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Post by shcm on Feb 1, 2021 23:40:57 GMT
The weather station is down the side of the bungalow and is maybe 20m from the RAV4, and not in sight of each other . By chance the weather stations low battery display has come up but it doesn’t say if it’s the base station or the remote....well unless anyone can make sence of the instructions 🤔 www.clarkeservice.co.uk/manuals/leisure/wcp150.pdfGuess pull all the batteries and see what happens ! The weather station is on 868MHz (according to the instructions) and the RAV is supposed to be 433/434 MHz. So it's unlikely to be that (but I won't say impossible). Definitely pull batteries.
Some switched mode mains power supplies, if not properly suppressed (or worse still suppression components not fitted/removed - I've seen that), can radiate harmonics up to several hundred MHz. I've seen that cause serve locking problems with vehicles in a couple of vehicle showrooms. The cause here may well be a deliberate RF source, but don't assume it has to be.
Thinks like compact cheap car battery charges on amazon/ebay, that are switched mode based - many are reported not to be correctly suppressed or suppressed at all.
Anything new electrical? Particularly with a high current?
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Post by unclebob on Feb 2, 2021 0:41:49 GMT
Bosch tumble dryer but not turned on at the time.....and guess what ! stuck my nose out the curtains around 11.30pm to look at the RAV4, pressed the remote and it worked fine 😳
Daughters Aygo remote not working the same time as the RAV4...and that’s also working fine, so a total mystery to me 🤔🤔
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Post by shcm on Feb 2, 2021 7:50:40 GMT
Yep, kind of not unexpected. Characteristic of somebody turning something off and going to bed maybe. I'm not really too surprised by it affecting the same make of vehicle and not others. (More proof your receiver is fine - well not the best system for coping with interference, but working as expected). I'd expect it to be fairly localised, but I'll give you this info anyway: Some amateur repeaters operate in the same band. It's unlikely to be this as you would almost certainly have experienced it long before now (unless it's an undocumented new repeater). Generally you need to be quite close to them. Maybe less than a mile (but don't take that as gospel, it depends, there are many factors that affect RF field strength at a given location, as we should all know from experiencing general radio reception...............) Kent amateur radio repeater group will almost certainly be operating these repeaters in your area: krg.org.uk/GB3RE, GB3SK, GB3NK, GB3CK are most likely candidates to cause problems, in that order. You can check their locations relative to you: krg.org.uk/gb3re/krg.org.uk/gb3sk/krg.org.uk/gb3nk/krg.org.uk/gb3ck/They don't transmit continually and I really don't expect it to be this, if it's not happened before. Alternatively any amateurs or new amateurs as neighbours? Again, it's unlikely to be a continual transmission if there are. There are other users of the band, that may pop up from time to time. The military certainly used it now and again in the past. e.g. The now decommissioned Wylfa nuclear power station on Anglesey, had a radio based, two way telemetry, environmental monitoring system around it (stretched out to at least The Great Orme). It used frequencies close to 433.92MHz (especially the master telemetry at the station itself). It affected vehicle locking close to the station. You can imagine how that looked and what rumours ("fake news"?) were put about by that. Yours I expect will be quite local. Something on or in a nearby property, either new, or failing (in general or battery related). Hopefully, it doesn't come back. 
As a foot note, people will claim all sort of things like wifi will cause these problems. It's theoretically possible, but quite unlikely. It's a much, much higher frequency, it's very low power level, the device would mostly likely have to be very, very close to the receiver to circumvent all the frequency selectivity that goes on in the receiver design.
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Post by three5 on Feb 2, 2021 8:10:16 GMT
Bosch tumble dryer but not turned on at the time.....and guess what ! stuck my nose out the curtains around 11.30pm to look at the RAV4, pressed the remote and it worked fine 😳 Daughters Aygo remote not working the same time as the RAV4...and that’s also working fine, so a total mystery to me 🤔🤔 I don't suppose you have any fairly near neighbours with Toyotas Bob? I was just thinking of ways to track down how widespread the problem is. |
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Post by unclebob on Feb 2, 2021 9:12:02 GMT
Bosch tumble dryer but not turned on at the time.....and guess what ! stuck my nose out the curtains around 11.30pm to look at the RAV4, pressed the remote and it worked fine 😳 Daughters Aygo remote not working the same time as the RAV4...and that’s also working fine, so a total mystery to me 🤔🤔 I don't suppose you have any fairly near neighbours with Toyotas Bob? I was just thinking of ways to track down how widespread the problem is. Sadly no ..either upmarket BMW or downmarket French brands 😉 |
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Post by unclebob on Feb 2, 2021 9:17:23 GMT
Yep, kind of not unexpected. Characteristic of somebody turning something off and going to bed maybe. I'm not really too surprised by it affecting the same make of vehicle and not others. (More proof your receiver is fine - well not the best system for coping with interference, but working as expected). I'd expect it to be fairly localised, but I'll give you this info anyway: Some amateur repeaters operate in the same band. It's unlikely to be this as you would almost certainly have experienced it long before now (unless it's an undocumented new repeater). Generally you need to be quite close to them. Maybe less than a mile (but don't take that as gospel, it depends, there are many factors that affect RF field strength at a given location, as we should all know from experiencing general radio reception...............) Kent amateur radio repeater group will almost certainly be operating these repeaters in your area: krg.org.uk/GB3RE, GB3SK, GB3NK, GB3CK are most likely candidates to cause problems, in that order. You can check their locations relative to you: krg.org.uk/gb3re/krg.org.uk/gb3sk/krg.org.uk/gb3nk/krg.org.uk/gb3ck/They don't transmit continually and I really don't expect it to be this, if it's not happened before. Alternatively any amateurs or new amateurs as neighbours? Again, it's unlikely to be a continual transmission if there are. There are other users of the band, that may pop up from time to time. The military certainly used it now and again in the past. e.g. The now decommissioned Wylfa nuclear power station on Anglesey, had a radio based, two way telemetry, environmental monitoring system around it (stretched out to at least The Great Orme). It used frequencies close to 433.92MHz (especially the master telemetry at the station itself). It affected vehicle locking close to the station. You can imagine how that looked and what rumours ("fake news"?) were put about by that. Yours I expect will be quite local. Something on or in a nearby property, either new, or failing (in general or battery related). Hopefully, it doesn't come back.
As a foot note, people will claim all sort of things like wifi will cause these problems. It's theoretically possible, but quite unlikely. It's a much, much higher frequency, it's very low power level, the device would mostly likely have to be very, very close to the receiver to circumvent all the frequency selectivity that goes on in the receiver design.
The 3rd map down covers my London/Kent area ..be nice to see the map with more clarity. Andy don’t radio hams have bloody great masts out the back of their houses or is that a thing of the past ? Checked the Rav4 as of 9am and working just fine 😎 what sort of cheap device can scan for radio hams in the area ? |
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Post by shcm on Feb 2, 2021 10:04:25 GMT
Masts - It depends and there are other ways of achieving good results without having a huge tower in the back garden. I am licenced and have never had antennas that are that obvious (but then I don't use the licence very much at all. Less since moving house, any new antennas not set up yet) Antenna size is frequency dependant. At these frequencies it may well look more like a TV antenna (or several TV antennas) or just a simple vertical. Seriously, don't get hung up on GB3NK and its coverage map. I only posted the info, just in case you were close. You will have to be quite close for there to be any effect. Use the lat/long in google map to find the mast location: Streetview shows this. Surprisingly, it seems this one is on a private residence. Usually they are on tall buildings or rent space on other masts, *if* they can afford the rent. As you can see, the antennas are not that big in area terms. (Please don't berate the amateurs, they are not doing anything wrong. They were licensed long before car remote locking came along. If anything is to blame, it's that particular bit of European frequency harmonisation regulation, cheap locking receivers and a free for all in a bit of unlicensed spectrum). This will sort of cover it (but I wouldn't waste your money, depending on data rate, it may be difficult to hear anything) www.hamradio.co.uk/receivers-and-scanners-uniden-bearcat-scanners/uniden/uniden-bearcat-ezi-33xlt-pd-4962.phpSo will this: www.hamradio.co.uk/amateur-radio-handheld-radio-wouxun-handheld-radio/wouxun/wouxun-kg-679eu-70cm-uhf-version-pd-4900.php(You will be committing an offence, if you are not licensed and transmit with the above). I did have some modified locking receivers from years ago, that were modified with a buzzer to go off in the presence of any reception. I think I chucked 'em all out on moving house, but I'll have a look later. I'll send you one, if I've still got one and if it still works. Needs 12V. |
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Post by unclebob on Feb 2, 2021 13:16:22 GMT
I see the mast not that big but still noticeable . Thanks for the info, hopefully the problem is behind me and won’t happen too soon ...Cheers👍🏻👍🏻
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Post by davidwilson on Feb 2, 2021 19:10:17 GMT
I see the mast not that big but still noticeable . Thanks for the info, hopefully the problem is behind me and won’t happen too soon ...Cheers👍🏻👍🏻 I noticed you mentioned the Bosch tumble dryer - ours is in the garage and the car parked in front of the garage. So only 2 or 3 metres away. I have not had an issue with the central locking of the CRV. Not sure if that helps but thought it might! |
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Post by bigkev on Feb 2, 2021 19:26:25 GMT
So unlocking the RAV4 from the passanger side of the car, I started it up and took it out for a drive . Parked up and was able to lock the car from some distance from all sides😠 .....what’s going on with the signal been blocked/interrupted on my drive ? Side note...Peugeot Rifter and Renault master vans both unlock as normal 🤔🤔 I dont suppose you have had two old coggers with an ancient TV move in nearby by any chance?😃 How bloody DER you......! |
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Post by anchorman on Feb 2, 2021 21:32:39 GMT
The first time I came across something like this was maybe 10 years ago on an Avensis that my mate had. It was about a year old and it wouldn’t unlock with the remote. The dealer got somebody from Toyota Great Brrrrrr (freezing down there) to phone him and the first thing he said was “what wireless gadget have you had?” Sure enough, he’d bought himself a shed alarm with a receiver in the house and the moment he switched it off all was well with the Pride of Burnaston. Shcm has given several clues but keep in mind, it doesn’t have to be at your house, it could be close by. I think they’re probably getting better at screening remotes but wireless gadgets are getting smarter and more common too.
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Post by bigkev on Feb 2, 2021 22:15:12 GMT
Zed Victor one to BD.......must be said in a Nornireland accent.....
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Post by Ravasher on Feb 4, 2021 6:42:50 GMT
We had this with both Rav’s a few years back of the post is still here and again Andy’s advice was followed. Never found out the cause but it’s topped after a few days. Just a thought with more and more cars now becoming keyless also could this be more problematic in the future?
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Post by unclebob on Feb 4, 2021 10:04:43 GMT
We had this with both Rav’s a few years back of the post is still here and again Andy’s advice was followed. Never found out the cause but it’s topped after a few days. Just a thought with more and more cars now becoming keyless also could this be more problematic in the future? You could have to hold the remote very close to get it to unlock the car ...just need to find the location of the receiver but walking around it. |
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Post by widge on Feb 4, 2021 22:31:23 GMT
We had this with both Rav’s a few years back of the post is still here and again Andy’s advice was followed. Never found out the cause but it’s topped after a few days. Just a thought with more and more cars now becoming keyless also could this be more problematic in the future? You could have to hold the remote very close to get it to unlock the car ...just need to find the location of the receiver but walking around it. Has anyone tried holding the key to their temple when they have had this problem, I know it sounds bizarre and I havent a clue why it works, but for some reason it extends the range of the signal, I have used it many a time when i have walked away from the car, then wondered if i had locked it and discovered i am out of range, point the key at your temple and it works, how many brain cells it distroys in the process who knows. |
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