# Tile: looks like a good idea

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tile-looks-like-a-good-idea/683867>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [March 16, 2014, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tile-looks-like-a-good-idea/683867 "2014-03-16T22:21:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2014, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tile-looks-like-a-good-idea/683867/21 "2014-03-17T09:12:14Z")

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The battery does wear out and is not replaceable. Several alternatives are discussed [here](http://thenextweb.com/gadgets/2013/12/01/gadgets-track-valuables/). _Wallet TrackR_ looks good with two way communication.

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**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2014, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tile-looks-like-a-good-idea/683867/22 "2014-03-17T19:07:18Z")

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> [@Musicat](#):
>
> Where do you see that? The link I supplied says: So it looks like it is an RFID device after all.

The link you found said “no batteries to replace.” That’s very different from a plain “no batteries.” It just means you can’t replace the batteries once they go dead.

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**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tile-looks-like-a-good-idea/683867/23 "2014-03-18T03:09:05Z")

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> [@Joey\_P](#):
>
> Really? I just assumed that was RFID. Actually, I’m almost positive it is, my key, I don’t think, contains a battery. It does make me wonder how the buttons work. FTR, I do have the Smart Entry and Keyless start, but it has a few buttons. I suppose it could be designed so that if hit one of the buttons when I’m within range the power gets routed through a different RFID chip and when the car sees _that_ code it does something (unlocks the doors/locks the doors/pops the trunk) as opposed to just noticing that my key is nearby and giving the car the okay to unlock the doors when I touch the handle.
> 
> Now I have to see what the manual says about that. The specs may mention something about whether or not the fob has a battery and what kind of radio signal it uses.

I might be wrong here. I do know I ran across a home deadbolt that uses BT 4.0 to provide a similar interface. But a quick search of the web during my little bit of downtime at work today makes me think the cars are, in fact, using RFID.

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