has anyone ever tried to extend the distance on their alarm remote? I practically have to stand on my car to get the remote to open the doors (close enough by then to just use the key). I know this isn't the worlds biggest problem. But, I am sure it has annoyed someone besides me[:@].

TIA, Vern

 

I have almost the same problem in my 97 e320...... I know its the infrared remote for that year.... after that they went radio remotes so they work from a greater distance. I have to get within 6-8 ft (2m) in order for it to work.
It could also be a function of the battery strenght but I havent tried probing that yet.
I'm just happy it still works....

 

Just for your reference. Mine is a 1994 C180 and the infrared remote works within 15 feet. Not sure about performance as the remote control model is different from yours.

 

Same situation with the 97 E420 I bought recently, and I tried new batteries . . didn't make any difference.

 

I don't know about infrared remotes, but a friend of mine taught me a neat trick. If you hold the remote against your chin and press the button (for some reason that I don't understand) the range increases significantly. It's not a joke.

 

My M-class remote operates 200' with new batteries, my E-classs less, than 20' and sometimes I doesn't work even in this range if it doesn't "see" the receiver in driver handle.
Bigger range isn't nececarly better. Had alarm on my M-class going several times, when with keys in my pocket I bent down at the boat, or in the garden, activating the locks and passengers have been still inside the car.

 

At 200' the remote is RF.

At 20' and requiring line-of-sight the remote is IR.

 

Does your friend walk up to people and ask them to pull on his finger?

 

I just read the thing about putting the remote up against your chin to increase range...Well, I just had to try it on my Mercedes and it actually worked. Wow, CRAZY.

 

Not necessarily. I am not expert on the radio waves, but to my knowledge they work similar way to light beams.
In car headlights the parabolic mirror makes the spheric light into a beam, giving powerful light in one direction.
With the remote human body might work as a mirror, concentrating the wave into one direction.
Have to try it.