This decision tree will help you choose between Konnected’s Smart Garage Door Opener White (GDO White) and Smart Garage Door Opener blaQ (GDO blaQ) based on your garage door opener’s make and technology. The key difference is whether your opener uses a traditional push-button control or Chamberlain’s Security+ digital protocol. Follow the steps below to find the right model for your setup:
Step 1: Identify Your Opener’s Brand
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Is your garage door opener made by Chamberlain (or a Chamberlain-owned brand)? This includes LiftMaster, Craftsman (Sears), and Merlin. These brands are part of the Chamberlain group and often use the Security+ or Security+ 2.0 encrypted control technology
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Yes – It is Chamberlain/LiftMaster/Craftsman/Merlin: Proceed to Step 2. (Your opener likely uses the Security+ protocol and may require the GDO blaQ.)
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No – It’s a different brand (e.g. Genie, Overhead Door, Linear, Stanley, etc.): Choose Konnected GDO White (v2). The GDO White uses a simple dry-contact relay (like a doorbell push-button) to trigger the door. It works with virtually all other brands and models that use a standard wired wall switch
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(Examples: Genie, Overhead Door, Linear, Stanley, Marantec, and older openers not made by Chamberlain.) GDO White is the universal choice except for openers with Chamberlain’s Security+ 2.0 technology
(Skip to Step 3 for a few special cases or accessories that may apply to these openers.)
Step 2: Check the “Learn” Button Color (For Chamberlain/LiftMaster Brands)
If your opener is Chamberlain/LiftMaster/Craftsman/Merlin, look at the learn button on the back or side of the motor unit. The color of this button is a quick indicator of the technology:
- Learn button is Yellow (round), Red, Orange, Purple, Blue, or Brown: Your opener uses Security+ or Security+ 2.0 digital technology (common in newer Chamberlain-family openers, including those with built-in myQ)
Choose Konnected GDO blaQ. The GDO blaQ is designed to communicate over Chamberlain’s Security+ wired serial protocol, which is required for these openers. (Security+ 2.0 openers are typically identified by a round yellow learn button
Older Security+ 1.0 models may have a purple or red/orange button
In either case, GDO blaQ can speak the “Security+” language that these units need.) GDO blaQ will NOT work on openers outside of these brands/technologies
- Learn button is Green, Gray, White, or Yellow (square shaped): Your opener is an older model using a traditional wired control (no advanced Security+ protocol)
Choose Konnected GDO White. These older Chamberlain/LiftMaster units do support a simple contact closure to open/close the door. GDO White will simulate a push-button press to trigger the door, which is compatible with these models
- No learn button (or DIP switches present): Your opener is very old-school (uses manual code switches) and also relies on a basic push-button control. Choose GDO White, since your system simply needs a dry-contact closure to operate (which the White provides)
(If you have a Merlin or other regional Chamberlain-brand opener: the same rule applies by learn button color. For example, Merlin models with Security+ 2.0 will have a round Yellow button and need blaQ, whereas older Merlin units with wired controls would use White.)
Step 3: Special Cases and Accessories
- Genie Series III Openers (older models): Most Genie openers work with GDO White out-of-the-box, except certain Genie Series III models. If you have a Genie model 3022, 3024, 3042, 4022, 4024, 4042, 3062, 3064, 4062, or 4064 with a serial number below 122494110518, the wall control is not a standard dry-contact switch. These particular Genie units require a Genie dry-contact adapter to interface with any dry-contact controller
In this case, you can still use GDO White, but you’ll need to install the adapter between the GDO White and your opener’s wall control terminals. (The adapter, available from Genie, converts the signal to one the opener understands.)
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“Paperclip Test” if Unsure: If you’re not certain what type of control your opener uses, a quick test can help. Momentarily touch a metal wire or paperclip across the two wall-button terminals on your opener (the same two screws where your wall push-button wires connect)
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If shorting the terminals triggers the door to open/close, your opener accepts a basic contact closure. This means it’s compatible with GDO White (which replicates that same action)
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If nothing happens when you short the terminals (and the wall control is electronic/digital), then your opener does not accept a simple dry contact. This is a strong sign of a Security+ 2.0 system, meaning you’ll need GDO blaQ for it to work
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(Chamberlain’s Security+ 2.0 deliberately prevents the door from being triggered by a plain short, for security – the GDO blaQ overcomes this by speaking the proper digital protocol
- Multiple Doors: Each GDO device controls a single door. If you have two garage doors with compatible openers, you’ll need one GDO unit per door (choose the model for each door based on the above criteria). There is no dual-door controller in one device.
- Summary of Compatibility:
- Use GDO blaQ if your opener is a Chamberlain/LiftMaster/Craftsman/Merlin unit that uses the Security+ or Security+ 2.0 technology (typically indicated by a yellow, purple, red/orange, etc. learn button)
GDO blaQ ties into the opener’s serial communication terminals and is made specifically for these brands (including most with built-in myQ)
It will not function with other opener brands or older systems that lack the Security+ interface
- Use GDO White for almost all other garage door openers – any brand or model that is triggered by a wired wall switch or push-button
This covers Genie, Overhead Door, Linear, Stanley, Wayne-Dalton, Marantec, and also older Chamberlain-type units that don’t have the Security+2.0 encryption
GDO White connects in parallel with your wall button and simply closes a relay to activate the door, which is a universal method for standard openers
(Exception: remember the few Genie models requiring an adapter, as noted above.) GDO White cannot control Security+ 2.0 (yellow learn button) openers
- those require the blaQ model.
By following this decision tree, you can easily determine which Konnected smart garage door opener suits your setup. In short, pick GDO blaQ for newer Chamberlain-family openers with encrypted digital controls, and pick GDO White for everything else. This ensures you get a compatible solution without additional hassle, making your garage smart-home enabled in the simplest way possible!