I have a Craftsman ¾ hp opener that I installed about 15 years ago. I knew it was having trouble lately and this morning it finally gave up the fight. I pulled the disconnect to verify that the door rolls freely and it does.

I’m not upset. I got my money’s worth out of it and instead of fixing it, I am going to update it to something that will integrate with my home automation. I definitely want a battery back-up in it. I’m thinking about a Liftmaster and a Tailwind iQ controller since chamberlain became dicks and started to block 3rd party controllers from directly interfacing. I’m not really locked in to this, but it is where I am starting at.

Getting older, I’m going to outsource the installation. I looked around and called my first choice. Got a recording that said to leave a message and I hung up. Then I immediately get a text from them saying they missed my call and can they help me. I text back that I would like to talk to someone about replacing an opener. Nothing but crickets. I’m assuming that it was some AI generated auto response type thing. Sorry, I’ll be polite later when they get around to calling me and I tell them that I moved on to the next company on the list, talked with a real person, and they are sending a tech by to see exactly I want and how they can do it. One nice thing about garage door companies is that there are a LOT of options.

For those who have a garage door opener tied into an automation hub, what is your set up and would you change anything if you were doing it over?

I've been really happy with my Liftmaster jackshaft opener. I like how it's out of the way.

I have an 8500 but this new version replaces it:
https://www.liftmaster.com/pre...oor-opener/p/98022MC

I have the Liftmaster with wifi and battery backup. I have had it for 5-6 years and have had no problems with it. You do have to buy the MyQ thingy that plugs into an access point for your wifi. Or, at least, I had to. It could have changed by now. I have the garage door and the driveway gates setup through the MyQ app. It is nice to be able to open/close the garage door or the gates via my phone, or check to see if they are open or closed.

quote:

Originally posted by SpinZone:
Getting older, I’m going to outsource the installation.

The Liftmaster is very easy to DIY.

Liftmaster with MyQ built in for automation.

Might want to look at the wall mounted opener instead. I am intrigued by those.

Otherwise, I am happy with liftmaster w/MYQ.

Chamberlain belt drive and go up in HP. Chances are if you haven't had your springs changed or anything in the past 10 years that they are bad and putting undue stress on your opener causing it to fail. The door should stay up if you manually put it at about waist level (unhooked from the opener).

The MYQ is not an option. They have changed the API so it won’t allow 3rd party controllers to interface with it and I plan to incorporate the new opener into my existing system.

quote:

Originally posted by jimmy123x:
Chamberlain belt drive and go up in HP. Chances are if you haven't had your springs changed or anything in the past 10 years that they are bad and putting undue stress on your opener causing it to fail. The door should stay up if you manually put it at about waist level (unhooked from the opener).

Chances are that the springs are fine. I replaced them about 6 years ago when I put a new door in.

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:

quote:

Originally posted by SpinZone:
Getting older, I’m going to outsource the installation.

The Liftmaster is very easy to DIY.

I'm sure I could knock it out in the advertised "two hours" if I did it a second time. But it took me about 6 hours start to finish to do mine, replacing an original-to-the-house Liftmaster installed 23yrs ago that was still working fine.

New one has a built-in camera, backup battery and MyQ so no more messing with external add-ons to accomplish. While still belt-drive like the original, it's noticeably quieter due to new DC motor over AC motor plus the soft open/soft close acceleration.

I have the LiftMaster 8500W wall mount with battery backup and MyQ.
It is now referred to as the 98022 Premium.



The battery backup has proven itself a few times over the years.
It comes with a light you can mount anywhere in the area where you can plug it in.
I also bought another one for the middle of the ceiling.

The deadbolt petered out after a couple of years, and it wasn't worth replacing; it really isn't even needed.



I used myQ for a few years and switched over to the eKryo module.
MyQ wouldn't work with Siri, and I like the eKryo app better.
The app can control more than MyQ did.

It uses the SmartLife app, and eKryo does work with Siri.
I can open and close the garage door on a dog walk without holding the phone and opening the app.
My wife doesn't have HomeLink in her car, so instead of leaving a garage remote in plain sight, she can use Siri to open or close the garage door.

Another thing I like about eKyro is that I can set up reminders that the door is open.
With myQ, I had to set up 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, etc. minute reminders.
The ekyro simply sends me a notification every 10 minutes that the door is open.
Very nice when the wife leaves for work and forgets to close the door.

The garage door panel controls the garage house lights and the LiftMaster lights.
You can also 'lock' the opener from the panel so remotes won't open or close it.
It also shows the charge level of the backup battery.

Much quieter than my old ceiling-mounted one, although the door itself is noisy.
We're looking to replace it soon.

quote:

Originally posted by 1lowlife:

...

I used myQ for a few years and switched over to the eKryo module.
MyQ wouldn't work with Siri, and I like the eKryo app better.
The app can control more than MyQ did.

...

This is intriguing. I have a MyQ compatible opener (not sure the brand, will have to look later, it came with the house), and I'd like to be able to control it from Siri.

Went with the Liftmaster wall mount w/MyQ for the shop build this spring, It's nice not having the motor unit overhead, particularly if/when I have a car lift installed.

A neighbor in San Diego had the wall mount Liftmaster. It was very quiet; and the absence of the track made for much more overhead room in the garage.

quote:

Originally posted by IntrepidTraveler:

This is intriguing. I have a MyQ compatible opener (not sure the brand, will have to look later, it came with the house), and I'd like to be able to control it from Siri.

The thing about eKyro is that I think it can turn most openers into Wi-Fi-controlled openers.

It simply connects to the opener at the same open/close inputs as the wall panel, bypassing the MyQ.
Even if one wants to control their non-Wi-Fi opener with an app and not even use voice control.
One can control it on the app; they don't have to use voice commands.

Some setups require an adapter, which is free from eKyro.

The module does need wifi access, so it needs to be able to get a signal in the garage.
Luckily, I have a Wi-Fi extender in the garage for my TV and PC out there.
Even before the extender, I got a decent signal out there.

Videos and info ekyro

quote:

Originally posted by PGT:

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:
The Liftmaster is very easy to DIY.

New one has a built-in camera, backup battery and MyQ so no more messing with external add-ons to accomplish. While still belt-drive like the original, it's noticeably quieter due to new DC motor over AC motor plus the soft open/soft close acceleration.

I should have clarified, I was talking about the wall mount shaft driven ones. I put two of them up in my shop in about an hour each. If that.

I got a new Liftmaster 6580L this February and it works great, is quiet, has nice features.

As an opener, it's wonderful with one gotcha: unlike the older Liftmaster opener it replaced and the older Liftmaster opener on the second garage door, the Homelink features built into our 2024 model Toyotas need to be within about 5 feet of the new opener to work it. The handheld remotes we got with the new opener work from 100 feet away, so we use those clipped to the visors.

We had the installer out for a different issue (spring broke, unrelated to the new opener) and he confirmed there was nothing we could do to the opener or the cars to extend the Homelink range.

It was not clear whether this is an issue with the new generation opener security features across the industry, an issue with the Homelink functions within 2024 Toyotas or a problem with Liftmaster. If you google 'liftmaster connectivity problems' you will find many examples online. I haven't googled any other brands, so this may well not be just a Liftmaster issue.

TL-DR - If your cars have built-in garage door openers, 1) ask the garage door dealer to guarantee compatibility with your car makes and models, and 2) test at range before accepting the installation.

quote:

Originally posted by joel9507:
I got a new Liftmaster 6580L this February and it works great, is quiet, has nice features.

As an opener, it's wonderful with one gotcha: unlike the older Liftmaster opener it replaced and the older Liftmaster opener on the second garage door, the Homelink features built into our 2024 model Toyotas need to be within about 5 feet of the new opener to work it. The handheld remotes we got with the new opener work from 100 feet away, so we use those clipped to the visors.

We had the installer out for a different issue (spring broke, unrelated to the new opener) and he confirmed there was nothing we could do to the opener or the cars to extend the Homelink range.

It was not clear whether this is an issue with the new generation opener security features across the industry, an issue with the Homelink functions within 2024 Toyotas or a problem with Liftmaster. If you google 'liftmaster connectivity problems' you will find many examples online. I haven't googled any other brands, so this may well not be just a Liftmaster issue.

TL-DR - If your cars have built-in garage door openers, 1) ask the garage door dealer to guarantee compatibility with your car makes and models, and 2) test at range before accepting the installation.

That's odd.
My 2014 and now 2026 Tundras with Homelink both open my 3-year-old LiftMaster opener from the street, I'd guess, 60' or so.
But at my Dad's house, I have to be right next to the garage door.
I think his opener is an old Sears model..



I did find this in your manual, but you stated it is connected

MY VEHICLE’S HOMELINK® IS NOT PROGRAMMING TO MY GARAGE DOOR OPENER: This opener is compatible with HomeLink versions 4, 5 and 6. HomeLink programming and support can be obtained by contacting HomeLink directly at 1-800-355-3515 or by visiting their website at www.HomeLink.com.

quote:

Originally posted by 1lowlife:
I did find this in your manual, but you stated it is connected

Connects fine, just stops connecting when you get out of the garage. Did everything in both manuals (the opener's and the Toyotas') to no effect, asked both the Toyota dealer and the Liftmaster installer and both threw up their hands.

My advice stands - if someone is in the market for a new garage opener and wants to use an opener built into their car:
1) make sure the opener installer dealer what kind(s) of cars you have,
2) make sure you get them to guarantee operation at range with your specific cars, and
3) make sure you test operation with the car openers at range before accepting the install.