Lets talk about Faraday cage key storage

[BMWAF]

After seeing the recent posts about car thefts and relay hacks both here and on Facebook, I was curious to see if anyone actually uses a Faraday cage to store their keys: Are people building their own Faraday cages? Are they purchasing particular products.. or just doing nothing like me?

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[FLtrackdays]

It was cheap. It’ll probably never happen. But was fun to test. I’ll be damned. It works.

If you open the pouch, you have to point the opening at the car like a flashlight. It’s was a fun novelty test. I got a little box to keep the keys in and a stupid pouch ?

 

[BMWAF]

It’s was a fun novelty test. I got a little box to keep the keys in and a stupid pouch ?

Considering how little they cost, I was thinking of maybe doing the same.. even though the risk of theft here is relatively low. Just for shits and giggles.

 

[KBGT]

Easy to make a faraday cage, take any conductive metal enclosure and connect to ground. As easy as that is I don't do it.

 

[Supra_UK_]

100% worth it.
- Cheap.
- Keeps key clean.
- Protects key from scratches/dropping.
- Easily tested: if you walk up to the car with the key in the pouch it won't unlock, and it won't start either even once inside the unlocked car, if you put it back in the pouch.

My advice: they tend to be cheap overall but DO NOT buy a really cheap one, try to spend at least £10 or equivalent of your currency; Get one from a website that specializes in making faraday pouches/security gadgets, OR, if on Amazon, get one that is very popular with high rated reviews, trust me, I tried 3 or 4 types and I can confirm the very cheap ones do not work, I would avoid ebay and any chinese crap website.

I got this one from a brand called "Scorpeon" and it's excellent, it has velcro as well as zipper and it is small, some of them are too big so make sure you check the size, it also feels very nice and sturdy and looks cool - as a bonus they also had a card that you can keep in your wallet to reduce relay risk on your contactless credit/debit cards.

This one can also be in silver/carbon color:

 

[J29DB03]

Nah, my key doesn’t move when I’m not using it so no signal can be intercepted. But for those who want to, just keep your keys in the microwave.

 

[Rocksandblues]

Wrap it in tinfoil if paranoid. Cheap effective

 

[FLtrackdays]

Wrap it in tinfoil if paranoid. Cheap effective

But the other ones are prettier and I’m sure we’re saving the planet somehow by not using extra tinfoil ?

 

[J29DB03]

But the other ones are prettier and I’m sure we’re saving the planet somehow by not using extra tinfoil ?

The only thing that would be saved is a few hats.

 

[nibble]

I mentioned this in other thread that I used cookie tin can. Initially, I thought I'd make one with metal panels welded together. With the design, there were some considerations.

- Can fob be in the box or protective cover all the time? - No. you will need to take it out every time you want to open/close/start engine car. This renders convenient entry inconvenient.
- When should fob be in the box? - When I'm not driving. most likely, only when I'm home or away with car for several days.

Faraday box is nothing more than enclosed metal box without any opening or non-metal material. Tin cookie can was a good candidate. so I tested it. I had my fob in my pocket, door opened as expected. I put fob in the tin can, closed the lid, standing right next to car with the can in my hand, door does not open nor can start car. So I got curious. Fob still in the can but opened lid, it worked as if the fob is in my pocket. ever since then, I keep all my BMW fob in that tin can. However, this tin can was a bit small size so decided to get a larger 12" can. when I tested using same method as before, to my surprise, It did not work. I was able to open/close/start engine even with fob in larger can with lid closed. retested small tin can and it worked as it was.

Not sure what the difference is between these tin cans, but the moral of the story is, don't assume whatever solution you have works. test it and make sure it performs as you expected.

 

[nosavingthrow]

Nah, my key doesn’t move when I’m not using it so no signal can be intercepted. But for those who want to, just keep your keys in the microwave.

Is there testing / proof / research or whatever somewhere of the "key doesn't transmit when not moving" thing? That arguably does sound like a feature a BMW key would have, but curious where this info is coming from?

 

[nosavingthrow]

I have this one, which is expensive (read: overpriced) but is the only one like it I could find. Has two compartments which is nice for organization since we have two cars. One car parks in the garage, so the car that is parked outside has its fob in here, along with the spare fobs for each car.

The other reason I went with this one is aesthetics and the lid is magnetic and operates smoother/easier than the stupid treasure chest looking ones.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B3CQW4HT

 

[J29DB03]

Is there testing / proof / research or whatever somewhere of the "key doesn't transmit when not moving" thing? That arguably does sound like a feature a BMW key would have, but curious where this info is coming from?

Here’s one article from 2019 relating to it.

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-news/107296/keyless-car-crime-what-are-brands-doing-to-stop-it

 

[nosavingthrow]

Here’s one article from 2019 relating to it.

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-news/107296/keyless-car-crime-what-are-brands-doing-to-stop-it

Thanks, interesting read. For anyone interested, you can find tons of discussion about this around BMW forums if you search "bmw key fob sleep" on google.

Can also test this out yourself by doing the following:

1. Lock the car
2. Place the key fob on the mirror so it remains motionless
3. Wait 3+ minutes (possibly 7+, unclear)
4. Try to open the door by grabbing the handle (which would normally unlock automatically w/keyless entry)
5. Move the key a bit, door will now open normally.

Have not tested yet personally.

Also, sad to find out our Mazda does not have this feature... so I guess I'm keeping the Faraday box either way.

 

[Loco38SUP]

The SLNT bags work great.

SLNT Key Protection

-RJM

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