Extend the Range of Your Key Fob / Keyless Entry With a Bigger Antenna

[@mrcommonsense1529]

I had extremely bad range, basically had to stand right next to the door to get it to work, now I have very long range! Thanks for the tip!

[@xInViSiBleLiGhTx]

I gotta say man, this little hack saved me. I just recently got a 2010 Honda oddesey and I literally would have to be within 5 ft of the vehicle for the car to lock/unlock, even with new remotes. I took the whole assembly out, soldered a 2ft piece of 14 AWG wire, ran it up behind the door panel. And now my range is over 200 ft. It’s insane! Thanks a bunch

[@GabesHacks]

That's a fantastic result! Awesome.

[@camstager4455]

I lost all my range on a honda ridgeline in the matter of a week or two. As another commenter said below I could only open my Honda by pointing remote 6" from drivers window. Put new batteries in remote to no avail. Now figuring it was defective master window switch which contains the antenna. Was getting ready to fork out $200 for that part. Watched your video and thought what the hell. Should take an hour to do that. Got nothing to loose at this point. Wow amazing range. Worked still at the end of the street. I ran the extra antenna wire up and into mirror area trying to get it away from metal door skin. Thanks so much!!!!

[@GabesHacks]

That's fantastic! I'm glad I could help.

[@emilchan1518]

(2005 Honda Odyssey) My range was around 5 feet if I'm lucky. First I was thinking the battery of my remote is weak and I bought new one and replace it, but the range was the same When I decide to give a try this method, I add additional 4 ft. wire to my antenna. Now my range is around 200ft. Thanks a LOT! I really appreciate it!

[@GabesHacks]

Awesome! Glad it helped!

[@neilufe]

I increased my range by 50 ft doing what you did but coiling it and soldering it at both points also you canIncrease your range by opening your car remote and use an eraser and alcohol and clean the inside points of connections and where the buttons touch. Bend the tab back slightly to make better contact. I did this to mines and increased the range by 100 ft plus 50 ft thanks to your video

[@GabesHacks]

Nice!

[@eurisdavidramirez9789]

@@GabesHacks Hey! This is great. I did exactly what you explained and I couldn’t believe the result. Before I couldn’t unlock my car from the trunk, now I can do it from two houses far way. Thank you men. You are the men.

[@rayman1738]

Finally!!! A real mod and not just another guy pointing their fobs to his head like some dum*&s. Thank you so much for this

[@GabesHacks]

People put their fobs to their head? 😄

[@bubba26]

I've done fairly complicated car repairs, a condenser/trans oil cooler replacement for instance, I would have never attempted if it weren't for seeing someone do it in videos like these. Thank you so much! But, yah, we've a pretty short range on both: remote stater and door locks on the ubiquitous Explorer. I'll give this a try. I don't know why all the radios in a car don't just use one, small external antenna -- shared with the am/fm, but I guess they don't. Thanks again.

[@GabesHacks]

I hope it goes well

[@jlcdrivewayramps7343]

Ingenious. Now I can extend the range of my remote not for my car but for something else. fantastic video !!! thank you.

[@GabesHacks]

Glad I could help!

[@alexcastillo8323]

Tried this today and it worked! Able to lock and unlock my 03 accord from about 40+ feet away compared to 2ft previously 😂

[@GabesHacks]

That's fantastic!

[@ernieschatz3783]

Before doing this, it's good to know the frequency of your receiver, so you can determine the wavelength, then optimal physical length of the antenna to optimize reception rather than just attaching a random length of wire.

[@GabesHacks]

If you want to be sure you get the absolute maximum range out of this modification, sure. It's been a long time since I did this, but I think I did cut the wire to the right length for the frequency, but I had to fold the wire to be able to fit it in the door, which negated the whole point of doing that, which is why I didn't mention it in the video.

[@MrKoOkoO2012]

Gabe's Hacks how can you know the right length of the wire? I know the frequency but how do I get the length?

[@GabesHacks]

@@MrKoOkoO2012 Find the wavelength of the frequency you're working with (search "wavelength calculator" online), then use a multiple of that (full, half, or quarter - a quarter is most common). So if the frequency is 315MHz, the wavelength is about 95.2cm, and a 1/4 length antenna would be about 23.8cm.

[@briank10101]

@@GabesHacksSolder a short wire from the antenna in the interior of the keyfob. Then touch new keyfob wire off 10 inch wire. This is great in winter if at work in the office for remote starting car outside 100 meters away to warm it up. Keep the 11 inch wire at your office desk. I just confirm the lights flash on my Toyota flash a certain way to confirm it has started. DIY Yagi antenna with 11 inch elements could extend it even further

[@MjPersonal]

Just FYI for everyone, I cut my wire to a little over 2 feet. Increased my range from 5 feet to over 100 feet.

[@richardnguyen8634]

I don't have soldering gun just tie electrical wire and antenna together , work great . Thanks

[@GabesHacks]

Glad to hear it!

[@joelkuehner]

I saw somewhere (maybe on the Ody Club forum) where someone simply wire brushed the existing coiled antenna. I tried that tonight. I used a small wire brush on a drill. Range went from about 1 foot to about 50 paces.

[@GabesHacks]

Sweet, even easier!

[@somanynamesilltrythis0180]

I'm definitely gonna try this today. I bought a truck and I had to replace my windows switch, but I couldn't figure out why all of a sudden my key fob wasn't working well. It only works if I have a clear but close view of the driver's side, otherwise I could be at the front of the truck and it won't work. Thank you so much for this video

[@freddyfender6464]

What kind of truck is it? Cuz i have the same problem in my 08 suburban the remote control only works like 20 ft around

[@somanynamesilltrythis0180]

@@freddyfender6464 my truck is an 08 Silverado and it nearly drove me crazy but I did find the problem. It's called a "keyless remote entry module", It's kind of tricky to explain where it's located but it's a little black box and (on my truck) if you're sitting in the rear seat, behind the driver, take off the plastic molding so you can access the left rear passenger's seat belt. Between the cab and the seat belt you'll see a little black box and that's the "keyless remote entry module". I called the dealership and they wanted $500 for the module and another $120 to "program it", that ridiculous. I went to a junk yard and found one off of a similar year vehicle, went home and installed it myself. To program it, all you have to do is reprogram your key fob and it'll sync right up. I haven't had a problem with mine since. If you can't find where your module is located, let me know and I'll help you because I know how frustrating it is.

[@freddyfender6464]

Ok brother my one works good the only problem what i have is it only works when im close to the SUV but i Will let u know thx

[@somanynamesilltrythis0180]

@@freddyfender6464 yes sir, no problem

[@spacepresidentmcawesome4287]

Just did this on 2009 odyssey. Worked perfectly. Used 9" of broken extension cord. skipped the 4 screws at 3:05

[@GabesHacks]

Awesome! Glad it worked out

[@BrekMartin]

You could have made ladder line with the same wire, and constructed a resonant dipole for something like 304MHz I think it is, for a lot better result. Yours is just working better by chance, or from lifting the antenna closer to the window.

[@GabesHacks]

Yeah, I know antennas are an entire field of science on their own. I did cut the wire to the right length for the frequency, but then it didn't fit so I folded it 🤷‍♂️

[@axjohn]

I wonder if you could have gotten more range by removing the insulation from the wire you added.

[@GabesHacks]

No, the insulation wouldn't have any effect. Only metal would have an effect.

[@HelloICyou]

Will smaller Gauge wire work like a 14 ? Possibly 16?

[@GabesHacks]

Probably. I don't see why not

[@tankdog03ify]

wire it to the radio antenna or a $5 ebay cell phone antenna

[@GabesHacks]

Something like this? goo.gl/tWlmau Sure, that may work.

[@TheTheepictryhard]

Interesting I’m about to try this

[@jimmysibaja]

Excelent video. Thanks

[@jerryg50]

I would think you would have to consider the antenna wire length for the frequency to have optimum range. Very impressive! The door is metal, and thus making some shielding. I would have used 4 or 8 inches. for 2.5 GHZ.

[@GabesHacks]

I seem to remember taking the length into account, but I think it didn't fit and I had to bend it around. It worked anyway, but yeah, it could have been better still.

[@justinfay3011]

Does it have to be soldered? Can they be intertwined and crimped? I do not have a soldering iron

[@GabesHacks]

You can get away without soldering, yes. It may not work as well, but it's better than nothing. Give it a try.

[@justinfay3011]

Thank you for the quick reply! Will give it a try.

[@jonnda]

I should try this on my 1997 Acura CL 3.0 I have a range of about 30 feet, making the panic button absolutely useless if I can't find my car in a parking lot.

[@GabesHacks]

I hope it works out for you!

[@Sroor90010]

Tried this on keyless entry but didn't work even extend wire to the dashboard nothing changed its cheap China keyless entry but why distance is so narrow only 5 feet infront of the door

[@zhodge0]

how do i find out where the antenna is on a 2018 Subaru legacy? I would think it is best to strip the sheathing off the wire.

[@GabesHacks]

I bought the service manual for my van. I got a digital copy (PDF) on eBay. You might be able to do the same. Otherwise, just search the internet for "2018 Subaru legacy keyless entry receiver" and see what you find. There might be forum posts or videos of people replacing one that might show you where it is.

[@lifeisgood070]

Why did you co-wire onto the existing antenna? And not remove the existing while adding this?

[@GabesHacks]

lifeisgood070 Just for simplicity really. I didn't see the need to remove the existing one.

[@mr.fernandotrujillo]

I want to do this on my 2011 sienna. Does anyone know where the antenna is located?

[@GabesHacks]

I found this that makes it look like it's behind the radio: www.tsienna.net/parts_location-1884.html

[@mr.fernandotrujillo]

@@GabesHacks thank you for your help

[@arthurkwan5723]

Where is the receiver in 4th gen Odysseys?

[@GabesHacks]

I couldn't tell you, sorry. I haven't owned one.

[@KeithSherry12]

Guys!!!! how long are your bloody arms?

[@e25price]

Worked for me, thanks!

[@duncanmcleod4459]

Can anyone PLEASE tell me where mine is in my Q45 2006

[@tphung-nc6cn]

Thanks 😊

[@GabesHacks]

Glad I can help!

[@RM-tx1lx]

HOLD THE KEY FOB TO YOUR CHIN TO EXTEND THE RANGE

[@dayinthelifeofdolly8810]

You can now unlock your doors a mile away giving someone plenty of time to get into your car before you even get near it. Now remote start would be a good reason to need to extend the distance.

[@GabesHacks]

Ha! No, it doesn't work a mile away. I usually use this when my kids are running to the van ahead of me.

[@jimfarmer748]

fortin remote start works with your original key fob to remote start by pressing the lock button three times...I'll be trying this out soon

[@nikhilsoni1773]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@joethedesigner2483]

By far the worst sounding plastic

[@nikolasmarktokaji977]

Hold it to youre head

[@GabesHacks]

Whatever works.

[@michaelb41]

Texas area homeowners blah, blah blah...

[@GabesHacks]

Texas?

[@uturn150]

just use your chin!

[@GabesHacks]

Hey, whatever works! 😁