Have you ever driven down the road and wondered if you closed the garage door when you left? Unfortunately, it happens to me a lot, and then I’m in the situation where I can worry about it until I get home or drive back to check. Sometimes I’m 150 miles away when I think about it and then driving back is not an option, which means I worry about it all weekend. The MyQ Smartphone Garage Door Controlled aims to solve my problem, by letting me check the status of the door and then opening or closing it as appropriate.I do have another device that tells me if the garage door is closed, but there is no way for me to close it remotely. Now I’ll be able to overcome my forgetfulness anywhere I have Internet access and my smartphone.
Features:
- Installation in about 30 minutes
- Works with iOS and Android devices
- Works with most garage door openers manufactured since 1993
- Control your garage door with your smartphone
The device consists of two main pieces: the hub on the left and the remote sensor on the right. There is a power supply for the hub in the kit and various screws and brackets to mount the items in your garage.
The first step in the installation is to configure the hub with your WiFi at home. You must have a good signal in your garage for the MyQ to work well. I checked mine out using my smartphone and because the garage is directly below the room with my router, I had a very strong signal. There are two suggested ways to configure the hub. One is using the app, which you download, or you can use the WPS function of your router if it’s supported. I went the WPS route and after powering up the MyQ hub and then pushing the WPS buttons on both the router and hub, it was configured in a flash.
Now it was time to go down to the garage to actually mount the hardware. This was very simple. If you can use a screwdriver, you should have no problem. All the brackets and screws are provided.
The hub (the black box on the right) slides into a bracket that is attached to the ceiling. The bracket is attached sing two screws and sheet rock anchors. Then plug in the provided power supply and connect it to the hub.
Here’s a closer look at the hub. In the center is an LED which flashes when the command is given to close the door. It also sounds a beep while closing. The only cable required is for power.
And here’s a look from a different angle. By the way, before you purchase the MyQ, go to their website and check that your opener is on their supported list.
Next you’ll need to attach the remote sensor to your garage door. The included instructions make it very clear as to the orientation of the sensor and where it should be mounted.
One thing that was not pointed out in any of the documentation is what type of battery the sensor requires and how long it will last. FYI, it is a CR2450.
Once the hardware is installed, it is simply a matter of downloading the free smartphone app and following the instructions for setting up a new device.
Firstly, ensure you have a WiFi signal at the hub. This is shown by the indicator light on the hub. A solid green light means you’re good to go. Next, you fire up the app and go step by step.
At some point, you have to sync the remote with the hub by pressing the test button on the remote sensor. Then it’s time to program your door opener. Now would be a good time to dig out the opener manual if you don’t know where the program button is or how it works. I didn’t have a manual, so I looked around the opener and finally discovered a learn button under the lamp cover. I pushed the button and continued with the app and in a matter of seconds the garage door began to close. This couldn’t have been easier.
When using the app, you are presented the home screen which depicts the position of your garage door. By tapping on the icon of the door, it will either open or close the actual door and the graphic will change to show the current state.
And now it’s opened.
It is also possible to set alerts via the app, to inform you of transitions of the garage door.
During my time of using the MyQ, I didn’t experience any issues with the door not responding to commands from the app. However, on one occasion, the app hung on my Android smartphone, and I had to force stop and restart it. From that point it worked with no further problems.
The MyQ is an addition to your normal way of opening and closing the garage door. You can still use your remotes and hardwired buttons and the MyQ will send alerts and indicate the position of the door in the app. With the addition of another remote sensor, the MyQ can control up to 2 doors.
The MyQ has made my life a little easier in that I don’t worry anymore about whether I remembered to close the garage when leaving the house because it allows me to close it when I forget. And because we use the garage as the main entry to our house, I can give the password for the app to my relatives for access when I’m not home. It also lets me know when they come in.
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Chamberlain. For more information, visit http://ift.tt/1hlbTI5 or Amazon to order.
Product Information
| Price: |
$129.99 MSRP |
| Manufacturer: |
Chamberlain |
| Retailer: |
Amazon.com |
| Requirements: |
- Broadband Internet
- Home WiFi
- Compatible garage door
|
| Pros: |
- Easy Setup and installation
- Boon to forgetful people
|
| Cons: |
|
Filed in categories: Car Gear, Reviews
Tagged: Car accessories
Chamberlain MyQ Smartphone Garage Door Controller review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 6, 2015 at 10:00 am.
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Chamberlain MyQ Smartphone Garage Door Controller review
