[Robo21]

You all seem to have waaaaaay to much time to worry about this stuff. It is just a car with insurance. They are welcome to steal mine every couple years so I can get a new one....

Step 1 - If I can avoid insurance claims and police reports by putting my fobs in a can when I get home my problem is solved.
Step 2 - Share the info about the threat and the fix with my Hellcat brethren.

Who's worried dude? I am not worried. I solved the problem - it's over - done with. I can put my keys in a can and forget about it. Thanks for your concern over our state of mind but please don't bother. My only purpose was to share info and a solution that is 100% effective. If this doesn't interest you, disregard. It's too bad that you feel the need to be negative and critical.

Often when the car is stolen and thrashed it gets returned to the owner with no obvious damages. No new car. No thanks.

 

[Robo21]

Just turned off passive entry in my 2011 SRT

While turning off passive entry is a good first step, please keep in mind that it is not just the passive entry that is the problem. Apparently some of the thieves do have a way of activating the unlock button on their amplifier. Just watch the CNN video where the Escalade's unlock button is activated and you can hear the locks clicking before the guy opens the door.

One thing is certain, if the signal is blocked from your fob they have nothing to amplify and they cannot use their device to open the car - period. Please don't use the freezer to block the signal, it will ruin the battery in your fob. A metal container is perfect and no more trouble than dropping your keys into a covered key bowl when you go into your home.

 

[Fast Gator]

Passive mode off - spare keys in the gun safe - in use key in a metal key locker!

 

[Slowpoke387]

Can u explain the stainless steel aspect a little? Is it the mesh on top or the solid walls of the container? Which one is doing the blocking?

 

[Robo21]

Passive mode off - spare keys in the gun safe - in use key in a metal key locker!

Way to go!

 

[Paladin06]

Thanks for info. I saw this on the news and kinda blew it off to tell the truth.

 

[Robo21]

Can u explain the stainless steel aspect a little? Is it the mesh on top or the solid walls of the container? Which one is doing the blocking?

The Faraday technology is a cage or mesh depending on size. That will work by itself. However, we didn't have anything that was 100% mesh so we went with this. In this case it just so happened that when I presented the issue to my wife she pulled the sifter out of the kitchen cabinet and asked me "will this work?" The metallic container blocks the signal and the mesh also blocks the signal. It just happened to be stainless steel. I am thinking that cast iron, aluminum or most any metallic container would work. Test it to be sure. I went out to the car with this setup and with the container next to the car I can't open the door or the trunk.

Thanks for info. I saw this on the news and kinda blew it off to tell the truth.

My pleasure Paladin, you are very welcome. I didn't think it much of a threat when the problem first surfaced 3 years ago. But when it hit so close to home only a few miles away I woke up. Thankfully it's an easy fix.

 

[Paladin06]

I presently keep my driving fob in a metal key box in the laundry room. The spare is in a drawer in my office. I'll be moving the spare to the safe later today.

 

[Obiefox]

Step 1 - If I can avoid insurance claims and police reports by putting my fobs in a can when I get home my problem is solved.
Step 2 - Share the info about the threat and the fix with my Hellcat brethren.

Who's worried dude? I am not worried. I solved the problem - it's over - done with. I can put my keys in a can and forget about it. Thanks for your concern over our state of mind but please don't bother. My only purpose was to share info and a solution that is 100% effective. If this doesn't interest you, disregard. It's too bad that you feel the need to be negative and critical.

Often when the car is stolen and thrashed it gets returned to the owner with no obvious damages. No new car. No thanks.

Consider it throughly disregarded......

I've got more important stuff to protect than my key fob....

 

[Robo21]

It's not the fob you're not protecting. Good luck.

 

[MuscleGarageLA]

Leave CA period. Why stay in that hell hole. Sanctuary citys, out of control crime. SMH..

That's quite funny cause I went to visit some friends in AZ couple of years ago and had to cut short my trip. The insane 125+ heat made me realize what Hell might feel like. I will take my chances with the criminals in the 65F around the year temps..LOL

 

[BULL]

My personal experience (just now...):

One red key in hand, one red key/one black key in safe (like key color matters...)

Passive entry worked as expected...

Lightly wrapped key in hand in single layer of aluminum foil (I call it Tin Foil):

Passive entry did not work, neither did Lock/Unlock buttons...

Note: If I opened the Tin Foil even a little bit, even with the "gap" pointed away from the HC, then both Passive Entry and the Lock/Unlock buttons worked...




Also for reference:

 

[Robo21]

My personal experience (just now...):
One red key in hand, one red key/one black key in safe (like key color matters...)
Passive entry worked as expected...
Lightly wrapped key in hand in single layer of aluminum foil (I call it Tin Foil):
Passive entry did not work, neither did Lock/Unlock buttons...
Note: If I opened the Tin Foil even a little bit, even with the "gap" pointed away from the HC, then both Passive Entry and the Lock/Unlock buttons worked...

Bull, Nice work! The video you shared is excellent! Good find. Thank you. My test with aluminum foil failed possibly because the foil was wrapped too tightly around the fob. This videographer offered multiple solutions and validated my wife's solution with the conductive canister and mesh lid creating a hybrid Faraday container.

Thanks again!

 

[81cj8]

Can anyone explain how the car "knows" if the fob is inside the car or not? The car won't lock if a key fob is in the cabin

 

[fnkychkn]

Can anyone explain how the car "knows" if the fob is inside the car or not? The car won't lock if a key fob is in the cabin

Directional antennae.

 

[MattG]

One of the best posts i have read so far.

Thanks for all this info.

Matt

 

[SoCcal Dragger]

There is probably more to it than the key fob and/or either unlocking sequence. In Northern CA, the Camaro community is experiencing a ton of vehicle thefts by thieves who have managed to hack the onstar system. If uconnect is similar, then it's only a matter of time before they use it on us.

 

[Robo21]

Can anyone explain how the car "knows" if the fob is inside the car or not? The car won't lock if a key fob is in the cabin

According to Wikipedia "The smart key determines if it is inside or outside of the vehicle by measuring the strength of the LF (Low Frequency) fields. In order to start the vehicle, the key must be inside the vehicle."

To read the complete explanation of the system and how it works visit Wikipedia: Remote keyless system - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

One of the best posts i have read so far.

Thanks for all this info.

Matt

Thank you for posting. It's nice to see positive responses!

 

[fnkychkn]

According to Wikipedia "The smart key determines if it is inside or outside of the vehicle by measuring the strength of the LF (Low Frequency) fields. In order to start the vehicle, the key must be inside the vehicle."[/QUOTE]
Not sure which vehicle they're referring to but in chrysler vehicles, the FOBIK does not determine location. The RFH (radio frequency hub) determines FOBIK location using signals from directional antennae.

 

[Markp]

This technology was developed because humans are to lazy to put a key in a lock and turning it was too much trouble.