That rings a bell!

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
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Fri 13 Jan 2006 15:31
That rings a bell! - Round The Bend
From BBC today:

"A Bristol woman is driving her neighbours to distraction by setting their doorbell off with her car keys. Every time Debra Hanson, 41, from Bedminster, locks or unlocks her car's doors, the bells on both her neighbours' homes chime. Car-maker Vauxhall says the problem lies with the bells, not the key.

The company says all of its car fobs use microwaves which are of an industry-standard frequency, and believes the doorbells must be set to the wrong frequency."


I understand the car is an Astra. Anyone else had similar problems? Must be great fun at midnight!
_______

IanS
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Fri 13 Jan 2006 15:42
That rings a bell! - Lud
My mobile phone set off a Jaguar alarm once, or I think it did. The owner appeared looking puzzled and shut it off. I explained what had happened and offered to make the same call again to see if I was right. To my amazement he asked me not to.
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Fri 13 Jan 2006 15:55
That rings a bell! - helicopter
I have just fitted one of these door bells at home and they can easily be set to respond to a different frequency. There was a choice of about a dozen settings. They did mention in the instructions about being careful not to interfere with other electrical equipment.

I will try ringing my doorbell tonight and see if it unlocks my neighbours car....

It is getting to be a problem with all these remote controls for TV , DVD , Video , CD player etc. I actually tried to change channel on the TV with my mobile phone the other night.
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Fri 13 Jan 2006 17:43
That rings a bell! - LotusMike
It is getting to be a problem with all these remote
controls for TV , DVD , Video , CD player etc.
I actually tried to change channel on the TV with my
mobile phone the other night.


A lady I knew bought her first mobile 'phone somewhat unwillingly, but was pleased she had one when some emergency happened. She took the mobile out of her handbag to ring her husband, only to find that she had actually taken the remote control for the VCR by mistake.
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Fri 13 Jan 2006 15:46
That rings a bell! - turbo11
Friend of mine has the same problem with the alarm system fitted to his caravan parked on his drive.When he presses the button on the key fob to arm/disarm it rings his neighbours front door bell.He wasn't popular when he set off to cornwall on holiday in the early hours of the morning!.
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Fri 13 Jan 2006 15:59
That rings a bell! - mare
I understand the car is an Astra. Anyone else had similar
problems? Must be great fun at midnight!
_______
IanS

My friend's wireless doorbell was set off by one of the same make across the road. Once they sussed out what was happened they changed frequencies.

I don't know if it's an urban myth or not, but i remember years ago when plip central locking first came out on Renault's, there were stories that the cars were being immobilised by the radar at Calais, so when the ferry docked, everyone had to drive around marooned Renault Espaces.
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