How dangerous to leave house with only phone key?

[Irata]

I'm on Android and have NFC on all the time.

So if I turn off Bluetooth but still have the Tesla app running, I can open the car by tapping the pillar like the key card?

I'll have to try it.

Yep. The app and car will talk purely over NFC.

Should also work in aeroplane mode.

 

[geefonk73]

For the life of me I don't know why they don't make a keyring with a built in chip that you could use instead. For years I've been given a manufacturer branded keyring to put my car keys on by every single dealer, why don't Tesla offer one that's actually the car key?

Great idea

 

[Adopado]

True. But I'm 36, never lost a phone or wallet.

Exactly, you're still a youngster ... so plenty of time for such disasters in life

 

[26ct2143]

Can use use the NFC on your phone?

so yes as said,
In my case (android) in the settings:
set NFC to on
tap & pay to on.

Now with screen on, goto car and wave back of phone on the door pillar and it's like using the key card.
Chris

 

[kelvin 660]

Now with screen on, goto car and wave back of phone on the door pillar and it's like using the key card.

Yes, NFC works great if you Android phone is powered and working. Won't work if battery is dead though...

 

[mswlogo]

Keep in mind with a FOB if the battery or electronics die you can still get in your car and drive by using it passively. If your phone drops or battery dies you are stuck. I always kept a back up card with me. I always need my license with me anyway.

 

[Zilla91]

so yes as said,
In my case (android) in the settings:
set NFC to on
tap & pay to on.

Now with screen on, goto car and wave back of phone on the door pillar and it's like using the key card.
Chris

I’m guessing this won’t work for iPhone users?

 

[phil4]

I almost always have the keycard with me... but I've never had to use it. I've had mine since Sept 2020, and done just under 10,000 miles.

 

[Adopado]

I’m guessing this won’t work for iPhone users?

Not at present anyway ... no technical reason why not (AFAIK) other than Apple and Tesla haven't made an agreement. The iPhone works as NFC key with other models.

 

[sorrera]

I had the model 3 for 2 years, never took the keycard with me at any tme.Never had any problems. Iphone user.

 

[ScoobyDoo82]

This ring has the RFID chip built in. It’s my wedding band.

Works great. I don’t always have my phone with me.

 

[Titanium22]

should be ok - although I normally have my wallet on me I don’t think I ever needed it.

sometimes the car won’t unlock but thats normally a quick turn off/on bluetooth and its fine.

worst case, you should be able to use the app to remote open and set to remote drive - which allows other people to drive the car. Maybe worth a test but I would think that should be a good enough backup?

Generally agree with

Mrklaw ... but I'm thinking worst case would be to just Uber home...get the car later.​

 

[Roy B]

Keep in mind with a FOB if the battery or electronics die you can still get in your car and drive by using it passively. If your phone drops or battery dies you are stuck. I always kept a back up card with me. I always need my license with me anyway.

Well, without the electronics the fob isn't going to do anything - but then nor is a keycard - as the electronics in both are needed to do the cryptographic authentication. But you're right that the fob will act as a keycard even with a flat battery. It's somewhat unclear whether it will do this indefinitely or still relies on the battery in some kind of ultra low power mode. Pretty sure that the original Model S fobs at least did actually rely on battery power even in the "flat battery" use case, but that may have changed.

 

[mswlogo]

Well, without the electronics the fob isn't going to do anything - but then nor is a keycard - as the electronics in both are needed to do the cryptographic authentication. But you're right that the fob will act as a keycard even with a flat battery. It's somewhat unclear whether it will do this indefinitely or still relies on the battery in some kind of ultra low power mode. Pretty sure that the original Model S fobs at least did actually rely on battery power even in the "flat battery" use case, but that may have changed.

No battery is needed. That tech has been around for a long time now. Two prior cars before my Tesla did the same thing. The battery-less key cards and completely dead fobs are powered by the radio waves from the car. That’s partly why they need to be so close. To power them up. Also in a dead Fob the RFID I believe is a completely separate device with in the Fob. It might be all in one chip and sharing keys. But means of communication is completely separate.

Don’t really care what old Model S Fobs did or didn’t do.

 

[PITA]

This ring has the RFID chip built in. It’s my wedding band.View attachment 768933
Works great. I don’t always have my phone with me.

Bless, O Lord, this ring to be a sign of the vows by which this man and this Tesla have bound themselves to each other. Through Elon Musk our Lord. Amen …

I give you this ring as a sign of our love for and commitment to each other. I promise to support you, care for you, and stand alongside you for all of our days.

Even through difficult Firmware releases, let no menu update get between us.

You may now swish the side

 

[Filbert1884]

Phone access has never failed for me (had the car 2 months today) so whilst I always have my key card with me in my wallet, I've never needed it.

 

[Mrklaw]

I have keys in my pocket all the time - I’d pay for an Etsy home made key fob with key card chip embedded like you get with the rings. Why are there so many rings but not fobs? Seems a Fob would be more practical and easier to make

 

[init6]

I have keys in my pocket all the time - I’d pay for an Etsy home made key fob with key card chip embedded like you get with the rings. Why are there so many rings but not fobs? Seems a Fob would be more practical and easier to make

I'd be willing to try to make you one.

 

[Adopado]

I have keys in my pocket all the time - I’d pay for an Etsy home made key fob with key card chip embedded like you get with the rings. Why are there so many rings but not fobs? Seems a Fob would be more practical and easier to make

The main fob functions are different to the simple key card (much more extensive) ... also uses different wireless communications and therefore requires power. Making a ring is cheap as chips ... making a fob which functions like the Tesla fob is a different kettle of fish. I made my own fob using the electronics from a key card but obviously all it does is unlocks the car when presented to the door pillar and starts the car when put against the console.

 

[init6]

The main fob functions are different to the simple key card (much more extensive) ... also uses different wireless communications and therefore requires power. Making a ring is cheap as chips ... making a fob which functions like the Tesla fob is a different kettle of fish. I made my own fob using the electronics from a key card but obviously all it does is unlocks the car when presented to the door pillar and starts the car when put against the console.

I hope he meant making a fob like yours and Nicks. not the Tesla fob.