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Why does holding a key fob to your head increase its range?
21–30 of 161 posts
Re: Why does holding a key fob to your head increase its range?
#22It also works holding it near your torso, don't have to use your head. Although, the joke you tell your friends is that it only works if they open their mouth and stick out their tongue like a satellite dish. The fact that it works next to your torso made me think it was just a matter of bouncing half the radio emissions towards the vehicle, thus doubling the signal. Just like someone holding an omni-directional camp…
That was my first thought too, but the OPs tests had the range only improving when held to the head.
i suspect the torso's cavity isn't as amplifying as the liquid in your brain.
an interesting test would be to try a full bladder vs empty bladder...
Re: Why does holding a key fob to your head increase its range?
#23Keysight Labs did some testing on this a few years ago. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjYyjQKW-pU
Re: Why does holding a key fob to your head increase its range?
#24Makes one wonder about bluetooth headphones
Re: Why does holding a key fob to your head increase its range?
#25It also works holding it near your torso, don't have to use your head. Although, the joke you tell your friends is that it only works if they open their mouth and stick out their tongue like a satellite dish. The fact that it works next to your torso made me think it was just a matter of bouncing half the radio emissions towards the vehicle, thus doubling the signal. Just like someone holding an omni-directional camp…
I’ve always put the key behind my head when doing this, and can confirm, it extends the range through experimentation.
I thought for sure I’d be absorbing it with my head but I definitely get extra range.
Re: Why does holding a key fob to your head increase its range?
#26It also works holding it near your torso, don't have to use your head. Although, the joke you tell your friends is that it only works if they open their mouth and stick out their tongue like a satellite dish. The fact that it works next to your torso made me think it was just a matter of bouncing half the radio emissions towards the vehicle, thus doubling the signal. Just like someone holding an omni-directional camp…
That was my first thought too, but the OPs tests had the range only improving when held to the head.
I've had my fob fail to work multiple times while walking away from my car, so I take it out of my pocket and put it near my lower back and it works (even though I'm now even farther away because I'm walking).
Re: Why does holding a key fob to your head increase its range?
#27In the movie LalaLand, they mention that this is dangerous (causing diseases). Is that true?
Should we worry about a radio transmission powered by a 3 volt battery while taking on our phone?
Re: Why does holding a key fob to your head increase its range?
#28It also works holding it near your torso, don't have to use your head. Although, the joke you tell your friends is that it only works if they open their mouth and stick out their tongue like a satellite dish. The fact that it works next to your torso made me think it was just a matter of bouncing half the radio emissions towards the vehicle, thus doubling the signal. Just like someone holding an omni-directional camp…
I’ve always put the key behind my head when doing this, and can confirm, it extends the range through experimentation. I thought for sure I’d be absorbing it with my head but I definitely get extra range.
vs holding it out at arms length but same height? Ground interference is a thing.
Re: Why does holding a key fob to your head increase its range?
#29I am disappointed to see no mention of "passive radiator" nor "parasitic element" on that page anywhere: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driven_and_parasitic_elements#...
Must have been the log lady's secret all along.
Re: Why does holding a key fob to your head increase its range?
#30Earlier quoted context omitted.
I suspect not. Its a short burst of rf and not done very frequently. (I use this technque with an key fob near an open mouth probably 4 times a year.. Thanks Car talk. https://community.cartalk.com/t/does-the-remote-entry-work-b... Your phone is probably worse.
Why would the duration or frequency of the burst matter if RF is harmless?
Why would the amount or the way it gets into your body matter if water is harmless?