How to Intentionally Block E-Tag Signal?

John Kimble on 13/04/2017 - 16:01
Last edited 15/04/2017 - 08:29

We don't have a car at the moment, so we have hired one for the Easter Long Weekend. The rental company says we have to use their e-tag as it is permanently stuck on the windscreen. They charge the toll fee and then an additional (per day of use) admin fee. So theoretically if we went through a toll everyday of the car hire, the admin fee would add up.

I want to see if I can block the signal on their e-tag somehow; the only thing I can thing of is folding a few layers of alfoil and wrapping it around their e-tag and then using our own e-tag. I'm hoping this would work?

Does anyone have any experience doing something similar? Any other suggestions?

I googled and some forums mention their e-tags work in the glove box…which I thought wouldn't work?

Only concern I guess is that I don't use enough layers and the signal from their e-tag is not blocked and I get charged on both e-tags :/

I know it would only be an extra few bucks on top of the already expensive car hire, but this is Ozbargain and I want to save wherever possible :)

Thanks in advance.

Update
Test 1: Success! Crossed the harbour bridge and only heard the beep from our tag. Won't know 100% until we get the bill from the rental place I suppose, but pretty confident it worked (at least this time).

https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/190487/48180/dsc_2098.…

My impression is that the battery would be behind the mount on the left and the electronics would be on the right, which is why it doesn't matter I didn't cover the left.

Test 2: Fail (I think). Harbour Bridge doesn't look like either tag went off (so will probably get some extra administration fee now. M5 their tag went off but not ours. Lame.

Automotive

Comments

  • Sammy901 on 16/04/2017 - 12:12
    -1

    Seriously. I'm sure there's other ways to save 3 bux. Imagine the money you will save not doing the trip altogether

    • hamwhisperer on 16/04/2017 - 13:31

      To be fair if he hires the car for 10 days that's $30 extra, kinda shitty. (plus he pays the regular fee)

    • John Kimble on 16/04/2017 - 14:20

      Imagine!

  • chav on 16/04/2017 - 23:11

    To shield a receiver you will need to conduct the signal down to ground. Try connecting your foil wrapper to the vehicle ground. Maybe you have a car charger that plugs into the cigarette lighter and provides you with a plug at the other end where you can wrap a wire onto the metal outer. Connect the outer to the wrapper around the receiver - you will end up with a wire dangling down :-)

  • Davo1111 on 19/04/2017 - 11:15

    lol, didnt even put something on the outside of the window. i.e. the most critical side.

    • John Kimble on 19/04/2017 - 17:08

      That would be the next step; I wanted to avoid it if possible because the wipers would touch anything on the outside.

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