Just got advertised
this in an e-mail today. I'm assuming that they've sent it to the entire list of registered installers on this site, and wondering what you all think. Especially KPierson, since you've basically made your own setup.
As far as I can see it seems like an interesting product, especially since I don't know of anyone else offering aftermarket keyless start.
The drawbacks I see - this setup requires you to eliminate the column lock and immobilizer if the car has them. Granting that the RFID tag still offers some protection, it would be child's play to hotwire a car with this installed once you'd found the control module.
Thoughts?
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C Renner's Auto Electronix
My service is cheap, quick, and good - pick any two
The pushbutton that they offer leaves a lot ot be desired (looks very "aftermarket" with no real feedback)
Finding someone to assume the liability of bypassing the mechanical steering wheel lock will be an issue to go completely keyless on newer vehicles (which is the big problem we ran in to). And with no "real" security left on the car security would be a huge concern to me as well.
That being said, I've only heard fantastic things about the DGD RF interface - supposedely it's a rock solid bug free implemenation, unlike the Chinese made passive entry junk that is also available in todays market.
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Kevin Pierson
If I'm not mistaken, the encryption level on these sytems is not as good as most transponder immobilisers and the whole system as it stands is technically illegal unless you use a by-pass. The RFI encryption is the weak link.
It's not necesarrily that the RF encryption is weak, it's the fact that it is "stand alone". OEM systems are embedded in the fuel management system and are virtually impossible to bypass because without satisfying the RF portion of the system the ECU won't inject fuel.
With a system like this, you HAVE to have an OEM security bypass in the vehicle so that security is gone. This is similar to a remote start, however at least the remote starts still have the mechanical steering wheel as a back up.
The thing about these systems is just what Chris touched on - they are childs play to hot wire. They offer nowhere near the security of OEMs, and they bypass very reliable security in able to make them work. All the RF security does is prevents you from starting the car with their little button, it does nothing to prevent you from hotwiring the ignition.
If you could find a shop to install something like this, they better make it impossible to find the bypass and the control box under the dash - that would the first step in to adding some sort of security back in to the equation. If you can't find it, you can't hotwire it!
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Kevin Pierson