How Key Fobs Work

If you drive a car that was built in the past couple years, there’s a good chance that your car doors open with a fob instead of a traditional key. On top of simply looking cooler, fobs have a number of advantages over regular keys, which is why many car manufacturers have switched to using them. If you’ve ever wondered how key fobs work, just keep reading! This post from your mobile locksmith in Toledo, OH will cover the ins and outs of key fobs.

Your key fob contains a short-range radio transmitter. When you push a button on your key fob, a radio signal is sent to your car with a number sequence telling the door to either lock or unlock. Since it’s a short-range transmitter, you usually have to be within about 20 yards of your vehicle for it to work. Most North American-made vehicles operate at a frequency of 315 MHz, while foreign-made cars use 433.92 MHz.

Original key fobs were only designed to lock and unlock car doors, but thanks to innovations in technology, today’s fobs will also open your trunk, sound your emergency alarm and even start your car. Automotive technicians can also retrofit older cars with remote entry technology, so every driver can have the convenience of using a key fob.

With so many radio signals flying through the air, you may think that key fobs would present a security issue. After all, it wouldn’t be that hard for a criminal to steal your radio signal and open your car whenever he pleases, right? Wrong! Each key fob microchip contains a rolling transmitter that generates a new number sequence each time the button is pressed. These number generators have over one trillion different combinations, so there’s no way a criminal could ever steal your code and use it to unlock your vehicle.

What if my key fob doesn’t work?

Unfortunately, just like every aspect of your vehicle, key fobs aren’t perfect. They can fail due to a dead battery or a chip malfunction. The good news is that all isn’t lost if your key fob fails. In addition to performing key cutting in Toledo, OH, professional locksmiths are able to unlock vehicles that use a key fob.

If your key fob stops working, one of our trained locksmiths can get you a new fob and program it for you. Your new fob will work just as well as your old one, and it should last for years before needing to be replaced. Our trained professionals can typically get your new fob set up in a matter of minutes once we arrive on the scene. Regardless of your car’s make, model or year, we’ll be able to unlock the door.

Don’t choose anyone but Toledo Lock & Key LLC if you need a mobile locksmith in Toledo, OH. In addition to unlocking cars with traditional locks, we’re experts in unlocking vehicles that use transponder keys and fobs. We’ll be on the scene as soon as possible to open your door, so you can get on with your day.

Categorised in: Key Cutting, Mobile Locksmith

This post was written by Writer