Homelink Pro Tip

[Tsingtao]

Mine is a LiftMaster as well.

But I did a quick google search and found that is may just be the type of bulb you use.

https://blog.lightingsupply.com/blog/do-led-bulbs-interfere-with-garage-door-openers

These are what I have in my garage door openers: GE Relax

Confirmed: It is for sure the bulb. After reading these posts, I pulled this 3M LED out of my opener (no idea how old it was, I'm guessing at least 5-7 years old) and replaced it with a good old fashioned incandescent bulb. Home Link now works like a champ!

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[W1NGE]

I'm new to this but so far failing miserably with Homelink.

I have Hormann Promatic 4 door openers which use their own rolling code - Bi-Secure - which means a complete non-starter (to my knowledge) for Homelink due to its proprietary nature.

I've now added the Universal Receiver (UR) - PR433-4 and so far can't get it to work (and that's using a specialist garage door installer!!) + Liftmaster TX4UNIF remote (rolling code).

I'm trying to figure if I actually need to use the Liftmaster remote to train the PCM or if I simply need to switch the Homelink PCM utility to switch to either D-Mode or Fixkit mode (neither of which I clearly understand the difference).

I've looked at Homelink videos which have the same kit as above but interestingly if your car has a display for Homelink (Taycan clearly does - PCM) then (apparently) you don't point the remote at it to train it in this instance but switch to UR (I guess Universal Receiver) mode and let the PCM send its own signal to the door opener receiver whilst it is in Learn or Smart mode.

I thought this would be child's play but honestly it is the most poorly documented option and system I've ever come across and no wonder most people give up on it. Homelink's website is truly awful with out-of-date videos for current car models - Taycan 2023 has an old Audi video (!!) but Taycan 2020 has one with the PCM but training guidance is different to anything else I've read.

I shall persevere as I hate paying for things I can't get to work!

I will also disable my LED strip lights which are embedded into the door opener in case these are in some way interfering with the process.

If anyone out there has Hormann door openers with Bi-Secure and have got a method to programme with Homelink then I'd appreciate the knowledge share.

 

[Sidicks]

I need to speak to my garage door and gate installer, but I’ve yet to get it working with my new Taycan.

First time trying to program the Homelink, it says that the signal has been received and I can change the text as required, and then finish the process, but when I actually try and use Homelink to open the doors, nothing happens.

These are brand new doors so I imagine are using a rolling-code (I will check next week), so not sure if that changes what I need to do? I believe that these new doors and gates can also be operated remotely via mobile phone, so not sure if that makes a difference.

Conveniently, the gates and doors have all been added to a single, 4-button remote, so keeping that in the car isn’t a massive issue, but I like the way the Homelink automatically pops up on the PCM when the car nears the relevant location, so I’d like to get this sorted if I can.

if I come up with the solution I will share the information on here.

 

[Hirschaj]

I need to speak to my garage door and gate installer, but I’ve yet to get it working with my new Taycan.

First time trying to program the Homelink, it says that the signal has been received and I can change the text as required, and then finish the process, but when I actually try and use Homelink to open the doors, nothing happens.

These are brand new doors so I imagine are using a rolling-code (I will check next week), so not sure if that changes what I need to do? I believe that these new doors and gates can also be operated remotely via mobile phone, so not sure if that makes a difference.

Conveniently, the gates and doors have all been added to a single, 4-button remote, so keeping that in the car isn’t a massive issue, but I like the way the Homelink automatically pops up on the PCM when the car nears the relevant location, so I’d like to get this sorted if I can.

if I come up with the solution I will share the information on here.

There’s a video in the user manual in the MyPorsche app. Search for the word homelink and watch the section of the video that refers to rolling code.

 

[whitex]

I've had a myriad of troublesome issues getting my Taycan to recognize and open my garage reliably. I deleted and re-added, faithfully following the instructions repeatedly, and could not get my garage door to open except intermittently.

With that in mind, I thought perhaps my 15-year-old garage door opener was out of date with the Homelink technology imbedded in the Taycan so I spent $625 and had a new a garage door opener installed. As the technician finished installing the new unit, I mentioned my problems with the old one. After my tale of woe, he looked at me and said, “I wish you told me that earlier. The problem isn't with your garage door opener, it's with the LED light bulb you used to replace incandescent one on the garage door opener.”

He told me that LED light bulbs emit a frequency that effectively jams the signal from the remote used to open the garage door, including the Homelink in the Taycan (or any car for that matter). Hence my problem.

After setting up anew in my Taycan with the new opener, everything works hunky dory. The moral of the story is if you’re having trouble with your Homelink, check to make sure you're not using an LED light bulb on the garage door opener. Who woulda thunk it?

So you only had problems with it when the LED was on? So no problems opening the garage after the LED light on the opener has timed out for example? If you had problems with LED light off, that was not the reason.

 

[ciaranob]

Man - a bit baffled re the issues here - when I set up my Homelink with my Liftmaster dual garage door and separate driveway gate it worked first time, zero issues (physical remote was programed to open both on one click) - just followed the instructions in the car and did not have to intervene at all. One click of custom Diamond button or Homelink dialog and both doors open from car. I realize not helpful to those struggling with this but just odd that it is such an issue to me.

On a separate note I have moved to a different system (have a separate thread on it) for other reasons but the Homelink connection still active in the car as a sort of back up I guess.

 

[W1NGE]

I need to speak to my garage door and gate installer, but I’ve yet to get it working with my new Taycan.

First time trying to program the Homelink, it says that the signal has been received and I can change the text as required, and then finish the process, but when I actually try and use Homelink to open the doors, nothing happens.

These are brand new doors so I imagine are using a rolling-code (I will check next week), so not sure if that changes what I need to do? I believe that these new doors and gates can also be operated remotely via mobile phone, so not sure if that makes a difference.

Conveniently, the gates and doors have all been added to a single, 4-button remote, so keeping that in the car isn’t a massive issue, but I like the way the Homelink automatically pops up on the PCM when the car nears the relevant location, so I’d like to get this sorted if I can.

if I come up with the solution I will share the information on here.

I finally mastered my Homelink.

Setup - Hormann door openers.

Not all rolling codes are equal is the lesson. Hormann use proprietary Bisecure rolling code.

In order to work with Homelink I had to add a universal receiver (UR)

PCM Homelink has a UR mode which is then used to sync with the UR attached to the opener. A channel on the UR is then configured with its remote. This channel is then put in learn mode, PCM Homelink to UR mode, start scan, scan complete, save location, test, job done.

I did a lot of research but to no avail and my installer wasn't able to resolve either. Spent weeks on it and then I finally figured it out.

Depending on door opener brand and coding used Homelink may / may not be compatible. If not then add a UR.

 

[Sidicks]

I finally mastered my Homelink.

Setup - Hormann door openers.

Not all rolling codes are equal is the lesson. Hormann use proprietary Bisecure rolling code.

In order to work with Homelink I had to add a universal receiver (UR)

PCM Homelink has a UR mode which is then used to sync with the UR attached to the opener. A channel on the UR is then configured with its remote. This channel is then put in learn mode, PCM Homelink to UR mode, start scan, scan complete, save location, test, job done.

I did a lot of research but to no avail and my installer wasn't able to resolve either. Spent weeks on it and then I finally figured it out.

Depending on door opener brand and coding used Homelink may / may not be compatible. If not then add a UR.

Sounds like I might as well just keep one of the remotes in the car!

 

[W1NGE]

Sounds like I might as well just keep one of the remotes in the car!

Add a UR for the doors - easy to install and reasonably inexpensive (£100 or so). Powered via your opener.

Same can be achieved for gates etc but the economics start to question the logic.

Homelink instructions are at best poor but on the website there is a video of a UR install.

If I was doing this over again I'd check first that my choice of opener had a standard rolling code system (older openers typically do). Videos of the Taycan Homelink omit this and assume all openers will just work by training the remote to the PCM and the PCM to the opener. With a UR there is no PCM training with a remote as this is already built in to your Homelink.

 

[Torv]

So you only had problems with it when the LED was on? So no problems opening the garage after the LED light on the opener has timed out for example? If you had problems with LED light off, that was not the reason.

Well, I don't know what to say other than that since I changed out the light bulb to an incandescent everything works perfectly and it's been months.

 

[whitex]

Well, I don't know what to say other than that since I changed out the light bulb to an incandescent everything works perfectly and it's been months.

Maybe your opener uses the lightbulb filament as an antenna?

 

[Hirschaj]

Well, I don't know what to say other than that since I changed out the light bulb to an incandescent everything works perfectly and it's been months.

LED bulbs interfere with garage door opener signals.

 

[whitex]

LED bulbs interfere with garage door opener signals.

How do they interfere if the bulb is off, which means not powered at all since no power is the only way to shut off incandescent bulbs?

 

[whitex]

Maybe your opener uses the lightbulb filament as an antenna?

You laugh, but there are some interesting designs out there. Engineers come up with clever solutions. Not saying this is the case here for sure, but would not rule it out, especially if the led bulb interferes when not powered at all.

 

[Hirschaj]

How do they interfere if the bulb is off, which means not powered at all since no power is the only way to shut off incandescent bulbs?

Many people try to get homelink working right after they opened the door and the light is still on.

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