quote:

Originally posted by TRIO:
Just tested the tin can...doors still opened, but wouldn't start.

Try wrapping the keys and fob in paper towel or something else to insulate them from the can.

quote:

Originally posted by sigmonkey:
Miniature version of the "Simon" game.

An acquaintance in college had a true photographic memory. He was in Guinness Book of Records for memorizing Pi to more than 10,000 decimal places. He was banned from casinos for card counting.

Anyhow, he would beat Simon every time without breaking a sweat.

The best I ever did was maybe 8.

I just wrap mine up in an oversized piece of aluminum foil. I always park in the garage but if I have to leave a vehicle outside unattended I wrap the fob up in foil before I walk away. I always keep some in the vehicle for this purpose.

quote:

Originally posted by trapper189:...
Try wrapping the keys and fob in paper towel or something else to insulate them from the can.

maybe...

Maybe…

I’m going to have to experiment now. I always thought Faraday cages were used to keep signals out not in.

I was reading up on these key FOBs a bit. When not you are not actually pressing a button on the FOB, it waits to hear from the car before it transmits anything, so keeping signals out is exactly what you want the box or bag you put the FOB in to do.

For example, the FOB is just sitting in your pocket, purse, house listening. When you press the unlock button, start button, or touch the handles on your car, etc. the car sends a signal out and if the FOB is close enough, then the FOB responds and the car receives the response and does whatever you tried to do in the first place.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: trapper189,

quote:

Originally posted by trapper189:
I’m going to have to experiment now. I always thought Faraday cages were used to keep signals out not in.

Congratulations - this is the most puzzling post of the week. I understand the idea of a selectively permeable membrane, but you think there's one that is one-way?

I'm gonna need to see a picture of these Ferraris you guys are protecting in your driveway, and the inside of your garage you're not using in most cases.

I don’t know. What I’ve been reading all seems to talk about Faraday cages being used to keep signals out, ie protecting electronics from EMPs and such. I actually just added more to my post above, because it turns out that would work for the key FOBs.

quote:

Originally posted by Georgeair:
I understand the idea of a selectively permeable membrane, but you think there's one that is one-way?

I didn't know we were talking about Skin Effect now. (that was meant as a joke that only about 3 or 4 people will get)

quote:

Originally posted by trapper189:
I always thought Faraday cages were used to keep signals out not in.

In the general case, there is a reciprocity property, so signals will be blocked going in as well as going out of the faraday cage.

simple example: Your microwave oven's cage keeps all that RF from getting out, otherwise we'd all have fewer kids .

quote:

simple example: Your microwave oven's cage keeps all that RF from getting out, otherwise we'd all have fewer kids .

so just stick the fob in the microwave.

probably want to unplug it first

Sigmonkey's wit is sharp as ever!

My wife just got a new SUV today and it has a key fob so I just ordered this for her to keep it in while it is in the house or in her purse while she is out.

quote:

Originally posted by YooperSigs:
^^^ A good quality Faraday pouch will stop this.

Yep . They sell them for cell phones . They're cheap , stylish , and will kill a signal . Should work for a fob just fine .

So should I spend the extra money on a Faraday cage box or can I just use a couple of layers of aluminium foil lining a box??

It seems that most are concerned with their fob being cloned while at home, not in use. It was my understanding that your fob can be cloned while you are out and about by a person with the correct equipment. This can be accomplished by a person a couple yards from you, so you probably wouldn't be aware.

Son's car got stolen this past Thursday (2016 Chevy SS) which made me kind of paranoid - bought a Faraday box that also comes with two pouches so that when you are away from home you can put your fob in the pouch, in your pocket. Kind of a hassle, but better than having your car stolen.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

^^^Automatic or stick?

We’re not talking about the FOB being cloned, which is actually really difficult because both the vehicle and FOB use rolling codes. Rather, we are talking about using transmitters and receivers to boost the signal the car sends out to the FOB when you touch the right part of the car to unlock it, or press the start button so the FOB can hear the signal and respond. Another receiver and transmitter is used to boost the signal from the FOB back to the vehicle. Doing this bypasses the need for the FOB and vehicle to be in close proximity to each other like they would normally have to be in order to work.

In the name of science:



FOB wrapped in a half sheet of paper towel, wrapped in nonstick Reynolds aluminum foil left over from baking biscuits in the oven for the biscuits and gravy.

Doors would not lock, car would not start. If whatever solution you choose passes this test, then your FOBs stored in that manner cannot be used to steal your car.

I’ve had faraday bags for years. But this was a good reminder to start carrying the fob in it when I’m out some place. PITA, but part of life is to adapt. Spare fobs are in the gun safe already. I keep 2 vehicles outside. 1 is my truck and I put a Compustar alarm in it as soon as I got it 5 years ago. I added the Drone mobile to it also and I use push notifications so even if they could hack it, I’d get instant notification of unlock/start/etc and would have some shots on goal to deal with them myself. The Drone app works on the phone, pad, and even my watch. These thieves are going after OEM bs. My daily is 11 years old so if they stole it they’d be doing me a favor. It’s not worth anything so way down the list for a theft target. But I’m going to trade it in, in March, for a newer one. Guess I need to plan on putting a Compustar/Drone on it as well. Rest of my vehicles are in a locked garage and I have the garage on my home alarm so if that garage door is ever hacked my alarm will go off.

Cloning is still possible. I have an elderly friend who recently had his Infinity stolen while still in possession of his key fobs. It was stolen in Austin, TX and recovered in another city and the suspect ran on foot and got away when patrol units responded to a Flock camera hit and he stopped to get gas.

I knew neither Austin Police or the other department would do anything, especially with different parts of the crime being in different cities. They didn’t even look for evidence in the recovered car. They just turned it back over with drug paraphernalia and all.

I solved the crime myself in three days. I found receipts in the car and got video of the purchases from stores and matched the suspect to the one who ran from cops. In each purchase at a store, he turned the car off in the parking lot and started it back up. Because he had been arrested many times, facial recognition software identified him from the video I got, along with his tattoos, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Two weeks later he was taken into custody when he had an encounter with cops and they ran him with the warrant. He is still sitting in jail today for multiple felonies. He had several other charges for stolen vehicles.

So if you have a key fob, protect it.`My friend is lucky I had the ability, time, and desire to catch his thief. I had really hoped to find what technology he used to steal the car, but he must have ditched it.

You can do a simple test to your makeshift or purchased faraday cage, take the wrapped fob to try and enter locked car, or start your unlocked car. Nothing works, you're good.

quote:

Originally posted by StorminNormin:

So if you have a key fob, protect it.

Totally agree.

Also, These days anyone who doesn't toss an AirTag (or whatever the similar Android thing is) in their car is crazy. Might not help in all cases. but if they are driving the car in populated areas the airtag will track it.

quote:

Originally posted by Pizza Bob:
It seems that most are concerned with their fob being cloned while at home, not in use. It was my understanding that your fob can be cloned while you are out and about by a person with the correct equipment. This can be accomplished by a person a couple yards from you, so you probably wouldn't be aware.

Son's car got stolen this past Thursday (2016 Chevy SS) which made me kind of paranoid - bought a Faraday box that also comes with two pouches so that when you are away from home you can put your fob in the pouch, in your pocket. Kind of a hassle, but better than having your car stolen.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

That's unfortunate. I looked at getting a SS a few years ago, but it seems like they are ridiculously easy to steal. That and a concern about parts availability were the deciding factors that made me look at something else when I replaced my GTO.

I hope they find it before it gets chopped up.