Whenever i park at a particular place at the local shopping centre (Trafford Centre) I seem to strugle with my remote locking and alarm. I know it sounds stupid but anywhere else the remote has worked first time, just seems really strange. Anyone had this before?

Oops 3 posts lol! I got the mail error whilst posting

Complete guess here...

Are you parking very near to one of those automatic shopping mall doors, or some other sort of motion sensor? I know they can upset radar detectors, so maybe they bother the remote locking too?

When I had my Escort with Clifford alarm, it stopped working for a while in some places. Was told it could be places like cab companies or pizza delivery places as their freq they use can interfere!!!

Bob Marley ??!!!!

This was reported on TV some months ago, North West news. If I remember correctly it was something to do with mobile phone masts.

Regular problem at Trafford Centre i believe

(hope you like jamming too)

I remember seeing something in teh news about the ariels at teh Trafford Centre jamming certain alarm systems. Luckily I haven't had that same problem when I go there.

the " jamming" can be caused by electrical fields blocking the signal from the keyfob ( as it operates on a weak signal ie short range) it can be caused by florecent street lights, underground cables, HT pylons etc.

if this does happen stand about 1M out and rearwards from the drivers door and press the button - this is the area where the reciever is most receptive.

I sometimes get that at the police station in Kingston, and rarely at the Hospital in Guildford, both of which bristle with masts and antennae(s?).

Fortunatley I've never been in a position where I could lock the car then not unlock it again, which happened to me in my Primera days!

These remote keys operate on a spot frequency of 433.920Mhz in the UHF band which happens to be within the UK Amateur Radio allocation of frequencies. However because the receiver units in cars are so **** poorly made they are wide open to any other radio transmissions made on frequencies approximatly 4Mhz either side of the centre frequency of 433.920Mhz. Furthermore the key will have a transmit power of about 10 milliwatts, compare this with an amateur radio station who can be licensed to use up to 400 watts and a buisness or government radio system which can use high amounts of power to cover there needs and you can see the problems. The difficulties you are encountering will be due to the high number of 2way radio systems in use in the city centres today and i forsee the problem will only get worse. Most amateur radio operators do not live in the city centres due to the high levels of electrical noise and other business/government radio operators which make conditions unworkable. Cellular G.S.M. radio masts have no effect on these receiver units as they operate in the 900 to 950 Mhz band, double that of your key. Flourescent lamps, street lamps, and anything else not connected with radio will have no effect on the operation of the key, other than a flat battery. If you do get problems hold the key VERY close to the lower edge of the windscreen and move it around slowly while pressing the button untill the doors unlock (UNLESS SOMEONE CAN TELL US WHERE THE RECEIVER UNIT ANTENNA IS LOCATED) in which case get the key as close to it as possible and you should be ok. M.J.S.Electronics/ ( ham radio operator)

[quote name='G7UHF' date='May 23 2003, 02:17 AM']If you do get problems hold the key VERY close to the lower edge of the windscreen and move it around slowly while pressing the button untill the doors unlock (UNLESS SOMEONE CAN TELL US WHERE THE RECEIVER UNIT ANTENNA IS LOCATED) in which case get the key as close to it as possible and you should be ok.   [/quote]
Holding the key next to the windscreen will make no difference at all! You will be pointing the key at the Air conditioning solar sensor and the automatic headlight sensor. LOL

The signal CAN be effected by HT pylons, underground cables etc - it even says so in the lexus workshop/ fault finding manuals!!

to clarify - or to spell it out clearly :

if this does happen stand about 1M out and rearwards from the drivers door and press the button - this is the area where the reciever is most receptive.

I.E THIS IS WHERE THE RECIEVER IS LOCATED.

had the same problem at the trafford centre tooooooooooo .

I went to the trafford centre to see if my GS300 was affected in the same way. I called my wife on the mobile when I arrived and tried operating the remote central locking while she watched the car in the driveway. Seems mine is affected too

Seriously though, have you tried a different shopping centre?

[quote name='Dr Evil' date='May 13 2003, 05:22 PM']I sometimes get that at the police station in Kingston[/quote]
Go there often do we?

[quote name='Kavey' date='May 24 2003, 09:05 AM'][quote name='Dr Evil' date='May 13 2003, 05:22 PM'] I sometimes get that at the police station in Kingston[/quote]
Go there often do we? [/quote]
You never know... he might [b]work[/b] there...

The best thing to do if you cant get your remote key to work is hold it to your skin under your chin and then press, you'll find it works every time.

The thinking behind this is that your body acts as a large aerial to the signal, thereby amplifying it, sounds strange I know but really works!. Same principle as touching an indoor tv aerial and you suddenly get a better picture.

Try it, you wont have the problem anymore!

Hi, exactly the same thing happened to me, same car park. Weird!

lol yeah I now park on the top of the multi storey part of the trafford center, unless I am going to the cinema and have to park there.

havent had it since thought lol