I, too, installed an open source garage door opener, and I’m loving it
There’s more than one garage opener with a not-quite-open ecosystem. That’s why an Ars writer installed an OpenGarage unit.
I went the ratgdo route and it has been flawless so far. Integrated nicely with Home Assistant and was able to tap into the opener's existing limit switches for a decently clean install.
It is great that everything operates as before, but now I can see the door status and operate it remotely along with all the other tricks being tied in with the home automation system, such as alerts when left open at night or triggering interior lights when returning home while dark.
I did something similar with relay, a d1 mini, and home assistant. Way cheaper than $50. But I can certainly see the appeal of this for people that aren’t electronically inclined. We need more projects like this.
Fucking hell... You know what's even better than open source shit for a garage opener? An analogue one. A fucking button and that's it, it works, your don't rely on apps or programs, it's a fucking button.
My wall button still works, plus I get door status, car occupancy, and remote door control, all with no cloud connection or subscription necessary. The app isn't required, but it's super useful.
I felt that way about light automation in my house. Spent quite a bit on hardware to realize the light switch as you enter a room makes the most sense.
I feel like this is the journey of all automation enthusiasts. We start with a giant dream plan and then reel it into reality. Don't automate everything...just the stuff that makes sense for you. Not that I don't appreciate the dedication involved in complex automation, but our family favorites are the simple ones like opening curtains at sunrise, or dimly turning on the kitchen lights when we walk in for a late night snack. Small things that take away mundane tasks.
