Those of you with remote starters...???

Taaaaaaahoe? · December 27, 2004

I have mine in the middle of my windshild pointing down on the left side of the mirror (opposite of the onstar GPS)

If you have it somewhere else, how is your range?

I had a Viper 550esp on a Grand cherokee of mine, and I swear I could start that thing from ANYWHERE, the range was awesome! In the Jeep I had the antenna on the side of the drivers a-pilar.

This is a new viper system i have in my hoe' that is suposed to have better range than the older stuff but I am for sure not getting the same distance out of this as I did the one in my jeep. Im wondering..

A) is it just the difference in the system, but you think a newer = better?

B) am I getting interfearance from the electronics such as the GPS and stuff by

the antenna?

C) Is it the blue tint at the top of the windsheild? (but the tip is below that section

by a few inches)

D) Tinted windows? (But the jeep had the same kind of tint...?)

E) Simply a bad location?

THoughts?

Mike

citydriver · December 28, 2004

I have a DesignTech in both my '95 GMC and my wifes '00 Grand Am. I've been pretty happy with both of them..I also have the antennas in the middle of the windshields behind the rear-view....both receive the transmitter signals from 100 yards or better...but I usually have a line of sight on the car/truck so I can see the lights flash....both also have the tint strip at the top of the wind-screens...

You can always try a new BATTERY in the transmitter...a week BATT. will send a weak signal....just a thought

99-2door · December 28, 2004

I installed a remote start last week and it said that the antennae would work better if positioned horizontally. Not sure if yours is the same but worth checking out.

Taaaaaaahoe? · December 28, 2004

I installed a remote start last week and it said that the antennae would work better if positioned horizontally. Not sure if yours is the same but worth checking out.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

no, its vertical pointing down... Thats a thought.

I cant imagine battery is bad...brand new alarm.. I guess it could have been weak to start..never know. Worth a try

I mean the range is not BAD, but nothing like my old one in comparison

Ddexter · December 29, 2004

probably depends on your alarm/starter type.

I have an FM signal which is good for 1000ft. And they are not exaggerating.

I usually walk for 4 minutes before I get to my truck.

mcreyaufmiller · December 29, 2004

Before removing mine, I had a range of 2000 feet. But it did not matter because the unit screwed up my security system and the truck would not start anyway...... I second the motion to check the battery. Oh, yeah, and my antenna was horizintal above the mirror in the tint strip. The other electronics should not have anything to do with the signal, they are not on when the unit is receiving the signal. Just a thought.

citydriver · December 29, 2004

I cant imagine battery is bad...brand new alarm.. I guess it could have been weak to start..never know. Worth a try

I have seen bad or weak batteries in new units right outa the box....on that note, did your unit come with 2 remotes and do they both have the same range?

And by the way I forgot to mention that my remote start antennas are mounted vertically in both vehicles.......

Taaaaaaahoe? · December 29, 2004

probably depends on your alarm/starter type.

I have an FM signal which is good for 1000ft. And they are not exaggerating.

I usually walk for 4 minutes before I get to my truck.

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Yeah thats how my other one was, I could start it from about ANYWHERE, if i could see the car or not, it would start. Im just not impressed with this...

But its the same brand, newer model.,..I figured it be better.

Only thing is...and I dono if it makes ANY difference. My old one I would hold the lock / unlock buttons down together for a few seconds. My new one I have to hit the same button 2 times w/ a pause in the middle. Wonder if my old setup Since I was able to hold the buttons down longer it had more of a chance to 'grab' a signal where this is a one time deal? That make sense?

newtuner · December 30, 2004

I have a compustart FM unit in my Sunfire and this is what I know about them. If the unit is an AM unit the antenna should be vertical, if it's a FM unit the antenna should be horizontal.(Something to do with the wave lengths) I was also told that you antenna should be below the tint, the tint on the other windows I guess doesn't affect it? In my car the antenna is in the middle of the window. With the FM unit I have a long antenna and when I had an AM unit it was short. You can always check to see if you got the right antenna put in or if it's in the right position. With the unit I have I get 5000' of range, I think to get 5000' you have to be in a pretty wide open area. With that said I still get pretty good range in the city. I also spent the extra cash and got the two way remote. Which is really nice you don't have to go to the window to see if it started. Plus my unit is an Alarm/starter combo. All in all pretty good unit.