4 ms·

Chamberlain blocks smart garage door opener from working with smart homes

13 points by gdrift 3y ago

amacalac 3y ago
with this backlash, it won't last long. they'll change course by January 2024
- ZeroSolstice 3y ago
  Seems that the Home Assistant user base, as determined by Chamberlain, is relatively small. To hardware/software hackers this type of vendor pull-out/lock-out should always be expected. However, since the end user has physical access to the device thinks like ratgdo[1] will always be an option. While the app integration is nice, garage doors still seem to be one of those things that just needs to work in proximity and a smart phone app and alarm.com / amazon integration are superfluous add-ons. I bought mine from Costco for the simple reason that I could return it if broke. [1] https://paulwieland.github.io/ratgdo/ https://paulwieland.github.io/ratgdo/
  - onedognight 3y ago
    Thank you, thank you, thank you. The ratdgo has open source firmware that implements the encrypted serial communications needed to control and get status from Chamberlain / Liftmaster garage doors (without needing the myQ hub). > It works with virtually any residential Chamberlain or Liftmaster manufactured garage door opener and also offers basic support for other brands which use dry contacts to control the door. > It can control the door and report back the actual status of the door (closed, opening, open, closing). For Security + 2.0 door openers, the obstruction sensors, light, wireless lockout and even motion sensing are also integrated.
- nixgeek 3y ago
  They sell millions of garage door openers and probably <0.1% care about Home Assistant. Nothing will change.
rootusrootus 3y ago
It still works with HA but only if you set it up as a HomeKit device (does not require owning any Apple devices). That’s what I’ve switched to, and it’s working fine now. You do need the newer generation MyQ gateway however to get HomeKit support.
- acdha 3y ago
  HomeKit appears to be slated for removal based on how they’re talking about only current users here: https://support.chamberlaingroup.com/s/article/App-and-phone-requirements-to-use-HomeKit-with-MyQ https://support.chamberlaingroup.com/s/article/App-and-phone...
  - rootusrootus 3y ago
    Best they can do is stop selling it. HomeKit is a local service, not cloud, so they'd have to specifically remove it by forcing an update. Given that when they started selling the Home Bridge the entire selling point was HomeKit, that seems like a great way to quickly lose a class action. I ordered one of the ratgdo devices a couple weeks ago just in case. As long as HomeKit works I'm happy for the moment, but it's nice to have the backup option. I'm not too interested in replacing two perfectly functional garage door openers yet, or going with some tacked-on solution to determine if the door is up or down. It'll definitely influence my decision, though, when it comes to replacing these openers in the future. I used to like Liftmaster.
    - acdha 3y ago
      They could also ship a firmware update which disables it, although I imagine there’d be some concern about a lawsuit.
ale42 3y ago
Once again a user-hostile company. There should be laws forbidding this kind of behavior by companies.
simbolit 3y ago
dupe: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38188614 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38188614

13 points by gdrift 3y ago

amacalac 3y ago

with this backlash, it won't last long. they'll change course by January 2024

ZeroSolstice 3y ago
Seems that the Home Assistant user base, as determined by Chamberlain, is relatively small. To hardware/software hackers this type of vendor pull-out/lock-out should always be expected. However, since the end user has physical access to the device thinks like ratgdo[1] will always be an option. While the app integration is nice, garage doors still seem to be one of those things that just needs to work in proximity and a smart phone app and alarm.com / amazon integration are superfluous add-ons. I bought mine from Costco for the simple reason that I could return it if broke. [1] https://paulwieland.github.io/ratgdo/ https://paulwieland.github.io/ratgdo/
- onedognight 3y ago
  Thank you, thank you, thank you. The ratdgo has open source firmware that implements the encrypted serial communications needed to control and get status from Chamberlain / Liftmaster garage doors (without needing the myQ hub). > It works with virtually any residential Chamberlain or Liftmaster manufactured garage door opener and also offers basic support for other brands which use dry contacts to control the door. > It can control the door and report back the actual status of the door (closed, opening, open, closing). For Security + 2.0 door openers, the obstruction sensors, light, wireless lockout and even motion sensing are also integrated.
nixgeek 3y ago
They sell millions of garage door openers and probably <0.1% care about Home Assistant. Nothing will change.

rootusrootus 3y ago

It still works with HA but only if you set it up as a HomeKit device (does not require owning any Apple devices). That’s what I’ve switched to, and it’s working fine now. You do need the newer generation MyQ gateway however to get HomeKit support.

acdha 3y ago
HomeKit appears to be slated for removal based on how they’re talking about only current users here: https://support.chamberlaingroup.com/s/article/App-and-phone-requirements-to-use-HomeKit-with-MyQ https://support.chamberlaingroup.com/s/article/App-and-phone...
- rootusrootus 3y ago
  Best they can do is stop selling it. HomeKit is a local service, not cloud, so they'd have to specifically remove it by forcing an update. Given that when they started selling the Home Bridge the entire selling point was HomeKit, that seems like a great way to quickly lose a class action. I ordered one of the ratgdo devices a couple weeks ago just in case. As long as HomeKit works I'm happy for the moment, but it's nice to have the backup option. I'm not too interested in replacing two perfectly functional garage door openers yet, or going with some tacked-on solution to determine if the door is up or down. It'll definitely influence my decision, though, when it comes to replacing these openers in the future. I used to like Liftmaster.
  - acdha 3y ago
    They could also ship a firmware update which disables it, although I imagine there’d be some concern about a lawsuit.

ale42 3y ago

Once again a user-hostile company. There should be laws forbidding this kind of behavior by companies.

simbolit 3y ago

dupe: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38188614 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38188614