RylAssassin

Hey guys just wonderin what you guys would recomend as good car alarms, that you know, for an FC. I can spend like 400 on an alarm so was wonderin what would be best for aroud that range. I saw this cool new viper alarm with some kind of digitized lcd remote that tells you what zones are going off and **** looked pretty cool.
Thanks

KNONFS

iTrader: (14)

DEI all the way (aka Viper\Python\sidewinder)

I haven't had ANY problem with DEI, neither my customers.

RylAssassin

yeah thats my idea so far, any others??

Icemark

The one that is installed correctly....

No joke.

Consumer reports did a test on car alarms about 5 years ago and DEI and Clifford models were the top 8, but they also found that of the 17 systems they had installed, 75% had at least one problem with the installation.

So you should be shopping and asking about installation rather than what alarm to buy.

I personally think all the better alarms from DEI (viper/python/sidewinder/clifford) are one of the best as well as the Japanese built Apine product, but again... you should be shopping for a good shop not an system.

RylAssassin

cool yeah ill keep that in mind Icemark, only how would i know if the place has good installers or not, is there like certifications to look out for and such, what would they be called?

RETed

MECP.&nbsp That's the current certification problem out there for car audio (and security) folks.

BTW, Icemark is totally right.&nbsp Not only is installation key, but also tuning of the sensors.&nbsp Impact sensors are usually tuned way too sensitive, which triggers way too many false alarms; this is the reason society doesn't blink anymore when a siren goes off.

Personally, I *HATE* impact sensors.&nbsp This is why I use all Alpine radar sensor-based alarm systems on my cars.&nbsp These will rarely false, and no annoying pre-warns from light impacts.

I can go into a whole dissertation on alarm installlations, but you can't afford it.&nbsp (i.e. hiding alarm brain, back-up battery, hood locks, pagers, pain generations, strobes, fog generators, etc.)

Remember, the alarm is a theft DETERRENT.&nbsp It will not prevent a pro thief from getting into the car or stealing it, period.



-Ted

Liquid Anarchy

iTrader: (2)

Hiding the brain is as simple as extending the wires to a discreet area.

Pain generators arn't really expensive either. Get an extra alarm siren, wire it in parallel with the outside one, and put it in the cab of the car. 123db @ 10,000Hz will deter most people from spending any real quality time in your car.

jacobcartmill

iTrader: (6)

so ted, do you steal cars out there in las vegas?

RETed

Not when I'm talking about it...
I'm talking about putting the brain in a discrete area, yes, but I'll encase it if practical.&nbsp Wiring then needs to be "integrated" into the stock wiring, so it's not obvious there's anything non-stock in the car.&nbsp This add labor and materials costs, which most car audio shops are not willing to do or charge you up the *** for.


Be careful doing that.&nbsp We've fried Alpine brains doing that cause of the increased current draw.&nbsp The Alpine alarms don't like more than 0.5A of current draw.&nbsp Dual sirens will most likely draw easily over that much (more like 1A).&nbsp If you got an extra Alarm-Out output, that makes it easy; a relay is required if going more than Alarm-Out current draw - i.e. I run 4 sirens in my car, 3 are on the extra Alarm-Out via relay).&nbsp Bottom line, if you can't just splice in the siren, it's going to take more labor, time, materials (i.e. wires, connectors, relays) which means more money.



-Ted

RETed

No. *grin*


-Ted

HKSTurboII

Try to incase all the wiring in some form of metal tubing. This may not prevent them from getting at the wires but it may give them more problems then they anticipated, and possibly make them move on to the next car rather than yours! That was the problem with my last system (it was too easy). Plus I would also invest in a dual siren with two different relays, that way if they find one, they may not find the other. They don't like attention!

88IntegraLS

Mine came with a Clifford that the previous owner installed and it works perfectly. I have never had a problem with it. It is a very basic alarm, has a red blinking light on the dash to show that it is armed

silverrotor

iTrader: (1)

Best alarm, In terms of theft deterrant? Fuel Cut Switch. Your car Isn't going anywhere w/o an active Fuel Pump. Above this and the stock alarm, I have a Avital Diablo 2 which I can't complain about, at all.

SwooshMand

Most common thieves are trying to steal "stuff" as opposed to the car itself. Any alarm thats functional is a great theft deterent. But like someone else said a professional thief will get the job done no matter what. But i agree with everyone else, hide the brain well, multiple sirens, and DEI. Good luck finding someone that will install it how you want though.

silverrotor

iTrader: (1)

Oh, you are statistically correct. However, why chance an additional stat on having your car stolen In whole. -Install the Fuel Cut. It's multy functional

nashman69g

iTrader: (3)

what do DEI mean here?

neofreak

Its a brand, directed electronics inc I believe.

Icemark

Directed Electronics Inc... (http://www.directed.com) They are the company that designs and sells to the dealers:

Currently the following alarms:

Viper
Sidewinder
Clifford
Python
Automate
Hornet
Avital
Rattler
Wasp
Valet
Steal Stopper

They also own:
ADS
Orion
PPI (Precision Power)
Viper Audio
Directed Audio and Video

ra ra rotory

so an over view here. any one of the major brands such as viper pithon and cliffered, intalled by a certified...person is a good alarm?

And in my opinion, if there is a blinking light in a car, any minor theif (kids stealing cd players... ect) WILL move on to the next car.

SwooshMand

Great summary!!!

Digi7ech

iTrader: (1)

Alarms are theft DETERANTS.
It will prevent most from trying but there is always the break grab and dash asses.

My father had a 96 Z24 Cavlier which was broken into one time. They popped the hood and cut some wires and some how the battery back ups didn't go off.
Lucky bastards got away with our rims(leftb the damn lug in glove box) a Kenwood excelon amp and deck.

We had no idea how they got around the back up siren.
As soon as we fixed the stuff they cut the damn thing went off.

So we put in a battery backup for the backup.

Now he puts his new Mini Cooper S in the garage, while my babies shiver in fright outside.

KNONFS

iTrader: (14)

I have MUCHO respect for Icemark, he knows his **** when it comes to car audio & security. However I don not agree with the comment "The one that is installed correctly...."

There are shity alarms out there (I know you know this Icemark, but I had to clarify it). In my (over 10 years) car audio and security experience, there is one brand that used to be VERY popular back in PR........K9!!

I don't know waht the hell happen to that company around 1996 (more or less), every SINGLE K9 alarm had a freaking problem!! That's when I (the shop I was working at the moment) switch over to Avital and DEI. Right on the spot, once we switch over to these, problems were gone!! No more unsatisfied customers, no more warranty issues, no more check check ALL sensors\wiring\etc!!

I'm 110% sure installation is all there is to it, BUT if you have a shitty alarm you will have shitty results even with the best installation in the whole world. You will be unsastified with the alarm and results for as long as you own it.

My .02 cents

BTW - DEI is NOT the only good alarm out there, there are others. I am just stating the one I have more experience with.

HKSTurboII

I'm not flaming or anything, but I been in and around car audio for 6 years myself, and I have to disagree. I think that more emphasis should be kept on the installation! Even a low budget alarm, when installed properly with small extras focused on the wiring, and control box, can be very effective. I would much rather have a low budget alarm installed with a bit of time and effort rather than a high dollar alarm installed like ****! Just like someone said up top, if they are professional theifs they will get what they want, your job is just to make it as difficult as possible so that they will move on!

I do however agree that you should not get one of those fly by night/no name security alarms, cause they are **** and will cause you more problems then they do good!

KNONFS

iTrader: (14)

If the product is crap you will have problems, no matter how good you install it. Take for example Pep Boy's alternators, there is nothing to it when it comes to installation. I mean three bolts, 2 plugs, and constant 12V conection; but they still fail constantly!

Know what I mean?

Concerning installing an alarm, I actually hated installing them for a car audio shop. There is no way you can mass install alarms and hide them the way EVERYTHING should be hided. Hell it takes me at least half a day to install them on my vehicles.

KNONFS

iTrader: (14)

If the product is crap you will have problems, no matter how good you install it. Take for example Pep Boy's alternators, there is nothing to it when it comes to installation. I mean three bolts, 2 plugs, and constant 12V conection; but they still fail constantly!

Same goes for non OEM parts, why don't we use NON OEM thermostat on our FC's? Because they will fail on you, again there is nothing to the installation of a thermostat.

Know what I mean?

Concerning installing an alarm, I actually hated installing them for a car audio shop. There is no way you can mass install alarms and hide them the way EVERYTHING should be hided. Hell it takes me at least half a day to install them on my vehicles.