Homelink transmission strength

[hulk2k17]

I typically back into my garage and noticed that homelink doesn't reliably work. This is NOT the issue reported in many recent threads related to the recent firmware updates.

I will be within 2 feet of the garage door (with the rear of the car facing the garage door), the homelink icon activates (send/transmission bars display), and the garage door doesn't open/close.

Often times, I find I need to have the hood pointing toward the garage door or I just use the old-school opener. If I'm already parked in the garage, homelink works fine to ope/close the door.

Thoughts on how to increase the transmission strength of homelink? Is it my garage door's receiver? Again, the OEM opener works just fine.

Thanks

 

[Xenoilphobe]

Homelink and the FM antenna (it it even has one) are the two weakest functions of the Model S. I believe someone on the forums here has added an RF amplifier for both functions so they will actually work. Look for threads by ARTSCI...

 

[boaterva]

From how you program the HL in the car, the transmitter has to be in the front, since you are told to aim your remote at the front ‘bumper’.

If you want to have it work for a ‘back in approach’, have you tried extending the antenna on your door opener’s receiver? Just make the usual piece of wire longer? Can’t hurt as long as it’s out of the way!

 

[azred]

Don’t bother experimenting with Homelink today. Tesla wrecked Homelink in the most recent update(s) and some people report problems going back weeks.

I wish Consumer Reports would survey me today about Tesla’s reliability. Do you remember the days when Microsoft would update Windows by adding or fixing one feature while breaking two others? I suspect a lot of former Microsoft quality control specialists are working at Tesla.

 

[Xenoilphobe]

From how you program the HL in the car, the transmitter has to be in the front, since you are told to aim your remote at the front ‘bumper’.

If you want to have it work for a ‘back in approach’, have you tried extending the antenna on your door opener’s receiver? Just make the usual piece of wire longer? Can’t hurt as long as it’s out of the way!

I actually added an exterior antenna for the garage doors on my home, it barely helped our two Teslas. All other cars improved in range, but for some reason the Tesla range is still crap. I believe there is a grounding problem on all antennas on the Tesla due to the aluminum body.

 

[Xenoilphobe]

Don’t bother experimenting with Homelink today. Tesla wrecked Homelink in the most recent update(s) and some people report problems going back weeks.

I wish Consumer Reports would survey me today about Tesla’s reliability. Do you remember the days when Microsoft would update Windows by adding or fixing one feature while breaking two others? I suspect a lot of former Microsoft quality control specialists are working at Tesla.

I don't know why they continually screws with stuff that works. and then don't touch the stuff that doesn't. Just adding Waze to the the nav system would be a huge leap forward. Or Spotify to the streaming audio...or open up the app store for real developers to add functionality that Tesla is ignoring.

 

[Joelc]

Just adding a different datapoint, Homelink on my 2013 has been rock-solid.
Have never had an issue with Homelink kicking in when approaching my driveway from the street, guessing at least a good 75ft away.
I have a Liftmaster garage opener FWIW.

 

[Retired]

Its has been reported that certain LED bulbs in the garage door opener will interfere with the signals. I dont see that mentioned here but you might try removing the bulbs and seeing if things get better.

For my part the homelink transmitter in my 100D works from out in the street just fine and reliably. I back in. The homelink transceiver in the refreshed model S is on the passengers side just behind the "grill".

 

[hulk2k17]

Thanks for the replies. I'll give the antenna extension and lightbulb theory a try

 

[GaryREM]

Just adding a different datapoint, Homelink on my 2013 has been rock-solid.
Have never had an issue with Homelink kicking in when approaching my driveway from the street, guessing at least a good 75ft away.
I have a Liftmaster garage opener FWIW.

Same here. My 2017 has worked tremendously triggering from the side as I come up the street (but only 30 - 40 ft away).

Have a Chamberlain (Liftmaster) opener.

 

[Xenoilphobe]

So tonight it worked from the street (about 60 foot driveway), I can't figure this out..

 

[brkaus]

I added an 850lm - http://amzn.to/2xezzMt

Rock solid since. I did need to add a transformer as well. It says it can get power from the photo eye terminals, but mine was showing lower voltage than the spec so I added a transformer too.

I was not experiencing the problem where the transmission symbol does not turn on. Just terrible reception.

 

[tomp]

I have found that it's important for the car to be facing the garage door when doing the programming. I also back into my garage, and once I re-programmed the homelink with the car sitting in the driveway, facing away from the garage door. Homelink was terrible after that, and got much better when I finally programmed it again, but this time facing the garage door.

I nonetheless agree that they should improve the homelink antenna, but hope this tip might help you out.

 

[markn455]

The range of the homeland in my classic MS is nothing less than fantastic. It will open my garage for a few hundred feet and my gate the same.