Car alarms and trackers.

[dajonic]

Just interested in peoples thoughts on aftermarket kit. The two main companies seem to be Clifford and Toad for alarms and tracker funnily enough for trackers. I quite like the auto start that are on some of these alarms to get the turbo warmed up and ready. Any more party tricks out there?

All thoughts welcome!

[Teutonic_Tamer]

The factory fit car alarm is more than up to the job - it is Thatcham cat 1 approved.  If you retro fit an aftermarket alarm, you need a VSIB installation certificate - otherwise, you may end up voiding your insurance!

Tracker-wise - yes, the 'original' Trackers - www.ThanksToTracker.com - are still the best.  Go for a Tracker Horizon - this uses two completely different tracking technologies - http://www.thankstotracker.com/TRACKER/TrackerVehicleSecurity.aspx.

[mortygttdi]

I would think it would also be impossible to fit the auto start to the golf due to the way the immobilizer is set up and needs the key to give authorisation to both the ecu and the clocks before the engine can be started???

TT may be able to confirm this?

Darren

[roamer1711]

Just a quick one, did the Mk5 come with alarm and imob as standard??.
cheers
sorry to go slighty off thread

[n13cah]

Insurance companies don't cover you if you have auto start fitted!

[danishmkvgti]

Just a quick one, did the Mk5 come with alarm and imob as standard??.
cheers
sorry to go slighty off thread

no alarm as standard 

[SteveP]

^^^ UK Spec cars do, euro ones don't 

[danishmkvgti]

^^^ UK Spec cars do, euro ones don't 

again we miss out on the good stuff 

[roamer1711]

Cheers Guys

[SilverUK]

I just fitted an aftermarket alarm kit from Falcon (Predator 2 Way Communication & GSM Tracking) which took a good 5 hours. Although not thatcham approved it is still a cat1.

I usually use these systems as I get to control the car via telephone anywhere in the world. Main functions of this alarm is that it will call your mobile (Any 2 assigned numbers) when the car is being tampered with or if the alarm goes off. You can listen to whats going on inside the car via mic and talk to vehicle occupants if needs be. Immobilising the vehicle, turning off/on the alarm etc etc.

Usually these are best for older generation cars or imports as they dont have a "CAN-Bus" system like the Golfs. If you or the fitter isn't careful as to which wires you cut, your dash can light up like a christmas tree on steroids. 

[uk_stu]

The factory fit car alarm is more than up to the job - it is Thatcham cat 1 approved.  If you retro fit an aftermarket alarm, you need a VSIB installation certificate - otherwise, you may end up voiding your insurance!

Tracker-wise - yes, the 'original' Trackers - www.ThanksToTracker.com - are still the best.  Go for a Tracker Horizon - this uses two completely different tracking technologies - http://www.thankstotracker.com/TRACKER/TrackerVehicleSecurity.aspx.

I can recommend the Horizon! The kit comes with two trackers which both need to be hidden inside the car, and then needs the arming system hooked up to usually the fuel pump.

These are however costly and you also need to pay a monthly fee to Tracker.


Every UK Rolls Royce is fitted with a Tracker Horizon kit.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

I would think it would also be impossible to fit the auto start to the golf due to the way the immobilizer is set up and needs the key to give authorisation to both the ecu and the clocks before the engine can be started???

TT may be able to confirm this?

Darren

I'm fairly sure you're right.  I don't know the intimate details of the standard immo - but it will either not start at all, or will just start for a brief moment and then kill the engine after a few seconds.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

I just fitted an aftermarket alarm kit from Falcon (Predator 2 Way Communication & GSM Tracking) which took a good 5 hours. Although not thatcham approved it is still a cat1.

Huh - I sniff cow manure!  Cat 1 IS a Thatcham standard - so if it isn't Thatcham approved, then it is NOT Cat 1 approved.  Therefore, it will NOT be approved nor even recognised by the insurance industry!

I usually use these systems as I get to control the car via telephone anywhere in the world.  Main functions of this alarm is that it will call your mobile (Any 2 assigned numbers) when the car is being tampered with or if the alarm goes off.

So - I take it you are a trader?  Hope you seek approval from this sites owners.

And genuine Tracker units will call four numbers (even more if you ask them) - AND automatically alert the Police (all of the UKs 52 Police Forces), AND alert UK Boarder Authorities.

You can listen to whats going on inside the car via mic and talk to vehicle occupants if needs be.

That's nice.  Do you offer them a cup of Earl Grey?  Perhaps with some HobNobs!

 

Immobilising the vehicle, turning off/on the alarm etc etc.

Isn't that EXACTLY what the factory fitted OEM system does!

Usually these are best for older generation cars or imports as they dont have a "CAN-Bus" system like the Golfs. If you or the fitter isn't careful as to which wires you cut, your dash can light up like a christmas tree on steroids. 

Then why post this here????

[Teutonic_Tamer]

The factory fit car alarm is more than up to the job - it is Thatcham cat 1 approved.  If you retro fit an aftermarket alarm, you need a VSIB installation certificate - otherwise, you may end up voiding your insurance!

Tracker-wise - yes, the 'original' Trackers - www.ThanksToTracker.com - are still the best.  Go for a Tracker Horizon - this uses two completely different tracking technologies - http://www.thankstotracker.com/TRACKER/TrackerVehicleSecurity.aspx.

I can recommend the Horizon!

And me - about my fourth unit now!

The kit comes with two trackers which both need to be hidden inside the car,

Not quite correct.  Horizon uses two separate 'technologies', and needs two separate antennas - but the actual tracker box is just one very small unit.

and then needs the arming system hooked up to usually the fuel pump.

That is all taken care of by the installer.  Tracker are fairly strict on installations.

These are however costly and you also need to pay a monthly fee to Tracker.

Nope.  Tracker have never had a monthly fee (well not the car ones - plant and fleet may though).  You can either pay an annual subscription, or opt for a 'duration' subscription, the latter lasts for as long as you own the car.

Every UK Rolls Royce is fitted with a Tracker Horizon kit.

Well that is highly useful to theives - are you going to advertise exactly where they are fitted!!!

[182_blue]

are you not better off with Tracker locate ?, only a few quid more and has the extra GSM to help?.........., actually I'm not going to say for security reasons, but it's a better option IMO