The Faraday cage storage problem with AirTags

Question

Level 2

186 points

The Faraday cage storage problem with AirTags

I keep my car keys in a metal cookie tin to prevent car thieves from electronically signal boosting my remote and breaking into my car. (We had a few like that a few years ago.) It is also a sure fire way to never misplace your keys at home! Next to the front door, out when you leave and when you return, back in

Anyhow, of course, this is a Faraday cage for the remote but also for the AirTag!

How can I let the AirTag know it is stored in a Faraday cage when I get home?

For the first time after I got an AirTag, I went to the cookie tin and, the AirTag beeped once it was out. Not long but it beeped. I looked at the phone but, nothing. Was it beeping for days in the tin? or, did my iPhone proximity trigger it once the cookie tin lid was removed — thinking: Hey, a phone! I better beep… until it realized, it was the owners phone?

My main concern is battery drain while in the tin. Surely, Apple engineers took into consideration that car keys with AirTag might be by front door but iPhone would spend a night potentially too far away for BT (like, in a corporate executive's mansion bedroom…). I am thinking my cookie tin is the far away mansion entrance hall. When I pop the lid, the AirTag comes to life, for a moment, and that is all?

Posted on Dec 7, 2021 9:59 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Dec 7, 2021 10:03 AM in response to Ataraxy01

AirTags are designed to beep after they have been away from the owner for 8-12 hours.

This is by design, as AirTags are meant to help you keep track of items or alert others an AirTag is near them to prevent stalking.

This is a user to user support forum, Apple is not here.

Reply

Answer 2

Dec 8, 2021 1:09 PM in response to Ataraxy01

Ataraxy01 wrote:

Apple people are here but mostly lurk.

Apple's participation here is limited to moderation (making sure we adhere to the terms of use to which we agreed when we joined) and answering certain types of questions that have gone unanswered for more than 12 hours. Apple people do not read here for suggestions or feedback.

As you have inferred, if you want Apple to know how you think they can improve their products, use the dedicated feedback page:

Product Feedback - Apple

Everything there gets read and routed to the appropriate departments.

Reply

Answer 3

Ataraxy01 Author

Level 2

186 points

Dec 8, 2021 12:54 PM in response to Johnathan Burger

AppleCare said AirTags send out a signal to the phone every 1-2 seconds. I think it is every one second while in contact with phone. Every 2 when the phone is gone. This makes sense as I can see an engineer setting it up so while the phone is missing, the AirTag uses 50% less energy sending out a signal. Like laying on the ground for a few days until it is found.

I cannot see how this 8-12 hour beeping start idea would make any sense as, again, if you get home to your mansion at 9PM on a Friday and, in your far away bedroom, sleep in until 11AM, your AirTag beeping serves what purpose? I assume that the accelerometer and geo fencing tells the AirTag: Relax, you are home at the mansion (or in the tin for mine). Or it should…

Apple people are here but mostly lurk. Regardless, this is a place to discuss Apple products and services. Then you go to the Feedback form and let them know.

Reply

The Faraday cage storage problem with AirTags

Similar questions