viper installer giving questionable info

I went to a remote start installer and chose a Viper 4806 unit to be installed into my vehicle. When I went to pick it up, the guy gave me the 2-way remote, but then I noticed that the instruction manual for the 4606 was sitting in my car. I asked him what unit was installed and the guy told me that he installed the 4606 unit. He assured me that the module was identical to the 4806, but that the 4606 only comes with the 1 way remote. He told me I had an effective duplicate of the 4806 by installing the 4606 and programming a 2 way remote.

I went home and did some research and found that the 4606 has a 2000 foot range. I was expecting a 1 mile range. When I called the installer, he told me that the brain of the 4606 and 4806 are identical (4x06), and that the remote is what dictates the range. Meaning, the fact that I have a 2 way remote will make this unit operational up to the 1 mile.

I am unhappy with this, but due to certain circumstances, I would accept it if what he is telling me is true. That combining the 4606 unit with a 2 way remote gives my system the mile range. Does anyone here know whether this is true or false? Any input would be appreciated.

the title should read "questionable info" not "able info."

Call the manufacture and ask them. See what they say.

If nothing else, the installer should have been upfront and honest with you about the swap BEFORE the install. That's just bad customer service.

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The installer is correct but I tend to agree with Shafferny's comment.
He lives in the middle of nowhere, I have to work there sometimes.

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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.

shafferny wrote:

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Call the manufacture and ask them. See what they say.

If nothing else, the installer should have been upfront and honest with you about the swap BEFORE the install. That's just bad customer service.

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Yeah, I am not happy at all about the way they operated here. It took me asking several times to get a straight answer too. I'm wondering whether this is something Viper would admit, given that it would seemingly undercut the higher margins on the 4806. Thanks for the response.

howie ll wrote:

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The installer is correct but I tend to agree with Shafferny's comment.
He lives in the middle of nowhere, I have to work there sometimes.

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Thanks for the response howie. So you believe that the 4606 + the 2 way remote should give the stated 1 mile range as though it was the 4806? How confident are you in that? I don't doubt you know what you're talking about but I may just let bygones be bygones if that is accurate, even though I am very displeased at them not being upfront with me about it.

Provided they've changed remote AND antenna it should have a nominal* 1 mile range.
* Don't for 1 moment think you're going to get 1 mile, in the real world aim for half of that, in fact the only place you might get a mile is a 1 mile airfield runway.

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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.

I am guessing there wasn't a change in antenna because he didn't mention that to me. He just said that "the brain of the two are identical" and that with the 2 way remote you will get the 1 mile range. I would think that if he did anything else that he would have mentioned it to sooth my concerns.

Is there a simple way for me to determine this on my own?

Only by going on their site and contacting them, don't mention the dealer at this stage unless you have to but mention your concerns. Unfortunately we only get the 5204 in the UK but we've personally changed antennae and remotes to turn them into 57/5904.
All the 5X04/6 share the same brain I'm assuming so does the 4X06 which would suggest an antenna (control centre) change.

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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.

howie ll wrote:

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All the 5X04/6 share the same brain I'm assuming so does the 4X06 which would suggest an antenna (control centre) change.

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Can you elaborate on this? I'm not sure I follow.

The control centres look identical, down load the 4806 owner manual from the Viper.com website, go to support .
Page 5.

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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.

4606 - 2010-late 2013
4806 - late 2013-current

Some dealers will still receive old stock before distributors ship out the new one. The brain in identical, no physical change besides model number.

as far as range goes, this is entirely dependant on the antenna and remote combinations. if in doubt call Directed.



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Ted
2nd Year Tier 1 Medical School
Still installing as a hobby...pays for groceries
Compustar Expert

tedmond wrote:

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4606 - 2010-late 2013
4806 - late 2013-current

Some dealers will still receive old stock before distributors ship out the new one. The brain in identical, no physical change besides model number.

as far as range goes, this is entirely dependant on the antenna and remote combinations. if in doubt call Directed.

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What would I ask directed? I know I have the two-way remote obviously, but I am unsure about the antenna.

antenna/remote combos are dependant to one another. That simply means they make 2 types of antennas. One is for 1-way, the other is 2way. this is only true for this seasons lineup
If you have a 2way remote, you have a 2way antenna. ergo 1 mile range, as the antenna is the same to the 570X/590X

this is to my knowledge as i dealt with viper/compustar and still receive product updates/development

i can only think of one reason they did this, but its best to get a definitive answer from your viper dealer/directed, and proceed from there

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Ted
2nd Year Tier 1 Medical School
Still installing as a hobby...pays for groceries
Compustar Expert

Which antenna do you have on your car. Probably on the windshield.

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These are all two way remotes and the matching antennas. The set on the left is from a Viper 4204 system with a "UP 2000 foot" range. The set on the right is from the kit shown in one of the photos stating a "Up to one mile range". I have installed a 4204 with the kit containing the set up on the right, giving me a "UP TO" one mile range.
But you must have a matching antenna and remote.

I have interchanged all of these antennas on a 4204 remote start.

Notice the difference between the center LCD remote and the LCD remote on the right. These remotes must be matched and paired with the compatible antenna. They can not be mixed.

I think your installer has made your 4606 into a 4806, but you should have been informed of it prior to install. Just my opinion.

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the antenna in the middle has been phased out. i haven't seen one since the new rebrand models came out. Just seen the antennas to the right that smokeman posted.

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Ted
2nd Year Tier 1 Medical School
Still installing as a hobby...pays for groceries
Compustar Expert

smokeman1 wrote:

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Which antenna do you have on your car. Probably on the windshield.

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The one on the right.

Thanks everyone for the replies. This is very helpful.

And I dropped my 5904/6 OLED remote in the street where it promptly got run over, my colleague obtained the one on the right which naturally doesn't pair.
New antenna or antenna plus lead?
Someone please tell me because it isn't available in the UK.
And is that new antenna and lead back compatible with the 5X04 series?

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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.

new type antenna wire harness. Green end to brain. Black end is much smaller than pervious models.


Old style on bottom. New on top.



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When all else fails, Read the Instructions
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the new batch of antenna cables were horrible. they decided it would be smart to place hot glue at the end, causing extreme stress on the little wires(many broke when bent) new revision doesnt have the glue.

a friend of mine repinned the new harness onto the old one and got it working. on that note, Howie how's it going?

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Ted
2nd Year Tier 1 Medical School
Still installing as a hobby...pays for groceries
Compustar Expert

Mad busy, too much in fact for my age! With a new style non-pairing remote!!
How are you getting on with your studies?

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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.