Remote controls & transmitters for Garage Door Openers have been around for over 40 years now & as you can imagine from those very first models in the 1980's to today, technology has changed dramatically. To add more complexity to the mix, many brands have also developed their own individual unique technology over time to increase protection & security to your home. This means the method in which you programme your Remote will depend on the brand & model of Garage Door Opener motor you have & the era it originates from.
The Beginning - Fixed Code / DIP Switches (earliest technology 1980's to mid 1990's)
The earliest Garage Door Remote's operated on anywhere between 27MHz to 339MHz & had a set of either 8, 10 or 12 tiny DIP Switches inside the back arranged in an up/down or up/middle/down pattern that matched the same sequence of DIP Switches found inside your Garage Door Opener Motor. This technology was known as 'fixed' code due to the code shared between your remote control & your Garage door opener's receiver always being the same. The key to programming these is to ensure any new remotes have their DIP Switch pattern set to match the same pattern inside your existing remote/s & your garage door opener. Its such a simple effective method that some industrial & commercial brands of Garage, Gate, parking complexes & buildings still use this dipswitch matching technology in their remote controls today. It means tenants & employees don't have to access the motor/control board which is often locked inside an enclosure or situated up high in the roof to programme any new remotes.
The Middle - Rolling Code Technology (late 1990's to now)
The next phase in garage remote control technology was called 'Rolling Code' or 'Code Hopping' as the code generated by & shared between the remote & your garage opener's receiver changes each time you press the button to open your garage door hence the 'Rolling' name. Programming these remotes is done by accessing the Garage door opener's control panel where there will be a dedicated programming button you press to enter programming mode & then you will press the button on your new remote once (sometimes twice depending on the brand + model) that you want to open & close your garage door which saves it into your opener's memory. The programming button is sometimes labelled 'LRN', 'Learn', 'Code Set', 'Set', 'PGM' or 'PGRM' depending on the brand & model of garage door opener you have. With so many different brands & models developed over the years there are variances in where the programme button is situated, the sequence, method & timeframe in which you have to enter & exit the programming mode on your garage door opener's control panel & the number of times you need to press the button on your remote to programme it. So it is best to consult your specific opener's manual or the instructions that come with your new garage door remote control to ensure you follow the correct method.
Recently - Code Copying Technology (Remote to Remote)
As an alternative to the older fixed code & the current rolling code remote programming methods, code copying remotes were developed. Also known as Universal Remotes, Auto Scanning & Face to Face remotes, these remotes require an existing working remote that is already programmed in to your Garage Door Opener's memory to copy the code from. The method differs slightly amongst different brands in the market but in general involves placing the original remote & the new code copying remote nose to nose / face to face (where the signal emits from each remote), pressing a button on the code copying remote to enter it into copying mode & then holding that button down & also a button that opens & closes your garage door on your original remote down in order for it to emit a signal for the code copying remote to collect & save. Once done the new code copying remote will now operate your garage door opener if your original remote was an old fixed code type. If your old remote was a rolling code style you may need to follow a short additional procedure to save it directly to your garage door opener's receiver also.
The main selling point of the code copying remotes are their ability to combine a few different remotes onto one remote, so for example your Garage Door Remote & your Gate Remote have the potential to be reduced & combined onto 1 Remote Control with a code copying remote. However it is important to note that not all remotes created are capable of being copied - there are limitations. There is no single code copying remote that exists that has the the latest up to date & retro fit capacity to copy every single remote control brand & model ever created around the world from the beginning of time to the very latest models today & also Patents mean legally some remotes cannot be copied also. Remote Warehouse stocks 2 brands of code copying remotes, Remote King Australia's Smooth Operator Remote & Italfile's IRIS & PRIME Remotes from Italy. The Smooth Operator is a great option for many common Australasian brands, while the Italfile IRIS & PRIME are excellent for many European garage & gate brands.
*We would recommend Contacting Us for further advice if you're considering purchasing a Code Copying Remote & we can advise if one of the below options will be suitable.
Click on the below photos to find out more:
Remote Warehouse is New Zealand's expert in Garage Door Remote Controls!
Remote Warehouse can supply replacement Genuine or Compatible Garage Door Remote controls for almost every brand & model in the New Zealand market. All our remotes come with full easy to follow programming instructions included & free follow up tech help if you have any trouble programming your new remote purchased from us & shipping is free New Zealand wide. Contact us for help in selecting the correct remote for your Garage door opener brand & model or Shop Here for our full range of all brands & models of Garage Door Remotes.