newer system at another location, I decided to not to go that route. With my home opener being 10 years old and subject to blow up at any time, I was just cutting my nose off to spite my face. They would not allow me to keep the current unit in case I had to replace my opener with the new technology.

I did put a 14" extension hanging straight down from the end of my antenna. That gave me about a 25 foot semi-dependable range. I first tried an 8 foot extension hanging straight down to the floor and that worked about 75 feet....but it would NOT work if I hung the extension horizontally across the rails or ceiling. It only worked if hung vertically. Horizontally it was as bad as no extension at all.

So, sorry I took up so much forum space with my whining. But I will give Franklin Chevrolet in Statesboro, GA and General Motors credit and I thank them for not leaving me hanging and doing everything possible to try to resolve my problem. Just one of those situations where it isn't possible to have a perfect outcome.

crankman · September 9, 2015

To bring this to a close.....GM and I called a truce today. I give up and am keeping what I have. GM had me submit a picture of the data plate on my home opener to them. The dealer called and said they had shipped him a Homelink unit "just for my opener". Upon further query it turns out that if I put that unit in I would lose forever any chance of it working with newer openers that use different frequencies and security code systems. Since I already have to access a door with the newer system at another location, I decided to not to go that route. With my home opener being 10 years old and subject to blow up at any time, I was just cutting my nose off to spite my face. They would not allow me to keep the current unit in case I had to replace my opener with the new technology.

I did put a 14" extension hanging straight down from the end of my antenna. That gave me about a 25 foot semi-dependable range. I first tried an 8 foot extension hanging straight down to the floor and that worked about 75 feet....but it would NOT work if I hung the extension horizontally across the rails or ceiling. It only worked if hung vertically. Horizontally it was as bad as no extension at all.

So, sorry I took up so much forum space with my whining. But I will give Franklin Chevrolet in Statesboro, GA and General Motors credit and I thank them for not leaving me hanging and doing everything possible to try to resolve my problem. Just one of those situations where it isn't possible to have a perfect outcome.

Jerry don't think your whining I ve been following this post for a while I extended my opener antenna horizontally also didn't help but will try hanging it down as you did. Thank for the tip. Its weird one of my doors works fine other wont respond to at all and there both same model installed same day. And both work perfect on our 2011 chevy truck homelink.

roadkill1 · October 5, 2015

Same issue exactly. ..

BigBadSierra · October 5, 2015

Yes I had a 2013 Traverse and never had any issues.

I had to extend the antenna on the garage door opener so it would work with the truck.

Works well now I can open the door half way down the street.

I could be many things right down to the shape of the truck though causing it issues.

jsm · January 4, 2016

I have this 'problem' too. Have to be 3 feet from door with old opener (1994) at home, but works fine with newer units (2010) at my cottage. Anyone know where the transmitter is mounted ? Maybe I can relocate it myself. Had 2014 Grand Cherokee with homelink, and it worked fine. How long vertically did someone extend antenna wire to see results ? 8 inches didn't seem to help much, 10 feet horizontally did nothing.

jerryw1000 · January 5, 2016

How long vertically did someone extend antenna wire to see results ? 8 inches didn't seem to help much, 10 feet horizontally did nothing.

I cut about a 15" piece of solid copper wire and stripped just enough insulation to twist splice it on to the antenna with a wire nut. Total extension is about 14 3/4". Gives me about 25' to 30' dependably and up to 50' if I am pointed toward the garage door.