Alarm system recommendations

steve99 · August 4, 2004

Sorry if this isn't the right area but the audio\electronics forum doesn't seem near as active as this one.

Anyone have an alarm system on their truck they like? I never liked alarms because they have become more of a nuisance than a deterent, going off for no reason all the time or when a car with a loud muffler or sub woofer drives by etc. But it would have been nice to have one earlier today.

Just had a break in, well kinda. Had my truck over at my folks house in the back driveway and someone decided they would hop in and a look around, opened the console and glove box and threw stuff around, probably looking for money, didn't take anything. We came outside and I guess scared them off before they could do any damage. This was in broad daylight in a pretty nice neighborhood so this guy was pretty bold or stupid or strungout or all three. May have just been kids but anyway it really pissed me off.

So anyway, do any of you have an alarm system that you think is pretty good and doesn't go off all the time just because a cat sneezed?

MyBigToy · August 4, 2004

You'll get lots of opinions. The Viper products are good. You should be OK with any top name-brand system.

I have a Crimestopper CS-2015FM that is a paging/remote-start system in addition to the alarm. There is a two-stage shock sensor installed in most systems that typically causes the false alarms. If you set it right, you will get very few falses.

I bought my system from a reseller on eBay and had it installed locally, total cost was $410. That includes two paging remotes with leather cases. Most of the systems only include one paging remote and no leather case.

I wanted the leather case since most of the remotes are not as well-built as the factory units and won't hold up to being dropped. The leather case will take the abuse instead of the remote. I'm really happy with the system so far. The only downside, compared to a more-popular system, is that the remote is a little larger.

SteveCZ · August 4, 2004

I had the same crimestopper alarm, and I liked it, except for the fact of the fragile remotes.

I went through like three of them before I yanked it out and got a CompuStar Spread Spectrum Alarm / Starter

It has all the features and then some of the Crimestopper, and a mile and a quarter range.

Whats nice is you can disable the shock sensor from the remote (in case of a storm or loud cars).

Whats nice is (the way mines set up), I can disable the shock sensor and if anyone goes to pull the door handle the alarm goes off.... so there is still some protection there.

I would reccommend getting the leather case for either remotes (crimestopper or compustar) as it helps the remote hold up better....

bigdogs · August 4, 2004

I use my 200lb Mastiff Homer On the serious side how do these aftermarket ones interact with the factory one? I'd like to put one (well actually a remote starter but they seem to be sold as a set) my my Duramax but wonder how it will affect the factory stuff.

MyBigToy · August 4, 2004

bigdogs -

If you get the bypass module you still have operational factory remotes and "alarm". I set my Crimestopper up for manual arming so I have the choice of using the factory remotes any time I want.

The Crimestopper remote takes the place of the factory remote and performs all the functions of the factory remote.

SteveCZ -

I can also disarm the shock sensor from the remote control. The range on the Crimestopper remote is advertised as "up to a mile".

SteveCZ · August 4, 2004

MyBigToy....

Yeah, after I typed that, I thought to myself, SELF... there has to be a way....

But, I never did it because I never saw the need for it.... but I do now.... and the key combinations are listed right on the back of my transmitter.... kinda nice...

The one bad thing that I found was the battery life.... these pager units suck the juice right out of the batteries.... I usually go through a battery every few months (depends on how much I use the remote starter).

As for the interfering with the stock systems, that bypass module is the way to go.

That, and make sure you find a reputable dealer to install the thing.... you can buy the best alarm going but, (and no offense here, just seen it happen too many times), if a 16 year old kid just started working for a shop and started slapping things in, I'd be a little leary of him, rather have someone who has had experience installing them...

Ask around... ask them how many the stereo shop has installed, and any known problems, and how many they have installed in [insert your truck brand here]....

Just do your homework... like anything else....

bigdogs · August 4, 2004

bigdogs -

If you get the bypass module you still have operational factory remotes and "alarm". I set my Crimestopper up for manual arming so I have the choice of using the factory remotes any time I want.

Thanks for the info. I will keep that in mind when I look for a remote starter.

August 4, 2004

No one else has said it yet so let me act like your "dad". The alarm won't be any good to you unless you lock your doors, which you apparently didn't do this time.

OK, now I've got that off my chest......

Hey, I had the same thing happen to me in my own driveway and I have the integrated alarm/keyless entry from the factory. I lost about $200 worth of stuff and now am quite attentive about locking the door.

steve99 · August 6, 2004

Thanks for the info!

Looks like the alarms with remote paging ability have an antenna, where does the antenna usually go, is it large and obvious......?

Also, are alarm systems better installed by a dealer or are they do it yourself friendly?

thanks again

99-2door · August 6, 2004

bigdogs -

If you get the bypass module you still have operational factory remotes and "alarm". I set my Crimestopper up for manual arming so I have the choice of using the factory remotes any time I want.

Thanks for the info. I will keep that in mind when I look for a remote starter.

There are remote starters available that use your factory key fobs to trigger them.

I installed on ein my brother's 02 Z71 Tahoe. You press the lock button 3 times and it triggers the start cycle.

He wanted it that way so the remotes would look stock. The only bad thing about that is you still have the limit of the range of the original remotes.

MyBigToy · August 6, 2004

The antennas are pretty small, you mount them on the top inside of the windshield. The wires run up the A-pillar molding. If you have the dark tint band at the top of your windshield you will hardly notice the antenna.

Regarding installation......it's easily do-able IF you are comfortable with wiring, schematics, and don't mind spending the better part of a full day on the installation.

I previously installed 4 systems myself, all without a remote start. I was going to do this system myself but the day I was going to do it there was a 110 degree heat factor so I decided to let someone else do it.

bigdogs · August 7, 2004

There are remote starters available that use your factory key fobs to trigger them.
I installed on ein my brother's 02 Z71 Tahoe. You press the lock button 3 times and it triggers the start cycle.

He wanted it that way so the remotes would look stock. The only bad thing about that is you still have the limit of the range of the original remotes.

I have a Diesel tho and have heard you need a special one for that due to the glow plug (wait to start) light. Having the factory FOB would be cool tho. I find mine has pretty good range.

99-2door · August 7, 2004

There are remote starters available that use your factory key fobs to trigger them.
I installed on ein my brother's 02 Z71 Tahoe. You press the lock button 3 times and it triggers the start cycle.

He wanted it that way so the remotes would look stock. The only bad thing about that is you still have the limit of the range of the original remotes.

I have a Diesel tho and have heard you need a special one for that due to the glow plug (wait to start) light. Having the factory FOB would be cool tho. I find mine has pretty good range.

The one I used had an option you could set for diesels. It would turn the power on and wait for a set amount of time before it tried to start.

OUMike · August 7, 2004

I posted a while back about trouble with my alarm. It would go off in very hot and bright conditions for no apparent reason. I was told that extreme heat (my truck is black, I'm sure the unit is black) would set off these alarms. I have an Audiovox, and would like to replace it. Do the models that are mentioned in the above posts have this problem?? I looked at Alpine models when I was shopping originally, but they didn't have the one I wanted in stock and I was in need.

lrymal · August 7, 2004

Howdy Steve99 at Dallas Baptist. Four of the best years of my life were at that college (yeah, seriously---I survived the academics and graduated on the 4 year plan!!!!!!!!!!). Graduated 1977. Oh myyy, that was a LONG time ago!