Is your Homelink range short?

[CandianPorsche83]

I thought that was the issue too...but sometimes all the pressing I could do would not open the door...until I repositioned the car then it worked first time. I'll try the antenna idea next.

Same here. Effectively when it wouldn’t work I would just keep pressing whilst repositioning the car for backing in as if the door was opened. Save for one time (where I had to get out of the car and use the keypad) it does eventually work. It’s annoying though especially if there’s a car behind or in front of me waiting. As noted in an earlier post my garage opener doesn’t have a wire sticking out of it so I can’t really try extending it as suggested

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[shawn]

Seems like i have to get right up on the garage door for Homelink to work. The regular garage remote works from much farther away. Anyone else notice this or just me?

I found that I get the same range as other cars, but I have to hold the button and transmit longer so instead of just pressing the button I have to press and hold for about 2 seconds. Try that at 120ft or 36 meters and it works every time fo me. I think the transmitter is weaker which is why it is a press and hold instead of just a quick press.

 

[CandianPorsche83]

I found that I get the same range as other cars, but I have to hold the button and transmit longer so instead of just pressing the button I have to press and hold for about 2 seconds. Try that at 120ft or 36 meters and it works every time fo me. I think the transmitter is weaker which is why it is a press and hold instead of just a quick press.

I don’t think I’ve ever held the button down. Will have to give it a try. Not in my car at the moment but doesn’t pressing and holding it down bring up the homelink set up? Maybe I’m wrong. Will definitely try it though. Thanks!

 

[shawn]

I don’t think I’ve ever held the button down. Will have to give it a try. Not in my car at the moment but doesn’t pressing and holding it down bring up the homelink set up? Maybe I’m wrong. Will definitely try it though. Thanks!

Set up has several steps and also requires the use of you remote and the car in park. Anyway no conflict just hold the mirror button as you approach for as long as you like and notice that the house icon flashes while you continue to hold the button indicating that you are transmitting the signal. My garage receiver picks it up at about 125 feet away.

 

[SteveY]

Only used homelink a bit before I installed a Meross device - (Amazon description)
"Smart Garage Door Opener Remote, Compatible with Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, SmartThings, Multiple Notification Modes, No Hub Needed" It is an interface between the garage door opener circuit and your smart devices.

Works great and shows up on the CarPlay Home Screen as a status widget ('Garage Door Closed') as well as my iPhone. I can open the garage from anywhere - I usually open it when I am about a minute out; have it set up so a series of overhead lights and a workbench light turn on / off with the door opening /closing. Runs about $50 on Amazon.

 

[alvaro]

Mine seems pretty average (at least sidewalk distance on all of our cars), it I use CarPlay to open my doors when, about 10 houses away anyway.

 

[Trevasann]

I extended the antenna on my garage door opener by about 9” and now I have great range.

How, I have no idea how to do that. Ty

 

[dbsb3233]

How, I have no idea how to do that. Ty

https://www.macanevowners.com/forum/threads/is-your-homelink-range-short.21619/page-2#post-324682

 

[CandianPorsche83]

Set up has several steps and also requires the use of you remote and the car in park. Anyway no conflict just hold the mirror button as you approach for as long as you like and notice that the house icon flashes while you continue to hold the button indicating that you are transmitting the signal. My garage receiver picks it up at about 125 feet away.

Just FYI that I've been holding down the button as suggested and its worked 100% of the time so far.

 

[CandianPorsche83]

Just FYI that I've been holding down the button as suggested and its worked 100% of the time so far.

An update on this after more time. Homelink still continues to be flaky for me regardless if i am holding down the button or not. As such I ended up installing a Tailwind iQ3 smart garage controller and connecting it via Apple Homekit. Its been about a week but its been amazing so far.

1) It allows me to check if I had forgotten to close my garage or not and close it remotely if not.

2) As homelink is available in Carplay, a button would pop up on screen as i approach my garage allowing me to press that button instead of the homelink button which has worked 100% of the time.

3) There is also an added option of having the garage simply auto open for me as I approach my garage upon a certain distance away. Note that this requires a puck (looks like an Airtag) that is left in the car to function. I believe that the system relies on both your phone/app and the puck to be present for it to work for those worried about a stolen car having access to the garage (wouldn't it be nice for the thief to return the car to you though ?)

I think other members here have mentioned other solutions (e.g. Meross etc) but for those having issues with the flakiness of Homelink, installing a smart garage controller is a no brainer from my perspective.

 

[shawn]

An update on this after more time. Homelink still continues to be flaky for me regardless if i am holding down the button or not. As such I ended up installing a Tailwind iQ3 smart garage controller and connecting it via Apple Homekit. Its been about a week but its been amazing so far.

1) It allows me to check if had forgotten to close my garage or not and close it remotely if not.

2) As homelink is available in Carplay, a button would pop up on screen as i approach my garage allowing me to press that button instead of the homelink button which has worked 100% of the time.

3) There is also an added option of having the garage simply auto open for me as I approach my garage upon a certain distance away. Note that this requires a puck (looks like an Airtag) that is left in the car to function. I believe that the system relies on both your phone/app and the puck to be present for it to work for those worried about a stolen car having access to the garage (wouldn't it be nice for the thief to return the car to you though ?)

I think other members here have mentioned other solutions (e.g. Meross etc) but for those having issues with the flakiness of Homelink, installing a smart garage controller is a no brainer from my perspective.

Good to know. If my homelink becomes flaky, then I can try that.

 

[craz8]

My last post here was lost to the mists of time, and database failures.

I just replaced my old Genie opener with a new Liftmaster 98022 jackscrew type opener. Now I have no problems with range on the Homelink button in the car, and it works with the car at many angles to the door, where previously I needed to be head on to the garage.

How this happens, I don't know, as the door opener antenna is about 5" long, and on the other side of the backup battery from the car, so there should be terrible reception!

(I did buy some wire to extend this antenna to the outside if needed, but it is not necessary for me)

I have also purchased a Rage Against The Garage Door Opener device to allow Apple HomeKit operation of the door, and this works really well, including popping up a widget to open the door when getting close to home in Car Play. HomeAssistant firmware available for those that use that smart home ecosystem.

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