Range Of SmartKey??

[orangeboy]

I was amazed tonight when I accidentally pressed the unlock button on the smartkey, whilst in a highrise block of apartments, totally unsighted from my W211- I thought I´d better check to see if it had unlocked, and to my amazement it had!!


So I thought I´d start a little competition, to see who can unlock their car from the furthest distance.

I saw an episode of Top Gear, where Clarkson pointed the key to his head, and this apparantly increased the distance.

I always thought they were infrared, but obviously they work by radio transmitter.

 

[moonloops]

I saw an episode of Top Gear, where Clarkson pointed the key to his head, and this apparantly increased the distance.

No not really, you are raising the key above obstacles as radio waves etc travel further with line of sight... (or so I was told)

 

[Colin_b]

No not really, you are raising the key above obstacles as radio waves etc travel further with line of sight... (or so I was told)

I was told stick the key under your chin, and your skull works as an aerial. Naturally sceptical, I tried, and it works! No idea if the aerial bit is the reason, but work it does, by about an extra 30 feet.

 

[vincenz]

.......... waits for someone to post mobile phone / spare key at home bull ****.................

 

[oldcro]

I remember trying this when I had a Lexus. Car was in a quiet car park ad I was about 100 metres away. Holding remote key up at head height and pointing at car produced no reaction from the car. Holding remote to side of head and car lights flashed to show doors unlocking. Hold away from head and nothing hold against head and car flashed to show doors locked again.

It does work, and if in doubt try for yourself and see the difference in the range of operation.

 

[moonloops]

.......... waits for someone to post mobile phone / spare key at home bull ****.................

Ha - yes there are plenty of twunts around to fall for that one again

 

[oldcro]

Try it before knocking it please.

 

[vincenz]

Try it before knocking it please.

 

[Pappilo]

.......... waits for someone to post mobile phone / spare key at home bull ****.................

The lady that did my walkthrough when I picked up my car actually told me this!

 

[sunil1234]

the putting it to your head defoo works, i think (and i am no scientist lol) it makes the body act as an amplifier

the use over the phone works too!, i locked my audi keys in the boot. Had to call the missus to use the spare from home to me in an underground car park!

 

[Rory]

I was amazed tonight when I accidentally pressed the unlock button on the smartkey, whilst in a highrise block of apartments, totally unsighted from my W211- I thought I´d better check to see if it had unlocked, and to my amazement it had!!

Hmmm...doesn't it relock again if you do this?

 

[MarkJunedd]

Hmmm...doesn't it relock again if you do this?

My thoughts as well............

 

[Diesel Benz]

.......... waits for someone to post mobile phone / spare key at home bull ****.................

Did not take long. I would not be surprised about the key under the chin made a difference but the phone and and MB works equally well as telepathy does, why pay the phone bill then.

 

[davidjpowell]

I think most cars relock themselves nowadays if a door is not opened in a period of time after unlocking remotely.

 

[Norse]

It wil lock itself after about one minute if no doors are opened.
But coud anyone pease tell me about the mobile phone thing...... Never heard that one.

 

[sunil1234]

It wil lock itself after about one minute if no doors are opened.
But coud anyone pease tell me about the mobile phone thing...... Never heard that one.

ok, if you get locked out of your car with spare at home (well where else would the spare be in 99% of cases). Call home and get the other person to hold the keyfob to the phone mic and press the unlock button, at the same time, hold your phone facing near the car and hey presto.

Try it! (when car is at home from the kitchen or wherever)

 

[Norse]

Heheheh.... yeah.. right.

 

[markjay]

My other car (not the Merc) has wireless keyless ignition - if you carry the fob on your person the car will unlock when you pull the door handle, and you can then start it without removing the fob from your pocket. I believe some Mercs have this as well..

Problem is - the spare fob usually hangs next to our kitchen door, and when the car is parked right outside the house, someone passing by could get into it and start it - although hopefully he won't get very far.

To be precise, when the vehicle is driven out of range of the fob, there is an alarm on the dash saying 'card not present', but it does not actually stop the car or the engine... I am assuming the car would eventually stop, though I haven't actually tested it.

 

[moonloops]

My other car (not the Merc) has wireless keyless ignition - if you carry the fob on your person the car will unlock when you pull the door handle, and you can then start it without removing the fob from your pocket. I believe some Mercs have this as well..

Problem is - the spare fob usually hangs next to our kitchen door, and when the car is parked right outside the house, someone passing by could get into it and start it - although hopefully he won't get very far.

To be precise, when the vehicle is driven out of range of the fob, there is an alarm on the dash saying 'card not present', but it does not actually stop the car or the engine... I am assuming the car would eventually stop, though I haven't actually tested it.

I tried this today on a CL500 and you have to be practically touching the car to be in range. 3 metres away and it didn't unlock..

 

[MOCAŠ]

But coud anyone pease tell me about the mobile phone thing...... Never heard that one.

Neither had I. Seems it's simply not possible:

Can You Unlock Your Car Door with a Cell Phone? - Urban Legends