Locked out?

[LCHIEN]

GM's On star can unlock a car because the receiver is integrated into the car electronics, not a separate cell phone. The receiver has a tap for the received audio-band circuit and a circuit or software monitors this for the door opening codes which probably includes the vehicle ID. The circuit then is hardware connected to the Body control Computer which controls lights an door locking and window functions. When it receives the command from the radio it then unlocks the doors. The secret is the built-in engineered connection between the receiver looking for commands and the body control computer.

As for the people who don't use remotes, I guess I overstepped on that one. I guess you can continue to ignore the remotes. I do notice that using the remotes to unlock the doors and trunk, you don't get scratch marks all around the locks. Now, if I could get the wife not to hold the keys in the hand while she opens the door handle, then it would eliminate the scratches around the door handle.

[JSCOOK]

Now, if I could get the wife not to hold the keys in the hand while she opens the door handle, then it would eliminate the scratches around the door handle.

Ahhhh ... glad to see I'm not the only one with this problem ...

I can't seem to remember the company, but there is a thin clear film the same as the stuff the wrap the front nose and top edge of the car hood for bugs, that you can get for the door handle pockets to prevent key scratches ... when it gets too marked up, you simply peel it away and install a new one ... works like a charm ...

Now if I could stop the LOML's keys from scratching up the entrance door handles ....

[DaveS]

related subject...

While this isn't the same as unlocking via a cell phone...

If you ever find yourself just out of range while using your car remote - point your head towards the car, hold the remote up to your chin (the flat part, just below your bottom lip) as you press the button.

Your chin can be used as a sort of "parabolic reflector" - and can extend the range of your remote.

I think it depends on the remote, and the chin - but it definitely works for me.

At a previous job, I worked with a bunch of old RF guys - one of them told me about this trick, and I initially didn't believe him - thought he was trying to play a joke and make me look stupid - but, you know, it actually works.

[LCHIEN]

While this isn't the same as unlocking via a cell phone...

If you ever find yourself just out of range while using your car remote - point your head towards the car, hold the remote up to your chin (the flat part, just below your bottom lip) as you press the button.

Your chin can be used as a sort of "parabolic reflector" - and can extend the range of your remote.

I think it depends on the remote, and the chin - but it definitely works for me.

At a previous job, I worked with a bunch of old RF guys - one of them told me about this trick, and I initially didn't believe him - thought he was trying to play a joke and make me look stupid - but, you know, it actually works.

Altitude helps, even just a couple of feet lifting your hand from pocket height where most people press the button. to around or over your head. I do that often.

Chin a parabolic reflector??? i think he WAS pulling your leg, there.

[scorrpio]

RF over cell phone - total bull.

One note, however: a cell phone antenna is usually better than whatever is in the remote. It is possible that remote held to a phone gains benefits of phone's antenna and thus sends an amplified signal that can be picked from a bit further away. Just a thought. Ain't gonna work 'over miles', but it might as much as double the remote's range.

The tennis ball trick - might work, if lock design allows it. When car has remote entry, turning a key in the lock usually does two things - mechanically opens the lock itself, AND pushes an unlock contact plate, which usually sends an open signal to other doors as well. I doubt air pressure can do anything to lock mechanicals - but if the contact plate is thin and large enough, and is close enough to other contact, a bit of air pressure can do it.
The video hints that 'with a ball, you can pick any car you want'. Well, you MIGHT open it, but good luck starting the car with that ball. And for the 'locked out' cases - keeping a spare key in the purse will be a lot smarter than a punctured tennis ball.

[LinuxRandal]

And for the 'locked out' cases - keeping a spare key in the purse will be a lot smarter than a punctured tennis ball.

No purse, but spare key in wallet. However, you can get more entertainment out of, "Is that a tennis ball in your pocket, or are you happy to see me!"

[LCHIEN]

No purse, but spare key in wallet. However, you can get more entertainment out of, "Is that a tennis ball in your pocket, or are you happy to see me!"

Since this whole thread is a joke, that sounds like the joke:

Man carrying a couple of tennis balls in his pockets to pick car locks in case he gets locked out (OK, in the original story he finds them by the side of the pathway in the park).
Blonde woman walks by and stares curiously at the bulges in his pants. He smiles at her and says, "oh, it's tennis balls". To which the blonde replies, "Oh, dear, I've heard of tennis elbow before; that must really be painful!"

[Russianwolf]

Remote or not, the nice part of owning a BMW's is that you can't lock the door unless you have the key or remote.

All vehicles IMO should be lock this way ...

Doors can be locked from the inside without either. Seen a couple lap dogs lock themselves in a running Beamer 5 Series before. Owner was really pissed when he had to ask to borrow my phone to call a locksmith (as I was driving my old truck that probably cost less than his unused tool kit).

Old Hondas used to make this claim too. But if you hold the handle up and lock push the lock it would work and you could lock your keys inside. Don't know if Beamer fixed this, but I'd be careful to have your keys in hand when you try.

[gabedad]

While this isn't the same as unlocking via a cell phone...

If you ever find yourself just out of range while using your car remote - point your head towards the car, hold the remote up to your chin (the flat part, just below your bottom lip) as you press the button.

Your chin can be used as a sort of "parabolic reflector" - and can extend the range of your remote.

I think it depends on the remote, and the chin - but it definitely works for me.

At a previous job, I worked with a bunch of old RF guys - one of them told me about this trick, and I initially didn't believe him - thought he was trying to play a joke and make me look stupid - but, you know, it actually works.

I'll back this up - works for me too. I don't know why but if I put remote under my chin - the range is definitely increased

[cabinetman]

Seen a couple lap dogs lock themselves in a running Beamer 5 Series before. Don't know if Beamer fixed this

Just a quick edification on BMW's. The BMW cars are called "Bimmers", and the BMW motorcycles are called "Beamers".

[WoodButcher26]

I'll back this up - works for me too. I don't know why but if I put remote under my chin - the range is definitely increased

I tried it sometime back when a friend told me, did some brief research. Found something about your skull making a resonant cavity for the signal, that bone density is just about right to make it happen. Can't vouch for the physics involved, but could be plausible. I've seen resonators made out of some materials that would really blow your mind, bone is not all that exotic.

BTW, just remember what that RF is doing to your grey matter when you do that...


Kim

[LCHIEN]

I tried it sometime back when a friend told me, did some brief research. Found something about your skull making a resonant cavity for the signal, that bone density is just about right to make it happen. Can't vouch for the physics involved, but could be plausible. I've seen resonators made out of some materials that would really blow your mind, bone is not all that exotic.

BTW, just remember what that RF is doing to your grey matter when you do that...


Kim

About the same thing as a cell phone does when you hold it next to your brain's frontal lobes. Except a cell phone is probably 10X or 100x more power. They're just about 10% short of being microwaves... almost microwaving your brain, I guess.

[LCHIEN]

Just a quick edification on BMW's. The BMW cars are called "Bimmers", and the BMW motorcycles are called "Beamers".

I see there's a lot of chatter about this.
What I understand is that most people call bikes or cars beamers.
It's slang. Slang by definition is a popular terminology.
If the popular use of Beamer is for Cars, and most people don't know that someone says Bimmer is for cars, then I think the slang is Beamer.
Slang is slang, so Beamer it is.
Even if some purists want to differentiate themselves.

[Russianwolf]

I see there's a lot of chatter about this.
What I understand is that most people call bikes or cars beamers.
It's slang. Slang by definition is a popular terminology.
If the popular use of Beamer is for Cars, and most people don't know that someone says Bimmer is for cars, then I think the slang is Beamer.
Slang is slang, so Beamer it is.
Even if some purists want to differentiate themselves.

As far as I know, they are pronounced the same. So if there is a change in spelling it's news to me (not that I would ever own one).

Cabinetman - Or are you saying that Bimmer is pronounced like bin (not a long "e" sound). If that's what you are suggesting, then I have to say it must just be a bmw owner thing cause I've never heard anyone pronounce it with anything but the long "e" sounding Beamer.

The again, I'm a Jeeper. or is it Jipper?

[cabinetman]

As far as I know, they are pronounced the same. So if there is a change in spelling it's news to me (not that I would ever own one).

Cabinetman - Or are you saying that Bimmer is pronounced like bin (not a long "e" sound). If that's what you are suggesting, then I have to say it must just be a bmw owner thing cause I've never heard anyone pronounce it with anything but the long "e" sounding Beamer.

The again, I'm a Jeeper. or is it Jipper?

As far as the "slang" I've heard you're a "Jeeper", (long ee). As for BMW's the slang for people not associated with the history of it's development or racing background, the word Beamer (pronounced Bee-mer), or spelled Beemer (pronounced the same way) is used as a slang for the car. For those who were corrected (like me) by BMW Club members that the motorcycle has that moniker.

As for Bimmer moniker, for the car, is pronounced Bim-mer (pronounced with short "i" as in swimmer).