On Tue, 21 Aug 2007 01:25:00 -0500, "Karl Townsend"
wrote:

You might explore why your remotes are dying. I probably operate my
door at least two or three times a day most days, and my three
Chamberlain remotes have been working for at least 15 years. Maybe
they need to be ruggedized somehow for the service they see on
tractors, or something. The weakest part of the remotes is the
plastic-flap-actuated circuit-board contacts. Bypassing those with
weatherproof and gorilla-proof pushbutton switches might enhance
remote lifetime considerably. Renewing batteries once a year wouldn't
hurt either, though I don't recall when I last renewed the battery in
any of my remotes.

Thanks for the advice. I'm sure the biggest problem is tossing the units in
the tool box (dirty). I'd tried taping to the steering wheel but range
became terrible and then they get rained on. I've already installed an
outside antennae for the opener - very little help.

I did a Google search on range for these things. there were several hits
showing using your body as an antennae for the remote. Touch the remote to
your chin or forehead to turn it on, I'll try it.

I guess I'm back to the big box store to buy more of the same crappy units.

Get a plastic screw-top project box and rig a waterproofed way to
push the transmit button, then mount it on the dash or OSHA roll-cage
of the tractor where it's out of the way and works.

Use Velcro to mount the remote in the box and the box to the tractor
and add some degree of shock absorption - though you might have to
screw the Velcro down to make sure the adhesive doesn't let go and
drop the remote in the middle of the Back Forty. Or backup the
adhesive with some 1/8" rope and make a little "safety leash" so it
can't go far.

The raw remote unit is made for a cushy passenger car visor and
isn't going to like being bounced around in a tractor toolbox, and it
really won't like the hammer being dropped on it multiple times...

And avoid the "Rolling Code" remotes in the future, in an industrial
setting you aren't really worried about someone snagging the code.
First they have to get into the front gates, and past the "puppies".
(The Rottweiler mix ones with the bad attitude toward strangers.)

The good old fashioned Stanley Multi-Code 300/310 MHZ units work
just fine, and you can program 500 remotes to one receiver with the
same code - done all the time at condo complex vehicle gates.

-- Bruce --