SmartHomeUSA.com Home Automation

[Mo]

I bought a Skylink GM-318 and two transmitters to indicate if my Garage doors are still open at night. I programmed them on my workbench, and manually acuated the door sensors by moving the cylinders to see if the receiver worked properly. It did after this test. Once I moved the receiver unit into the bedroom (after mounting the transmitters to the doors), the receiver intermittently blinks zone 1, 2, 3 (but never 4) twice and pauses, and then repeats itself (blink, blink, pause, blink, blink, pause.......) Sometimes Zone 1 and 2 do this together, sometimes only Zone 2 an sometimes Zone 3. Is the problem not enough signal from the transmitters? The receiver is about 20-30 feet laterally and 10-12 feet vertically from the transmitters.

Power cycling the receiver usually fixes this problem... for awhile, then random operation resumes. I have contacted Skylink, and after quite a delay they suggested that I send the unit back to them, but I get the impression from the way the email was worded that they don't really think that there is an issue.

Before I sent this unit to Skylink, I would like to rule out:
1) Interfering sources
2) Intermittent operation from the transmitters.
3) Inrorrect set up code combinations

Regarding the set up codes: Are there any "better or worse" ones?

Is there any way to do this with a spectrum analyzer? I have access to an Agilent 8593E and an Anritsu MS4630B if this helps. I could possibly look for interfering sources using them and a directional antenna.

[Ralph]

Hi Mo,

I am waiting for a response from Skylink, I will have an answer for you on Monday.

[waldorfra]

I'd be curious to hear what SkyLink says as I am having a similar issue. Everything seemed to work when I tested before installing.

The system setup was very quick and easy, yet after installing the transmitters on the garage doors, I tend to have situations where a transmitter triggers an alert when the garage door opens, but does not turn off when the door closes.

This has happened on a couple times with different zones.

Thanks,
Randy

[replicant14743]

Hello all. I have been looking for a possible solution to an issue I am having with the Skylink GM-318 and the 318T. I noticed way back in 2007 that user Mo had similar issues but the discussion ended without any solution showing.

Basically, I have installed the GM-318 to allow me to know when the garage doors are open and they were working quite well, however, occasionally the sensor 1 and 2 (I have these 2 monitored) will flash the repeatedly and it can take up to 45 minutes before they stop. At first I thought that the batteries were old even though I just purchased it and so replaced them. I have even tried moving the base unit closer to the remote ones but this still happens.

I don't mind if it is some sort of calibration or checking setting, its just that when they are flashing, they are not monitoring the doors which can open and close without an alert and seeing as this is what I have bought them for, makes the unit completely unreliable and therefore of no use as i find myself looking at the monitor and then still checking on the doors.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.