WH 1081 and car alarms!

[Richard Hards]

I’ve had a WH1081 (Maplin N96GY) since just before Christmas 2013.

It’s been working fine, with just the occasional transmitter dropout that was generally remedied by moving the base unit for a while until it had re-established connection.

A couple of weeks ago it dropped out again, but this time it wasn’t fixed by trying the base station in a few favoured locations. It’s only an amusement, I don’t take observations seriously at all, so I didn’t get around to doing anything else until last Sunday.

I changed the batteries in the transmitter, did the proper (I think) reset procedures, but still no connection. I didn’t carefully observe the LED on the unit, but I definitely saw it light at least once.

Still not working, so I’m wondering where the drawing board is, to go back to…

…but the really weird thing is that since Sunday, with its new batteries, the transmitter seems to be jamming the key remote functions of my wife’s car which is parked just below!

Any ideas?

Richard

EDITED: to correct incorrect model reference. Idiot!

[Richard Hards]

UPDATE: The LED stays on permanently.

Having brought the unit down and disconnected it I have been able to observe the LED and I note it stays on permanently.

So I suppose the unit has developed a fault. It's still within its warranty period, so if I can find the receipt I ought to be able to get a replacement.

It's worth bearing in mind though, if you can't get into your car using the remote, check your weather station transmitter!

Richard

[AllyCat]

Hi Richard,

Welcome to the forum. Yes, many radio transmitters (RC Key Fobs, Doorbells, Central Heating Thermostats, etc. and of course Weather Stations) share the same radio frequency. It's often a single frequency (433.92 MHz), not even a "band", which they (should) "time share" by transmitting only for a very short period of time . For the FO it is (or should be) much less than 1 second, once each 48 seconds (to also reduce the drain on the battery).

So, if the transmitter LED stays on for more than a few seconds (at most), even after having brought it indoors for a day (to possibly "dry out") and with "known good" batteries, then we have to assume that it's faulty (and not repairable).

Maplin should replace it if you have any "proof of purchase", but replacement transmitters are also (usually) available from them for £15.

Cheers, Alan.

[Richard Hards]

Thanks Alan,

Found the original receipt, called in at Maplin and I have a new transmitter (and what appears to be a new receipt for the entire kit!).

All seems to be working correctly now.

One thing that did occur was some friends telling us that their house alarm got "knocked out" during the severe thunderstorms of 18/19 July, apparently the engineer fixing it said many systems had been affected.

We didn't have any particularly close strikes that I'm aware of, but I wonder whether there might be a connection
to my transmitter failing?

Richard