There are different kinds of garage door opener remote control unit available in the market today. There’s the usual 3-button remote, the small sized single button keychain remote and the wireless keypad. All three uses an Intellicode technology that helps prevent unauthorized persons from opening your garage door by automatically changing the access code every time you use it. The normal 3-button remote is no bigger than the TV remote with a built-in flashlight that can be activated by pressing the overhead logo at the lower portion of the unit. If you want a smaller version of the 3-button remote, you can have the smaller keychain sized single button remote. It is small enough to fit in your pocket so you can carry it anywhere you go without bringing a bag. The only problem with keychain is that we usually lost or misplace them. Anyway, they are easily available in most hardware store just in case you need a replacement, they keys are not though. For a more sophisticated remote with additional safety features, you might want to try the wireless keypad remote which has a size similar to a flip-type cell phone. This unit works by allowing you to use a four digit pin of your choice to open your garage. It also has a built-in backlight that is automatically activated every time you hit any button on the console, allowing you to use and see it even in the dark. Most new model Genie garage door remote controls are interchangeable and compatible with any Intellicode openers manufactured after 1995. So, if you misplaced your old remote and you need a replacement unit just buy the new model remote and with a simple process of programming allows you to use it immediately. When you buy a new remote, it usually comes with the instructional manual complete with illustration and step by step instruction how to program it. You can easily program it using the learn button on the Genie garage opener. Just hit the learn button and press the new remote twice and you’re good to go. If you have an old model garage door opener in any brand, you can also purchase a Genie Universal Conversion Kit. It works with any garage door opener with 315 MHz and 390 MHz frequency. Like the new Genie product it uses Intellicode rolling technology that prevents unauthorized access.

History of Genie Garage Door Opener Remote

Older garage door opener which was made during the early 80’s uses an analog signal to communicate with the transmitter and uses radio frequency. That’s why during those days they are having a problem with analog radios accidentally triggering garage doors which is very funny. Then Genie releases the AT-55 which is the first digital transmitter that uses code cards that contains the security code and solves the problem from radio signal triggering. When the AT-85 was released, the frequency of the remotes are standardize to 390 MHz, and now uses a 9 dip switch that you can toggle to make the code that can be easily changed manually if needed. Then they thought the combination you can make using 9 dip switches is not enough and there’s a big possibility that anyone can easily try few combination to crack your code so they release another model and made it with 12 dip switches. The succeeding models are basically the same, the dip switch are mostly the one that improved until they finally come with the Intellicode technology which automatically change the code every time you use it. The size of the remote console also reduced dramatically.

How to program the garage door keypad and remote control

First thing to do is to make sure that the keypad has power. Open the cover using a screw driver and make sure that the battery is in and it is fresh. If you are using a rechargeable battery, make sure that they are fully charged or if you use a throw-away type battery make sure that they are new. Once you put a good battery in it, once you hit any button on the keypad it should lit up. They are hard to see during day time so you should try to look at them at night.

Next thing you have to do is to look at the garage opener itself and take the cover off. There are no screws or any fasteners to remove, just pull it off using your hand. When you look inside you will notice that there’s not a whole lot going on around there, there’s not a lot of controls just one red button and some instructions all around it. Don’t mind the other controls and concentrate on the red button and the indicator light beside it instead. You must clear everything out by holding the red button until the light goes out which is about six seconds or so. Now, you just reset everything and now nothing works, the keypad doesn’t work or the remote.

To program the new code, you must press again the red button momentarily (don’t hold it), you have 30 seconds to enter the new code into the keypad so rush over and hit the new 4 digit code that you want and hit enter. When you hit the enter button, you will know that you successfully programmed it when you see the light from your garage door opener temporarily go off and go back on again.

Now you are ready to set the remote and it will be a lot easier. All you have to do is to go back to the garage opener with the cover off. Hold down the button of your remote or transmitter, don’t release it yet, hold down also the red button at the back of the garage opener, and then let go at the same time. Now, test it and it should work perfectly, and that’s it, it’s pretty easy.