Trackers/Alarm Systems - any suggestions?

[UnrulyPirate]

Hi all,

So, as you can tell, I am new to the forums! As we speak my Camaro is getting itself all ready to be packed up and shipped across the pond, but, there is one thing bugging me... What tracker should I go for?

Do you guys have any suggestions? If so, what and why? I've seen one, ScorpionTrack, but as I am new to this I am not 100% sure what to look for.

Also, I have been toying with the idea of grabbing a Clifford alarm, thoughts on that too?

Thank you and I look forward to both learning and contributing to this forum!

[redleader]

Thatcham 1?
Check with your Insurers?!

http://www.rac.co.uk/community/blog/...gory-car-alarm

I have two; Factory +a.n.other.
My Alarm company found it hard to integrate the Factory to the new.

[RickGM]

What's wrong with the factory alarm? Tracker won't be necessary for insurance on the Camaro. I have a Cobra Navtrak on one of my cars - it's good but expensive. Full package of alerting you that its nicked is about £300 pa. Locating it once you've told them its gone is about £170 pa.

[pete-1le]

Hi UnrulyPriate,

I went through a security paranoid phase, that painful wait for it to get here makes your mind think about it too much, or at least it did for me haha.

I looked at aftermarket alarms but it just seemed like too much hassle. If you've got the (automatic) remote engine start, you might lose that feature unless you look at a systems similar to the "Viper Car Alarm" and even then you're going to need some additional electronics and custom software.

If you're ok with electronics, look at putting your own GPS tracker which can either send you text messages or upload co-ordinates via GPRS upon detection of movement or vibrations. The only expense would be upfront cost (£70 and the PAYG SIM card charges).

During my stage of paranoia and US retail therapy, I did purchase a "DEI508D Radar Proximity Sensor" and I was going to wire it to an SMS sender so that if anyone walks near my car I get a text. The car arrived in the UK and then I realised I was worrying too much and that I'd just be draining the battery with all this stuff.

When does your car arrive in the UK? Welcome and congratulations :-)
It says you're in West Sussex in the title, quite close to you there’s a few of us meeting at American Speedfest in June (Brands Hatch) if you want to come along... :-)

[Uk Blown SS]

Hi Pete and welcome, with the factory alarm and immobilizer no-one is walking off with your car, not without the keys anyway, so unless you are super paranoid about it leave it be, or stick to just a tracking device, I am in East Grinstead , are you nearish ?

[UnrulyPirate]

Hey all,

Yea this isn't really an insurance thing, more a me being paranoid thing! During the day it will be housed in a secure underground carpark, its the nighttime that bothers me. Although it will sleep in a private carpark with CCTV, it is still open to the elements (but there is a police station across the road!).

The car (I am thinking of calling it the Hulk as it is green XD ) should arrive mid-late March so I would love to pop up to the meet in June

And I am in Worthing so not a great distance from most! I guess that if you guys say that the factory alarm/immobiliser will suffice then I will cull the paranoia for a bit!

- Ben

[Yellow 1]

That'll make two Camarii in Worthing now - god they're getting common. Better get a
Fraud Muckstang instead......

[Uk Blown SS]

Worthing is a good hour away. Thank God, still exclusive round these parts for now.

[frogger]

There must be a way soon to get the OEM OnStar to talk to EU OnStar hub, for full tracking, assistance etc... GM now offer on vauxhalls in the UK! ... or perhaps just wishful thinking!

[Yellow 1]

Best (and certainly the funniest) anti-theft kit going - Trunk Monkey...

[pete-1le]

Originally Posted by frogger

There must be a way soon to get the OEM OnStar to talk to EU OnStar hub, for full tracking, assistance etc... GM now offer on vauxhalls in the UK! ... or perhaps just wishful thinking!

OnStar use CDMA cell phone communications in USA, in Europe and rest of the world we have GSM based mobile phone networks. Unless Panasonic built the data modems to be compatible with European GSM networks, it seems very unlikely it will be compatible, and would require much hardware hacking.

Same reason you can't take a UK mobile phone to the USA and roam on Verizon. :-(

[Uk Blown SS]

I talked to my Vauxhall dealer about this and it is a no no .

[frogger]

Interesting, yes I use at&t in usa for this reason, but didn't appreciate the implications on OnStar.
Last hope in my mind for this may then be a EU on star unit from a totalled OnStar enabled vauxhall... but even then would need to be compatible with the inputs/controls/outputs ... i.e. a direct swap unit.

[bluey9]

If anyone goes within 15 feet o your car then clobber them.

Hope this helps

Cheers
Bluey