SGS2 and Mazda Car alarm

[jimleshed]

My SGS2 sest off my car alarm.....

I know this is almost certainly not a Vodafone problem but I was wondering if anyone else has found this?

Recently changed my car to a Mazda 6 (2006) and found that if I leave my phone in the car, locked, after a few minutes (between 1 and 10) the alarm will go off. Car Alarm has never gone off without the phone in it. Must have done it 10 times or more now. It's done it in the UK, France, Belgium - best one being in a quiet campsite in the middle of the night - reading in the car before bed, then wandered off to the Loo and forgot about the phone........a few minutes later lights and horns going off....of course everyone was woken up!

Have taken this up with Samsung, and will approach Mazda too. The Car and the phone should not interfere - EU Electromagnetic Compatibility Regulations should prevent this.

Anyway, anyone with a similar problem?

JLS

[Nabs]

Not much related to your problem but, thought id chuck my interference experience in there, my car remote key also operates my wireless doorbell.

You may find that nothing to do with the electromagnetic emissions, maybe the handsets screen is lighting up or possibly the phone vibrating, i guess on a very sensitive car alarm this could be a trigger?

[jimleshed]

Its a possibility I guess, although I'm pretty certain that the car has no visible monitoring of the space, so the screen lighting up shouldnt trigger it. Also, in most cases the phone has been left in side pockets etc, so the screen is not visible.

Vibration is possible though. Good thought! I'll try an set it to not vibrate, then leave it in the car!

JLS

[JSK73]

Have you tried just leaving your phone on something soft, like the seat??

It MAY be that because it is in the door there are quite hard plastics around, if the phone vibrates (you receive a text, email or phone call) that could then trigger something in the alarm it could resonate through the plastics to the rest of the door.

Your alarm probably has shock sensors in the windows (in case someone tries to smash one) and they could be very sensitive?

[jimleshed]

Normally when I leave the phone in the car it is on a seat, so any vibrations should not be a problem. The alarm still goes off though.

Going to try a few experiments tonight.

Phone without Sim

Phone with sim but all vibration off

Different phone (nokia x6) with Sim

Phone (X6) without Sim.

I have been in contact with Samsung, but they are not very responsive.....

[Chrisw25]

I know this forum has been quiet for a while but I have the same problem with a tablet computer and the Mazda 6 56REG alarm. Left the tablet switched on the other night and just put it into the passenger seat pocket expecting it to go into standby after a few minutes as usual. Locked the car with the key fob and left. It set off the alarm a few times within 3 - 5 minutes. The tablet wouldn't go into standby mode on its own neither. Once I turned the tablet off  the car was happy and let everyone sleep again. So I don't suspect it is vibration but more likely the WiFi or some other emission.

[hrym]

This has been an odd one all along. In theory, the phone will only be transmitting on cellphone and wifi frequencies. This would suggest that it isn't so much a Samsung issue as a Mazda one. Have you tried Googling to see if other Mazda owners are having the same problem - after all, these are both widely-used frequencies and I'd expect the problem it be quite widespread.

Does your tablet have a SIM? If not, then it must be the wifi (you could test that by turning it off and then leaving the tab in the car).

[Chrisw25]

It does not have a Sim card or any phone functionalities. I will try a laptop in the next few days to see if that would set the alarm off too.

[hrym]

In that case, definitely try the tab in the car with wifi off. Clearly something is transmitting on a frequency that Mazda use in the alarm system. Cars typically use radio to lock up and set the alarm. They also use vibration and intrusion detectors as well as volumetric ones (that detect movement in the car). I'm not sure how these last work - I'd always assumed it was IR, but its also possible that there's a radio rather than a wired conection.

The only workround may be to put the affecting devices in the boot.

[Shimmasok]

Definitely a Mazda 6 issue. I have an 06 mazda 6 and my nexus 7 does the exact same thing if left in the car! I also have an s2 but haven't left it in there yet but will know not to now!