Help (again) - training a UHF wireless remote

[erick (Eric)]

I want to have a second another remote control handpad for my motorised roller door.

So I bought this "Rhino" device from Dick Smith:-

http://www.dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.st.../product/L5440

Tried it last night - didn't work.

OK - a bit of searching today on the Door Operating unit. It is an Airport APD-RD 1. The website says that it operates at 433.92MHz. Says "Millions of code combinations". It doesn't say if it is a "fixed code" transmitter or a "code hopping" or "anti-code grabbing" device. I suspect that it will be fixed code - this is just a garage door, not a sophisticated alarm system. Does anyone know if the Airport is a fixed code system?

The Rhino is frequency adjustable and says it is preset at 304MHz ("the standard for alarms in Australia"). It can be adjusted from 255-500MHz.

My second question is for an explanation of what happened when I tried it last night. Instructions are to place current key pad "right next to" the learning pad, press the button on the current key pad, then press the button on the learning key pad. The light will glow, then pulse three times, within seconds. Well, if I put them right beside each other, that is exactly what happened - but they had to be right beside each other - move them more than 5 or so mm apart and the learning pad light would not respond. Is this telling me that the frequency is set wrongly and there was just significant frequency "breakthrough" that made it respond when they were right beside each other?

(When I removed the "learning" jumper to put it into "normal working mode", pointed it at the receiver and pressed the button, the transmitter's light flashed but there was no action by the receiver.)

There is an instruction for adjusting the frequency - hold down buttons on each, then move them apart, adjusting the frequency tuning capacitor for maximum light brightness. I could get them a cm or so apart before the light would no longer illuminate, but the maximum light brightness was exactly where it was factory set. What is that telling me?

Tonight I plan to try and set the Rhino to 434MHz, using the response of its light to the signal from the existing transmitter as a guide and try again.

Any advice gratefully received!

ps. I checked the batter in the Rhino - it seems to have plenty of charge.

Thanks in advance
Eric

[erick (Eric)]

No advice from out there?

Just as well. I worked it out tonight - the bugger is a code-hopper.

I did tune the Rhino to the right frequency. The light on it glowed much brighter than anywhere else in the frequency range. Strangely enough, anywhere through the range the Rhino would respond with the three pulses to say it had learnt the code!???

I powered off the receiver (connected to the motor). I programmed the Rhino. I switched on the receiver and pushed the button on the Rhino and the receiver responded, starting the motor. BUT any more presses on the Rhino button were not acknowledged. I turned off the receiver and repeated the training of the Rhino and it did the same again - one hit and that was it!

So the Airport is obviously code-hopping. I cannot fully understand the logic of how they communicate and keep in sync, but I know this UHF transmitter won't work.

Anyone want to buy the Rhino off me?

[acropolite (Phil)]

Eric, there are lots of remote and remote sensor combo's available at cheap prices. I bought a 4 button remote controller with 2 buttons for arming my alarm system and 2 spare with relay contacts. I use 1 contact to trigger the garage opener, and another to turn on my outside lights. I've scrapped the original remotes as I now have one remote that does all (compact as well) The cost of the unit with 2 remotes was a bit over $100. The remote I bought had 2 buttons of the 4 outputs adapted fro the alarm system, but there is also a 4 relay output model. This is the remote Kit I bought. This is a "3rd Party remote kit" I've had the units for eight years with no problems apart from a battery change.

[erick (Eric)]

OK wrapping this one up. Returned the Dick Smith transmitter for a credit - thanks Dick!

Bought the actual transmitter from the door manufacturer. Instructions to program seemed complicated, since it seemed I had to reset all the remotes and reprogram them all. A telephone call later and but once I'd identified the appropriate buttons on the receiver, I was able to simply program the new remote and leave the existing remotes untouched. All working fine now.