Strange happenings in my garage

[Don1]

Unsure about where to post this, so I'll try here.

This morning, between 08.30, up to 13.30, I could only use the alarm fob on one car (Porsche). Both TVR's and the BMW would not answer to their fobs, and the security gates wouldn't to theirs. Also, a remote temp sensor in the garage was only registering 0.1C.

We're in a rural position, so I checked the neighbours - no strange power tools used. All electrics in our house and the area were fine - our garage had just turned into a RF blackspot. We're not a million miles away from AWE, so I called them - nothing like that being run.

So I turn to the PH massive - what do I do? What caused it? The blackspot extended about 50yrds off our property, and after that, it was fine. Do I need to call Mulder and Scully?

[steve_amv8]

Is the remote temp sensor cable-based or RF? Do you have an RF oil tank level sender?

I had an RF weather station sender go faulty and it blocked the car remote and electric gates! It seems it was just transmitting constantly and "jamming" everything else ....

[Don1]

It's RF also... interesting. Thanks for that idea.

[Simpo Two]

I posted on this subject a few months ago after many immobilisers were affected in my area. Some cars simply refused to work, others were OK. Some kind of transmission from somewhere. And of course for a while everybody thought it was just them that was affected - until I went round asking 'IS your car immobiliser working OK?' 'Ah, funny you should say that!' they replied. One poor bugger spent £400 with Renault trying to get it fixed. 'Did it only play up when you're at home?' I asked? 'Ah...'

And then the problem stopped as quickly as they started. Whether it was local CCTV (they fix them to lamposts temporarily now) or railway signalling, we never did find out. One suggestion was wireless doorbells.

Edited by Simpo Two on Tuesday 7th April 15:26

[BB-Q]

In Fleetwood many cars won't start if they're in line of sight of the Dublin ferry when it comes in. My car, with it's dodgy French market remote central locking from Ebay, would work every time the normal stuff wouldn't!

[tinfoilhaton]I have an RF scanner though- specifically designed for cars systems- and it doesn't read any interference when this happens![/tinfoilhaton]

[Don1]

Racing Green were telling me yesterday that a lot of TVRs won't start up when on the ferry - something to do with the radar.

[Simpo Two]

Don1 said:

Racing Green were telling me yesterday that a lot of TVRs won't start up when on the ferry - something to do with the radar.

I would imagine that the radar is pretty directional, transmitted horizontally not down into the car deck and passengers.

[dan1981]

Car transporters I used to work with used to have radio controlled remotes for lowering and raising the decks.

One firms seemed to stop all car remotes working in the car park. Most amusing.

[Reidy10_0]

I have heard of this before, some guy done an article in motorcycle weekly about this.
When out a run they would stop next to a mobile phone mast for a smoke and a chat.
When leaving, the bikes would not start until they rolled them down the hill away from the transmitter.

[Ganglandboss]

Don1 said:

Racing Green were telling me yesterday that a lot of TVRs won't start up when on the ferry - something to do with the radar.

EFA

[Don1]

Oh, my aching sides....

[rhinochopig]

AWE(B Site) have a scheduled test of their anti-grav propulsor test rig this week. It's probably that if you're not a million miles away.

[Don1]

Interesting.... OK, will see what happens! I've left the temp sensor there, and will remove power from that if it happens again, and see.

[Le TVR]

All the equipment you mention is certainly operating on the 433 MHz 'ISM' band (ie Licence-Free).
For 'ISM' band, read "a frequency band where assorted junk and RF pollution can do what it likes". In other words, dont expect anything to ever operate 100% and be prepared to put up with any amount of interference from others.

Police TETRA radios are well known for causing total failure of keyless car systems because they operate just below this band.

Many years back with my amateur licence I could operate with 400 watts RF into a 24 dBi yagi array. Thats 0,1 Megawatt radiated power. People several villages away would note the same problems you described if I ever pointed the antenna down to the horizon

Get one that operates on 868 MHz instead

[FUBAR]

Don1 said:

Racing Green were telling me yesterday that a lot of TVRs won't start up when on the ferry - something to do with the radar.

Happened to me once coming back from France and also to two Cerbs returning from the '07 Cerburgring Tour. All parked directly under the ferry's radar (on the top/open deck).

I leave mine unlocked on the ferry now

[Don1]

Steve_amv8 got it in one - happened again today, removed power from the wireless weather sensor, and it all works.

Another mystery solved!