From: jreiser@scott.skidmore.edu (jason reiser)
Subject: Re: Car Alarms: Help needed!
Organization: Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs NY
Distribution: rec
Date: Sun, 6 Sep 1992 23:29:21 GMT

holowczk@rwja.umdnj.edu (Richard Holowczak) writes:
> Hello out there! Sorry if this is the wrong place to post this question
> but I could not find (or do not get) a news group on car alarms.

__Actually, I'd like to see more such activity around here.


> 
> I'm looking to get an alarm for my Acura Legend. I have talked to 4 or 5
> different places that install alarms.  They all tell me that they sell one
> brand of alarm because they have have trouble with all others. The problem
> is, every place has its own favorite brand. Here's a summary:
> 
> Place 1:	"The Ungo Box Alarm is the best on the market. I don't
>                  sell any others because I have had nothing but problems
>                  with all other brands."
> 
> Place 2:	"The Ungo Box is terrible. We used to sell them but we had
>                  so many problems with them we stopped. The VSE Derringer/2
>                  is the model you want. We also sell the Viper but it is
>                  not as good as the VSE."
> 
> Place 3:	"Given a choice between Ungo Box and VSE I would choose
>                  Clifford Intelligaurd 200. It is the best on the market.
>                  Ask anyone."
> 
> Place 4:	"The Clifford alarm used to be the best but now they have
>                  dropped down in quality. The Viper alarm is the one you want.
>                  It does the job and we have had no problems with them at all."
> 
> Place 5:	Actually a magazine article about 1 year old says: "The
>                 VSE is our choise . . . "
> 
> I am looking for something with door and trunk switches, starter kill,
> shock sensor (reliable) for broken glass and possibly motion sensor if
> the shock sensor is not tripped by jacking up the car. I would also like
> to have an intelligent alarm reset and the ability to lock out a sensor
> if it is being continually tripped.  Zones I think they're called.  
> If I have any pennies
> left over, I'd also like to have auto door locking as well. I don't have
> the moey to spend on a top-of-the line Alpine.  I'd like to spend less than
> $450 installed.  Any suggestions would be most helpful.
> 
> Many Thanks,
> 
> Rich Holowczak
> holowczk@rwja.umdnj.edu


Well, I have installed several alarms from Directed Electronics,
(makers of Steal Stopper, Viper, Hornet and Automate) and have been
extremely happy with the company as a whole.  Their better alarms all
include one of the best shock sensors on the market (the stinger shock
with warn away - a function that chirps the alarm upon light impact.
Steal Stopper's all come with a nationwide protection plan that helps
you find a dealer in any area to repair an alarm.  (not sure about
Viper).  Also S.S. includes a $2000 protection plan, not $1000 like
Viper... but try getting a deductible higher than $1000.  
A major advantage of VSE products over the others is that it has a
thorough diagnostic circuit that allows it to not only shut down a
defective zone, but it can report the source of the problem to an
installer... ie, the alarm went off at 3:30AM and you don't know why.
Your installer can find out why... (beyond the simple flashing led
that tells you the zone, it tells the installer if there is a problem
with the alarm)
VSE used to have the smallest transmitters, now it's Directed's mini 2
button.

Check out the Steal Stopper system 70 for just around $300 for most
installations.  (Viper's is a 700 I believe)  --this alarm allows you
to decode lost transmitters and replace with new ones.  AND, as of a
few weeks ago, all s.s. system 70's come with two 4 BUTTON
TRANSMITTERS.  

Most importantly, look for a qualified staff that you trust... are
they MECP certified installers, First Class Security?  Can they show
you their work, work environment, installers?  Do they pay special
attention to LED placement, brain placement, looming wires, etc.


				- Jason















From: moussavi@hplred.HP.COM (Farshid Moussavi)
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1992 21:30:40 GMT
Subject: Boston 757's for sale
Organization: Hewlett Packard Labs, Palo Alto CA