It’s Not Just the Medium, It’s the Message

I am sure there is an old advertising saying that is similar to this title. It applies to the world of replacement remote controls because a few people seem to think that all that matters in replacing a remote control is the electronic signature. A reader sent us a list of electronic characteristics of his original remote – including the transmission frequency, working voltage, static current and so forth. He must have had access to test equipment or the original specifications to determine some of the electronic characteristics he sent to us.

But a remote control is made unique by more than how the data is transmitted electronically. It is also made unique by the data itself – the bits of coded information. This information does vary by the manufacturer of a key fob and usually by the specific system. So, when you are buying a replacement remote control, it is important to have some information that will help determine what specific remote part you need or the system it operates.

If your vehicle has a factory keyless entry system, then, in most cases, knowing the make, model and year of the vehicle is enough to determine the replacement remote. I say “in most cases” because this is not always true. For instance, on a 2007 Toyota Camry with push-button start, one would also need to know where that vehicle was assembled to buy the correct part.

If your vehicle has an aftermarket alarm system, then it is imperative to know some identifier from the original remote or the system brand and model information. The best identifier about the original remote is the original equipment manufacturer’s part number. This information appears on approximately half of all remote transmitters in use. For the other half, the FCC is the best starting point for specifying a replacement part. However, the FCC ID is not always determinant either. See yesterday’s post about this topic. (http://www.remotesunlimited.com/blog/?p=1158)

If you have any questions about what you need, it may be best to just call an expert and get their assistance.