Car Alarm & Remote Start Top Ten

Most of us have a couple things that become most important features.

Some want the loudest alarm, others want defrost output or temperature monitoring.

For me, it's to have the longest possible RANGE! A distant second is a vibrate feature. Since I'm not driving a  Rolls Royce, I prefer to minimize late night neighborhood chirps and sirens in favor of a low key intrusion buzz in my pocket. Only 3 in my list had vibrate capability.

What's the trick to making the right consumer choice?

Since I don't know squat about the true performance of remote start/alarms, all I can do is surf the internet.

But how heavily can I weigh a statement like "Best Alarm" or "Longest Range!" when the person saying that is putting bread on their table and kids through college on that particular brand?

The one ELUSIVE Holy Grail I've been searching for is a Consumer Reports (or at least similar) widespread and unbiased, advertisement free, product test.

Wouldn't it be GREAT to see all ten brands put in a parking lot in downtown Manhattan, and find which one repeatedly reached around the most city blocks to start an engine?!

Or which one's gave the fewest false alarms next to noisy exhausts, and other false incidents?!

Since I've found no fair test comparison, I've read through all the ads, features, claims, anti-claims, prices, etc... This is the resulting Top Ten List (in order).

My goal here is not to say this is final. I can only make a rough draft. Much value is added when you reply on what I missed, correct me if I'm wrong, or you feel stronly opposed to my reasoning.

I left out prices, but used them as a sorting factor. All were over $100, less than $500. Prices were all based on "You put it in yourself"as opposed "Dine on Starbucks Coffee and Donuts across the street from the Electronics Garage" price.

All had extensive feature lists... i.e they all had dome light supervision, keyless entry, remote panic etc.........

Some gave extra relays and sensors for window rollup or motion sensor (including the cheaper ones) adding features for less money.

I thought it's funny and a bit confusing at first how some models have multiple aliases. It's also a bit strange how some less expensive models give amazing range claims, while the most expensive shy away from any number at all.

To the person who directs me to a test comparison website I will name my first kid after you!

1. Compustar 2WSS-AS.

Runs at 900 Mhz. Spread Spectrum Technology. Claims 1.25 miles in realistic conditions. Some reviews support this. No negative claims. I do remember my 900 Mhz cordless phone putting the older one to shame. Has VIBRATE option, but not cheap! and NO ONE wants to say actual dimensions of the remote. Doesn't look like it fits in the pocket too well. No mention of anti-code grabbing technology, or programmable timer start but I'm assuming it has it. Ironically appears anyway to have the shortest list of extra options and features.

2. Mannix Millenium.

Very much a guess at the #2 spot, but cheap for a claim of dual FM-FM (car &

remote transmission), and claim of "3/4 to 1 mile range" Lots of features, and free added

sensors. Lends to believe most other alarms are AM-FM and weaker range. No Vibrate.

3. Crimestopper CS-2016FM.

Takes #3 because it is the cheapest model with VIBRATE capability. 433 Mhz. Only range mention: "Extended Range on Glass Antenna"

4. Viper 791XV.

Many people think this is the ultimate alarm, but it would almost be cheaper to let your older car get stolen than buy this thing. And all with no claim on range? just an extremely cool sounding "Miniature Extreme Capacity Relay Satellite or XCRS" Who is the acronymn guy??? and what does it mean in laymans termns? I give it #4 for being the benchmark others compare to, and it being the last model with VIBRATE option.

5 Delta Pro 5007

Cheapest of the lot, with two VERY small 5 button remotes and a claim of "1/2 to 1 mile normal. 2 mile max" 433 Mhz. Many many extras and features! If range claim actually turned out to be realistic, I would put it at #1!!!!

6. . DEI 554

This takes #5 again because DEI is so well known. Seems to be their top model. Second most expen$$$ive in the list yet no range claim! It does have another cool sounding acronym! "HF+ Reciever Technology"...whatever that means. It does have a mile long list of features though.

7. Audiovox/Prestige APS996A /Code Alarm CA-645

#1 award for most aliases. Circuit city employee claims that "Code Alarm CA-645 had Vibrate" but I found nothing in the literature that supported that. Very small unobtrusive remote. "External Superheterodyne Transceiver Antenna" I don't understand how an antenna that sounds so darn cool would have no claim on range capability?? Has Data port for Telematics. This may be a gimmick or my biggest oversight (supposedly locates your car). 6 Channels. Single button lock unlock.

8. Commando FM 870.

433 Mhz. Range Claim 2500 ft. If this means 2500 feet from inside a movie theater, and through a Sunday afternoon Wall-Mart jam packed iron and steel parking lot then I gave this one a raw deal at #8. Higher than average price, but plenty of other features.

9. Auto Page RS850LCD.

Long Range Helical Transceiver antenna. Range?? Has a swell temperature sensor, knock sensor, and full list of features.

10. Lynx 2000/Airwolf 20099

Claim "3000 ft with 2 mile max) 447 Mhz. This is where consumer reports is needed. Nothing stands out good or bad, but if range claim was accurate it woud be well worth it's middle road price and take the top spot.

By the end, I had information spilling out of my ears....prices, ranges, features, extras, ratings, remarks, negatives, positives...so rather than throw that away,  I put the information here to systematically sift through the best info by the remarks that would follow.  All comments good and bad together make up the REAL Top Ten.

RF obviously fluctates for many reasons, but it just wouldn't be that difficult to put an assortment of these devices into a similar vehicle, park them in the same location, and measure results at the same time. One test as line of sight, another with typical obstructions. It's a little surprising that it seems not to have been done by 2004.

That's pretty much what I remember as RS  range was then.  So much has been done with remote start in the last five years, such as 2-way, FM, spread spectrum, 900, even 434 Mhz wasn't common then. Then there's H+ this and Super Heterodyne that which I'd love to see put to the real test.

My favorite brand is the Ultrastart.

Its a brand I was inroduced to at my current job, which we carry and I stand behind fully.  They are the easiest to install & program out of any brands that I have seen.  No more playing with hood pins to program .

Very reliable, every feature you could ever want, as well as the range 8000 ft.

My favorite model is the high end one 4500 XR.

Cost on the unit is around $300 I'm not sure what the retail is, but I trust this unit more than CompuStarr or any other brand.

Address is http://www.ultrastart.com

My two cents,

Dutch

The ultrastart link posted above doesn't come up (2 days).

Searched Ultrastart on the web. Could not find 4500 XR.

Did find Ultrastart 4500, but no mention of 8000 ft or long range.