truelove

what's the farthest away i can be from the car and still lock and unlock it? anyone have any clue? just curious.

trench

About 100-150 feet line of sight. Not as far if there are any obstructions in the way - for example, I can lock/unlock my car from my third foor office which is at least 150 feet, but not from inside my apartment - which is only about 60 feet but obstructed by part of the building.

The window opening (infrared) feature is only good for about 10 feet - a litttle better if it's dark or cold out.

Cheers, BT

firstkill

My record so far has been about 30 feet.
I dont remember how long it takes before it relocks,
but I walk so enough to where if I unlock it far away and walk to the car, it has locked itself again


~fk

MB-BOB

I agree with trench's estimates.

Now, it's has been mentioned here (but not started by me -- this time excepted) that you can often increase the RF range of the transmitter by holding the Smart Key to your cheek over your lower jaw when you press the button. The lower jaw serves as an external antenna. Don't laugh too hard, cause it works... just looks somewhat Geeky. :o

This trick does not work with the pitiful IR transmitter, however.

MacPhisto

If you were REALLY curious, you'd go outside and check.

MarkL

Plus, for this feature, you need to aim it directly at the "hole" (small IR window) in the door handle. So, you have to be approaching the car from the side, which I rarely do especially at work.

truelove

plus it takes freakin forever for the windows and sunroof to open. in my cougar, the windows and sunroof are really fast. especially the windows. i once pinched a girl's breast in the driver's side window accidentally.

C230Komp

I need a little more explanation on the "breast in window" thing. I'm trying to picture it in my mind but I'm having a little trouble....

oggle

Yup it does work wonders. I heard it's because of the metal tooth fillings we've got inside our mouths. So... if you have no teeth or have no fillings, you might be out of luck hehe.

trench

The effect occurs because the human body (which is essentially a bag of salty water) is a better conductor than air - no filings required!

Cheers, BT

jrct9454

...I too agree that 150 feet sounds about right, with a clear line of sight. I've opened the trunk from across a parking lot as we approached the car, and it was at least half a football field away.

Matt230K

And I don't think you have to do it by your lower jaw either. I usually just put it under my chin. I don't know if there is an optimal spot on your body to put it, but it does work. You don't need it much on C's because of the range, but other MB's don't work so far away. This method definitely increases the range.

NANA

Now who can find that sweet spot?

viper

Yeah and if you stick the smart key down your pants you can increase the spectral efficiency of the RF signal by using your organ as a transmission line. Sheesh you guys must be bored.

Rick

2002 C230 works at about 150 ft without obstruction....and about 40 ft from inside my house or office
2001 E320 4matic works at about 30 ft unobstructed (old style smartkey)

MB-BOB

...And I was wondering this morning how long it would take before this turned into a "my SmartKey is longer than yours" thread... Ha!

Matt230K

A 2001 E320 has the same kind of key. The old style was retired in 2000. I think it has more to do with the car than the type of key. The E does have much less range than C.

FrankW

about 100 feet for mine, and FIVE feet (yes, you heard it right) for my sister's CLK smartkey to work.

spankdoggie

Absolutely true. I thought only me and my buddies knew that "trick" with the remote; shoot, we were doing it 14 years ago, back when we were teenagers...

Stick the remote in your neck under your jaw and press up toward your tongue. The increased distance can be quantified by anybody.

Surprised you guys knew this stuff. I am impressed.

By the way, it is not geeky. You are a geek when your dumb a$$ can't get into your car. That is geeky. Call AAA you locked out, baggy pants, unbuckled basturd...

Shoot, I have had some sake. I got to go, before I get into trouble here.

Take care.

spankdoggie

Matt230K

What cars were you doing this on 14 years ago? It certainly wasn't MB. Who had wireless remotes in 1988?

oggle

He's probably talking about alarms. And this trick has been known since WAYYYY back since the first remotes.

02Impressor

Ah geezers, all of ya... anyway cool trick and a neat idea for Physics paper.