Fob Range?

kdmorse · 04-22-2006, 09:55 PM

While my Prius is off being repaired - I've been rented a little Mazda 3. While overall I hate it, one thing that I continually notice is how far away I can be, and use the Lock/Unlock/Panic buttons on the Fob. By comparison, the range on my Prius is borderline pathetic. Now - I mostly use SKS, and lets face it, what does it really matter how far away you can be and still lock/unlock your vehicle? And the Prius is the first car I've ever owned with a Fob at all, so I have very little to compare it to, but it really does seem to have quite a limited range compared to others...

Cases where other cars Fob's work (Mazda 3, Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, Mercedes Coup) 100% - and Mine doesn't, not even a little...

From the balcony of my apartment. (Second Floor)
Standing inside the front door of my friends house (parked right out front)
Standing in the front basement of my friends house (thought the window)
From the patio of a restaurant we all eat at weekly

Granted, these descriptions are all meaningless. But they're all cases where we can see our cars, that are well within range of other cars, but mine won't work. We frequently have to pop open a car remotely so someone else can grab something, and I *very* frequently feel the need to check that my brand new Prius containing my stuff is locked. (It takes so little effort to lock the car with SKS, that it doesn't register in my memory, and 20 seconds later, I don't remember locking the car - and go back to make sure). And the limited range can get quite annoying quickly.

Anyway - is it just me/my car/my fob? Is the range on Prius's shorter than average? Is the range on the cars I happened to compare it to longer than average? Am I perhaps slightly insane?

-Ken

TheForce · 04-22-2006, 10:00 PM

Yes the range sucks. The best I can do on the gound is about 30-40 feet. When i'm at work on the 4th floor I can some how get about 100-150 feet if there are no cars blocking my car.

Ed Vatza · 04-22-2006, 10:07 PM

OK, this may not only sound stupid but it may be stupid but...

If you have a smartkey and you can lock and unlock the door from the 4th floor window, would that mean that someone between you and the car could get into the car and start it? You don't need a key- just the fob. I would hope not. But why not?

That could explain the limited range.

Like I said, it might be a stupid thought.

TheForce · 04-22-2006, 10:17 PM

Hmmmm. I never thought of that. Might give it a try sometime when I have the time. I do know the car wont start because the FOB would have to be IN the car. I know that because I tried to start the car with the FOB in my left pocket and I was just outside the car when I presed the power button. The car may unlock but not start.

I'm thinking it wont unlock that far away without pressing the unlock button. I would think the auto unlock transmitter should be weaker than when pressing the button on the FOB. Should be a weak signal when close to the car and when you use the button it will blast out the radio waves. Thats my theory.

kdmorse · 04-22-2006, 10:18 PM

They could get into the car - but not start it. And generally speaking, when I'm on my balcony, I'm trying to make sure the car is locked, not unlock it.

Edit: Misunderstood the post above. If *I* pressed the unlock button from the balcony, they could enter the car, but not start it. They could not magically unlock the car because I had the FOB on the balcony.

SKS (Smart Key System) and the buttons on the fob are really two different things.

The SKS part allows you to lock/unlock/start the car without touching the key or fob in any way (ie - it could stay buried in your pocket or purse)- and it has a range of about 2 feet from the intended target - tops. The fob must be right outside the door being opend to magically unlock it, and the fob must be in the car for the start button to work - so no worries there.

The buttons on the fob work like the buttons on any other cars fob, simply locking, unlocking, or making the car beep. Those are the buttons/functions that are giving my a difficult time sometimes.

Additionally, for added security, if you unlock the doors remotely (via either SKS, or the Unlock button on the fob), the doors will autolock if not touched in 30 seconds - making it difficult to accidentally unlock the car and leave it that way.

What I'd kill for is a auto-lock 30 seconds after the fob departs the car, and all doors are closed. Then I would care far less about the range of the fob, as I would feel far less compelled to doublecheck while walking away - especially if it chirped when autolocking.

(Quick - somebody make a mod!)

-Ken

DaveinOlyWA · 04-22-2006, 10:22 PM

must be the SKS limiting the range some how. i regularly KILL coworkers in the remote wars. i can open my Prius up to 150 feet away or more...dont really know how far it is, just guessing here but i dont have SKS...wondering if that has anything to do with it?

04-22-2006, 09:55 PM	#1
kdmorse Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Germantown, MD Posts: 198 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 1	While my Prius is off being repaired - I've been rented a little Mazda 3. While overall I hate it, one thing that I continually notice is how far away I can be, and use the Lock/Unlock/Panic buttons on the Fob. By comparison, the range on my Prius is borderline pathetic. Now - I mostly use SKS, and lets face it, what does it really matter how far away you can be and still lock/unlock your vehicle? And the Prius is the first car I've ever owned with a Fob at all, so I have very little to compare it to, but it really does seem to have quite a limited range compared to others... Cases where other cars Fob's work (Mazda 3, Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, Mercedes Coup) 100% - and Mine doesn't, not even a little... From the balcony of my apartment. (Second Floor) Standing inside the front door of my friends house (parked right out front) Standing in the front basement of my friends house (thought the window) From the patio of a restaurant we all eat at weekly Granted, these descriptions are all meaningless. But they're all cases where we can see our cars, that are well within range of other cars, but mine won't work. We frequently have to pop open a car remotely so someone else can grab something, and I very frequently feel the need to check that my brand new Prius containing my stuff is locked. (It takes so little effort to lock the car with SKS, that it doesn't register in my memory, and 20 seconds later, I don't remember locking the car - and go back to make sure). And the limited range can get quite annoying quickly. Anyway - is it just me/my car/my fob? Is the range on Prius's shorter than average? Is the range on the cars I happened to compare it to longer than average? Am I perhaps slightly insane? -Ken __________________ 2006 Black Package #7 Dark Grey Interior Headlight Flasher EV Mod

04-22-2006, 10:17 PM	#4
TheForce I Plug-In My Prius Join Date: May 2005 Location: Wheelersburg, Ohio Posts: 2,727 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 1 Thanked 156 Times in 115 Posts Friends: 22	Hmmmm. I never thought of that. Might give it a try sometime when I have the time. I do know the car wont start because the FOB would have to be IN the car. I know that because I tried to start the car with the FOB in my left pocket and I was just outside the car when I presed the power button. The car may unlock but not start. I'm thinking it wont unlock that far away without pressing the unlock button. I would think the auto unlock transmitter should be weaker than when pressing the button on the FOB. Should be a weak signal when close to the car and when you use the button it will blast out the radio waves. Thats my theory. __________________ 2006 Prius Barcelona Red Package #7. Picked up 2006/01/02 Converted to Plug-In on 2008/08/12 with Hymotion L5 *Hybridfest 2007 & 2008 Peoples Choice Award * *Hybridfest 2009 Peoples Choice Best of Show Award * For a list of my mods visit http://www.jaygroh.com

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04-22-2006, 10:00 PM	#2
TheForce I Plug-In My Prius Join Date: May 2005 Location: Wheelersburg, Ohio Posts: 2,727 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 1 Thanked 156 Times in 115 Posts Friends: 22	Yes the range sucks. The best I can do on the gound is about 30-40 feet. When i'm at work on the 4th floor I can some how get about 100-150 feet if there are no cars blocking my car.

04-22-2006, 10:07 PM	#3
Ed Vatza Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Lehigh Valley PA Posts: 96 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	OK, this may not only sound stupid but it may be stupid but... If you have a smartkey and you can lock and unlock the door from the 4th floor window, would that mean that someone between you and the car could get into the car and start it? You don't need a key- just the fob. I would hope not. But why not? That could explain the limited range. Like I said, it might be a stupid thought.

04-22-2006, 10:18 PM	#5
kdmorse Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Germantown, MD Posts: 198 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 1	They could get into the car - but not start it. And generally speaking, when I'm on my balcony, I'm trying to make sure the car is locked, not unlock it. Edit: Misunderstood the post above. If I pressed the unlock button from the balcony, they could enter the car, but not start it. They could not magically unlock the car because I had the FOB on the balcony. SKS (Smart Key System) and the buttons on the fob are really two different things. The SKS part allows you to lock/unlock/start the car without touching the key or fob in any way (ie - it could stay buried in your pocket or purse)- and it has a range of about 2 feet from the intended target - tops. The fob must be right outside the door being opend to magically unlock it, and the fob must be in the car for the start button to work - so no worries there. The buttons on the fob work like the buttons on any other cars fob, simply locking, unlocking, or making the car beep. Those are the buttons/functions that are giving my a difficult time sometimes. Additionally, for added security, if you unlock the doors remotely (via either SKS, or the Unlock button on the fob), the doors will autolock if not touched in 30 seconds - making it difficult to accidentally unlock the car and leave it that way. What I'd kill for is a auto-lock 30 seconds after the fob departs the car, and all doors are closed. Then I would care far less about the range of the fob, as I would feel far less compelled to doublecheck while walking away - especially if it chirped when autolocking. (Quick - somebody make a mod!) -Ken

04-22-2006, 10:22 PM	#6
DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: South Puget Sound, WA Posts: 12,378 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: IV Package: Solar Roof Thanks: 24 Thanked 121 Times in 103 Posts Friends: 10	must be the SKS limiting the range some how. i regularly KILL coworkers in the remote wars. i can open my Prius up to 150 feet away or more...dont really know how far it is, just guessing here but i dont have SKS...wondering if that has anything to do with it?