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How do you increase the range of your prius key?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by Kile Brovloski, Feb 2, 2023.

  1. Kile Brovloski

    Kile Brovloski New Member

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    I am wondering where I can find the key antenna in my 2010 prius. I have fresh battery’s in my keys but they still only work at about 10 to 15 feet. I have seen people increasing there range by making the antenna longer so I want to try and do that. Any advice is helpful
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i've read that if you hold it next to your head, the range increases.

    haven't tried it meself
     
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  3. nicoj36

    nicoj36 Active Member

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    Wrap it in foil
     
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  4. Todd Bonzalez

    Todd Bonzalez Active Member

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    Parabolic antenna?

    Seriously though, what's the practical application of being able to unlock a car from 15+ feet away?

    upload_2023-2-3_8-55-29.png
     
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  5. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

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    wrap tape around the fob with two batteries inside
    get one battery made of super lithium
     
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  6. PaulDM

    PaulDM Active Member

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    There is an old trick
    Hold the fob in your hand with that hands thumb touching your chin.
    You become the aerial. Sounds mad i know. Try it. It works
     
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  7. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

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    Sounds like it could possibly work even better if wearing braces on teeth. Maybe a tinfoil cap, like mentioned above #3
     
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  8. burebista

    burebista Active Member

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    Wth? I'm living at 8 floor and I can open car from home.
    No tinfoil hat or antennas. :cool:
    Screenshot_20230203_195444.jpg
     
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  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    eurofobs are magic!
     
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  10. Johnny Cakes

    Johnny Cakes Senior Member

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    It's kind of a long story, but I used to own an SC430; with the remote key fob you could raise/lower the top, lock/unlock doors (of course) and unlock trunck of course).

    Since the top took a while to go down, I wanted to be able to activate the top mechanism from a far, so that it would be down by the time I got to the car. A friend of mine and I created a system whereby you could phone the car and activate any of the key fob functions from anywhere in the world -- so I guess that's extending the range of the key! We built in security so the car would only accept calls from phones on a white list (lest random people call and unlock the car).

    Here's a thread from 15 years ago:
    Guess what we did?? - Page 2 - ClubLexus - Lexus Forum Discussion
    The good part starts at post #22.
     
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  11. qdllc

    qdllc Senior Member

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    Hire a Filipino boy to hold the fob and stand near the car. Tell him to press the button when you signal him to do so.
     
  12. RRxing

    RRxing Senior Member

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  13. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    Hold the tip of remote to a water bottle, it may increase quarter range.
     
  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    The Science Behind Why Your Head Can Boost A Car Key Fob Signal

    For me it's typically to verify I've locked it. Looking out the window at our daughter's, I'd say it's around 40 feet to our car on the street, and fob still works.
     
  15. AzusaPrius

    AzusaPrius Senior Member

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    What bisco said actually works and I saw it on an episode of Mythbusters and it works.

    I however have already advanced to rechargable batteries so no more low battery alerts with cheap batteries.
     
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