Garage Door Opener Reviews: LiftMaster 8500W
Updated: Jan. 15, 2020Find out what we liked so much about the LiftMaster 8500W garage door opener in our review.
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For the tech savvy who want to maximize garage space, the LiftMaster 8500W ranks at the top of the list for garage door openers.
This is the Cadillac of garage door openers because of its features and quiet design.
LiftMaster 8500W Pros
The LiftMaster 8500W is a wall-mounted garage door opener that runs on DC power. Because the LiftMaster 8500W is wall mounted, there is a tremendous reduction in noise and vibration.
Wi-Fi Enabled
The LiftMaster 8500W has Wi-Fi built in so you can connect it to a smartphone through the myQ app. If you want to link your myQ account to Google Assistant and/or IFTTT there is a subscription fee of $1 a month or $10 a year.
Overhead Garage Space
Since the garage door opener is mounted on the wall, all that space where a garage door opener hangs is now open for storage. Check out these 14 awesome products to maximize your overhead garage storage.
LiftMaster 8500W Extras
The LiftMaster 8500W comes with a 1,500 lumen remote LED light that can be scheduled to turn on automatically through the myQ app. You can place the LED light anywhere in the garage so you’re not opening your car door to a find a dark garage.
Garage Deadbolt
The LiftMaster 8500W features an automatic garage door lock that acts as a deadbolt. It’s the first garage door lock tested by UL.
Battery Backup
You don’t have to worry about how to open your garage door when the power goes out with the LiftMaster 8500W because it comes with a battery backup that allows up to 20 open-and-close cycles within a 24-hour period.
Smart Control Panel
The Smart Control Panel for the LiftMaster 8500W will operate up to three openers, has a 150 degree sensing angle to detect motion and there’s even an ability to control the temperature of your garage if you have a heated garage.
You can open and close the door from your phone. It’s a wall mount and cuts down on vibration. Mounted on the wall, next to the garage door opener so it’s not hanging overhead. It has a variable speed. The light is wireless, and you can put it every where. Motion sensor and there’s a thermostat on the remote. It throws a bolt through the wheel to lock the door.
LiftMaster 8500W Strength
It’ll open doors that weigh up to 850 pounds. It comes with a lifetime motor warranty, a 5-year parts warranty and a 1-year battery and accessories warranty.
Where to Buy the LiftMaster 8500W
Find the LiftMaster 8500W now at Amazon for around $475.
Garage Wi-Fi
An open garage door is an invitation to thieves. In the blink of an eye, they can make off with bikes, mowers and sports equipment. If you have an attached garage, leaving your garage door open is the best way for burglars to enter your home and steal even more! And face it, how many times have you forgotten to close your garage door at night? Yeah, we thought so. Solve the problem by retrofitting your garage door openers with a Wi-Fi controller, and check out our guide for how to secure your garage from thieves. A Wi-Fi controller and smartphone app lets you check door status from anywhere and close it with a screen click. The app allows you to set a nightly closing time so you never forget or close the door if its been open too long. Plus, the app can send you an alert if the door is opened when your not home. Installation is easy, but you do have to check your Wi-Fi signal strength and garage door opener compatibility before you buy. Plus, learn our tips on how to replace an existing opener.
Check Your Wi-Fi Signal Strength
The Wi-Fi controller mounts on the ceiling near the opener. So you’ll have to have strong WiFi reception there. Grab a ladder and hold your smartphone or tablet near the ceiling. You’ll need a signal strength of at least two bars and be able to surf the Internet from that location. If you don’t have a strong signal, you’ll have to beef up your signal with a Wi-Fi extender or a newer mesh router.
Add a Wi-Fi Range Extender
A Wi-Fi extender receives the Wi-Fi signal from your home’s wireless router and re-broadcasts it, giving you coverage farther from the router. Choose from a table top model or a wall-hugging plug-in model. Prices range from as low as $20 to $125 for more powerful units.
Buy a Better Router
If you’re leasing a router from your Internet provider, chances are you have a low power unit with limited range. If you can’t get a strong Wi-Fi signal in your garage, ditch the leased unit and buy a new high speed router. More powerful wireless routers sell for around $150. If you’re willing to spend up to $450, you can upgrade to a powerful tri-band mesh wireless router that’ll broadcast high speed Wi-Fi to every corner of your home. Check out this guide for how to get faster Wi-Fi and how to extend your Wi-Fi range.
Shop for a Wi-Fi Garage Door Controller
Three companies currently make retrofit Wi-Fi garage door controllers. • Chamberlain MyQ Smart Garage Hub $100 • Genie ALLADIN CONNECT $95 • Skylink Nova $100 Depending on the brand, a retrofit garage door controller can operate two or three openers. Plus, they interface with a variety of home automation but not all.
Genie ALLADIN CONNECT Wi-Fi Controller
The Genie ALLADIN CONNECT controller operates up to three garage door openers. The unit comes with one door sensor and you need one sensor ($35) for each additional door. The unit requires 24-hr 120V AC power and connects to the either the wall switch(s) or the opener(s) with 2-conductor bell wire (included). ALLADIN CONNECT is compatible with most garage door openers made after 1993. The unit works with the ALLADAN app and the IRIS home security/automation system from Lowes. For a garage door opener compatibility list, go to geniecompany.com
Chamberlain MyQ Smart Garage Hub Wi-Fi Garage Door Controller
The Chamberlain MyQ Smart Garage Hub controller operates up to two garage doors. The unit comes with one door sensor and you need one sensor ($35) for each garage door. The unit requires 24-hr 120V AC power. However, the MyQ Smart Garage Hub doesn’t require any additional other wiring. Simply touch the “learning” button on your opener to train the MyQ hub to act like a traditional garage door transmitter. The hub then sends open and close commands wirelessly to your opener. The MyQ hub is compatible with most garage door openers made after 1993. For opener compatibility, go to chamberlain.com. In addition to the MyQ app the unit also works with these home automation systems*: • Ok Google • Apple Homekit • IFTTT • Nest • XFINITY Home • wink • Alpine Connecty • Clare Controle * may require a subscription fee
Skylink Nova Wi-Fi Garage Door Controller
The Skylink Nova controller operates up to two garage doors. The unit comes with one door sensor and you need one sensor ($20) for each additional garage door. The unit requires 24-hr 120V AC power and connects to the either the wall switch(s) or the opener(s) with 2-conductor bell wire (included). Skylink Nova is compatible with most garage door openers made after 1993. For a garage door opener compatibility list, go to skylinkhome.com. In addition to the Skylink app the unit also works with most home automation systems using the IFTTT platform.
Check Opener Compatibility
Grab a ladder and jot down the model number of each garage door opener. Then check the manufacturers’ websites to make sure they’re compatible with the Wi-Fi controller before you buy. If your current openers aren’t compatible, check out new Wi-Fi enabled garage door openers.
Connect to Your Home's Wi-Fi
Download the app to your smartphone. Then plug in the controller and follow the app instructions to connect the controller to your home’s Wi-Fi. You’ll need with your Wi-Fi password for this step.
Mount the Wi-Fi Garage Door Controller
Secure the mounting bracket to the ceiling between your garage door openers. Then mount the controller.
Mount the Door Sensor(s)
Using the supplied screws or self-adhesive hook and loop tape, mount the door sensor near the top of each garage door.
Connect the Controller to the Openers
Route the supplied 2-conductor bell wire from the controller to each garage door opener (Alladin CONNECT and Nova only). Strip off 3/4-in. insulation and connect to the wall switch terminals. For the MyQ Smart Hub controller. Press the “learn” button on the opener and the programming button on the hub.
Pair the Door Sensor(s) to the Controller
Press the programming button on the controller and then the pairing button on the door sensor. Wait to see the “paired” confirmation light on the controller or app. Repeat for each door sensor.
Test the System
Operate the controller from your phone to confirm the status on the screen matches the actual door status.
