The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is currently modernizing a crucial communication system known as ELMR, which is expected to have an impact on garage door openers within a 10 nautical mile radius, according to Shipyard Commander Michael Ober Dorf.
As concerns were raised about the possibility of unauthorized access to garage doors, Ober Dorf explained that during the update, there may be intermittent periods when nearby garage door openers cannot be used effectively, resulting in a reduced range due to frequency interference.
In such cases, individuals would need to either approach the garage door closely or use the opener’s hardwired button on the inside. The reason for this inconvenience is that both the new communication system and garage doors operate on the same radio frequency.
Land mobile radio systems and military communication systems typically operate within specific frequency bands allocated for public safety and military communications. In the United States, common frequency bands used for land mobile radio systems include the Very High Frequency (VHF) band (30-300 MHz) and the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) band (300-3000 MHz).
It’s important to note that the specific frequencies utilized by the Navy-Wide ELMR System can vary based on factors such as location, mission requirements, and interoperability needs with other military and public safety agencies. For accurate and current information on the frequencies used by the Navy-Wide ELMR System, it would be best to consult official Navy sources or reach out to the Navy directly.
Garage door openers on the other hand work on 315 MHz or 390 MHz frequencies. Modern garage door openers however, have the capability to operate on multiple frequency bands.
For example, modern Genie openers work on 315MHz or 390MHz dual-frequency. Liftmaster or Chamberlain openers work on 310, 315 and 390 MHz Tri-Band frequency.
The main advantage of dual-band and tri-band technologies in garage door openers is that they provide more options for wireless connectivity, allowing the opener’s receiver to switch between the frequencies and operate on the least congested or optimal frequency band available. This results in better flexibility, reduced interference, and improved network performance in environments with multiple wireless devices.
Nearby residents were surprised that a naval yard’s operations could affect their garage doors, highlighting the unexpected nature of the situation. Nonetheless, despite the potential inconvenience for local residents, the commander emphasized the critical nature of the update.
He stated that it enables the naval yard to quickly communicate with civilian first responders. This partnership with civilian counterparts in the area ensures a prompt response in case of emergencies requiring the assistance of first responders.
The Navy-Wide National Enterprise Land Mobile Radio (ELMR) System is a communications system used by the United States Navy for secure voice and data communications. It is designed to provide reliable and interoperable communication capabilities across various naval commands and units.
The ELMR system will remain in use indefinitely, therefore, if you’re experiencing frequency interference issues or range problems with your garage door opener, you may want to change the opener frequency or consult a licensed garage door repair company.
