Welp... looking to finally get an alarm after my stuff was stolen a few months ago.

I've just never really looked in to getting one before. Can someone help me out in terms of what I should be looking for?

What do all of the features mean?

Dual stage shock sensor?
Passive on/off?
Run time indicator?

All I know is that there are a lot of companies that seem to do the same thing.

Why would I choose Clifford over Viper over Avital if they're all made by DEI?! [img]graemlins/banghead.gif[/img]

i think its kinda like the difference between honda and acura. they are pretty much the same just different features. i've always liked clifford alot, the avital stuff is pretty nice. for 2 way compustar has impressed me the most.

Out of all the 2 way LCD products we sell, I have the least problems with the Viper for main units and compustar for remotes.

If you want range, compustar, if you want security, Viper.

So then... what model of Viper, and how much are we talking here before installation?

Don't worry, I'd never do anything as dumb as assuming I can install it myself ;)

looking for just alarm or a alarm/starter unit?

for alarm I say the Viper 5000 and combo the 791xv

k dual stage sensor- that means that thier is two stages of it. like you can give it a little tap and it will give you a warning beep to stay away. then the second stage if you keep pounding on it, then the full alaram goes off. if you have a 2 way remote it will warn you each stage that your alarm goes off. (i think i said that right atleast that's how my alarm works)

passive-i used to know what this was, but i forgot and can not locate the owners manual.

run time indcator- this is used for a starter and tells you how much time you have left on the starter before if turns off.

i hope this helps as i am not to sure on some of the stuff

What kind of car Jordy?
If you're in Ottawa, look up Peter Derouchie.....was at Derand and Langlois....not sure where he's at.
Best alarm installer Ive met....taught me a lot when he worked for me.
Add a set of Door-Lock Defenders to either of those Vipers, and you'll be un-touchable.
Peter knows the DLD system very well, and I'm sure he can hook you up. Used to be around $170 installed to do the two front door locks on most cars.

Actually I've already got a guy that said he can help me with the installation part. Shon who used to own Dashwerks. He now works at FS down in South Keys... so what are Door Lock Defenders??

Sorry, but I refuse to shop at Derand ;)

Anyhoo... just looking for an Alarm, not the starter. So it looks like the Viper 5000 is my best bet?

Btw.. Chunk.. I THOUGHT the run-time indicator would be used for that exact purpose, but I saw it listed on a system without a starter. [img]graemlins/dunno.gif[/img]

[ May 24, 2005, 01:20 PM: Message edited by: JordyO ]

Passive arming: you close all doors and 30seconds (or so) the alarm arms itself.

Pro: your car is never left unarmed.

Con: your car always wants to arm itself!

ALWAYS be sure to defeat the autodoor lock feature because you WILL forget your keys in the car when you go to fill up and then you will hear the doorlocks go 'clunk' and think, Oh great, I'm ****ed.." [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]

Door Lock Defenders is a combination of a steel plate around the door lock cylinder and a microphone style sensor on the plate.
The problem with any alarm is that the shock sensor is most sensitive on the firewall/windshield, and least sensitive at the point of entry....the door locks.

Do a simple test...place the palm of your hand on the windshield, and feel the vibrations while a friend taps lightly around the car. You will fell the impact from everywhere except the doors.
Problem is the rubber weatherstripping acts like a shock absorber.

The first thing a thief needs to do to get your stuff out is to unlock the door. A regular sensor will not detect a slim jim, coat hanger, or icepick gently forced thru the door handle/lock. Sure the alarm will sound after they get in, but by then you're paying your deductible to re-paint the door.
DLD's will trigger the alarm at the slightest touch at the doorlock, without annoying false alarms when the rest of the car sees vibration.

Not sure if Shon knows all the tricks of the DLD, but he's a great guy.
Get him to find Peter for you...he knows them well.
This is a system I developed in the early 90's in Ottawa when all the Civics were getting their doors punched, and it is still the most effective defense I've seen. Best thing about it is that a determined thief will try to break in, aware that an alarm will sound after he opens the door....he knows he has quite a few seconds to "smash & grab".
The DLD triggers before he's ready...he jumps back (lots of adrenaline going during a robbery), and now he has to decide to break into a car which has an alarm already triggered! Totally ruins their day. If he decides to continue, the plates are a second line of defense, preventing the icepick from getting to the lock lever. They are also important in getting uniform sensitivity on both locks, while isolating the mics from the rest of the door.
I sold over 1500 in 6 years , and only had 2 or 3 compromised.
The module is $49, with 2 mics, and I have templates for a most pre-97 vehicles for the plates, if you need em. Easy enough to make new plates tho if you know the principle.
I'll try to post a pic or two later today.

[ May 25, 2005, 05:56 AM: Message edited by: Car Trek ]