In this blog entry, the professional Chicago automotive locksmith service experts here at Chicago Locksmith will detail the most important things to know about key fobs.
What are key fobs?
Key fobs are small handheld devices that open car doors. They work with RFID technology. They were made in 1983, and open doors electronically using passive radio frequency identification. Electromagnetic waves exchange data and help you open your car door.
Key fobs are a small device that houses an RFID chip and an antenna. The chip uses radio frequency to talk to a different RFID tag inside the locking system of the vehicle. When the key fob button is pressed, it sends the RFID signal to a reader device. If the information matches up, the door programmed on that information will open.
What else can key fobs do?
- Open a vehicle’s trunk or rear hatch
- Activate, turn off, or set vehicle alarm systems
- Start a vehicle’s engine
- Unlock the doors of a home or a business
- Unlock or lock common aras
- Open garage doors
- Operate home security systems
When were key fobs invented?
Key fobs used to describe a decorative item on a key chain. However, as the technology evolved during the 1980s, the device we describe above absorbed the terminology. They used to use infrared waves instead of RFID technology – and this system was far less secure, and would only work with a direct sightline of your vehicle.
Do key fobs provide security?
Yes. key fobs utilize a range of features to prevent copying or signal interception by criminals. Key fobs today use sequence generators that create unique and totally random signals that are hung on every use to lock or unlock your car. Some key fobs allow for a detailed record of key fob use to be stored, as well as allowing for the option for entry authentication reprogramming.
