Just realized my $20 automatic door opener from Tractor Supply is way more reliable than the $150 'smart' one I bought online

Honestly, the smart one failed after 3 months because the app kept disconnecting, but the basic timer-based one has opened at sunrise every morning for a year without a single glitch, so what's the better long-term choice for a coop?

3 comments

3 Comments

blair_green862mo ago

My smart opener has worked flawlessly for two years with zero app issues.

paulperry1mo ago

Two years and zero app issues over here too with my Genie opener. Honestly I've had mine since late 2021 and only had one hiccup when our wifi went down for a day, but the opener still worked fine with the remote. Tbh @jamieperez, I think the whole "company shuts down" thing is overblown for most smart home stuff. These apps are so simple they could run on a potato and the hardware itself usually still works if the app dies, you just lose the phone control. Ngl I was worried at first too but after three years I'm pretty confident this thing will outlast my garage door.

jamieperez2mo ago

Flawlessly for two years" is the key part. Makes me wonder what happens when the company that makes the app shuts down or gets bought out. Your opener becomes a dumb brick.