Where to mount Keyless Entry receiver ?? | FerrariChat
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Where to mount Keyless Entry receiver ??

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by Paul_308, Sep 4, 2006.

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  1. Paul_308

    Paul_308 Formula 3

    Mar 12, 2004
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    #1 Paul_308, Sep 4, 2006
    I've ordered a REC-11 and am comtemplating the mounting,
    My previous KE installation, under the rear seat, ended with nearly deaf receiver. You have to use the key fob transmitter at the car's windows to use it.

    Boot? - bad idea, surrounded by steel;
    Engine compartment-bad idea samo samo;
    Cockpit?-OK but where?
    Under dash? no room,
    Below passenger foot?-surrounded by steel.

    SO Where does it work best ??
     
  2. DGS

    DGS Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    #2 DGS, Sep 5, 2006
    Isn't a 2V mostly aluminum?

    I'd think that the spare tire well area wouldn't have much interference: fiberglass liner inside aluminum skin.

    I know those road-side "your speed is" radars don't track the 328 very well.
     
  3. Mike328

    Mike328 F1 Rookie

    Oct 19, 2002
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    #3 Mike328, Sep 5, 2006
    Paul,

    The receiver fits nicely in the area in front of the passenger footwell. Six bolts come out of the metal plate revealing access to some additional relays as well as an open area where you can mount the REC-11. This is a convenient place to access wiring as well, for example if you wanted to tap into parking lights or the dome light or access the already-laid wires that go to the door lock actuator area.
     
  4. Paul_308

    Paul_308 Formula 3

    Mar 12, 2004
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    #4 Paul_308, Sep 8, 2006
    Any conductor, aluminum or steel, even chicken wire, can kill radio transmissions. In addition, the 'rf window' should be greater than 1/4 the wavelength of the transmission. Which in this case, is 1/4 of 70cm or 7 inches. I put an 8" woofer in my passenger footwell plate and the hole for the speaker would allow some but greatly attenuated rf entry. The KE antenna could still be routed under the carpet and it would be a reasonable second choice.

    I've decided to place the KE unit and relays in the humpbox under the handbrake. Makes easy access to dash wiring and it is primarily a fiberglass structure.
    I'm going to order a window relay module as window lowering/raising for me is a hassle, since it requires getting seated in the car to put the key into the ignition. I can use the 2 spare fob button for window up/down. Window switch access is easy there. And it's a good area to place that blinky KE alarm LED.

    And I've decided to use the unused AERIAL Up/Down switch for in-car door Lock/Unlock. Even reaching across to unlock the passenger door is presently very difficult for me. This switch is unused since my replacement motorized antenna works off a signal from the radio.

    I'm also considering wiring the doors with 12v and putting up/down relays in each door for that ultimate speed trip. This will also dramatically reduce window switch current and prolong their life.
     
  5. DGS

    DGS Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    #5 DGS, Sep 8, 2006
    The factory keyless entry receiver is well buried in the bowels of my EVO's electronics, and that little key fob works about 50 yards away. The EVO's hood and roof are aluminum, but I believe the fenders are steel.

    If you've ever tried to set up a screen room (or a Tempest enclosure), you'll know that blocking transmissions is harder than it seems on paper. When I was building a system in an EMP enclosure, if I just released the latch on the emergency exit, I'd get three bars on the cell phone. (Zero with it sealed, of course.)

    If your receiver is having trouble, you might want to look for interference sources. (Before Intel took over the old DEC chip plant near my condo, several times a month I could stand under the garage door opener, holding the remote directly against the antenna wire, and still not get it to operate -- the receiver front end was saturated.)

    Is 50 yards not enough? Are you planning on operating the locks after the valet parks the car somewhere in the garage structure? ;) You could always go with a pager based system. :p

    Actually, the recovery system in my 328 is pager based. It's mounted in the area of the relay panel, and works fine, even in the garage. (It's a battery hog, but it doesn't have reception problems.)

    You might want to think about shifting frequencies (or complaining to the interference source, if you can find them) before assuming the coachwork is the problem. (Or borrowing a problem before it happens.)

    Also, keep in mind that the center console on my (tan interior) 328 reaches well over 120F when parked in the sun with the targa off.

    I was working up a thermistor based plug-replacement for the caplilary tube aircon termostat, but decided from the temperature readings that I should relocate the electronics to under the dash, rather than put everything in a can under the knob. (Radio shack doesn't carry MIL-SPEC op-amps. ;))
     

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