Homelink device in UK - my learnings

[Andrew Campbell-Laing]

I bought a homelink device from ebay and it appears this is now a US version of the device. I did finally find the little white connector, but had to remove the sun visor catch to get to it.

Once all installed i tried to prgram the device, Here is where I came a cropper.

I can not get my device to learn the codes from any of my transmitters (garage door opener/ X10 transmitter).

After much research it appears the EU is licensing transmitters in the frequency 433 mhz. Hence why nearly everything is on this range in the UK.

The European version of the homelink device supports 433 mhz, where as the US version does not. The FAQ on the US site states:

Check the frequency of the device’s hand-held transmitter (usually found on the back). HomeLink is compatible with radio-frequency devices operating between 288-399MHz (some 2001 and newer vehicles may be compatible up to 418MHz. Please contact us for vehicle compatibility).

So obviously as the homelink device does not support 433mhz, there is no way I can get the device to learn any of my transmitters. That will teach me to do far more research beforfe i buy.

As my garage door opener can have additional recievers plugged in, I could buy a US receiver and transmitter for it that operate in the range required by the US device, albeit this will not be licensed for use in the EU and I will be operating these devices illegally. So I shall not go down this route.

I have sent an email to Homelink US and Homelink Europe to see if there is a way to recode the region code in the Homelink device (I fear not).

So my learnings are after thinking I was saving a lot of money (especially with the exchange rate presently) by buying the device off ebay from the US, the device is in fact as useful to me as the blanking plate it replaced.

I will keep you updated on anything that comes back from homelink.

Andrew