If you stock garage door remotes for the North American market, three brand plates sit on more than 80% of the openers in service today: Liftmaster, Chamberlain, and Sears Craftsman. All three are owned by the Chamberlain Group, share the same 315 MHz / 390 MHz radio stack, and rotate their code-rolling protocol roughly every five years. A buyer asking for a “Liftmaster remote” without an opener model number is the single most common source of return and refund cost in the channel.
This reference is the second opinion a warehouse manager runs before placing a PO. It is not affiliated with Chamberlain Group; it is an independent PCBA-engineering cross-reference compiled from current Gemu RF production SKUs shipped to NA distributors in 2025 and 2026.
The three-button color code every NA buyer should recognize
The learn button color on the motor head is the fastest visual cue for protocol generation. The table below covers roughly 95% of the installed base in the US and Canada.
| Learn button color | Protocol generation | Typical install year | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Security+ 1.0 (rolling code) | 2011–2014 | 315 MHz |
| Purple | Security+ 1.0 (rolling code) | 2005–2011 | 315 MHz |
| Red / Orange | Security+ 1.0 (rolling code) | 1996–2005 | 390 MHz |
| Green | Security+ 2.0 (rolling code, encrypted) | 2014–2020 | 315 MHz / 390 MHz dual-band |
| White | Security+ 2.0 (newer encrypted) | 2020–present | 315 MHz / 390 MHz dual-band |
A 315 MHz-only replacement will not program to a 390 MHz-only opener. A dual-band replacement (315 + 390) is the safest stock-keeping unit for a multi-generation channel because one SKU covers the red, yellow, and purple era in parallel.
Why Sears Craftsman and Chamberlain share inventory
Most Craftsman-branded openers sold through Sears between 1996 and 2018 are contract-manufactured by Chamberlain Group and rebadged. The receiver card, learn-button placement, and LED flash pattern match a Chamberlain unit of the same vintage. A buyer who finds a Craftsman part number on the motor head can cross-reference it through the Chamberlain compatible model path; the FCC ID on the receiver card is the definitive cross-reference. We include the FCC IDs in the factory price list for this reason.
Pairing sequence by protocol generation
Pairing is operator-side and does not require opening the motor head. The remote and the opener exchange a rolling-code handshake on the first button press after the learn button is released.
- Press and release the learn button on the motor head. The adjacent LED lights up for approximately 30 seconds.
- Within the 30-second window, press and hold the desired button on the replacement remote.
- The motor head LED blinks to confirm pairing, and the opener light flashes once.
- Test the button. If the opener does not respond, the remote is on the wrong frequency or wrong code generation — not defective.
If the learn button does not exist (pre-1996 fixed-code openers), the replacement path is a DIP-switch remote or a 4-by-3 matrix receiver card swap, not a direct replacement.
Current Gemu RF replacement map for the NA market
The table below maps the three brand identities to current production SKUs we ship to NA distributors. Each replacement is independently engineered PCBA, in a proprietary housing. We are not affiliated with Chamberlain Group. Compatibility is on RF protocol and physical fit only.
| Opener brand / model era | Frequency | Protocol | Compatible Gemu RF SKU | Pairing path |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liftmaster 371LM / 373LM (1996–2005) | 390 MHz | Fixed / Security+ 1.0 | GR-371LM-NA | Learn button (red/orange) or DIP |
| Liftmaster 375UT (universal, 2005–2014) | 315 MHz | Security+ 1.0 | GR-375UT-NA | Learn button (yellow/purple) |
| Liftmaster 81LM (single-button, 2011–2019) | 315 MHz | Security+ 1.0 | GR-81LM-NA | Learn button (yellow) |
| Liftmaster 877MAX keypad (wireless, 2014–2022) | 315 MHz | Security+ 2.0 | GR-877MAX-NA | Learn button (green) |
| Chamberlain / Craftsman (post-2020 dual-band) | 315 + 390 MHz | Security+ 2.0 encrypted | GR-CB-DUAL-NA | Learn button (white) |
Note: SKU codes shown are format reference. Current production SKUs, FCC IDs, and case pack sizes are listed on the product pages and in the factory price list. MOQ for first NA distributor order is 500 pcs per SKU; case pack is 100 pcs.
Compliance marks required for the NA market
Every remote sold into the United States or Canada must carry:
- FCC Part 15 declaration on the housing and in the user documentation. The FCC ID must reference a current grant on fcc.gov. Borrowed or expired FCC IDs are a customs seizure risk and a Notice of Apparent Liability trigger.
- RSS-210 (Industry Canada) for shipments to Canadian distributors. The IC certification number must be present alongside the FCC ID.
- RoHS compliance statement covering the six restricted substances.
Distributors should request the FCC ID, IC number, and the test report reference for the SKU before issuing a PO. The FCC ID is a public lookup; the test report is provided on request under NDA.
Common pitfalls when sourcing for the NA market
Three issues recur on roughly every third NA shipment we review:
- Frequency mismatch from gray-market Australian stock. A 433.92 MHz Merlin-style remote sometimes lands in NA inventory through parallel import channels. It will not program to a 315 MHz or 390 MHz opener, and the end customer returns it within a week.
- Yellow-button vs green-button confusion. Specifying a “Chamberlain remote” without identifying the learn button color ships a Security+ 1.0 remote to a customer with a Security+ 2.0 opener. The opener will not enter learn mode with the wrong-generation remote. Confirm the learn button color before packing.
- Craftsman rebranding over time. Craftsman stopped selling garage door openers through Sears in 2018, but the installed base remains large. Cross-reference the FCC ID on the receiver card, not the Craftsman part number, to map back to the right Chamberlain equivalent.
Lead times and sampling for NA distributors
For distributors placing a first PO, we ship a 3-unit sample program with freight prepaid and respond to NA B2B inquiries within one business day with MOQ, lead time, and a sample Proforma Invoice. Standard lead time is 15 days for prototyping on a new SKU and 25–30 days for bulk production after sample approval. We support OEM private label (logo print on housing) at a 1,000 pcs per SKU minimum.
Next step for NA distributors
If you are quoting a NA bulk order, request our NA Compatibility Pack (PDF) — it contains the opener-to-SKU map for current and legacy Liftmaster / Chamberlain / Craftsman models, the FCC and IC registration evidence, and a sample Proforma Invoice. We respond to NA B2B inquiries within one business day.