The Key to the Frequency Problem

Some San Diegans have been noticing that many electronic remote devices -- including garage door openers, electronic car key and car alarms -- have been acting strangely lately, especially in downtown San Diego and on Point Loma.

Now the U.S. Navy has released a statement concerning electronic frequencies that may offer an explanation, according to a published report.

In the statement, the Navy did not accept or deny blame for the incidents, but did say that “land mobile radio (LMR) systems on many military bases around the country currently use frequencies in the 380-399.9 MHz band, which is often the same frequency range at which some unlicensed consumer devices, such as garage door openers, operate.”

Navy officials said that licensed military radio systems have priority over such consumer devices as remote garage door openers, KPBS reported.

While the Navy has frequency priority, it remains unclear if the military is to blame for the recent frequency stalls.

“It could be possible, but we don’t know for sure that is what’s causing the problem," Navy spokesman Brian O’Rourke told KPBS.

The Navy’s response came in the wake of complaints circulating concerning broken consumer electronics. One man reported the problem to NBCSanDiego last week, saying that “car key remotes [are] not working in the downtown or Point Loma area. Sometimes you have to get really close to your car in order to unlock or lock the car; if that works at all. I was in Office Depot yesterday and over four people came in looking for new car key remote batteries.”