im looking to get a really nice alarm, remote pager with as much range as possible. i had a viper in my old camaro but i don't know what's good these days. money isnt really an object, i'll pay for what i want when it comes to an alarm. how difficult are these to install? im thinking i'll probably have a shop install it. i hooked up all my stereo equipment and my underhood wiring and all, but i dont really think i could tackle an alarm. what do you all use?

 

Check out some of the CompuStar alarms. They make nice units but they are a little pricey. (Worth it in my opinion.)

 

I think the viper 2-ways are the top-dogs when it comes to alarms, plus the accesories are amazing for these things

the newest is the 791XV and you're looking at $500 installed.

 

The 791XV is also remote start. I think the Viper 5000 has most of the same features for $100 or so less.

 

I wouldn't trust anything less than the best viper alarm.

 

im having a 900mhz fm compustar put in tuesday. 600 installed, pretty much the barebones. going to add 4 interior peizo sirens, a backup battery and make sure the brain is well hidden. anyone know a good place to stick a brain besides under the dash.

i know its expensive, but i wanted to be in constant contact with my car, and the range on the remote is from what i've read in forums at least twice the vipers. i wanted to know if it goes off while im at work, a couple hundred feet from the windows, with a bunch of running machinery between me and my car. can always add a remote start, window modules, and proximity alarm later at the same shop, for the same cost as having it done now. vipers are nice though, i had one on my old camaro.

 

are you kidding? $600 barebones?

this pager goes 3 miles, right?

for $600 you can get the module that dials your cellphone when the alarm goes off, and lets you unlock your doors from anywhere... from viper... and the 791xv car alarm...

 

that sounds nice and all, but i work in a loud factory environment, and my cell phone is a little on the bulky side, i never carry it with me. its prepaid, i just keep it in my car for emergencies. the keypad for the compustar is about the same size as any other, and can be set to vibrate, i always have my keys on me. for me, i think its the best route to go, and i've done my homework on alarms.

 

Good work. Compustar makes NICE stuff. You won't go wrong with that unit.

 

i'm not positive about the range. from what i understand, its about 3000 feet outside. the older 2wss which is still the top of the line since 2002, has better range (allegedly 3 miles if outside) but the remote is a lot builkier, almost like a mini walkie talkie, and is known to go through batteries about once a month so you never know when the thing is dead. the cheaper 900 fm still has more than enough range to keep me in contact while im inside malls and at work, has much, much longer battery life, and has an easier to carry remote that i can just keep on my keychain.

either one completely destroys the viper in range, inside and outside, from every review or forum post i've seen.

it does come with the remote start, but the shop said they could knock 100 bucks off it to no hook it up. they can hook it up for 100 bucks later, i'll probably also add a proximity sensor with a warning so people dont have to break my window out to find out its there. thinking i might put a strobe light back under my hatch too so if someone does break the back window they'll have a harder time seeing the screws to get my amps out. i believe they said the window module was another 100 bucks, but i dont really need it. with all the options, i think it would be something like 900 or 1k installed

 

sounds like they are charging a lot for labor... the remote start isn't THAT hard to hook up...

good luck, it sounds like a nice alarm, but very expensive

have you heard of anyone using the viper with the extended range antenna?

once you get it all hooked up, let us know how far your alarm goes... plus make sure they install the antenna IN THE ROOF! because most shops will stick it where it's convenient...

I got twice the distance out of my alarm once I moved it into the headliner, and I bet I could get more if I attached it to the glass, like many others do... I just don't want people knowing I have an alarm worth stealing... haha, kind of ironic that people actually steal alarms!

 

SMITH AND WESSON!!!!!!!!!!! SMITHAND WESSON

 

what about when you're not waiting in a bush for someone to touch your car?

 

yes but if i hook up the remote start, or window modules or whatever, it voids the warranty

havent heard of the extended range antenna but i still doubt it could touch the compustars range.

i guess they're charging about 300 for labor, the unit runs 300. most places charge around 200, but they do nice installations, and will work with me.

noone is going to be stealing my alarm, with the box hidden and a hidden backup battery. you're talking about having the antenna up by the rear view mirror right, not on the outside of the car?

 

the best place is above the review mirror, on the glass...

I have mine in the fabric above the driver's-side sunshade... I should probably move it sometime.... to extend range.

lot's of places will install it in the kickpanels, or somewhere a few inches from the brain... what a crappy place for an antenna.