Garage Door Opener

[dougwilson2000]

Since there are apps to make Droid a remote control, I was wondering if there is an app that would allow you to use Droid as a garage door opener? It would just have to send out a signal.

 

[droidpcguru]

Correct me if I am wrong, but as far as I know the Droid does not have IR hardware, so no.

 

[dougwilson2000]

Correct me if I am wrong, but as far as I know the Droid does not have IR hardware, so no.

I know it dose not have IR. A garage door opener does not operate off IR. It operates off fraquency. IR has to directly beam a location where as frequency waves go through walls.
I believe Droid uses bluetooth to control computers and such but was wondering if there was a frequency output.

 

[Chuck1906]

I am sure the technology is there. You can start your car with an iphone via remote start using one of their apps but you need hardware installed in your car of course. Not sure if or when those kinds of apps will come to the Droid family!!! You can also use that phone to control your DVD player and TV's too! Again I am not sure if or when that will come to the Droid.

 

[droidpcguru]

Depends on what frequency.. Bluetooth is 2.4GHz..plus there is an FM transmitter/reciever in the droid. If your garage door opener's remote uses either of these bands..it is theoretically possible. I myself have not heard of garage door openers on the 2.4GHz band. FM..a few. I can guarantee it does not use the CDMA bands.

FM apps on the Droid are in their infancy, and not manufacturer supported. They also require rooting..

So in short it MAY be possible, but again it depends on if your remote uses either of the above frequency bands PLUS finding a Dev. to write the app for you.

 

[dougwilson2000]

Since sound itself is frequency, I know Droid can put out frequency. I was thinking an app that can record and then send out a specitic frequency. I have a car that I basically record the garage door opener freq and then send out. Hopefully a dev will read this and get motivated. Definately could be a money maker. Would work on many other applications as well including gates.
I do understand that it is a frequency CODE hence the need to record.

 

[droidpcguru]

There is a HUGE difference between sound frequencies and radio frequencies.

Sound is simply kinetic vibration within the air..similar to waves on the surface of water.

Radio on the other hand is a band within the energy spectrum, along with visible light,infrared, etc. and has nothing to do with the vibration of air.

Frequency is simply the measure of the size of the waves, be them sound or energy.

Your car has the ability to recieve radio transmissions along your garage door openers band, learn them and re-transmit them. Most likely this is on the 300-400MHz band- a band that the Droid is not capable of transmitting or receiving.

 

[dougwilson2000]

Your car has the ability to recieve radio transmissions along your garage door openers band, learn them and re-transmit them. Most likely this is on the 300-400MHz band- a band that the Droid is not capable of transmitting or receiving.

That is more the kind of answer I was looking for, if it was capable with its hardware. If it was, I was thinking house lamps would also be possible but the Droid would have to be able to handle the freqs in the code.

 

[icstars989]

Most garage door openers operate in the 290-390MHz frequency. Almost all newer ones are hovering around 315MHz Frequency also requiring rolling code.

 

[messenger13]

You guys have a Google phone, but apparently, don't know how to use Google!


Cool Android Hack of the Day: Garage Door Opener

You're welcome.

 

[gentlefury]

You guys have a Google phone, but apparently, don't know how to use Google!


Cool Android Hack of the Day: Garage Door Opener

You're welcome.

I figured this would be possible considering the hardware in the droid. It can send out a wifi signal, I'll bet someone could come up with a way without scanning....there is probably a way to have it send out the frequency of your door with a button in app.

 

[messenger13]

Truth be told, I can open my Garage door from any phone on the planet through my phone system at home. But that's a whole other thread for a whole other forum, and I'm not about to get into the details here. Umm ... so don't ask.

 

[allanlaw]

Truth be told, I can open my Garage door from any phone on the planet through my phone system at home. But that's a whole other thread for a whole other forum, and I'm not about to get into the details here. Umm ... so don't ask.

I can control my home security system using an app on my Droid supplied by Honeywell - it simulates the keypad of the security system on the Droid. Of course, it only works because my security system is internet enabled. Garage doors, or just about anything else, can ultimately be controlled by the Droid if they are controllable over the internet. The interface would be king in those applications.

 

[droidpcguru]

Garage doors, or just about anything else, can ultimately be controlled by the Droid if they are controllable over the internet.

Key point.. The average garage door opener is not going to be able to be controlled by a Droid.

 

[Anonimac]

God knows how many rules i'll be breaking here...(new to posting on this forum so i'm not 100% up to date on the specific rules)...

I'm just starting my home automation project and my Android device (Droid) is definitely an important component. I'm going down the INSTEON route and getting a number of home automation add-on's (dimmers, switches, thermostats, etc...) and the garage door opener is one of them. It does require a control module but it can all be done and once complete your Android device (via browser or app) can be used a control panel for just about everything.

(so here's where i'm not sure if i'm violating some rule...)

Here's a site to will get you started with garage door specific gizmo's but the same site can get you started on the rest if you have ambitions beyond just garage door...

"garage door" - Smarthome

Hope this helps otherwise i just did a lot of typing for nothing.

 

[seethesvt]

My RC car remote is 2.4 GHz, I wounded if I could control that with my phone... traxxas E-revo brushless edition with a lot of dough into it.

 

[messenger13]

God knows how many rules i'll be breaking here...(new to posting on this forum so i'm not 100% up to date on the specific rules)...

I don't think the admins have any issues with provided links to outside vendors. It's when those links lead members to sites that contain illegal softwarez, hacks, cracks, and the like.

 

[allanlaw]

Key point.. The average garage door opener is not going to be able to be controlled by a Droid.

Be imaginative . . .

I'm just starting my home automation project and my Android device (Droid) is definitely an important component. I'm going down the INSTEON route and getting a number of home automation add-on's (dimmers, switches, thermostats, etc...) and the garage door opener is one of them. It does require a control module but it can all be done and once complete your Android device (via browser or app) can be used a control panel for just about everything.

See . . .

 

[TheSultan]

this would be ssoooo incredible to be able to do. I read through that link, but using the code is far beyond my limited abilities. I just moved in to a gated community, I'd love to power the gate up with my phone!

 

[DA717]

yep INSTEON seems to be the way to go and based off I read you'll need these two items.

first you need:
SmartLinc - INSTEON Central Controller - Smarthome

then
I/O Linc - INSTEON Garage Door Control & Status Kit - Smarthome

At least a $200 investment, but you will have a controller to begin more home automation.

 

[Deleted User]

The concept is actually very simple.

1. You need a wallmount garage door remote that has a Bluetooth receiver. You have seen plenty of outside mount garage door remote with a keypad. Instead of a keypad, you have a bluetooth receiver.

2. You pair your phone(s) bluetooth to garage door remote.

3. Use a mobile phone to operate the garage door remote.

Someone just need to commercialize it.

 

[Lock-N-Load]

funny.. I was JUSt thinking of this yesterday

 

[Deleted User]

There were a couple of commercial attempts, but failed to take hold. Don't know why.

BlueKey Wireless Systems, Inc - Use your mobile device, cellphone or PDA as universal remote control for your car, garage door, house alarm, entry doors, HVAC, lighting control, entry gates and Green Energy Managment with Demand Side Load Managment

Unify4Life Smartphone Intelligence

 

[Redflea]

I can't imagine why I'd want to fish my droid out of my pocket, find an open an app or browser, and then find the right button to open the garage door all as I'm driving up to my house. By that time I'd have driven into my garage door (or maybe my neighbor's garage door).

Don't most cars these days have the ability built-in to memorize two or three garage door codes? Mine is several years old and has it, so does my wife's... Even if you don't have that feature it's 10 seconds to use some velcro to attach one of the small garage door openers somewhere convenient in your car.

I get the geek factor, but this one seems like a stretch, even to me...

On the other hand, general home automation from the Droid could be fun. I use mine to control a PC attached to my TV (Via Remote Droid)...

 

[Deleted User]

This is not just car drivers. What about your non dirving kids? What about you coming back back from a dog walk or jogging? What about your friend dropping you off, etc?

Basically it's same reason why some people mount a keypad trigger remote? They have a need for entry to the garage from the outside.