Car Alarm Pagers

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Security and Convenience
Forum Discription: Car Alarms, Keyless Entries, Remote Starters, Immobilizer Bypasses, Sensors, Door Locks, Window Modules, Heated Mirrors, Heated Seats, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=2161
Printed Date: July 15, 2025 at 5:46 AM

Topic: Car Alarm Pagers

Posted By: Chimpie
Subject: Car Alarm Pagers
Date Posted: July 23, 2002 at 3:42 PM

I'll be honest, I haven't really been involved w/ car security products for a few years now. Back then car alarm pagers weren't worth having. Back then the "one mile range" that they advertised was usually only if it was open air, it couldn't even penetrate buildings.

Have the pagers become better products now? Are they worth getting? Any websites/links where I can read up on the current ones?

Thanks in advance.

Chimp

Replies:

Posted By: Velocity Motors
Date Posted: July 23, 2002 at 4:41 PM

Hey Chimp, most of the technology is based on the old so the range has increased, but the EMI and building restrictions still hold true ( just not as bad ). Almost all the alarm companies have 2 way FM systems out on the market. Just go to their site or punch in FM alarm systems as a search and you'll find hundreds to choose from.

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Jeff
Velocity Custom Home Theater
Mobile Audio/Video Specialist
Morden, Manitoba CANADA

Posted By: SHADOW
Date Posted: July 26, 2002 at 9:04 AM

Beware!!! I have been investigating pagers for some time and have been trying to find out how to extend the range of these
devices. None will perform as advertised unless you have a very large CB type antenna installed on the output.
Typical range is from your closed garage to about 1/2 block away, not any thing like what is adveritsed. The DEI add-on pager
is a disaster for range. Others are similar because of buiding interferance and antenna considerations. Remember that
range is a funciton of power, frequency and the proper antenna length. You must determine what fequency the
pager is at so you can determine if the antenna setup is OK. If you get something with a 25MHz frequency then for optimal
range you would need a 30 meter antenna etc... not proactical.

Posted By: Velocity Motors
Date Posted: July 26, 2002 at 4:58 PM

Hey Shadow,

You are correct about the range of these new FM tranmitter alarms systems and remote car starter. For the most part the average consumer doesn't want to start or unlock his/her car from 5 miles away. Nor does the average consumer have this ability because how is he/she going to be able to respond to an alarm when they are that far away in time to catch the crook(s) ? As a side note , the range that you would get from a 30 meter antenna would still be dependant on the grounding plane that you install it on as well as a good SWR, mounting location and type of antenna.

Hey Chimp; if you read the fine print on most of the systems out there they have a little exclusion phrase that states that the range is directly affected by topological variations, climate, EMI and battery life of the remote control. Most state that they can get 1500 + feet from their units. This may be the case..... but they do not say that this measurement was done in a car but rather on a piece of wood outside on the parking lot of a football stadium with no other buildings, vehicles or roof above them on a gorgeous sunny California day. If you factor the real life variants, the range will be about 1/2 or less of the claimed range. Use your own judgement on the system that you choose and do not be surprised if your range is any less than what the manufacturer claims it is.

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Jeff
Velocity Custom Home Theater
Mobile Audio/Video Specialist
Morden, Manitoba CANADA

Posted By: Dan M C
Date Posted: July 26, 2002 at 10:24 PM

Correct,i had one installed in my BMW by AutoPage and the thing was crapola,then i gott another pager by Alpine thats connected to a Clifford alarm,it works better but still not 100% satisfied,again buildings and interference from power lines can make them absolute.Still got mine but i don't trust it much,in fact it's only good because my car can't be heard from the garage so i kinda trust the pager,hope this helped and good luck posted_image

.

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Dan M C

Posted By: Chimpie
Date Posted: July 27, 2002 at 7:44 AM

Thanks for the replies. I usually visit another forum on a routine basis and it seems everyone there is getting an alarm w/ a pager. I never was impressed with them and was just curious if things had changed that much for the better. Guess not.

Thanks again.

Chimp