# Do these phone "tricks" really work? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 23, 2009, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-these-phone-tricks-really-work/490505 "2009-03-23T21:28:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-these-phone-tricks-really-work/490505/21 "2009-03-24T02:49:32Z")
1. True, sort of. Any _GSM_ phone will accept 112 and map it to whatever the local emergency number is, even if the only network available is one to which the subscriber normally doesn’t have access, or if there is no SIM in the phone. Only GSM phones, though. 1. No idea. 2. Nope. There are a lot of special codes for GSM phones. This one looks like it enables the full-rate codec, which provides better sound quality at the expense of battery life. 1. Maybe. This is another GSM code. This code \*#06# displays the IMEI, or phone-network ID number, of the phone. (There’s a different one for the SIM.) This code does not work for non-GSM phones. 1. Nope. While you can certainly dial 1-800-whatever on your phone and not be charged long-distance fees, you’ll still pay for airtime according to your plan. The call is not ‘free’. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-these-phone-tricks-really-work/490505/22 "2009-03-24T02:51:09Z")
Snopes kinda beat you to it, bub. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-these-phone-tricks-really-work/490505/23 "2009-03-24T03:02:06Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Well, assuming it worked _at all_, it makes sense that it would work anywhere you had a signal. Both my car remotes don’t transmit an audible signal, so the phone does nothing (and the range of the remotes themselves is quite short). Which is why I found it so ridiculous. **Dr. Cube** seems to be saying some do work with a sonic signal, but if so I’m not familiar with that kind. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-these-phone-tricks-really-work/490505/24 "2009-03-24T03:05:37Z")
> [@tim314](#): > > Both my car remotes don’t transmit an audible signal, so the phone does nothing (and the range of the remotes themselves is quite short). Which is why I found it so ridiculous. **Dr. Cube** seems to be saying some do work with a sonic signal, but if so I’m not familiar with that kind. That’s why I said “assuming it worked at all”- that is, if it did work, it presumably wouldn’t matter how far away the two phones were. ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-these-phone-tricks-really-work/490505/25 "2009-03-24T13:31:45Z")
[Here is Snopes](http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/household/cellphones.asp) on the issue. They say the vast majority (i.e., all) of remote keyless entry systems use RF signals, not sound. I’ve done a lot of googling, and no RKE systems used audio from what I could tell. Therefore #2 does not work. So I guess the person who told me they accomplished this particular trick was wrong. It isn’t the first time I’ve been wrong on this board either. ---
**Author:** ![HorseloverFat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8e8cbc/32.png) [@HorseloverFat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HorseloverFat)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-these-phone-tricks-really-work/490505/26 "2009-03-24T13:53:37Z")
This is an urban legend. Explanation here: > **[Humor & Whimsy](https://www.liveabout.com/humor-4687973)** > > Indulge your curiosity and have a little fun with these stories about the weird and the wonderful. With articles on aliens, cats, cartoons, and hoaxes, this collection is guaranteed boredom-basher. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_Astronaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Bad\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-these-phone-tricks-really-work/490505/27 "2009-03-24T19:30:09Z")
It seems unlikely that a remote keyless entry system using audible signals would be used. If it was, a thief could just make a recording of someone unlocking their car and play it back at a later time. Plus, I remember playing with an old TV that had a remote control using audible clicks. You could make it do random things by jingling your keys in front of it! ---
**Author:** ![HorseloverFat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8e8cbc/32.png) [@HorseloverFat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HorseloverFat)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-these-phone-tricks-really-work/490505/28 "2009-03-24T20:36:21Z")
Its crazy. Those little fobs are RF not sound. Heck, theyre on different frequencies than cell phones, so we cant even chalk this up to “bad explanation but real result.” ---
**Author:** ![YamatoTwinkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/cc9497/32.png) [@YamatoTwinkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YamatoTwinkie)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-these-phone-tricks-really-work/490505/29 "2009-03-24T20:40:49Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > So I guess the person who told me they accomplished this particular trick was wrong. It isn’t the first time I’ve been wrong on this board either. The hoax usually manages to convince people because they _do_ go out and test it(and it works!), but don’t bother to test it _properly_. I’d guess most people only try it from either across the parking lot, or from the office to the parking lot, but are too lazy to test from: A. Longer ranges (a mile or more) B. With the cellphone shut off Keyless entry remotes have surprising range. I’m able to stand at the doorway of my 3rd-floor apartment and consistently lock/unlock my car when it’s parked in the underground basement lot. There isn’t anything _close_ to direct line of sight between the two. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-these-phone-tricks-really-work/490505/30 "2009-03-24T20:47:42Z")
> [@YamatoTwinkie](#): > > Keyless entry remotes have surprising range. I’m able to stand at the doorway of my 3rd-floor apartment and consistently lock/unlock my car when it’s parked in the underground basement lot. There isn’t anything _close_ to direct line of sight between the two. Mine doesn’t. I can’t even unlock my car from the front doorway (with the door open) when the car is on the driveway about 10 feet away, but half hidden behind the corner of the garage. I have to wave my arm out round the corner of the garage. (BTW - if there’s no line of sight, how do you _know_? 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![YamatoTwinkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/cc9497/32.png) [@YamatoTwinkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YamatoTwinkie)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-these-phone-tricks-really-work/490505/31 "2009-03-24T22:00:47Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > (BTW - if there’s no line of sight, how do you _know_? 😉 ) My car beeps the horn if you press the lock button twice. I can hear the horn faintly coming from down the hall and outside the building. Its either my car, or someone else is playing an elaborate prank on me :D. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Philosopher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3ec8ea/32.png) [@The\_Great\_Philosopher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Philosopher)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-these-phone-tricks-really-work/490505/32 "2009-03-24T22:44:42Z")
> [@Lord\_Mondegreen](#): > > This “feature” annoys me actually. I remember handing my phone to my (then) 3 year old to play with, since the locked keypad would stop anything bad happening. I glanced down just in time to see “000” on the display (I’m in Australia) and her finger pushing down on the “Call” button. I hit “End” just in time. I remember looking at my phone bill years ago and seeing that a couple of weeks earlier I’d apparently made a 55 second long call to 999 (the emergency service number here in Britain). I’d had my mobile in my pocket, and even though it was locked it had somehow dialled and called the emergency services- the reason it lasted a minute is because the operator will stay on the line to try and get you to talk. I felt pretty bad about that one. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-these-phone-tricks-really-work/490505.md?page=1)