Panic Button

When I was testing at the dealer, I found about 20-30 feet or so, yes.

 

lolz... I didnt know about this feature....(I dont have smart entry)

is that range helpful.... ?? if you cant spot the car from within 20 feet, then theres perhaps a greater problem at hand(like eyesight!!)

 

Try pressing the fob against your upper neck/chin/jaw when you press the button. It sounds crazy, I know, but it dramatically increased the range on my old Camry and on the other cars I've tried it on. I haven't tried it with my Prius fob yet.

I found explanations for it in a couple of other car forums, some claiming the body acts as an antenna and others claiming just that holding it higher than usual is what makes it work--nothing definitive or truly credible sounding, though.

 

This does work -- however, you are technically breaking FCC law by modifying a signal in a manner in which it was not inteded to be transmitted. Doubt you'd ever get busted though! :lol:

 

My Prius is on order, but I drive an '04 Beetle Convertilbe now. I noticed the same thing. My fob for my '02 Highlander (pre-Beetle) would work from really far away and my Beetle only works right up close. A guy at work drives a Porsche Cayenne (he's a consultant, no we don't pay that much!) and he says he was told it's a newer "laser" technolgy rather than the radio technology which the older, longer distance ones were. He said the laser ones are more secure.

I don't know if it's true, but it seems to make sense.

M

 

I doubt it is laser--laser is extremely directional and strictly line-of-sight, so unless you aim it right at the car (and the right part of the car at that), a laser will fail.

 

mine works at ranges of at least 100 feet