Linear garage Door Controllers

So..both my linear garage door controllers just dropped off again..and i said the last time that the next time would be the reason to replace them.
I was thinking of getting ZEN 16s to replace them with but that has a bit of a DIY feel ( as much as i love the Zen 16s) and wanted to see if there was another dedicated zigbee or zwave garage door controller out there before i make a decision ( i dont have anything that is wifi integrated and prefer not to start)
What i like about the linear controllers is they have an integrated tilt sensor that connects directly to the door controller (not back to the hub) and when they dont drop off..they do a great job of updating door opening or door closing as its happening. What i dont like is they drop off several times a year and frankly...this was the last straw!

Appreciate any thoughts on options
thanks
mac

I have had a Go Control GD004-Z (Z-Wave) for at least 4-5 years now and it has never dropped off. I thought there was a Linear model that was essentially the same as the Go Control but not sure if that is what you have. If both the doors are dropping off your network, you may have a mesh issue. In my case, I have several in-wall Z-Wave switches around the house that are repeating signals, so that could be the reason that mine has been stable.

The flakiness that I have had has been with the tilt sensor (lots of false open/close messages) so I finally put in a Ecolink Tilt Sensor.

Mine came from Lowes when they supported the iris product. Its a GD00Z-1..so pretty certain its not a zwave plus either.
I can't imagine its the mesh. I have 4 zwave switches and a zwave repeater within 10 feet of the double garage door and a combination of 5 different switches / zen 16s within 5 feet of the single garage door opener.
My drop offs seem to coincide with power outages....we had multiple power cycles in the last few weeks with the storm in Texas. Afterward, getting to re-pair is a PITA.

If i knew the new linear controllers were zwave plus i'd tale a stab at them but im sour on the line now. I did see an Aeotec Garage Door Controller Gen 5 on the HE compatible page. I'm trying to figure out if the tilt sensor on that system is tied to the controller or to the hub.

When you say you put a tilt sensor on your linear...did it connect to the controller or to the hub?
Cheers
mac

The Ecolink Tilt Sensor is not connected to my Go Control Garage Door Opener but is paired directly with HE. I still have the one that came with the Go Control unit attached to the garage (and paired with the unit, not the hub) but have (or will be) transitioning the rules for open/close status over to the Ecolink device.

I'm in Texas too! Luckily, I have not had the issues that you have had after power outages.

In past month or so, Zooz has hinted here in the community (can't find the exact post) that they're working on a more hard-wired-sensor friendly variation ala the ZEN16.

IIRC, they were seeking beta testers. I'm waiting on real spring to arrive up here in MN before re-doing my GDO setup out in my detached garage, and I'm hoping this new device is out by then. I want to use hard-wired door sensors.

Anytime I have a question about this, I visit the Zwave Alliance page and search for the device in question. You want to "View" the conformance statement at the top of the page. It will clearly list whether is is plus, beaming, or whatever.

Here is the Linear opener.

https://products.z-wavealliance.org/products/1059/embedpics

2 Likes

well...sticking with the brand i know. I put a new linear controller in. Hoping the ZWave plus makes it more robust. time will tell. I still have the other garage to do so might look at another option so i have a comparison.
Cheers

I have an older GoControl (I think the GD00Z-1) on my 2-car garage door...it's Z-Wave (not plus) and have had no issues with it for 4 years.

I recently purchased 2 of the GoControl GD00Z-8...one for my 1-car door and the other to replace the old Z-Wave device.

The first GD00Z-8 I mounted kept losing communication with it's tilt sensor...about every 2 weeks. I would have to go back and repair the tilt sensor with the opener. No Z-Wave issues.

Thinking I just had a bad unit, I installed the second unit I purchased in place of the first. Same tilt sensor issue, but OK with Z-Wave.

I will check out the tilt sensor you described.

I am assuming that you make a virtual device, and create rules to update the status of the virtual device based on the new tilt sensor, etc.?

I have one of the GD00Z-4 units. Does not lose pairing with the tilt sensor but I do get false open/close from the tilt sensor. I now have an Ecolink Tilt Sensor (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MRZB0NT/) and so far (about 1 month) it's been very reliable. I left the GoControl unit paired to the tilt sensor it came with but my notifications, open/close automations are driven by the status of the Ecolink tilt sensor