actually, for increasing distance, touch the remote to the bottom of your chin when you're pressing the button. your head becomes a giant omni antenna. not sure exactly why it works better, i can't explain your head adding gain to the signal, i just know it works. can't unlock the bus from the kitchen without doing it that way. as for brain cancer from it, you don't need to worry. your cell phone will kill you long before the remote will [&:]