Remote function fob not working when parked in large parking lot.

[ShadowsPapa]

There's so much RF in the air out there, legal and otherwise, legit and otherwise, transmitters of all types, equipment that transmits but isn't a transmitter, defective equipment, you name it. These aren't real strong signals so it wouldn't take much to interfere. Cell towers everywhere, free WiFi everywhere, even in some cities, not just in businesses, we are surrounded by it, wireless carplay and AA, wireless everywhere. There are blinking red lights on towers in every direction from us. (now if we just had some cell towers nearby! )

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[Kevin_D]

Broadcast UHF TV is from 450-600MHz, and digital television is effectively white noise, which is real good at jamming a signal. With the fobs (and the TPMS) operating at 433MHz, it's pretty easy for the fob's signal to be swamped by the lower TV channels, especially near an antenna farm (a collection of communication towers.)

Kevin

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Broadcast UHF TV is from 450-600MHz, and digital television is effectively white noise, which is real good at jamming a signal. With the fobs (and the TPMS) operating at 433MHz, it's pretty easy for the fob's signal to be swamped by the lower TV channels, especially near an antenna farm (a collection of communication towers.)

Kevin

Like north of Ankeny, Iowa (the Alleman area) - several stations have transmitters there. I've always figured I'd not want to live in that area......

 

[ZoMojave]

I would do this experiment. Just because this would drive me nuts not to know.

Go to the parking lot at like 3:00 AM. When you are the only one there.

Confirm the problem exists when there are no other cars in the lot.

One other thought. Did you put in new door opening sensors? Do they operate in the same band range as key fobs?

That is exactly what I was thinking of doing. Wait until the store is closed sometime and conduct the experiment. I am also going to park in the opposite end of the lot and try it as well.

 

[Artsifrtsi]

Might also look to see if any new 5G towers were installed/activated in the vicinity recently... they'll look like a bare telephone pole with a box possibly attached.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Interesting science on the concept of 5G causing communications interference - it's not conspiracy, it's science -
http://www.satmagazine.com/story.php?number=2132459167

So if it can do this - what about other things closer by messing up FOB signals. ...........

 

[ZoMojave]

Well, here I am six weeks from this thread start. I conducted some "parking lot experimentation". The RF signal blocking mine and many of my co-worker's vehicle remote is spotty around the large parking lot at our store.

I first tried my usual parking space with an empty lot to rule out other vehicles interfering. Same issues occurred. Then moved to different areas of the lot to compare. The employee parking area on the west end of the lot (where most have experienced this issue) was by far the most RF blocked with NO response from my remote until right next to my JTM. Proximity/door handle unlock works fine though and starts without fail. Some of my co-workers with GM products have stated that they can't even unlock their doors without taking out the key and manually unlocking the door (then signaling the security alarm until started). One stated that frequently, his Silverado will not even start until waving the fob around the dash while pressing the start button.

Between all of us involved with these issues, we found that parking 500' away on the east side of the employee parking area eliminated ALL of the issues with the remote start/door unlock commands/startups from our fobs. This also includes those days with 100 plus vehicles all around us. Still unsure if it is Wi-Fi related but will never know. Nothing has been changed or upgraded at the store.

So now I have a further distance to walk to the front door but hey it's Springtime, right? Well at least until old man Winter rolls around again!

But at least my remote start will work!

 

[ShadowsPapa]

You can for sure count out other vehicles interfering. They don't emit the power required, nor do they really emit much of anything. They listen.
It's got to be a powerful signal to block things when a fob is in that close proximity.

I suspect a person could find plans online for a device that could be used with a laptop to detect interference.

https://interferencetechnology.com/identifying-and-locating-radio-frequency-interference-rfi/

 

[kevman65]

I used to think RF interference was 100% of the problem.

But of late, if I'm standing inside the house behind my steel security storm door, FOB won't work. Open the door and take one step outside, FOB works.

So, seems metal between FOB and Jeep cancels the signal. Even if the metal is NOT a solid object.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I used to think RF interference was 100% of the problem.

But of late, if I'm standing inside the house behind my steel security storm door, FOB won't work. Open the door and take one step outside, FOB works.

So, seems metal between FOB and Jeep cancels the signal. Even if the metal is NOT a solid object.

That makes sense. I was using AlfaOBD in my truck a couple of weeks ago to record some logs, FOB in vehicle, button pressed twice to go into run mode and suddenly things got a bit goofy. When I pressed the button again to go to stop mode for a while and then pressed it again to go back to run mode, nothing happened. The fob had fallen down between console and seat. It's like it couldn't detect it down there. When I dug and found it and put it back in the slot between the cup holders, all was good. I found if that fob is sort of down or between things it doesn't work so well.

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