SALT LAKE - Many major garage door opener manufacturers may lose a confrontation with the U.S. government over who has rights to the popular 390 MHz radio frequencies.

Martin Door Manufacturing and the Martin Garage Door Opener System is not part of this confrontation. The U.S. Government recently disclosed that they would spend almost $1 billion to buy new radios that operate on 390 MHz. This is the same frequency that many garage door openers operate on.
Translated into simple terms, it means that homes anywhere close to a military installation could be affected by radio		Martin Door openers operate on 315 MHz and will be unaffected by new government equipment, which could jam many garage door openers located near military installations.

interference. Some estimates suggest that homes within a 50-mile radius of a government installation will be impacted. The government owns that frequency and the new equipment is likely to jam garage door openers in that region.

The military radio signal is sometimes so strong that is overpowers the opener's signal, preventing the door from opening. Or it can significantly reduce the opener's range, forcing the user to walk close to the door before it opens.

The government's response to the new problem affecting garage door owners is not sympathetic. One Air Force official, when asked about the potential impact, suggested that any non-military individual that was using the 390 MHz frequencies should "cease and desist" or suffer the consequence of powerful government radio interference.

Garage door openers are not licensed and are required to carry a Federal Communications Commission disclaimer that suggests the device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

Technically the government owns all frequencies between 225-399, but the new government equipment is expected to only operate between 380 and 399 MHz.

Since the Martin Door openers operate on 315 MHz, the new government equipment will not affect it.

Some industry experts have suggested that the parts to change the frequency of an opener will range around $60. With added labor the costs could add up quickly.

There is hope, according to David O. Martin, CEO of Martin Doors.

"If you have to fix or replace your opener, you'd be better off looking at the long-term and buying a Martin Door opener with a lifetime warranty," Martin said.