Directech Generic Account Will Be Terminated

Just received an email from Directed stating they are restructuring their user accounts, and since I'm not an actual dealer or distributor, my generic account will be terminated October, 31st. Real bummer since I use their products a couple times a year and use directechs.com to flash firmware. What will I do now?

Upgrade to Fortin. Presently, you don't have to be an actual Dealer to have access to bypass module
firmware. You will need to get a FlashLink2 USB cable. They go for about $45. Fortin Tech Support is very
good and very friendly. While I'm sure there could be considerable debate on this subject, IMHO, for the
type of installs I do, both iDatalink and Fortin are better than XpressKit. Easier to follow Install Guides,
more reliable modules, better firmware. Bad situation but your options are limited. There is a slight learning
curve but you might be pleasantly surprised when you venture away from the snake pit...

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Soldering is fun!

I have gotten by without for 2 years now. I use Idata and Fortin. You won't miss it. I do primarily new car dealership work and some referral retail. I haven't ran into a issue where Directed was the only solution. I'm sure it may come up.

Thanks guys. I will definitely check that out.

I got the same email. I suppose my issue is that I install GPS tracking and camera systems for my vendors (I don't actually sell products) but on occasion (and enough that I have purchased both the XKloader 1 and 2)I recommend DEI equipment to the end customer when they ask me about keyless, RS, alarms, etc. and usually ask me to install if they purchase the equipment online (I usually suggest Amazon or Walmart.com, and usually recommend Avital as I always thought this was not a protected line)So my questions are these, 1. can I no longer program directed (xpresskit) modules? 2. if not, is DEI going to give me a refund for this equipment (the 2 loaders) that I purchased considering the fact that they are rendering them useless to me? 3. this is kind of a tricky one, but if a module that I programmed/installed, that I recommended, that my customer purchased online, was to lose it's programming then what if it has an issue? My warranty only covers my work so if the module loses its programming or bad then that would be out of my warranty but still having to tell the customer that they need to buy a different brand because I can't reprogram their old device or a new one? or that they need to take all of their vehicles into an authorized dealers shop and pay whatever they want to charge? I have the Fortin link and I do like their product and service, but I am more familiar with DEI. Anyone heard about an inexpensive option to pay for limited access? I only need programming access, I don't need Directwire, tech support (I have you guys for that), key2go, smart start activation (would be nice but haven't needed it yet), so maybe a small annual fee to still be able to support their business? Is Amazon an authorized reseller? the email did say to get your access through your reseller, will Amazon (or the retailer through Amazon) provide me an account? Sounds like Directed is going to lose a whole lot of business... I will send this to DEI and see what their final word is.

Amazon is about to get a whole lot of returns after October 31st....

I'm in the same boat you are. I have the xkloader2 and have always liked the way their stuff works. And I also download the install diagrams from directechs as well. I'm not familiar with Fortin yet, but am looking into it today because I just got my first remote install of the season over the weekend and need to find a solution that I can use. I was also wondering about trying to find an authorized reseller that would let me sign up under their authority. But I'm not sure about how to go about finding one that I think would let me do so. Let me know what you hear back from DEI.

Me too. I do about 4 installs a year, give or take, so I obviously cannot sell the volume to be a dealer. I have the xkloader 2. Could enough of us get together and get them to allow access to the programming, since they made us buy the tools to do it? I mean, isn't that a form of breach of contract, since when we bought the tools, the programming was always supposed to be free? That was the understanding I had when I bought it. Even if it was like $10/ year I wouldn't complain, but to just shut us out with no options is awful rude and inconsiderate! All I'm after is access to the programming.Any thoughts on how we can make this happen?


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NORM W

Sorry Guys I have been busy. So I emailed them and they basically said in a slightly nicer term "too bad". I guess they don't realize how much of their products are purchased online via Amazon and Walmart and won't miss that rather large chunk of their revenue stream in the interest of "protecting their product lines". I am hoping that this will have such a negative impact on their bottom line that they realize what kind of mistake they have made but it really doesn't matter to me, I will no longer be purchasing or suggesting their product (even if they change back)until I am provided with a full refund for the DEI specific tools I have purchased(loaders). I did some quick math on this and I used to either purchase or recommend roughly $1000 a year in their product(figure between 15-20 installs at an average of $40-$75 each going to them) so if there is 100 other installers like me then that is $100,000 a year, and if there is over 1000, then now we are in the million dollar range, and this does not even include DIYers. Well good luck Directed, it is a dog eat dog world out there and you just pulled half of your own teeth out!

It would have been better if they did one of these things:-
Shut down the unauthorised suppliers or
Said anything goes then train/test/licence independent installers and only give a warantee if installed by them.
I had that arrangement as a mobile installer for years with Clifford in the UK.

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Amateurs assume, don't test and have problems; pros test first. I am not a free install service.
Read the installation manual, do a search here or online for your vehicle wiring before posting.

+1 with Howard. Lucky for me I'm only stuck with a few XK0x's and one DB-ALL2 that I never had a need for.

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Soldering is fun!

Bloody heck Kreg, quick look at my emails and I thought I'd received the dreaded letter!
Remember what I told you about emailing me a year ago if you had problems?

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Amateurs assume, don't test and have problems; pros test first. I am not a free install service.
Read the installation manual, do a search here or online for your vehicle wiring before posting.

its really sad directed chose to go this route. I have always recommended DEI products for all of my installs but not anymore! Ill choose to go to a company that offers some sort of support for users that are not distributors. I do roughly 15-20 remote starts a year on the side so this is kind of a huge hit for me as i have a bunch of DB2/DB3's in stock right now that i cant do anything with. They honestly couldn't make a login to just let us flash the firmware and edit the config of our modules? This was the last straw for me. Im not saying im the best installer in the world but i do excellent quality work and am very knowledgeable about mobile electronics, yet their saying goes "the product is only as good as the installer" but directed has a bunch of unqualified people at bestbuy and local shops that have pretty much no idea what the hell they are doing and they get access to flash modules and install their products. I just installed a 5X10 in my car and forgot to change the run time so now its stuck on 12 min unless i want to unplug it and bring it to a shop that has access to directechs whose probably gonna charge me $20.00+ to change the damn setting. Absolutely horrendous choice on directed's part. I emailed their customer service about this issue 2 weeks ago but didn't even get a response from them lol.

Can you clarify which parameters require adjustment?   If I install this in an older vehicle, with no theft deterrent and no databus, will all the standard functions work normally right out of the box without any adjustments of the programming?   Years ago I installed a number of DEI systems and never had an issue. I'd like to put a 2 way system on my 97 Bravada, but I dont have access to change any of the parameters.   
    Thanks in Advance!

most options can be changed using the antenna / remote. Unless you want a random run time like 17 minutes, or need to unlock the transmitter programming function.

Add me to the list. I was extremely frustrated when the email was sent. I have been installing DEI since 2002. I have installed hundreds of units, and then once I semi-retired, have only installed 5-10 a year. I still enjoy installing on my personal vehicles, and friends or family. However, given they have decided to turn their back on us, I have no choice but to try another brand. I have a bitwriter and XKloader that will collect dust. eBay, Amazon, O'Reilly's (they sell a DEI remote start unit) all will be hurt by this decision. Luckily I don't have too many bypass units on hand, but what I do are now garbage. The sad thing is, had they offered a service for the weekend warriors like myself, for say $50 annually (maybe more), I would have paid this and went on with life.

I've even gone so far as to offer authorized dealers a fee to add my email to their list. Hasn't worked... Nearest dealer is an hour from me.

Im in the same boat. I only install 10 or so remote starts a year mainly for family. But i have several dei products i can not use. guess theres going to be a lot for sale on ebay. If anyone decides to come together for a joint account count me in.

Wow I logged on right now just to ask about this since I saw some Amazon reviews about this. I'm not doing this professionally anymore but I still do it on the side for friends and family and I always would use Directed products. I think I still have an FLPROG, does anyone know if they have done the same thing?

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A DMM is a beautiful thing.

MECP Advanced Installer Certified.

zerepdivad wrote:

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Wow I logged on right now just to ask about this since I saw some Amazon reviews about this. I'm not doing this professionally anymore but I still do it on the side for friends and family and I always would use Directed products. I think I still have an FLPROG, does anyone know if they have done the same thing?

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I would try to log in to the FlashLogic WEB site ( https://www.flashlogic.com/weblink/ ) and see what happens.   IMHO you are better off using FlashLogic ( or iDatalink ) products anyway.

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Soldering is fun!

What are you guys out there using now for wiring diagrams? I used to use a combination of Directechs, readyremote, Audiovox, Bulldogsecurity, and here. Now I just have bulldog and here. I liked having more than one diagram for reference.

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A DMM is a beautiful thing.

MECP Advanced Installer Certified.

Here, bulldog and sometimes I'll ask for directech at best buy.

if you are not using the newer transponder like DB3 or DB4, then you can program the older transponder, e.g. XK05, without having to login the the Directech web. by downloading "IntelliKit Flash Utility" and a corresponding firmware for the transponder to program.
it may work fur new transponders if you have a firmware.

xeplep wrote:

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if you are not using the newer transponder like DB3 or DB4, then you can program the older transponder, e.g. XK05, without having to login the the Directech web. by downloading "IntelliKit Flash Utility" and a corresponding firmware for the transponder to program.
it may work fur new transponders if you have a firmware.

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A big thank you for this info. I used to use it way back when but moved to VIP 4.5 and deleted it from my PC. Have a few XK05's to use up so I just downloaded it again.   

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Soldering is fun!

I still have it on a Windows xp computer. Let me try now

for more information, you can download a firmware from https://omega.directechs.com/ in case that you lost it, for example XK05 is IM05. Making sure you need to keep all firmwares and software you need for future used since they may disable downloading in the future.

Hi my first post I am a newbie lol .I also received email from directed that will no longer be able to flash the bypass...Started usuing I Data a while back I find they have a much better product and easier installs..So i guess I say thank you directed

The wiring info I use is Wiremagic it is not free but find it good