major blind spots in remote lock receiver

[Yousuf Khan]

Recently my 2000 OBW has been showing peculiar blind spots in its range.
I find that it doesn't accept commands from the remote in certain
angles, however if you get it at just the proper angles you can get it
to open or close from long distances. Anything simple I can do to fix
this? Like cleaning some contacts or something?

Yousuf Khan

 

[Bonehenge]

Recently my 2000 OBW has been showing peculiar blind spots in its range.
I find that it doesn't accept commands from the remote in certain
angles, however if you get it at just the proper angles you can get it
to open or close from long distances. Anything simple I can do to fix
this? Like cleaning some contacts or something?

I would probably start by replacing the battery. The angles may
involve receiver antenna to fob relationships that a fresh battery
will increase the output and overcome.

 

[Ragnar]

Recently my 2000 OBW has been showing peculiar blind spots in its range.
I find that it doesn't accept commands from the remote in certain
angles, however if you get it at just the proper angles you can get it
to open or close from long distances. Anything simple I can do to fix
this? Like cleaning some contacts or something?

Yousuf Khan

Replace the battery. If you've had the same one in the remote since
2000, its time to replace it.

 

[Rick Courtright]

to open or close from long distances. Anything simple I can do to fix
this? Like cleaning some contacts or something?

Hi,

The serious part of this answer is to replace the battery as the guys
have already said.

Once you've done that, an amateur radio operator showed me a "fun" thing
w/ automotive remotes. He walked out far enough his remote wouldn't
operate on the vehicle. Then he held the remote to his forehead near the
temple, and pushed the button. "Beep, beep" came from the vehicle!

He explained how it works--I don't exactly recall the details, but, no,
he doesn't have a plate in his head!

Rick

 

[CompUser]

Once you've done that, an amateur radio operator showed me a "fun" thing
w/ automotive remotes. He walked out far enough his remote wouldn't
operate on the vehicle. Then he held the remote to his forehead near the
temple, and pushed the button. "Beep, beep" came from the vehicle!

He explained how it works--I don't exactly recall the details, but, no,
he doesn't have a plate in his head!

Just holding the remote up over your head will do
the same. You're just getting a line-of-sight
angle for the RF, no side-of-head or under-your-
chin stuff going on. ;-)

 

[YKhan]

involve receiver antenna to fob relationships that a fresh battery
will increase the output and overcome.

Damn, I should have mentioned right in my original message that the
battery in the key fob has already been replaced (wrote it out late at
night, details escaped me). And it did help out considerably, except in
the blind spots. If I can get it in one of its non-blind spots, then I
can lock/unlock the car from considerable (amazing actually) distance
with the new battery.

That brings up another question, is it possible that my key fob is the
one that's too directional rather than the received in the car?

Yousuf Khan

 

[YKhan]

Just holding the remote up over your head will do
the same. You're just getting a line-of-sight
angle for the RF, no side-of-head or under-your-
chin stuff going on. ;-)

Actually I've noticed that sometimes holding the remote up over my head
sometimes helps, but it has to be held up quite high, possibly higher
than I have arms for.

Yousuf Khan

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Yousuf Khan wrote:




Hi,

The serious part of this answer is to replace the battery as the guys
have already said.

Once you've done that, an amateur radio operator showed me a "fun" thing
w/ automotive remotes. He walked out far enough his remote wouldn't
operate on the vehicle. Then he held the remote to his forehead near the
temple, and pushed the button. "Beep, beep" came from the vehicle!

He explained how it works--I don't exactly recall the details, but, no,
he doesn't have a plate in his head!

Rick

Yep, holding at your chin (and possibly playing with different
orientations there, horizontal/vertical) uses the front of the body like
a reflector - possibly better than holding over the head in some instances.

Carl