A trainable transceiver for controlling a device includes an antenna configured to receive power from a power source, at least one orientation sensor, and a control circuit coupled to the antenna and the at least one orientation sensor. The control circuit is configured to determine an orientation of the antenna based on data from the at least one orientation sensor. The control circuit is further is configured to control the amount of power received by the antenna based on the determined orientation of the antenna. The trainable transceiver is configured to be capable of controlling the device based on at least one signal characteristic stored in memory and determined based on a signal received from an original transmitter.