R50/53 Things You Didn't Know About Your MINI
#1002
#1003
Works with just about any transmitter (car alarm, gate/door opener). The car audio guy who first told me about this while installing a car alarm for me said it was due to dental fillings. Some here have mentioned it is just due to your skull amplifying the signal.
#1004
#1005
careful with that. my SA told me that the emergency key had a limited number of uses due to its plastic construction.
#1006
#1008
#1010
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Hot Springs Village, AR
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This happened to come up yesterday, when Hubby had the key and I needed to get into the car. He was quite a distance away (I had to shout), and slightly downhill. He held the key up high over his head. No luck. I shouted back to hold it touching his cheek, and it opened right up! My engineer husband was baffled.
#1011
#1012
#1013
Yep - your body's acting as a "passive radiator", extending the range of the remote transmitter.
Sometimes you'll have the same thing happen near large concrete buildings - the mesh of metal rebar in the concrete walls will pick up the signal and re-radiate it. Power lines (or any kind of nearby wiring) can also do the same thing.
Sometimes you'll have the same thing happen near large concrete buildings - the mesh of metal rebar in the concrete walls will pick up the signal and re-radiate it. Power lines (or any kind of nearby wiring) can also do the same thing.
#1014
For what it's worth, I'm an engineer with experience with radar systems. Trust me. Go read about magnetrons and cavities.
#1015
"The cavities in your head (sinuses, etc) amplify the signal"
this improvement of range of the remote when next to your head....I discussed this with my wife and how it is the cavities in your head and how this technique really works well for me...she looked at me and said: obviously! Perhaps it works better for some and less in others?
this improvement of range of the remote when next to your head....I discussed this with my wife and how it is the cavities in your head and how this technique really works well for me...she looked at me and said: obviously! Perhaps it works better for some and less in others?
#1016
"The cavities in your head (sinuses, etc) amplify the signal"
this improvement of range of the remote when next to your head....I discussed this with my wife and how it is the cavities in your head and how this technique really works well for me...she looked at me and said: obviously! Perhaps it works better for some and less in others?
this improvement of range of the remote when next to your head....I discussed this with my wife and how it is the cavities in your head and how this technique really works well for me...she looked at me and said: obviously! Perhaps it works better for some and less in others?
#1018
#1020
I stood in conference room with a all glass outer wall overlooking the parking lot, and opened my windows and lowered my convertible top from about 350 feet away. Amused my fellow meeting victims.
No cavities, held a butter knife vertically with the tip of the key touching it out in front of me. Extended the range quite a way. I'd suggest a capacitive link with your body acting as a extended antenna. Google human body and antenna theory and you can read all night. :-) I've also extended the range to a lesser degree by touching it to my chin, or with the tips of my index and middle finger of the other hand held vertically in line with the key. You could carry around a nice metal mixing bowl too.
No cavities, held a butter knife vertically with the tip of the key touching it out in front of me. Extended the range quite a way. I'd suggest a capacitive link with your body acting as a extended antenna. Google human body and antenna theory and you can read all night. :-) I've also extended the range to a lesser degree by touching it to my chin, or with the tips of my index and middle finger of the other hand held vertically in line with the key. You could carry around a nice metal mixing bowl too.
#1021
#1022
have to agree with the passsive antenna theory ( also was a radar/electronic tech at one time in my life ); don't any of you "older" drivers remember having to "strike a pose" while holding the rabbit ears on the TV?? same principal I'd imagine. And to preludestuntin, I wouldn't say ANYTHING about the cavities in her head being bigger so they're better antennas if I was you!
#1023
I've added emphasis to the quote because I'm assuming that is the part you are asking about - right? If so, then simply hold the UNLOCK button down for a while - let's say 6 or 7 seconds - and you'll see things open up. (NOTE: All doors must be closed for this to work.) I know this works with the key, but I was told it also works with the unlock toggle - although I've never bothered to try, so I cannot verify).
#1025
Thanks! This is what I was looking for clarification for: the toggle key.
Another thing, my car does not close windows up/ open windows down from the key remote control. If I keep pressing the lock or unlock buttons nothing happens. I know other Minis do but not mine. Any clues?
Another thing, my car does not close windows up/ open windows down from the key remote control. If I keep pressing the lock or unlock buttons nothing happens. I know other Minis do but not mine. Any clues?