#headliningcompetition#

Quick introduction

In my garage automation journey, I chose a Home Assistant-compatible OpenGarage unit in place of Genie\’s Aladdin Connect system. Although Genie\’s Wi-Fi garage door opener originally had integration with Home Assistant, support was lost due to API changes. Genie announced that an official integration would be available in the future, but the integration was quickly withdrawn without subsequent updates. With OpenGarage, I gained greater flexibility and control to seamlessly integrate into Home Assistant and get rid of dependencies on unstable APIs. I\’m looking forward to exploring more potential improvement options and hope that future updates to Genie in terms of integration will have a positive impact on my system. This journey has me excited about the possibilities of garage automation, with plans to further optimize the functionality of my garage door opener.

My journey into garage automation

Like Ars senior technical editor Lee Hutchinson , I also own a garage. My garage door is operated by a device similar to Lee\’s, which offers a smartphone app to control the door. However, this app is not compatible with Home Assistant, my preferred home automation system, and looks more like a typical garage door operating app. I considered the Ratgdo that Lee installed and praised, but integrating it with my particular Genie/Aladdin system would require the installation of limit switches. So I chose an OpenGarage unit, which was $50 plus shipping. My garage door opener now works with Home Assistant(and basically any other system) work together seamlessly and no longer rely on the unpredictability of API access. I also have a few ideas to enhance its functionality. Let me walk you through my process, the reasons behind my choices, and my plans for the future.

Genie garage door opener experience

Genie, my Wi-Fi garage door The manufacturer of door openers, promoting its \”Aladdin Connect\” system, faces a different situation than the Chamberlain/myQ system that inspired Lee\’s project. Initially, there was an Aladdin Connect integration available in Home Assistant until the company revised its API in January 2024. Genie announced it would launch its own official Home Assistant integration in June, and it did so; however, that integration was quickly withdrawn, seemingly due to licensing complications. Since then, there have been no further updates on this issue. I\’ve reached out to Genie for clarification and will update this post if I hear back.

Future enhancements and considerations

By installing the OpenGarage unit, I now have greater flexibility and control over my garage door system. Not only does this setup integrate smoothly with Home Assistant, it also allows for potential improvements that I\’m eager to explore. Being able to customize and enhance the automated process is exciting, and I\’m considering options to further optimize the functionality of my garage door opener. Along this journey, I\’m keeping hope for updates from Genie regarding its integrations, which may have a big impact on my setup in the future.