Remote central locking not working when parked near local Post Office

vaio

DaveF327 wrote: »

....I've heard that too. Is there some scientific logic behind that that someone would care to explain?

I think it was Jeremy Clarkson who first identified that particular phenomenon so it will be as logical & scientific as you’d expect

vikingaero

vaio wrote: »

I think it was Jeremy Clarkson who first identified that particular phenomenon so it will be as logical & scientific as you’d expect

Your head and skull act as an antenna. So if your remote battery is weak, or in the case of interference from an outside source, then holding the remote to your head/chin will amplify the signal.

Think I'm BSing? Try it. Lock and unlock your car with the remote. Walk further and further away until it's just out of range. Then hold the remote to your chin/head. You can get a pretty good range.

vaio

Just been out and tried it (visions of dozens of MSEers doing the same)

Disappointed to report no difference when height and remote orientation were controlled for (although I do think I got a little blast of the shipping forecast from my fillings)

I do have a beard, maybe that stops it working?

colino

This reminds me of when they were introducing the new "high tech" computers for MOT testing years ago and cars like Rover 800s would drive in fine to the MOT bay, but fail to start until they were pushed away from the black box!

vikingaero

vaio wrote: »

Just been out and tried it (visions of dozens of MSEers doing the same)

Disappointed to report no difference when height and remote orientation were controlled for (although I do think I got a little blast of the shipping forecast from my fillings)

I do have a beard, maybe that stops it working?

This only works with RF keys. Some cars such as older Mercedes used IR.

anewman

I think this phenomenon is more common in the states, hence why you have a key and some alarms have a coded disarm switch.

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

The problem is cheap nasty electronics used in the RF receivers on cars. They should be able to discriminate perfectly well against noise, that they cannot is a damning indictment of their quality.

In short, if you must complain to somebody, make it the manufacturer.

Rolandtheroadie

The holding to the head works with ford keyfobs.

vaio

vaio wrote: »

Just been out and tried it (visions of dozens of MSEers doing the same)

Disappointed to report no difference when height and remote orientation were controlled for (although I do think I got a little blast of the shipping forecast from my fillings)

I do have a beard, maybe that stops it working?

vikingaero wrote: »

This only works with RF keys. Some cars such as older Mercedes used IR.

Mine's Audi (so RF)

Hammyman

vaio wrote: »

I think it was Jeremy Clarkson who first identified that particular phenomenon

Actually it wasn't. He merely put it on his TV show YEARS after people became aware of it.