Been having a bit of trouble with the remote central locking on the medway
handyvan this week.

I suspect I need a new battery in the key because the range that it works at
is steadily getting smaller.

So, I've been using the 'hold the remote to your head' ploy - which to my
surprise actually works - it easily doubles the range of the remote.

How the hell does that work? It certainly isn't the power of my
brain.........


--
Dave
The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk
01634 717930
07850 597257

The Medway Handyman wrote:
Been having a bit of trouble with the remote central locking on the
medway handyvan this week.

I suspect I need a new battery in the key because the range that it
works at is steadily getting smaller.

So, I've been using the 'hold the remote to your head' ploy - which
to my surprise actually works - it easily doubles the range of the
remote.
How the hell does that work? It certainly isn't the power of my
brain.........

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rayleigh_fading ;-))

Don.

The Medway Handyman wrote:

Been having a bit of trouble with the remote central locking on the medway
handyvan this week.

I suspect I need a new battery in the key because the range that it works at
is steadily getting smaller.

So, I've been using the 'hold the remote to your head' ploy - which to my
surprise actually works - it easily doubles the range of the remote.

How the hell does that work? It certainly isn't the power of my
brain.........

It is a complete guess, but it may be that the signal pattern is
not symmetrical. If you point the fob, it tends to be end on to
the vehicle, whereas against your head it is probably sideways.
This may just give a stronger signal in that direction.

Maybe somebody has the kit and time to check this out, perhaps it
has already been done.

Chris
--
Chris J Dixon Nottingham UK


Have dancing shoes, will ceilidh.

Don Spumey wrote:
The Medway Handyman wrote:
Been having a bit of trouble with the remote central locking on the
medway handyvan this week.

I suspect I need a new battery in the key because the range that it
works at is steadily getting smaller.

So, I've been using the 'hold the remote to your head' ploy - which
to my surprise actually works - it easily doubles the range of the
remote.
How the hell does that work? It certainly isn't the power of my
brain.........

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rayleigh_fading ;-))

Well obviously I knew that :-)

Truth be told, I understood barely 10% of the article.

Could someone explain it in old money please?


--
Dave
The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk
01634 717930
07850 597257

The Medway Handyman wrote:
Don Spumey wrote:
The Medway Handyman wrote:
Been having a bit of trouble with the remote central locking on the
medway handyvan this week.

I suspect I need a new battery in the key because the range that it
works at is steadily getting smaller.

So, I've been using the 'hold the remote to your head' ploy - which
to my surprise actually works - it easily doubles the range of the
remote.
How the hell does that work? It certainly isn't the power of my
brain.........

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rayleigh_fading ;-))

Well obviously I knew that :-)

Truth be told, I understood barely 10% of the article.

Could someone explain it in old money please?

O.K, try http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rician_fading :-)

Don.

Don Spumey wrote:
The Medway Handyman wrote:
Don Spumey wrote:
The Medway Handyman wrote:
Been having a bit of trouble with the remote central locking on the
medway handyvan this week.

I suspect I need a new battery in the key because the range that it
works at is steadily getting smaller.

So, I've been using the 'hold the remote to your head' ploy - which
to my surprise actually works - it easily doubles the range of the
remote.
How the hell does that work? It certainly isn't the power of my
brain.........

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rayleigh_fading ;-))

Well obviously I knew that :-)

Truth be told, I understood barely 10% of the article.

Could someone explain it in old money please?

O.K, try http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rician_fading :-)


Getting better! I understood half of that one!


--
Dave
The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk
01634 717930
07850 597257

In message , The Medway Handyman
writes
Been having a bit of trouble with the remote central locking on the medway
handyvan this week.

I suspect I need a new battery in the key because the range that it works at
is steadily getting smaller.

So, I've been using the 'hold the remote to your head' ploy - which to my
surprise actually works - it easily doubles the range of the remote.

How the hell does that work? It certainly isn't the power of my
brain.........


But it's only a couple of weeks old

get the garage you bought it from to sort it


--
geoff

Been having a bit of trouble with the remote central locking on the medway
handyvan this week.
I suspect I need a new battery in the key because the range that it works at
is steadily getting smaller.
So, I've been using the 'hold the remote to your head' ploy - which to my
surprise actually works - it easily doubles the range of the remote.
How the hell does that work? It certainly isn't the power of my
brain.........

What make of vehicle was it again ? - I believe some Citroens (?) have
the alarm sensor built into the roof of the somewhere, so it could be
that holding it to your head just brings it closer :-}

Another "trick" i've heard of is to hold it near to your mobile phone
(I think you need to be calling out for this to work though) -
apparently in some circumstances this can even work "remotely", i.e.
if you've locked your keys in the car - phone the missus, and get her
to press the alarm key at _home_ near the mobile (!)

The Medway Handyman brought next idea :
Been having a bit of trouble with the remote central locking on the medway
handyvan this week.

I suspect I need a new battery in the key because the range that it works at
is steadily getting smaller.

So, I've been using the 'hold the remote to your head' ploy - which to my
surprise actually works - it easily doubles the range of the remote.

How the hell does that work? It certainly isn't the power of my
brain.........

Just simply holding it up in the air can help.

--

Regards,
Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk

Colin Wilson wrote:
Been having a bit of trouble with the remote central locking on the medway
handyvan this week.
I suspect I need a new battery in the key because the range that it works at
is steadily getting smaller.
So, I've been using the 'hold the remote to your head' ploy - which to my
surprise actually works - it easily doubles the range of the remote.
How the hell does that work? It certainly isn't the power of my
brain.........

What make of vehicle was it again ? - I believe some Citroens (?) have
the alarm sensor built into the roof of the somewhere, so it could be
that holding it to your head just brings it closer :-}

Another "trick" i've heard of is to hold it near to your mobile phone
(I think you need to be calling out for this to work though) -
apparently in some circumstances this can even work "remotely", i.e.
if you've locked your keys in the car - phone the missus, and get her
to press the alarm key at _home_ near the mobile (!)

Fascinating - must try that before I next have to take a taxi journey to
SWMBO's workplace to collect my car keys from her handbag. (bless...)

Out of interest, how many different systems are there for 'plips'? I
thought mostly they were I/R which presumably wouldn't fare well via a
mobile phone! eg, with my car you need to aim the plip at the receiver
built into the car roof from about 1 metre away, whereas with SWMBO's
you can do it from 5 metres away through the kitchen window.

David

In message , Lobster
writes
Colin Wilson wrote:
Been having a bit of trouble with the remote central locking on the
medway handyvan this week.
I suspect I need a new battery in the key because the range that it
works at is steadily getting smaller.
So, I've been using the 'hold the remote to your head' ploy - which
to my surprise actually works - it easily doubles the range of the
remote.
How the hell does that work? It certainly isn't the power of my
brain.........
What make of vehicle was it again ? - I believe some Citroens (?)
have the alarm sensor built into the roof of the somewhere, so it
could be that holding it to your head just brings it closer :-}
Another "trick" i've heard of is to hold it near to your mobile
phone (I think you need to be calling out for this to work though) -
apparently in some circumstances this can even work "remotely", i.e.
if you've locked your keys in the car - phone the missus, and get her
to press the alarm key at _home_ near the mobile (!)

Fascinating - must try that before I next have to take a taxi journey
to SWMBO's workplace to collect my car keys from her handbag. (bless...)

Out of interest, how many different systems are there for 'plips'? I
thought mostly they were I/R which presumably wouldn't fare well via a
mobile phone!

I thought they were mostly radio wave operated nowadays. Certainly our
Mondeo and my Dads Zafira are.

eg, with my car you need to aim the plip at the receiver built into the
car roof from about 1 metre away, whereas with SWMBO's you can do it
from 5 metres away through the kitchen window.

People often aim them at the car even when they don't need to. Our
Mondeo can be locked /unlocked from inside the house behind the house
wall
--
Chris French

"The Medway Handyman" wrote in message
...
Been having a bit of trouble with the remote central locking on the medway
handyvan this week.

I suspect I need a new battery in the key because the range that it works
at is steadily getting smaller.

So, I've been using the 'hold the remote to your head' ploy - which to my
surprise actually works - it easily doubles the range of the remote.

How the hell does that work? It certainly isn't the power of my
brain.........

Get it replaced under warranty.
Could be dying battery or transmitter/receiver slightly out of tune/synch.

On the lorry cranes I repair and service if you use the radio remote control
handset it not only blocks most transmitters for fobs for around 100 yds,
but it neatly opens Rovers, Citroens and a couple of other makes.
Handy innit ;-)

On Sat, 14 Apr 2007 10:46:33 +0100, "R" mused:


"The Medway Handyman" wrote in message
...
Been having a bit of trouble with the remote central locking on the medway
handyvan this week.

I suspect I need a new battery in the key because the range that it works
at is steadily getting smaller.

So, I've been using the 'hold the remote to your head' ploy - which to my
surprise actually works - it easily doubles the range of the remote.

How the hell does that work? It certainly isn't the power of my
brain.........

Get it replaced under warranty.
Could be dying battery or transmitter/receiver slightly out of tune/synch.

On the lorry cranes I repair and service if you use the radio remote control
handset it not only blocks most transmitters for fobs for around 100 yds,
but it neatly opens Rovers, Citroens and a couple of other makes.
Handy innit ;-)

I was on a site the other day and the auto shutters on the front of
the shop were remote control. The remote also locked and unlocked
various cars in the car park and peoples keyfobs not only locked and
unlocked their cars but open and shut the roller shutter.
--
Regards,
Stuart.

The Medway Handyman wrote:

Could someone explain it in old money please?
O.K, try http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rician_fading :-)


Getting better! I understood half of that one!

Radio Luxombourg.
Night time reception used to fade in and out due to the same reason...

A reflected signal and a direct signal might arrive at the same point
out of phase as one signal has traveled further up to the point where
the positive part (peak) of one signal arrives at the same time as the
negative part (trough) of the other signal thereby cancelling one
another out. IIRC.

or

perhaps the back of your skull is acting like a satellite dish with the
focal point being your forhead so all emitted signals are being reflectd
forward? who knows.

:¬)


--
http://gymratz.co.uk - Best Gym Equipment & Bodybuilding Supplements UK.
http://fitness-equipment-uk.com - UK's No.1 Fitness Equipment Suppliers.
http://water-rower.co.uk - Worlds best prices on the Worlds best Rower.
http://trade-price-supplements.co.uk - Bulk Order Supps. at Trade Prices

R wrote:


Get it replaced under warranty.
Could be dying battery or transmitter/receiver slightly out of
tune/synch.

Vans not new, only new to me. 03 reg. Stuck a new battery in & it's now
fine.


--
Dave
The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk
01634 717930
07850 597257

Colin Wilson wrote:

Another "trick" i've heard of is to hold it near to your mobile phone
(I think you need to be calling out for this to work though) -

I can't think of any mechanism that would allow that to work with a
modern GSM phone....


--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

"The Medway Handyman" wrote in
:


Well obviously I knew that :-)

Truth be told, I understood barely 10% of the article.

Could someone explain it in old money please?

O.K, try http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rician_fading :-)


Getting better! I understood half of that one!


I didn't understand either of them.

But the effect certainly works on my motorbike (self fitted) alarm; I think
I saw the effect on Top Gear, and as my zapper has a very short range, I
tried it and it works.

I've also found street furniture, scaffolding, etc effective.

mike

Another "trick" i've heard of is to hold it near to your mobile phone
(I think you need to be calling out for this to work though) -
I can't think of any mechanism that would allow that to work with a
modern GSM phone....

Me neither, but hey, strange things happen. Perhaps the blipper
latches into harmonics on the phone signal or something, and somehow
strengthens the signal - or something :-}

A friend of mine who happens to be into wireless networking assures me
you can do a similar thing with network cables.

"The Medway Handyman" wrote in message
...
R wrote:


Get it replaced under warranty.
Could be dying battery or transmitter/receiver slightly out of
tune/synch.

Vans not new, only new to me. 03 reg. Stuck a new battery in & it's now
fine.

Glad to be of service