Hello folks, been away for awhile, and since I seem to have >misplaced< my owners manuel, I forgot the actual range in Feet, that these things work, does anyone know off hand? I know the manufacturer's like a "clear line of sight" to get maximum distance. Wasn't it like 800 ft or so?? ps, reason is I am thinking about remote start for the car, and was gonna use the factory remote, FOB, but if it is less than say, 500 or 600 ft, then I gotta pay more to get a good range,, ( I wanted at least 800)

 

Well, from my experience, the range is apparently inversely proportional to how badly you want the locks or windows opened, or how many people will be awakened by the alarm.

Whenever you have the fob in your pocket and you accidentally trip it by bending over to pick up a rake in the front yard or tie your shoe or something, then of course the car could be around 3.827 miles away and it would work. The trunk will unlatch, the windows will roll down (especially if rain is due), the door will unlock, and the panic alarm will trigger.

BUT, if you park your car, walk 10 feet away, and then can't remember for sure if you pushed the door lock button on the handle so you reach in your pocket for the fob to use as a backup, then of course it won't register until you practically walk all the way back to the car (in which case you could have just checked the damn door handle).

In all seriousness though, there is no way it is capable of 5/6/800 feet, even if it is direct line of sight. My guess is more like a tenth of that, say 50-80 feet, and that's on a good day.

.02

 

place the fob against ur head to increase the distance

 

That's funny you should say that, I have been doing that for years and my friends make fun of me. Put the control under your chin and it uses your head as an antenna. The first time I heard it I thought it was a joke but it works!

 

Yes, I think your right VQ,, I hardly ever use it, ( but yet my battery in it always seems low) Even when I first got the car, >almost< 9 years ago, it never seemed to have that much of a range, to unlock,, so i'm thinking it prolly won't work to good as a remote starter....

 

I live in the ghetto so i rather not be no more then 2ft from my car when unlocking it.

 

I bought aftermarket because I like having a 2way to tell me whether it's locked or not when I'm sitting where I can't see it.