The Reason You Shouldn't Think About Enhancing Your Smart Car Key
Smart Keys For Cars
Smart keys are wireless remotes that unlock doors and pop the trunk without the necessity of a traditional mechanical blade. It can also be used to start the car without turning the key.
Most smart keys come with battery indicators that warn you of the low battery well ahead of time. It's easy to replace the battery without special tools.
Convenience
Smart keys are designed to open doors and trunks as well as turn on the vehicle's engine and start the ignition without having to utilize a traditional metal key. They also come with features that are designed to deter burglaries and vehicle theft, such as panic buttons, which produces a sound to frighten away potential thieves or suspicious people in remote areas like underground garages with parking.
Key fobs accomplish all of these functions by sending a radio transmission between the car key fob and the car via low-power wireless technology. This is a fantastic convenience, particularly for drivers who are frequently on the go and don't have much time to spare.
Smart keys are typically more like plastic cards than actual keys. They can be used to unlock the trunk or doors when you press a button on the fob. Certain smart keys include touchscreens that allow users to control their vehicle's settings, like climate and audio.
The RFID signal sent between the key fob and the car is unique, secure and connected to the onboard computer which makes it nearly impossible for tech-savvy thieves to connect a stolen vehicle equipped with one. These fobs can also be programmed to transmit a different frequency every time they're used, so that the computer isn't able to recognize the old one as the authentic signal.
Security
Many people are reluctant to use digital keys for their car because they worry about security. While having a physical fob at hand might feel safer the digital keys are more secure than people think. The digital keys are secured and the signal they send to a car is verified by an onboard computer. This means that even if your key fob is stolen the car will not start.
Unlike traditional key fobs, smart keys work by using built-in antennas inside your vehicle and an electronic radio-frequency generator inside the key fob. This allows it to communicate with your vehicle and perform functions like unlocking and the start of it. This technology lets you access your vehicle without the need to insert a physical key into the lock or ignition, which is often an inconvenience.
Most systems provide an alternative method of opening and starting your car if you lose your smartkey or the battery goes out. For example emergency starting could be accomplished by placing the key in an opening or holding it near a particular area in the cockpit, in which an inductive coil can transfer energy is hidden.
Additionally, most smart keys come with a low-battery indicator that alerts you before it is completely dead. If necessary, you are able to easily replace the batteries on your own.
Auto-adjusting settings
Instead of using a physical key, the smart key uses radio waves to unlock and lock the vehicle. They're also able to remotely start your engine and track the location of your vehicle in case you lose track of where it's located.
Certain smart keys have settings that automatically adjust the car's interior and exterior according to the key you've chosen to use. The car can automatically adjust seat position, mirror settings and climate control depending on the type of key used. This is useful if you have multiple drivers, or you want to limit certain features when you lend your car to an inexperienced driver.
Smart keys also have the advantage of using encryption to protect against theft. This isn't possible with traditional keys. This technology makes it difficult for thieves with the latest technology to take over a vehicle by mimicking a valid frequency according to How Stuff Works Electronics. Smart keys transmit a unique, encrypted message every time the remote is unlocked.
The battery of a smart key will eventually wear out as does any other battery-powered device. The majority of systems have an emergency system that allows you to open the car's doors and start it if the battery fails. The emergency procedure varies however, it is usually holding the key within range of the car's lock sensor or pressing the key with a button that activates the emergency starter.
Battery Backup
Modern smart keys are recognized by the names of keyless entry systems or passive entry. They utilize an electronic transmitter to unlock your vehicle. smart key for cars is inside the key fob that you carry around, and the receivers are located in your vehicle and outside. The receivers pick up the radio frequency signals sent by your smart key when you approach the vehicle and activate the doors and ignition.
This system comes with many advantages, including not having to hunt in the dark to find keys, but it is vulnerable to attacks of a certain type. How Stuff Works Electronics reports that if a key's battery goes out or is damaged it is possible for someone to pick up the low frequency transmission signal and open your vehicle. The majority of smart keys have encrypted signals, making hacking more difficult.
However, these systems may be affected through electromagnetic fields created by computers, cell phones and other devices. So if you find that your smart key fob is not functioning properly, it could be caused by an interference issue. In this case it is advised not to place your key near these devices until the battery on the fob has been replaced. Most smart keys will inform you when their batteries are low and the replacement procedure is relatively easy.