US Navy Jamming Garage Door Openers.

[KW4MW]

Back in the olde golden days of ham radio a steady carrier from a keyed AM mobile unit was usually enough to cause garage doors to open and close, much to the mirth and merriment of a couple of ops of whom I won't mention.

The US Navy is doing one better by overriding the mW sigs from garage door remote controls.

Navy Radio System Blamed For Crippling Garage Doors

The problem, first reported by The Day of New London, is that the same frequency is used at very low levels by the manufacturers of garage door openers. The signals from remote controls to open or close the doors are blocked by the signal from the base.

“Because garage door openers are unlicensed devices, they are not offered any protection from interference by licensed users in the same frequency band, and in fact are required by federal law to accept interference from licensed users,” Zendan said. “Base commanding officers do not have the authority to change those systems, and unfortunately we cannot offer compensation to the unlicensed users.”

The Federal Communications Commission warned that the new radio system could cause interference like this.

[KB3PXR]

Just be lucky its only garage doors. Remote keyless entry systems also use the same frequency band (315 MHz) and they are subject to the same rules. I work on a military installation myself, and I've been known to get my best distance on the remote keyless entry system on my new car. I can go 200+ feet on a system that's only supposed to for for 30.

[K7KBN]

It's only a temporary crippling. I used to park just a couple hundred yards from where Navy CVNs were moored and where much of their testing went on. My house is far enough away, and shielded from these ~315 MHz signals, so we don't have any trouble with garage doors. However, remote car door lockers/unlockers are another story. Some guys complained - I just used the regular "key".

PXR: Good going on the DX!

[KB3PXR]

It's only a temporary crippling. I used to park just a couple hundred yards from where Navy CVNs were moored and where much of their testing went on. My house is far enough away, and shielded from these ~315 MHz signals, so we don't have any trouble with garage doors. However, remote car door lockers/unlockers are another story. Some guys complained - I just used the regular "key".

PXR: Good going on the DX!

If I encounter that problem I would have to shut the alarm system off as its tied to the power locks. If I unlock the door with the key and open it, the alarm will sound until I put the key into the switch. Thanks for the comment on the DX, I know how to push the distance on them. That 33 feet is usually when shooting from the hip or in the pocket itself.

[W3WN]

Garage door openers are unlicensed Part 15 devices. Under FCC rules, when used, they can not cause interference, and must accept interference from, other radio services using the frequency in question, as those other services have priority.

They are operating in a band assigned to & used heavily by the military.

Anyone here really surprised to hear about this issue coming up... again? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

[AF6LJ]

Garage door openers are unlicensed Part 15 devices. Under FCC rules, when used, they can not cause interference, and must accept interference from, other radio services using the frequency in question, as those other services have priority.

They are operating in a band assigned to & used heavily by the military.

Anyone here really surprised to hear about this issue coming up... again? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

No surprise here, especially after seeing what happened here every time Air Force One would bring Clinton here.

[N0SYA]

Those door openers are obviously al queda linked and dhs asked the Navy to help in the investigation.

[AF6LJ]

Those door openers are obviously al queda linked and dhs asked the Navy to help in the investigation.

We all are domestic terrorists.

[KD8DEY]

That aint nuttin. Local infamous 11m operator brags about getting investigated by FCC & Military personnel for opening bay doors here at Wright Patt AFB back in the late 70's. (My neighbor that makes 10m useless)

[WF7A]

You mean every fighter aircraft stationed at the base was fitted with a garage door clicker? I can imagine a fighter pilot sitting parked outside of a hangar.

"Dang, I left the clicker in the car!"