Discovery 2017

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  • Mole HD
    Member Since: 18 Nov 2024
    Location: Orkney Islands
    Posts: 198
    Scotland 
    2017 Discovery Td6 HSE Fuji White

    Relay theft protection fob batteries

    Found these on Amazon...if I lived in a town, they might be worth considering. I have heard that JLR can supply those fob batteries FOC...no idea if that's tied to a warranty, extended or otherwise.

    The downside is that they only last up to 3 months before they need replacing Neutral

    Linky to the Amazon ones: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sleeping-Battery-...RPKZ3?th=1
    Atque in perpetuum, frater. Ave atque vale
    6th Aug 2025 10:38 pm
  • ajac
    Member Since: 20 Jul 2025
    Location: Shakespeare's County
    Posts: 12
    United Kingdom 
    2019 Discovery SDV6 HSE Loire Blue

    The reviews are not particularly good though. If free from JLR that’s different.
    7th Aug 2025 6:38 am
  • Mole HD
    Member Since: 18 Nov 2024
    Location: Orkney Islands
    Posts: 198
    Scotland 
    2017 Discovery Td6 HSE Fuji White

    Exactly my thinking. At £60 for a single battery, which judging by all of the reviews I could find, only lasts 3 months, they're more an expensive gimmick than anything else. A good idea perhaps once they're a bit more durable and reliable...

    Especially when all it takes to prevent relay theft is to turn keyless entry off by pressing a few buttons on your keyfob... which costs absolutely nothing.
    Atque in perpetuum, frater. Ave atque vale
    7th Aug 2025 6:55 am
  • Wolfpack
    Member Since: 25 May 2019
    Location: Norfolk, UK
    Posts: 403
    United Kingdom 
    2017 Discovery Si6 HSE Corris Grey

    I got some of the free batteries from JLR 6 months ago and they still seem to be working, so maybe theirs last longer.

    But here’s the question…..

    Do JLR intend to send out replacements every expiry date or are we expected to buy replacements every X months ….for the duration of our ownership?

    After all, we would be paying the continuing price for correcting the theft protection inadequacy for a vehicle that should have it inbuilt in the first instance.


    Footnote: I tried to find them on Temu without success.
    You would have thought it would be an ideal opportunity to implant covert surveillance of the category of people who drive expensive luxury vehicles. Cool
    7th Aug 2025 10:22 am
  • Narpy
    Member Since: 30 Apr 2025
    Location: Stockport
    Posts: 55
    United Kingdom 
    2019 Discovery Td6 HSE Corris Grey

    I see your point but batteries are a consumable item, they have a life. If JLR decide to send a few to owners, that’s all well and good but as they don’t replace other consumables, car battery + brake pads for example, I can’t see why they should renew your remote batteries once they give up.

    If you’re a D5 owner and have a doubt about keyless entry and it’s vulnerability to theft, you could do a lot worse than turn the feature off or use a faraday pouch.
    Now keyless entry has been totally compromised by thieves, owners must do whatever they think might help prevent their car from being nicked.

    You can, apparently, apply for complimentary sleeping batteries from JLR providing they’ve previously written to you to advise of the battery availability:
    Clicky Linky Here
    7th Aug 2025 12:42 pm
  • Mole HD
    Member Since: 18 Nov 2024
    Location: Orkney Islands
    Posts: 198
    Scotland 
    2017 Discovery Td6 HSE Fuji White

    Nice that JLR can be so selective about who to send the letters and the fob batteries to...I suspect that it'll only be offered to owners of vehicles bought through a dealership either new, approved used or those who took warranties out Neutral

    In any case, it might be worth phoning JLR customer support and having a moan about it, you never know, someone might get lucky.

    Anyway, I've no idea why not getting a letter and free batteries from JLR irks me...since I need them far less than anyone else with living on an isolated rock in the middle of the north sea...at least until the seagulls or cows learn to use laptops and mobile phones.

    Having the option to enable/disable keyless entry from the In Control Remote app would be nice...although that may be far too sensible and forward thinking for JLR... Rolling Eyes
    Atque in perpetuum, frater. Ave atque vale
    7th Aug 2025 1:18 pm
  • Narpy
    Member Since: 30 Apr 2025
    Location: Stockport
    Posts: 55
    United Kingdom 
    2019 Discovery Td6 HSE Corris Grey

    I’m pretty sure, my Full Fat owning neighbour, did not apply or receive a letter and the batteries just appeared in the post with a covering letter.

    If anybody does find a telephone number / contact within JLR who can assist with supplying these sleeping batteries, I hope they share the info so we can all benefit.
    7th Aug 2025 4:12 pm
  • Mole HD
    Member Since: 18 Nov 2024
    Location: Orkney Islands
    Posts: 198
    Scotland 
    2017 Discovery Td6 HSE Fuji White

    So, I had a little dig around t'interweb regarding Land Rover keyfobs...

    From JLR themselves, in response to the relay theft plague circa 2018...if your vehicle is 2018 or later and has a fob shaped like this with a Land Rover logo on the back...



    It has Ultra Wide Band security technology and is already relay theft protected. JLR state that UWB tech has been in all their keyfobs across all vehicle brands since 2018.

    If your fob is shaped like this however... (like mine, same shape as the D4 fob)...


    It'll need the motion sensor battery and vehicle security update to prevent relay theft. JLR were seemingly rolling out a security update to circumvent the security weaknesses on older, pre 2018 vehicles. A 'complimentary' (according to the JLR website) security update is available at all LR dealerships for qualifying vehicles.

    I filled out an online form on the JLR main website to check if my Bling Barge qualifies for the 'complimentary' security update or check if it has ever been done or not...I swear JLR has no concept of that word since they're usually deafened by the sound of opening wallets.

    The 2 different fob types side by side for comparison... UWB type on the left, older type on the right.


    Atque in perpetuum, frater. Ave atque vale
    7th Aug 2025 5:32 pm
  • Narpy
    Member Since: 30 Apr 2025
    Location: Stockport
    Posts: 55
    United Kingdom 
    2019 Discovery Td6 HSE Corris Grey

    I was curious to learn how this tech prevented relay theft. Found this:

    “Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology prevents relay car theft by precisely measuring the physical distance between the key fob and the vehicle using time-of-flight (ToF) measurements. By calculating this real-time proximity with extreme accuracy, UWB ensures that the car only unlocks or starts if the key is legitimately close by, making it nearly impossible for thieves to boost and relay the signal from a distance.
    How UWB Prevents Relay Attacks
    1. Accurate Distance Measurement:
    UWB uses very short radio pulses to accurately measure the time it takes for a signal to travel between the key and the vehicle.
    2. Time-of-Flight (ToF):
    By measuring this time, the vehicle can calculate the precise distance to the key fob, typically to within a few centimeters.
    3. Physical Proximity Confirmation:
    The system verifies that the key is within a very close physical range to the car.
    4. Encrypted Communication:
    Modern UWB systems also include cryptographic encoding to further secure the communication and prevent tampering.
    Why This Stops Relay Theft
    Relay Attack Mechanism:
    Thieves use relay devices to intercept and amplify the signal between a car key and the vehicle. The attacker's device captures the signal from the key fob (even inside a house) and transmits it to another device at the car, tricking the vehicle into thinking the key is nearby.
    UWB's Defense:
    Because UWB systems are so precise about distance, they can easily detect that the key is far away. If a thief's relay device tries to "pretend" the key is close, the UWB system will know the actual distance is much greater and will not unlock the vehicle.
    In essence, UWB technology acts as a digital guardian, confirming the key's true location and rendering the relay attack technique ineffective.”
    7th Aug 2025 8:48 pm
  • Mole HD
    Member Since: 18 Nov 2024
    Location: Orkney Islands
    Posts: 198
    Scotland 
    2017 Discovery Td6 HSE Fuji White

    Even more insidious than relay hackers are the key jammers. They jam and intercept the key signal when folks are locking their car (with the fob button) in a car park or at home which stops the car actually locking. It also creates a digital 'copy' of the key.

    Once the toerags get inside the unlocked car, they insert an ODB2 hacking tool, and use a tablet or laptop with specialist nicking software to access the BCM module and clone themselves a new physical key from the digital copy... it takes only a few minutes. Strangely enough, using keyless entry and locking, especially when tied to a UWB key prevents this particular type of theft...and always double lock your car (keyless or with the fob)...it activates the volumetric alarm so if the door gets opened...it'll go off.

    The In Control app can slightly mitigate this by detecting the car isn't locked...but usually by the time you either head out to check or attempt to lock it via the remote app, it's usually been over ridden and the car has gone.

    JLR's new security updates also prevent this form of attack. (From JLR themselves)

    That said, in the constantly evolving world of luxury car theft, if those gangs of professional car thieves really want your car...it's gone. Thankfully, they're way too picky to go nicking 2nd hand Discos Neutral
    Atque in perpetuum, frater. Ave atque vale
    7th Aug 2025 9:11 pm
  • Narpy
    Member Since: 30 Apr 2025
    Location: Stockport
    Posts: 55
    United Kingdom 
    2019 Discovery Td6 HSE Corris Grey

    That sounds about right.
    As an interesting aside, a friend of mine ( work colleague ) once bought a very nice Lotus which, after a month or two, was stolen. When he bought the car, the previous owner had installed a tracking device but my colleague had stretched his pocket to the limit just buying the car, so couldn’t afford the subscription to the tracking service and this had lapsed. Now this is where it gets very interesting, when he reported the theft to the police he was asked if the vehicle had a tracking device. He obviously replied by telling the authorities that the car did indeed have a tracker but he hadn’t kept up the monthly payments. The police advised him they would contact the tracking firm and advise them that they had information that would result in them withholding information to the vehicles location and that could be used against them if they failed to comply. The tracking firm quickly complied and the vehicle was recovered, minus a few parts. No arrests but he did get his car back.

    This tale kinda begs the question, will JLR comply if your D5 gets nicked and you haven’t subscribed to the tracking location service?
    8th Aug 2025 7:16 am
  • Wolfpack
    Member Since: 25 May 2019
    Location: Norfolk, UK
    Posts: 403
    United Kingdom 
    2017 Discovery Si6 HSE Corris Grey

    Mole HD wrote:
    Even more insidious than relay hackers are the key jammers. They jam and intercept the key signal when folks are locking their car (with the fob button) in a car park or at home which stops the car actually locking. It also creates a digital 'copy' of the key.

    That said, in the constantly evolving world of luxury car theft, if those gangs of professional car thieves really want your car...it's gone. Thankfully, they're way too picky to go nicking 2nd hand Discos Neutral


    I totally agree and it’s a main motivator not to go for a new albeit tempting beast….along with reliability worries!!!

    It’s a shame though that insurers don’t recognise the dwindling interest robbers have. I’ve not noticed my insurance going down as the car aged beyond nothing more than a sideways glance from toerags.

    On the subject of the remote app…
    I had cause to feel very grateful last week. Went on an excursion for a long outing in a forest.
    Unloaded the wife’s mobility scooter with all that faff and distraction that involves. Set off on the excursion and after a while happened to check the map I had downloaded onto the phone. There was a notification (hadn’t heard the ding) that the car (now well over a mile away!) was unlocked. I was immediately able to squash the panic and lock it.

    Of course without the app I wouldn’t have had the panic…..blissfully unaware until a big surprise when we returned to the car later.
    8th Aug 2025 7:58 am
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