If you live in a home with a remote-controlled garage-door opener, and that home is near a military base, listen up.

Between now and 2008, the military is supplying a new radio system to roughly 125 bases. The system uses the same frequency as the one relied upon by more than 90 percent of garage-openers.

The military radio signal is sometimes so strong that it overpowers the opener's signal, preventing the door from opening. Or it can also vastly reduce the opener's range.

Consumers face the prospect of having to live with the inconvenience or paying to fix the problem. And some are already having issues.

Diane and Greg Long, of Mechanicsburg, Pa., can't rely on their garage door opener to get into their house. It doesn't always work, Lancaster, Pa., television station WGAL reported.

"It's very inconvenient," Diane Long said.

"Here's the frustrating part. Rain, snow, whatever. You have to hang out the window," Greg Long said.

Sometimes the Longs have to hold the transmitter against the garage door for it to open. The couple decided to get a new garage door opener.

"It's still not working after we got a new one," Diane Long said.

Mark Karasek, an advocate for consumers and garage door manufacturers, said the problem is coming from down the road at the Naval support activity.

"It's in the public's best interest for them to change (the frequency). I can't believe it's that hard," Greg Long said.

The Department of Defense has been the licensed user of this frequency since the 1930s, but it has just started to use it routinely.

"The industry has been using this frequency legally for 40 years. We have the right to use this frequency," Karasek said.

No one from the Department of Defense was available to talk to the station on camera, but Lt. Col Chris Conway said the department is talking to the Federal Communication Commission and garage door manufactures to come to an understanding on this issue.

Government and garage-door industry officials differ on how widespread the effect will be. The government predicts it will be limited. The industry says it will be worse but wants more information from the military.

"The coalition has had several meetings with the Defense Department or other government agencies. Unfortunately, without any meaningful progress to date to resolve this issue," Karasek said.

In the meantime, neighbors like the Longs can purchase a modification kit for their garage door openers.

"I don't want to spend the money. No one wants to spend the money," Greg Long said.

A modification kit for your garage door opener costs between $60 and $160.