Anyone ever consider using their phone as a garage door opener?

[icewhitenewyear]

Well the title pretty much says it all...
I was just wondering if there was any way this was possible...
I mean after all, it cant be that difficult of a program to work.

[kingterr0r]

if you can find a door opener that works via bluetooth then sure! why not?

[deuzeff]

Well the title pretty much says it all...
I was just wondering if there was any way this was possible...
I mean after all, it cant be that difficult of a program to work.

Oh man, I'll never be bored to read this board :D. Please keep us inform if you succeed that :p.

[papo]

Well the title pretty much says it all...
I was just wondering if there was any way this was possible...
I mean after all, it cant be that difficult of a program to work.

or through home wifi net. Probably you'll be able to use one of pc remote programs.

but there is other way how this could be done. with any phone, just ringing number. there is a device, based on simtoolkit which you should place in any old cheap mobil with simtoolkit (nearly any) with prepaid sim card just for receiving. it's connected through sim reader connector. device is configurable, you can have more outputs. you can set it to open when number is ringed from predefined numbers. e.g. just one ring, without answering.
you can have sms's being send from home as alarm triggers.

i wanted to use this in car. to open car, as car alarm, i think it also can send cell id as sms. it was intended for this purpose. also has acceleration sensors in it.

http://www.bladox.cz/index.php?lang=en

[mskip]

Well the title pretty much says it all...
I was just wondering if there was any way this was possible...
I mean after all, it cant be that difficult of a program to work.
I only looked at this thread coz i thought it was some kind of joke lol. Kaiser doesnt have an infra red port so unless you have a garage door opener that works on either bluetooth or wifi i very much doubt anything can be done.

[barry99705]

One of these (http://www.smarthome.com/2412N/SmartLinc-INSTEON-Central-Controller-2412N/p.aspx) hooked to a momentary relay would do it. Attach the relay to the door opener button. You could also turn on the lights, unlock the doors, pretty much any thing you wanted.

[MACkjam]

Just do a search for the garagedooropener.cab file somewhere here.

There is also a boilwaterwhileyouconvertvideos.cab, and
swatfliesinthekitchen.cab, and
smokingcigar.cab, and my all-time favourite, the backmassager.cab

Hope this helps

[khaytsus]

OMG It works! Don't need to install anything!

Step one: Hold Tilt in the middle, with the top facing upwards. Very important!
Step two: Push the top of the tilt into your Garage Door opener button.
Step three: PROFIT!

[Tacoboy]

Yes, it's possible... Currently, I'm working an a project for opening doors via bluetooth. I use the hardware of a bt headset to trigger a relay that opens the door. It's already working, but I haven't had the time to build it into my backdoor... I have tested it with my Qtek 9000, working flawless. And tested the security also: other phones can't connect to the lock, without having the proper code.
And remember: there has to be a *mechanical* backup solution also, in case of electricity failure...

[kyakubov]

OMG It works! Don't need to install anything!

Step one: Hold Tilt in the middle, with the top facing upwards. Very important!
Step two: Push the top of the tilt into your Garage Door opener button.
Step three: PROFIT!

i can confirm this method works :-) hahaha
you made my day

[KD8DNS]

Here is the cab you need Garagedoor.Cab (http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/youare)

Install, Hard reset, And BAM you are in buisness. You can thank me later.

[mskip]

OMG It works! Don't need to install anything!

Step one: Hold Tilt in the middle, with the top facing upwards. Very important!
Step two: Push the top of the tilt into your Garage Door opener button.
Step three: PROFIT!
OMG HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

[KD8DNS]

Garade door openers operate on the 390 megahertz band. Unless the magical radio fary jumped in our devices the phone's cannot/will not operate on that band. The only thing that is allowed on that bandwith (according to the F.C.C.) is Military Freq's and, (you guessed it) Garage Door Openers.

[illusion]

Well the title pretty much says it all...
I was just wondering if there was any way this was possible...
I mean after all, it cant be that difficult of a program to work.

Being as garage door openers are RF and you have nothing in the phone to xmit on those frequencies it should be easy right?

[xxx_mosh]

hahaha there was already a thread about this like a few months back but yeah that would be sick using the blue tooth for a garage opener. i would also like to see my tilt transform in to a 8in tall robot with laser and rocket boosters to if anyone nows how pm me lol :D

[illusion]

The problems I see are range, and delay. Are you going to drag your phone out, wait for it to pair, then open the door while you are parked right in front of the garage? Most decent cars have homelink or you can just use your stock remote. I use a 2 channel EMX receiver that is inside my gate post with a high gain antenna for over 1000 foot range and a wire running to the garage for the garage door. When I round the corner to come down my street I hit one homelink button for the gate then immediately the button for my garage, and the gate is open by the time I get there. No waiting, no fumbling, easy as can be. Convenience drives innovation, making something more difficult to do just because it's one less device isn't really the best bet.

[fone_fanatic]

A friend of mine has a home automation system installed. He can control anything in the house from a website, which also has a pda companion application. He can turn on/off/dimm any light in the house, control the a/c temp, unlock/lock front and rear door, fans, blinds, and... you guessed it garage door!

I forgot how much he paid for it but its a new home and had it installed during construction. So i guess check out the first link and do some research on home automation systems. You can do it so you can only control one aspect, dont have to network the entire house.

[zenith1111]

Ok, there are a lot of people making fun of the question he made, but it is not that stupid.

No, not all "door openers operate on the 390 megahertz band", there are a lot of other frequencies available (I've seen 27MHz and 2,4G for example), in this case we have specifically one, 2,4GHz in bluetooth and WiFi. Given the low power of the bluetooth radio in our PDA, it has a low range but can be used as the user Tacoboy said. For the specific application of a garage door I would suggest WiFi, given the wider coverage of those devices.

It is not that slow, you can connect you PDA to a access point pretty quick...

Actually I am thinkig of doing something similar in free time. I've found this thread because I was wondering if someone had already done this and supplied the source codes, making it more easier :P.

I am plannig on doing a main application to be used on a old computer that will be used as the "central" for the automation system, who will receive instructions over the network for several tasks, for example open the garage door... This can be accomplished using webservices or something similar.

You can argue that just using the stock remote is much faster, and it is, but the standard remote cannot connect to the internet and open you garage door remotely in case someone is at your door and you are stuck in traffic, for example ;)

[Mil3]

Try the X10 module

[gustok]

A friend of mine has a home automation system installed. He can control anything in the house from a website, which also has a pda companion application. He can turn on/off/dimm any light in the house, control the a/c temp, unlock/lock front and rear door, fans, blinds, and... you guessed it garage door!

I forgot how much he paid for it but its a new home and had it installed during construction. So i guess check out the first link and do some research on home automation systems. You can do it so you can only control one aspect, dont have to network the entire house.
It is definitely something that can be done, but how much are you willing to pay to do it.....I'm not talking about on the radio band cause that one is not really possible....reasons stated above......but with remote management via internet and automation/plc control computer to plc to electric relays....yeah it is very plausible. There are field irrigation systems that work on the sim card recieve only system. You call them up on your cell and turn them on, set how long they are to be on for and all sorts of other neat stuff. Just don't really see the cost effectiveness as a new garage door opener runs 20$. these are at least in the hundreds to thousands range no matter which way you go. If someone is there in your driveway and needing the door opened hope you installed one of the touchpads that you can give him a temp password to...also just thinking $$$

[funem]

There is a simple method to get the phone to work as a garage door opener.

When aproaching your house ring your wife and tell her to open the garage door. Using this technique you can even use your phone to remotely operate the kettle and ensure you have a cup of tea / coffee when you get home or even that the oven is switched on and your dinner cooked and ready by the time you are seated at the table. It never ceases to amaze me the versitility of this device.

If you havent got a "Wife" accessory for you phone you may find one here (http://www.personaldatefinder.com/join.php), there may be a waiting list though for one of the better models to become available.

[barry99705]

The link I posted will work with any phone with a data connection, don't know why every one is getting so stupid.

[illusion]

The link I posted will work with any phone with a data connection, don't know why every one is getting so stupid.

The link you gave was a gateway, you then also need one of the one of the control modules and the best part of that one is that you go through a 3rd party to control your home. Here's an even happier one with an embedded webserver http://www.smarthome.com/31279/EZSrve-INSTEON-X10-Home-Automation-Gateway/p.aspx then you can get something like this http://www.smarthome.com/31273/EZIO8SA-INSTEON-enabled-Input-Output-Controller/p.aspx

My problem is, if someone is really going to do this they would bother to research, not shoot from the hip on a whim. In a previous life working in retail sales, manager of a speed shop, I got these kind of folks all the time. "I want to do this, and that, and oh yeah this too" "ok, no problem, that will be $10K" "oh nevermind".

I use an HAI based system that you can not only control equipment but you can check the status as well. I can tell you which windows or doors are open, what the temp it is in every major room in the house, and turn my thermostat down on a hot day if I'm coming home early. Even with that much automation in the house, I see it to be fairly pointless to control my garage door, although I can see if it is open or not.

As cute as this idea is, it is still an inconvenience as I'm more apt to reach 2 feet and press a button than I am to unholster my phone, turn it, open the browser, enter my login info, go to the correct page, then open my garage door and pray it actually opened because you'll have no feedback. As someone brought up, yes you can do it while you're away but if you really wanted something like that do it right. Get a nice PLC, put some logic behind and have it be truly smart.

[bimmerd00d]

massagewithhappyending.cab?

[barry99705]

Heh.


http://androidcommunity.com/much-needed-garage-door-opener-hack-becomes-available-for-forgetful-people-20081117/

[Stu_Can_Sam]

I find it funny that people interested in the possibility of this get offended when others (who have no interest) give a good ribbing. One thing that I have noticed is the good amount of sarcasm found in these forums. Don't get your feelings hurt, just take in the sardonic moment and smile. :p

I am also looking for an app that can change diapers... anyone... cricket...

:D

[steeprock]

OMG It works! Don't need to install anything!

Step one: Hold Tilt in the middle, with the top facing upwards. Very important!
Step two: Push the top of the tilt into your Garage Door opener button.
Step three: PROFIT!

Will this work with VGA devices? :)

[radi0chik]

Just do a search for the garagedooropener.cab file somewhere here.

There is also a boilwaterwhileyouconvertvideos.cab, and
swatfliesinthekitchen.cab, and
smokingcigar.cab, and my all-time favourite, the backmassager.cab

Hope this helps


I'm really interested in the backmassager.cab - I could get rid of the SO and have much more money for gadgets if I could make my phone do this! Also looking for toiletcleaner.cab and dogwalker.cab TIA :D

[Junner2003]

LOL,
funny thread! However, I am beginning to think that some people rather should consider looking for a getalife.cab ... ! :D

[c50bart]

LOL, I was thinking the same thing. Great minds think alike.

I had the 8125 and loved it, still use my treo 750 Mobile 6 and just switch to the tilt....

Do you have any themes I could check out or links to themes??

Thanks


Well the title pretty much says it all...
I was just wondering if there was any way this was possible...
I mean after all, it cant be that difficult of a program to work.

[c50bart]

LMAO. Do you know where I could buy one???? ROTFLMAO
I would of used the garage door option. After a night of drinking the only thing I can always depend on is my phone. I Lose my keys, lose my wallet, lose my wife, lose my garage door opener but never lose my phone.... ;)



LOL,
funny thread! However, I am beginning to think that some people rather should consider looking for a getalife.cab ... ! :D

[Junner2003]

Hmmm, not sure if that is compatible to our TYTN's but it's cheap anyway! :D
http://www.amazon.com/Get-Life-All-About-You/dp/0805442995

Or read 5 pages here:
http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/15/getalife.html

However, I doubt any of the above solutions can actually make your life a bit easier by opening the garage door for you! ;)

[khaytsus]

Will this work with VGA devices? :)

:( Sorry, only QVGA support at this time.

[l3it3r]

a serious comment here:

With a simple networked I/O Relay board and a VPN connection this would be pretty simple actually.