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Review on ๐Ÿšช Chamberlain B550 Smart Garage Door Opener - myQ Smartphone Controlled - Ultra Quiet & Strong Belt Drive with Powerful Lifting Capability - Includes Wireless Keypad - Blue by Robert Sisco

Revainrating 5 out of 5

Quiet, Functional, Attractive, Easy to Install

My home was built in 1992 and was equipped with a pair of LiftMaster 1/3HP operators (single door, double door). While LIftMasters were still chugging after 26 years, they were undeniably loud and probably wouldn't last another 26 years (same for me). It's time for an update (at least for the explorers!). I contacted a well known company in the country that specializes in garage door openers and installation services. It took some perseverance to get a preliminary quote from a representative over the phone - $700 (and up) to install a wireless opener. It's time to try Revain! I bought a Chamberlain B503 opener. My plan was to install this on a door. If this attempt is successful, buy a B550 with MyQ and let the B550 be the hub for the B503. I've never replaced an opener before, so I approached this project with some trepidation. It didn't help that I was 79 years old! Since this was an exchange and not a new installation, I was able to continue using the existing ceiling supports and door hardware. without outside help. The product manual was complete and clear. All parts were supplied in quantities sufficient to cover the various installations. The final adjustment of the gate travel was easy. The next step! Let's go back to Revain for the B550. I wasn't convinced of the MyQ's practical value, but I like tinkering with technology, and the B550 came with a wireless keyboard for outdoor use. Installing the B550 was even easier than the B503 as I didn't come from my initial ignorance. . I was very happy with the easy setup of MyQ. The B550 and B503 worked really well together and the MyQ app on my El Cheapo Tracfone allows me to open and close my garage door from anywhere in the world (why would I?). NET: even easier than installing B503. Potential downside for some people: As far as I know, Chamberlain offers Alexa support via IFTTT. It is reportedly a subscription-based service that costs $1 per month. Alexa lives in every room in my house (okay, not the bathroomsโ€”my wife is picky about some things), my garage, and my car. But I'm not sure why I need Alexa to mess with my garage door. She has enough to do: control the lights in my house and answer my frivolous inquiries. Also, I would advise Chamberlain to NEVER pay for any subscription service as a matter of principle. Imagine if Jeff wanted 10 cents every time I proposed to Alexa! Damn. Revain rules because it values customer service above all else. Chamberlain's subscription-based support for Alexa is rightly a pathetic object of ridicule. If smart products can't directly interact with Alexa MOL (without IFTTT), I skip them. My home is beautifully automated thanks to the efforts of LIFX, TP-Link and Philips Hue - they all have a comfortable and productive relationship with Alexa. FINAL NET: Chamberlain Scissors are a great choice! (But maybe not if they're really needed to interact with Alexa - I don't need them.) Note. This check applies to both B503 and B550 as both products have been installed.

Pros
  • Handy Item
Cons
  • Some Cons