Remote fob
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I believe you are right. I keep my fob upstairs here at home. I went to my car, which is in the downstairs garage, and tried to start my car and it displayed "No FOB Detected" on the screen. So I doubt that someone could start your car without the fob being much closer than 50 feet, more than likely within a couple of feet of the car.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: San Bruno CA
When my car is in the garage at home, I can't open the door if the FOB is inside the house and the car won't let me open the door unless I'm carrying the FOB and within several feet in the garage. That being said, one time I was spending the night at a hotel and my room was on the sixth floor and over looking the parking lot. My car was in the lot, about a hundred yards away below the room. I was wondering whether the FOB would work from that distance so I pointed the FOB towards the car and pressed the unlock button. The parking lights flashed, indicating the doors were now unlocked. I then pressed the lock button and the parking lights flashed again. I was surprised that the FOB would work from that far away.
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Le Mans Master
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From: Windermere FL
2. If the car starts and then the FOB removed from the car, the car will continue to run without the FOB being present.
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The FOB communicates to the car:
1) When you push a button on the FOB (distance from car does not matter).
2) When you are standing within 3' of the door (P or D) and then press the Door Pad to open the door. The car talks to the FOB and the FOB answers back.
3) When you are within 3' of the trunk/hatch and press the open button under the trunk lip to open the trunk/hatch. The car talks to the FOB and the FOB answers back.
4) When you are sitting in the car ready to start the engine and press "Start". The car talks to the FOB and the FOB answers back.
5) When you leave the FOB in the car after shutting the engine off and you have the triple beep warning set to sound, the car talks to the FOB and the FOB answers back.
6) When the car is set to "Autolock", the car will lock 5 seconds after the last door/hatch/trunk is closed. The FOB distance from the car does not matter UNLESS the FOB is in the car and is detected by the car.
Otherwise, your FOB does not communicate with the car and is listening for the car and using a fantastically minuscule amount of power to "look" for a signal from the car.
Elmer
1) When you push a button on the FOB (distance from car does not matter).
2) When you are standing within 3' of the door (P or D) and then press the Door Pad to open the door. The car talks to the FOB and the FOB answers back.
3) When you are within 3' of the trunk/hatch and press the open button under the trunk lip to open the trunk/hatch. The car talks to the FOB and the FOB answers back.
4) When you are sitting in the car ready to start the engine and press "Start". The car talks to the FOB and the FOB answers back.
5) When you leave the FOB in the car after shutting the engine off and you have the triple beep warning set to sound, the car talks to the FOB and the FOB answers back.
6) When the car is set to "Autolock", the car will lock 5 seconds after the last door/hatch/trunk is closed. The FOB distance from the car does not matter UNLESS the FOB is in the car and is detected by the car.
Otherwise, your FOB does not communicate with the car and is listening for the car and using a fantastically minuscule amount of power to "look" for a signal from the car.
Elmer
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Joined: Aug 2019
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From: Las Vegas
First, I got into my car, set the FOB on the garage floor, still within reach while setting in the seat, closed the door and tried to start the engine...No FOB detected warning.
Next I set the FOB on the side-skirt right beside the driver seat, closed the door and tried to start the car. It fired right up.
Finally, I set the FOB on the left rear quarter panel upper air intake, got back into the car and it fired right up.
Last edited by KLG; Feb 4, 2021 at 02:29 PM. Reason: misspelling, left out a word.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2018
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From: Margate, FL
As @eboggs_jkvl indicated you have two different communications going on here:
A) from the FOB to the car (active = you push the button)
B) from the car to the FOB (passive = the FOB is listening)
The distance in A is pretty far, like across the street or downstairs from your office. This allows you to lock / unlock or remote start without standing next to the car. If this range wasn't long enough then remote start would be worthless. However distance B) is very short on purpose so someone else can't open or start the car unless they have the FOB directly in hand. In fact B is so short with my wife's car (an Infiniti) you can't open the trunk with the FOB at the front doors, you actually have to walk those 3 or 4 steps back to the trunk.
I know my C7 will not open with the FOB in my garage when the car is in the driveway, a 1/2 car length away. I get the triple beep while pumping gas so clearly that is close enough for it to be considered "in the car". I turned off auto-lock because it drove me nuts when cleaning the car, the darn thing would lock if I just walked away to grab a rag.
One thing you have to make sure not to do is start the car then get out... because once the car is running it will not shut off even if the FOB is taken away.
A) from the FOB to the car (active = you push the button)
B) from the car to the FOB (passive = the FOB is listening)
The distance in A is pretty far, like across the street or downstairs from your office. This allows you to lock / unlock or remote start without standing next to the car. If this range wasn't long enough then remote start would be worthless. However distance B) is very short on purpose so someone else can't open or start the car unless they have the FOB directly in hand. In fact B is so short with my wife's car (an Infiniti) you can't open the trunk with the FOB at the front doors, you actually have to walk those 3 or 4 steps back to the trunk.
I know my C7 will not open with the FOB in my garage when the car is in the driveway, a 1/2 car length away. I get the triple beep while pumping gas so clearly that is close enough for it to be considered "in the car". I turned off auto-lock because it drove me nuts when cleaning the car, the darn thing would lock if I just walked away to grab a rag.
One thing you have to make sure not to do is start the car then get out... because once the car is running it will not shut off even if the FOB is taken away.
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Looks like we went from your office, to you standing by your door pumping gas. I guess it's all covered now and you have an answer.
Elmer
Last edited by eboggs_jkvl; Feb 4, 2021 at 08:55 AM.
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From: Toronto, Canada
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When my car is in the garage at home, I can't open the door if the FOB is inside the house and the car won't let me open the door unless I'm carrying the FOB and within several feet in the garage. That being said, one time I was spending the night at a hotel and my room was on the sixth floor and over looking the parking lot. My car was in the lot, about a hundred yards away below the room. I was wondering whether the FOB would work from that distance so I pointed the FOB towards the car and pressed the unlock button. The parking lights flashed, indicating the doors were now unlocked. I then pressed the lock button and the parking lights flashed again. I was surprised that the FOB would work from that far away.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 436
Likes: 239
From: Las Vegas
I was in the car's driver seat, door closed, window up, no FOB. I had my daughter stand facing the car, at the fuel fill door and about 10" from touching the car. I had her put the FOB in her right pants pocket. I then tried to start the car. Nothing and I received the No Remote Detected warning.
Standing in the same position, I then had her switch the FOB to her left side pants pocket. I tried to start and once again, nothing, and I saw the No Remote Detected warning.
Finally I had her move down so she was directly beside and facing me, still about the same distance from the car and with the FOB in her left pocket. I tried to start the car. Again, nothing and the No Remoted Detected warning was on the screen.
So, I think the possibility someone getting into your C7 and driving off while you are standing outside with the FOB in your pocket is unlikely, even if you are standing close-by.
--KLG--
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From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
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In the passive mode (no fob buttons being pressed) the range is 1 meter (approx 3 feet) from an antenna that controls a specific function, such as a door, hatch, or ignition switch.
In the active mode (pressing a fob button) the range can be as much as 300 feet, depending on the fob battery's strength and other factors, such as line of sight obstructions and RF interference. You can extend the range somewhat, by focusing the signal. A reflector or tube that can direct a concentrated signal will work. Think shapes like satellite dish or a bazooka.
The range can also be so restricted by RF interference as much to make it ineffective. Something as simple as a failing neon or fluorescent light fixture can render the fob signal fruitless.
In the active mode (pressing a fob button) the range can be as much as 300 feet, depending on the fob battery's strength and other factors, such as line of sight obstructions and RF interference. You can extend the range somewhat, by focusing the signal. A reflector or tube that can direct a concentrated signal will work. Think shapes like satellite dish or a bazooka.
The range can also be so restricted by RF interference as much to make it ineffective. Something as simple as a failing neon or fluorescent light fixture can render the fob signal fruitless.