Not all universal remote controls are compatible with all openers, so you should check yours before you buy them. Once you've purchased one, study the instructions on the package. If you're programming multiple devices, save time by making sure you have them before you start. Universal garage door remote controls are available that you can program for use with most newer brands of garage door openers.
You still need to know the manufacturer to make sure the remote control works for your garage door and to program the remote control. You can program universal garage door openers to open one or two garage doors. With the addition of a light control switch, a universal remote also turns on the garage light or house lights. If you have a newer garage door opener but aren't sure of the exact model, a universal remote control will probably suffice.
Because garage doors can weigh more than 400 pounds, the law requires that safety measures be included to prevent accidents. You must first configure the DIP switches on the remote control to indicate the brand of the garage door opener and then the radio frequency. With the manufacturer's information, you can purchase an exact replacement for the garage door remote control by matching the make and model number and purchase it directly from a manufacturer's representative, your local hardware store, or online. We have many customers who own a Genie garage door opener, since the vast majority are compatible with GarageMate.
If the garage door opener is one of the models mentioned at the top of this page, here are two things you can do to fix the problem. There are many options available, and how to set up universal remote controls for garage doors will be described in detail in the instruction sheet that comes with the one you buy. Look for manufacturer and model information on the engine unit located on the roof of the garage or on the external receiver near the cable antenna. Hold down, hold and release the buttons following the pattern specified in the instructions and the remote control will automatically determine the correct radio frequencies for the garage door opener.
A universal garage door remote control is a device that can be programmed to work with a variety of garage door openers. Clopay Craftsman Do-It HWI Swing Doors Door Link Manufacturing Forsee Frantz Garage Access Guardian General Doors Genie Go Merlin Hormann Legacy LiftMaster Linear Lynx MacLift Marantec Martin Master Mechanic Merlin Mid-America Raynor SAFE-WAY Overhead Door Garage Doors Sears Sommer Stanley True Value Wayne-Dalton Windsor Republic doors. This is because GarageMate works by simulating a button switch similar to the one that is mounted on the wall that opens and closes the door. The other day I talked to my neighbor about this and he told me that he had bought a universal garage remote control, but that he couldn't program it despite using the manual.
If that causes your garage door to open and close, the garage door opener supports a standard wall switch and is therefore compatible with GarageMate. Before using the universal remote control, I had to get off the back of the motorcycle each time to open the garage door.
