How to Boost the Range on Any Car Remote Key

This instructable will show you how to increase the range on any car key remote.

Step 1: Get Inside It

Lets start by using a small flat screwdriver and pry the key remote open. Then locate the antenna(it looks like a small silver box). Then using sandpaper lightly scrape off some if the silver coating.

Step 2: Adding Some Wire

Now solder a small length of wire to that antenna. Then close it up.

Step 3: Try It Out

Now try it out. You should get almost 40-50 added distance and it still works.

Comments

[Lets go brandon]

This if from kip kay word for word. the second picture is even from kip kays video on youtube.Considering kip kay knows his stuff, im sure it works.

[6lackMetal]

Yes thank you this worked perfectly. Another tip: it will also help if you pop it in the microwave for 2 seconds (3 seconds tops). It will absorb the errant gamma rays and boost the next use of the remote key. It will need to be redone before each use of the key fob.

[Hmworkm]

Yeah you clearly do not understand anything about RF transmission or antennas. I was hoping this was a way to actually boost the power output

[deckerm]

This greatly depends on the make and model. This could also be an interesting project to attempt a fractal laminated aluminum foil antenna.

[Thoraldus]

Antennas need to resonate on the design frequency. Adding pieces of metal to an antenna can detune it to the point where you could significantly reduce the effective range. The best range booster is a fresh battery. You may also find that holding the remote up high can help.

[meseta]

That metal box is very likely to be EMF shielding for a chip or oscllator and not the antenna, also it'll be connected to the GND, not the antenna signal.

Antennas inside small electronics like these are either the PCB trace, or a small ceramic chip.

Also, soldering arbitrarily lengthen wires to antenna traces won't necessarily work. Ultimately the power emitted by the transmitter is fixed, so you can't boost range, but you can "focus" the signal so that range is higher in certain directions at the expense of others. Finally using the wrong antenna length also causes signal reflections and lower efficiencies, REDUCING your range.

[donovan2themax5]

It doesn't even work ;)

[eric.baier]

I believe you are wrong. The antenna on your keyless entry remote is the metal trace running around the outside of the circuit board.