Keyless Remote has Poor Range
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Keyless Remote has Poor Range
My 2001 F250 SD XLT has very poor range from the remote. I would like to wire my DesignTech remote starter so it will work off the Ford OEM remote. The problem is that the Ford OEM remote has a range of about 10 to 30 feet, depending on which corner of the truck you are nearest.
Can anybody offer advice on range extension?
I am considering installing a preamplifier between the receiver and the antenna to increase the sensitivity.
Does anybody know where the receiver for the remote is located, and if it shares the radio antenna?
Also, does anybody know the approximate frequency that the Ford OEM remote transmits on?
Any information would be most helpful.
Can anybody offer advice on range extension?
I am considering installing a preamplifier between the receiver and the antenna to increase the sensitivity.
Does anybody know where the receiver for the remote is located, and if it shares the radio antenna?
Also, does anybody know the approximate frequency that the Ford OEM remote transmits on?
Any information would be most helpful.
Sit. Stay.
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 18,308
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From: Washington State
Keyless Remote has Poor Range
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 09-Feb-02 AT 00:25 AM (EST)]>My 2001 F250 SD XLT has very poor range from the remote.
Really?? I can stand 50 or more feet away from my Excursion and it'll work. I can be inside the house, 40 feet away and the doors will unlock. (without pointing it out the window.)
>Can anybody offer advice on range extension?
Ya replaced the battery recently?
I'll check out your other questions and post a response if no one else does.
(I just carry two key fobs. The OEM & the remote start. But only for the winter.)
on edit: How can you use the OEM remote for the aftermarket remote starter? Which button will you use to start it? The panic? Do SD's have the panic button on the fob? If I could reprogram mine that would be cool!
Really?? I can stand 50 or more feet away from my Excursion and it'll work. I can be inside the house, 40 feet away and the doors will unlock. (without pointing it out the window.)
>Can anybody offer advice on range extension?
Ya replaced the battery recently?
I'll check out your other questions and post a response if no one else does.
(I just carry two key fobs. The OEM & the remote start. But only for the winter.)
on edit: How can you use the OEM remote for the aftermarket remote starter? Which button will you use to start it? The panic? Do SD's have the panic button on the fob? If I could reprogram mine that would be cool!
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Keyless Remote has Poor Range
My local truck store sells a module that connects to the door lock line, and if you hit the lock twice in 5 seconds it fires off the remote starter.
Apparently the poor range problem exists in many SDs. My friend has a Y2K CTD, and he has the same problem. The local truck store says it is a problem with the trucks.
Reverse engineering question: does your Excusrion have its antenna in the window? I have a 1999 Crown Vic with a remote, and it had the range of your Excursion. It also had the antenna in the rear window, and what was aparently a preamplifier in the trunk up in back behind the seat.
As for the panic button, I am looking for a hack for that as well. I am guessing that there is a chip in the GEM that controls it: does this sound correct?
Is there a module that goes between the GEM and the remote control receiver? If so, and if I am on the right track, then I may be able to figure it out.
Do you think Ford would give us the source code for thier GEM module? lol
Any help or comments will be greatly appreciated.
John
Apparently the poor range problem exists in many SDs. My friend has a Y2K CTD, and he has the same problem. The local truck store says it is a problem with the trucks.
Reverse engineering question: does your Excusrion have its antenna in the window? I have a 1999 Crown Vic with a remote, and it had the range of your Excursion. It also had the antenna in the rear window, and what was aparently a preamplifier in the trunk up in back behind the seat.
As for the panic button, I am looking for a hack for that as well. I am guessing that there is a chip in the GEM that controls it: does this sound correct?
Is there a module that goes between the GEM and the remote control receiver? If so, and if I am on the right track, then I may be able to figure it out.
Do you think Ford would give us the source code for thier GEM module? lol
Any help or comments will be greatly appreciated.
John
Sit. Stay.
Joined: Oct 2001
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From: Washington State
Keyless Remote has Poor Range
>Reverse engineering question: does your Excusrion have its
>antenna in the window?
I'll be honest, I know squat about the Keyless entry system. It's all magic to me. I do have an antenna module looking thing above the rearview mirror on the windshield but assumed that it was for the aftermarket remote starter.
I will check to see what my CD manual says about the whole thing and I'll get back to you if I can provide any insight.
>antenna in the window?
I'll be honest, I know squat about the Keyless entry system. It's all magic to me. I do have an antenna module looking thing above the rearview mirror on the windshield but assumed that it was for the aftermarket remote starter.
I will check to see what my CD manual says about the whole thing and I'll get back to you if I can provide any insight.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: OK
Keyless Remote has Poor Range
My remote works from about 50ft when approaching the truck from the SIDE. Front or rear approaches seem to have less range.
I believe the "receiver" is located within the truck's GEM so tweaking would probably be difficult if not impossible.
I have no idea where, if one exists, the antenna is located. I'm pretty sure it's not the radio antenna. Perhaps someone with the schematics can look it up for us.
To determine the transmit frequency of your FOBs, you'll have to check the [link:www.fcc.gov/oet/fccid|FCC ID Search Page]. Get the numbers (FCCID) off the back of your FOB. The first three are the "grantee code" then all the rest are the "equipment product code". My FOBs transmit at 315 MHz.
I believe the "receiver" is located within the truck's GEM so tweaking would probably be difficult if not impossible.
I have no idea where, if one exists, the antenna is located. I'm pretty sure it's not the radio antenna. Perhaps someone with the schematics can look it up for us.
To determine the transmit frequency of your FOBs, you'll have to check the [link:www.fcc.gov/oet/fccid|FCC ID Search Page]. Get the numbers (FCCID) off the back of your FOB. The first three are the "grantee code" then all the rest are the "equipment product code". My FOBs transmit at 315 MHz.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Corpus Christi, TX
Keyless Remote has Poor Range
Might not be the solution you're looking for, but...have you ever tried holding the remote up to your head and then hit the buttons? In my old SD, I could keep locking and unlocking the doors from about 30-or-so paces away from the front of the truck. Seems my head made a better transmitter? I've developed an eye twitch...maybe I shouldnt do that anymore :P
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From: United States
Keyless Remote has Poor Range
Seems my head made a better
>transmitter? I've developed an eye twitch...maybe I
>shouldnt do that anymore :P
*LoL* That's hilarious Munkey.......Have you tried it with your garage door opener? Maybe you could get sattelite T.V. if you think real hard.(don't blow a fuse) I often smell ozone if I think too hard
>transmitter? I've developed an eye twitch...maybe I
>shouldnt do that anymore :P
*LoL* That's hilarious Munkey.......Have you tried it with your garage door opener? Maybe you could get sattelite T.V. if you think real hard.(don't blow a fuse) I often smell ozone if I think too hard
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Sit. Stay.
Joined: Oct 2001
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From: Washington State
Keyless Remote has Poor Range
>I believe the "receiver" is located within the truck's GEM
>so tweaking would probably be difficult if not impossible.
>
>I have no idea where, if one exists, the antenna is located.
> I'm pretty sure it's not the radio antenna. Perhaps
>someone with the schematics can look it up for us.
Another good call, NoMo! My schematics shows everything ending or starting in the GEM module. No sign of an antenna or hook-up to the radio antenna.
>so tweaking would probably be difficult if not impossible.
>
>I have no idea where, if one exists, the antenna is located.
> I'm pretty sure it's not the radio antenna. Perhaps
>someone with the schematics can look it up for us.
Another good call, NoMo!
My schematics shows everything ending or starting in the GEM module. No sign of an antenna or hook-up to the radio antenna.FTE Stories
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Fleet Mechanic
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From: Corpus Christi, TX
Keyless Remote has Poor Range
>Maybe you could get sattelite T.V.
>if you think real hard.(don't blow a fuse) I often smell
>ozone if I think too hard
Actually, if I start thinking about what came first, the chicken or the egg, I get scrambled Playboy in my head. Hey it's better than nothing!
>if you think real hard.(don't blow a fuse) I often smell
>ozone if I think too hard
Actually, if I start thinking about what came first, the chicken or the egg, I get scrambled Playboy in my head. Hey it's better than nothing!
Sit. Stay.
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 18,308
Likes: 20
From: Washington State
Keyless Remote has Poor Range
CEEJR, dude, I have read just about all of your posts and am TRULY sorry that you got a bad truck. I kinda wish that I could do something about it.
I know that you want to vent your frustration and anger about the situation but, to be honest, I'm kinda gettin' tired of hearing it. I know it's a free country and all and that you can say pretty much what you want. I'm certainly don't want to interfere with that awesome freedom we as Americans have. But I will respectfully ask you to considerstart making some positive contributions, your anger is understood but does not help anyone here.
Thanks & good luck getting your truck up and running the RIGHT way!
I know that you want to vent your frustration and anger about the situation but, to be honest, I'm kinda gettin' tired of hearing it. I know it's a free country and all and that you can say pretty much what you want. I'm certainly don't want to interfere with that awesome freedom we as Americans have. But I will respectfully ask you to considerstart making some positive contributions, your anger is understood but does not help anyone here.
Thanks & good luck getting your truck up and running the RIGHT way!
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 320
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From: Lafayette, OR USA
Keyless Remote has Poor Range
My remote has worked up to 175ft away in a parking lot with line-of-sight(I paced it, so this is really true). Would suggest changing the battery and cleaning the outside of the clear sender cover. Another possibility is the infrared sensor is slightly mis-aligned inside the case, so part of the "beam" is getting cut off by the edge.
kyle
kyle
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Joined: Apr 2000
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Keyless Remote has Poor Range
I don't think mine is IR (99.5). I think they're all RF. If I recall IR needs straight line of site and I have no window on my fob (as I do with my TV remote). Plus mine works 360 degrees around my truck. I can go at least 100'.
Check the battery.
Rob
Maybe the '02 is different.
Check the battery.
Rob
Maybe the '02 is different.
