Does your garage door randomly open or close? If so, there is always a chance that one of your neighbors’ remotes works with your opener. They may end up opening or closing your door along with theirs. This issue used to be far more common, but it can still happen if you have an older garage door opener.
Understanding Garage Door Opener Signatures or Codes
All garage door openers and their connected remotes have a specific signature. This signature is just a code that allows the opener to know that the remote is connected to it. In theory, no one else can open the garage door with a different remote. Older garage door openers and even some newer models use a fixed code. When the opener is installed or reset, the code always stays the same. The only way then to open the door from the outside is when the opener receives the correct code from a remote or you use the keypad.
If your neighbor’s remote can open your garage door, both of your openers just happen to have the same code. This means your remote should also be able to open their garage. This happens more often than you think, especially with older openers that don’t allow you to reset and change the code. The issue here is that there was a time when many manufacturers only used a certain number of codes and ended up producing numerous units that had the same signature. This is something that burglars would sometimes exploit by driving around neighborhoods with multiple different remotes to see if any of them would open any of the garage doors in the area.
To solve this problem, most manufacturers switched to producing garage door openers that use a rolling code. Instead of having a fixed signature where the code always stays the same, the opener uses a random number generating algorithm that produces a new code every single time any of the remotes is used. That means that the opener can read multiple signatures and know which ones are legitimate since each of your remotes is always set to a different code that changes each time it’s used.
How to Reset Your Garage Door Opener Code
If you have a garage door opener that uses a fixed code, you can usually reset the opener and change the code. Your neighbor’s remote can no longer open your door. The exact process can differ from model to model, so you may need to consult your owner’s manual or look it up online to determine what you need to do. If you can’t figure out what to do, you can also have a garage door technician perform the reset for you.
In most cases, the opener will have a button somewhere on it labeled “learn,” “reset” or “smart” that is used to reset the signature and switch to a new code. To reset the code, you need to press this button for however long it takes for the LED light to turn off. Once the light turns off, you should test to make sure the code is reset by trying to use one of your openers.
After resetting the code, you’ll need to reprogram each of your remotes so that it learns the new code and reconnects to the opener. This typically just involves pressing the same button on the opener once and then pressing the open button on the remote several times. You’ll then need to repeat the process for each opener. In some cases, you may also need to reprogram the code on the keypad when you reset the opener.
Older openers and remotes typically need the code programmed manually. This style of opener and remote has between eight and 12 “dip switches” that can be switched to two different positions. To program a remote, all you need to do is take the cover off the back and change the switches to the same position as the switches under the cover of the opener. You can also reset the code simply by changing some of the switches in the opener to a different position. The problem here is that you only have a limited number of possibilities. This is how thieves can easily gain access by trying to open your door with various remotes. There are also code reader devices that allow a thief to learn the code when you use your remote so that they can then program a different remote to the same code and open your door. This issue is why we’d always recommend upgrading to a new opener if you have one of these older-style units.
How a Rolling Code Opener Improves Home Security
The introduction of rolling code openers greatly improved security since it’s much harder for anyone to crack the code. The chance of another opener happening to have the same signature as yours is almost nonexistent since most openers consistently switch between over 100 billion possible number combinations. Even if your neighbor’s opener happened to land on the same code as yours, you’d still have nothing to worry about. Your code would change the next time you used the opener. You can also press a button on the opener so that it manually rolls over to a new code.
Why a Smart Garage Door Opener Is the Most Secure Option
Rolling code openers are much more secure than fixed code openers, but they can still be broken into. All it takes is for a thief to have a special code-jamming device, often referred to as a roll jam. All they must do is press the button on the device when you use your remote, and it will jam the opener so that it doesn’t roll over to a new code. At the same time, the device will register the current code so that they can then again program a different remote to the right code and open your garage as soon as you leave or at night when you’re asleep.
The best option for ensuring your garage door is secure and lessening the risk of someone breaking in is to install a smart opener. Instead of using remotes and rolling codes, a smart garage door opener allows you to connect your phone so that it serves as the opener. That means the only way someone could open the door is if they have your phone in their possession and can unlock it. Should you ever not have your phone on you, you can always still use the keypad to open and close the door.
A smart opener can also send you an alert if the door is open for longer than a set time and allow you to check if the door is open or closed. Should anyone forget to close the door, you can just close it remotely using the app as well.
Many units also have a camera on the keypad that enables you to see the surrounding area. One useful thing about the camera is that you can use it to talk to any delivery person that comes by. You can open the door remotely so that they can put any packages safely inside your garage where they can’t get stolen.
If you’re looking to upgrade to a new garage door opener or need any maintenance, repair or installation services, Door Pro America is the company to turn to. We’ve been in business since 1971 and provide expert garage door services in Virginia, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Maryland, New York, New Jersey and Illinois. We can install a new opener, fix a malfunctioning door and provide routine maintenance. For more information on how we can help make your garage door more secure, contact us today.
