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Upgrades for Your Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe and GMC Yukon

Tahoe and Yukon Upgrades

As some of the largest people-movers on the road, the GMC Yukon and the Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe can benefit from the countless upgrades that are available for them. Whether you want a subtle improvement in audio system performance with a custom-fit subwoofer solution or you want to shake the paint off the walls with an all-out SPL system, the Suburban and its little brothers, the Tahoe and Yukon, have become popular with people who want big sound combined with space and comfort. Let’s dive into what your local specialty mobile enhancement retailer offers to personalize your full-size General Motors SUV.

Stereo System Upgrades for Full-Size General Motors SUVs

Every great mobile audio system needs to start with a premium source. Companies like Sony, Kenwood, Pioneer and Alpine have amazing multimedia receivers that include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. These smartphone integration technologies allow the driver or passenger to use simple voice commands to make phone calls, send text messages or choose from dozens of entertainment options.

Even cooler, navigation applications like Google Maps, Apple Maps and Waze provide detailed turn-by-turn navigation instructions to almost any address in North America. These nav apps use real-time traffic flow information in major urban areas to plot the most efficient route possible to your destination to help save you time.

Tahoe and Yukon Upgrades
The XAV-AX7000 from Sony is a 6.95-inch touchscreen multimedia receiver with CarPlay and Android Auto.
Tahoe and Yukon Upgrades
The DNX697S from Kenwood is a 6.8-inch navigation DVD receiver with CarPlay, Android Auto and HD Radio.
Tahoe and Yukon Upgrades
The Metra 99-3015G dash kit will allow your installer to integrate a double-DIN multimedia receiver into the dash of a 2015 or newer Suburban, Tahoe or Yukon.
Tahoe and Yukon Upgrades
The RadioPRO 5 RP5-GM51 allows an aftermarket radio to be integrated into late-model GMC and Chevrolet trucks and SUVs.

If you want to add smartphone integration to a vehicle with an existing touchscreen, a few companies offer add-on interfaces that work with the existing hardware. Many of these solutions add CarPlay and Android Auto and include additional video inputs for backup and parking cameras.

Tahoe and Yukon Upgrades
The GM-LVDS Smart Link Package adds CarPlay and Android Auto to many General Motors vehicles with the 8-inch GM MyLink I05 and I06 source units.
Tahoe and Yukon Upgrades
The ZZ-2 IT2-MYLINK interface adds CarPlay, Android Auto and front and rear camera inputs with dynamic parking lines to many I05/I06 MyLink-equipped GM vehicles.

Once you’ve established a source solution for your mobile sound system, it’s time to choose great amplifiers and speakers to convert your digital audio collection into something you can listen to. We’ve talked at length about the importance of selecting amplifiers and speakers that add as little distortion as possible to the audio signal. For amplifiers, the signal-to-noise (S/N or SNR) ratio and the total harmonic distortion (THD) specifications will be the telltale numbers to look at to determine quality. When possible, look for brands that offer specifications that comply with the CTA-2006 standards for S/N. This standard makes comparing specs from one brand to another easy and accurate. Companies that post specs citing maximum power output simply try to inflate numbers to make themselves look better than their competitors. Look for S/N ratio numbers around 80 dB or better referenced to 1 watt of output and THD numbers under 0.03%. It should go without saying that outrageous claims from bargain-basement and internet-only brands are worth ignoring.

You’ll notice that we didn’t talk about the power production capabilities of the amplifiers you choose first. That wasn’t an oversight. Power production has little or nothing to do with the quality of the amp you choose. There are subwoofer amps that produce thousands of watts for only a few hundred dollars. Sadly, they are often inefficient, electrically noisy and add a lot of distortion to the audio signal. Sticking with top-quality brands found at specialty mobile enhancement retailers is a good first step in picking a solution that will sound great and last for years. The Product Specialist you are working with can recommend an appropriately powerful amplifier for your audio system upgrade.

Tahoe and Yukon Upgrades
The ARC Audio ARC Series 1000.6 can be upgraded with the IPS8.8 DSP to deliver the power and processing performance needed to create an amazing mobile audio system.
Tahoe and Yukon Upgrades
The Punch P1000X5 from Rockford Fosgate is a high-performance five-channel amplifier that can drive an entire mobile audio system upgrade.
Tahoe and Yukon Upgrades
The eight-channel Audison AP F8.9 bit includes an integrated digital signal processor that your technician can use to calibrate your mobile audio system.
Tahoe and Yukon Upgrades
The Helix M FOUR DSP is a compact four-channel amplifier with an integrated eight-channel signal processor.

Just as with the selection of a car audio amplifier, choosing speakers for your SUV should be based on quality and accuracy. When executed correctly, technologies like aluminum shorting rings, copper magnet caps and XBL^2 motor geometry can dramatically reduce the amount of distortion a speaker adds, especially at higher volume levels. You also want to choose speakers that offer the flattest frequency response possible. Any peaks, dips or bumps in their response is a sign of unwanted resonance in the cone, dust cap, surround or suspension. A well-engineered speaker will sound excellent with any type of music.

You’ll want to work with your local specialty mobile enhancement retailer to choose solutions that work with your vehicle and will deliver smooth and natural balance throughout the entire listening environment. This type of upgrade may require creating a three-way front stage speaker system with a dedicated mid-woofer, midrange driver and tweeter on each side of the vehicle. Depending on the year and trim level of your big SUV, the option for custom fabrication of dash, A-pillar and sail-panel mounts will increase your speaker upgrade options.

Tahoe and Yukon Upgrades
The Rockford Fosgate T4652-S component speaker set features ring-radiator tweeters and woofers with a multi-pole neodymium motor for great sound.
Tahoe and Yukon Upgrades
The ARC Audio RS-Series speakers are available in the 6.5-inch 6.0, the 4-inch RS 4.0 and the 3-inch RS 3.0 mid-woofer and midrange sizes to complement the RS 1.0 tweeter set.
Tahoe and Yukon Upgrades
The 165 R2 speaker set from BLAM includes a pair of 6.5-inch woofers, ¾-inch tweeters and external crossovers with tweeter level adjustment.
Tahoe and Yukon Upgrades
The Audison TH K3 II A Orchestra three-way speaker set offers a studio-quality listening experience for your car or SUV.

Audio System Calibration Is Crucial

If you’re a car guy or girl, you know that an engine needs to be tuned to function smoothly and reliably. Having new speakers integrated into your vehicle requires the same amount of calibration to ensure that what you hear sounds amazing. If you’re planning an audio system upgrade, make sure the retailer you are working with has included a high-quality digital signal processor in the system design and an appropriate amount of time allotted to its configuration.

A digital signal processor will take care of crossovers, level control between different size and efficiency drivers, equalization and signal delay. If you want your music to sound like it did in the recording studio, then proper system design, installation and adjustments are crucial.

Tahoe and Yukon Upgrades
The ARC Audio PS8 Pro DSP offers eight input channels, eight output channels and is compatible with the Maestro AR as a direct upgrade for many GM vehicles.
Tahoe and Yukon Upgrades
The Hertz H8 DSP is an eight-channel DSP that’s designed to make it easy to upgrade factory-installed audio systems.
Tahoe and Yukon Upgrades
The Helix P SIX DSP MK2 is a compact six-channel amplifier with an integrated eight-channel digital signal processor for system calibration.

Subwoofers – The Ultimate Car Audio Upgrade

If you thought we were going to forget to talk about car audio subwoofers, you were mistaken. Often considered one of the best car audio upgrades for your money, adding a subwoofer to your big SUV will not only improve the reproduction of low-frequency audio information, but it also allows the midrange speakers in your vehicle to sound better and lets them play more loudly.

Subwoofers for your Suburban, Tahoe or Yukon come in two flavors. For those seeking realism, a solution that blends with the cosmetic styling of the vehicle is a wise choice. If you want to make the most bass possible and rattle your fillings, well, that’s most certainly an option as well. Fitting an off-the-shelf subwoofer solution in the cargo area or having something built specifically for your vehicle are great options. Talk with your salesperson about the subwoofer enclosure options for your vehicle and your listening preferences, as well as how much space it will take up in the back.

Tahoe and Yukon Upgrades
The crème de la crème of subwoofer upgrades for full-size 2007-2013 GM SUVs is the JL Audio SB-GM-ESC/10W1v3/TN Stealthbox.
Tahoe and Yukon Upgrades
Rockford’s Power Series P3-2X12 enclosure features a pair of T3 12-inch subwoofers that can handle a combined 1,200 watts of power.
Tahoe and Yukon Upgrades
The Match PP 10E-Q is a compact down-firing subwoofer solution that includes a 10-inch driver with quad 3-ohm voice coils for use with Match amplifiers.
Tahoe and Yukon Upgrades
Known as the Kicker Quad, the massive 47QL7R12 features four 12-inch Kicker L7R subwoofers and is rated for 2,400 watts continuous power handling.
Tahoe and Yukon Upgrades
The cargo area of an SUV is the perfect location for a custom installation. Jeff’s vehicle features Signature Edition ARC Audio amplifiers and a 15-Inch ARC Series Subwoofer.
Tahoe and Yukon Upgrades
Sweet Sounds Car Audio in Mankato, Minnesota, built this custom subwoofer enclosure in the back of a Cadillac Escalade – the luxurious big brother of the Suburban.
Tahoe and Yukon Upgrades
A Memphis Car Audio subwoofer upgrade was created for the back of this Escalade by Sound Depot and Performance in Gainesville, Florida.

Remote Start and Secure Your Vehicle

Adding a remote starter to your SUV isn’t just a great way to warm it up in the winter. You can use one to run the air conditioning for a few minutes on a hot summer today to cool it off. Just as with audio system upgrades, the company and technician you choose to integrate a starter into your vehicle is as crucial as the products you select. You want to find a shop that will take their time with the project. Every wire should be tested for functionality before making an electrically and mechanically secure connection. Components should, of course, be adequately secured, and all cabling and wiring should be routed away from moving parts or sources of heat.

When shopping for a starter, you have a few options. First, the Product Specialist should begin the conversation by asking you where you park your vehicle at home and work. This information will help them choose a remote solution that has enough range capability to communicate with the vehicle. Remotes are available with range capabilities from a few hundred feet to over 3 miles. Keep in mind that extra transmitting power is needed when you’re in a building, even if you’re only a few hundred feet from your vehicle. Next, they’ll likely ask to see the vehicle key to help determine what features you may want to control from the remote.

Another option you’ll have is choosing between a one- or two-way remote control. A one-way remote sends a signal to the vehicle. If the signal is strong enough, the vehicle executes the function. In a two-way system, the remote sends a command to the controller in the vehicle. The controller transmits a confirmation message back to the remote so you know the doors are locked or the engine is running. Many two-way remotes will also work with security systems to let you know if the alarm system has been triggered.

Tahoe and Yukon Upgrades
The mother of all remote starters is the Compustar PRO T13 system. This security and starter system includes a 3-mile remote, a Drone telematics interface and class-leading reliability.

Finally, you have the option of a telematics system. Telematics use an app on your smartphone to communicate to a cellular radio module connected to your remote starter system. You can send commands to the starter or security controller in your vehicle using the app and your wireless internet connection. Likewise, the controller will respond when the command has been received and executed. Most telematics systems have the option to add GPS-based functionality such as vehicle locating, curfew alerts, towing warnings and much more. These location-based options usually cost a few extra dollars a month, but they are a great investment for business owners or families that need to keep track of a vehicle.

Truck Accessories

Once you’ve got the electronics on your SUV sorted, it’s time for some accessories. A set of vehicle-specific floor mats from a company like WeatherTech is a great way to protect your investment and keep it clean. These mats are constructed from a durable rubber that’s contoured to match the vehicle’s floor and extend up the firewall to contain sand, mud, dirt and slush.

Tahoe and Yukon Upgrades
WeatherTech offers floor mats for full-size GM SUVs with either bench or bucket seats. The mats are available in black, cocoa, tan or gray to match the vehicle interior.

Other popular upgrades include side steps or running boards that make it easier to get in and out of a tall vehicle. Bug and wind deflectors made from high-strength acrylic will protect your vehicle from damage. Mudflaps as well as trailer hitch and bumper upgrades are also popular.

Tahoe and Yukon Upgrades
Extreme Audio in Mechanicsville, Virginia, upgraded this 2016 Suburban with a set of WeatherTech mud flaps to protect the rear bumper.
Tahoe and Yukon Upgrades
Precision Audio in Bainbridge, Georgia, installed a Ranch Hand grille guard and 20-inch Helo HE900 wheels wrapped in Toyo Open Country AT tires on this 2017 Chevy Tahoe.
Tahoe and Yukon Upgrades
Mobile Edge in Lehighton, Pennsylvania, upgraded this 2016 Tahoe with a set of motorized PowerStep side steps to make getting in and out easier.

If your SUV didn’t come with a backup camera, you might want to ask about adding one. With a rear window that’s several feet off the ground, seeing objects or people when parking can be difficult. Backup cameras can be integrated into a new multimedia receiver or, in many cases, into a factory-installed display screen in the dash.

Tahoe and Yukon Upgrades
The MCI-GM51 from PAC works with the LVDI screen on the 8-inch display in many GM SUVs to add four camera inputs with automatic side and rear triggering.

Another safety upgrade is to add dedicated left and right cameras to the side-view mirrors to act as a blind-spot monitoring solution. Many new Kenwood radios include multiple camera inputs, and some modules will work with the factory-installed MyLink screen to display a camera image when the turn signal is activated.

Window Tint and Paint Film Add Premium Protection

It’s hard to deny that a black Suburban with tinted windows isn’t a classic piece of kit. Window tint not only looks great, but it can block as much as 99% of the ultraviolet energy from the sun to protect the occupants. This UV rejection also helps to prevent plastics, leather and vinyl from drying out and fading. Premium nanotechnology and ceramic window films can block as much as 70% of the infrared heat energy from the sun to help keep your SUV cool. If you live somewhere with hot summers, then a heat-rejecting window film is a great upgrade. High-quality films have a lifetime warranty against fading, turning purple, peeling or bubbling.

Tahoe and Yukon Upgrades
Driven Sound and Security in Marquette, Michigan, tinted the driver and passenger windows of this 2019 Suburban with 3M FX Premium film to match the rear windows.

Another upgrade available from many mobile enhancement retailers is paint protection film. These transparent films are constructed from a durable urethane that absorbs impacts from gravel and stones to prevent paint chips. Paint film is also a great upgrade around door handles, the rear bumper and the rocker panels where there’s a lot of contact. Most high-quality films are backed by a 10-year warranty against peeling or yellowing.

Lighting Upgrades

If you have an older Tahoe, Yukon or Suburban, you may want to ask about upgrading the headlights with new LED bulbs. Compared to incandescent halogen bulbs, LED designs can deliver up to four times as much output. Just as with audio equipment, there are good bulbs, and there are low-quality solutions. Look for a retailer that can install the bulbs and check their alignment and cut-off pattern to ensure that you won’t blind oncoming drivers. You’ll also want to ask about the new bulbs’ warranty as they can be quite expensive to replace frequently.

Tahoe and Yukon Upgrades
The GTR Lighting Ultra 2.0 LED bulbs combine proper LED chip placement with an excellent heat sink design that keeps your lights performing reliably for years.

If you are adventuring off the pavement or use your SUV for work, then auxiliary lighting is a good investment. Spot, driving and floodlights on the front of the vehicle can help improve long-distance visibility. Safety and emergency lighting that includes a roof-mounted light bar or beacon and flashing light pods in the grille can help alert oncoming drivers to the presence of your vehicle when working by the side of the road at night.

Radar Detectors and Laser Defense Systems

If you have a heavy right foot, you might want to consider purchasing a radar detector for your SUV. Most new models on the market offer excellent X, K and Ka-band sensitivity while rejecting false alarms from adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring systems. As more and more police forces move to lidar, a portable detector will only alert you to its presence. By then, it’s often too late. A custom-installed radar detector and laser defense system can transmit a scrambled light signal to prevent law enforcement officers from measuring your speed. Once you know your speed is legal, you can cancel the signal transmission and let the officer take a reading.

Tahoe and Yukon Upgrades
Westminster Speed and Sound upgraded this 2017 Suburban with a custom-installed radar detector and laser shifter system from Escort.

Upgrade Your Full-Size Chevy or GMC SUV Today

These are just a few of the options available to personalize and enhance your Tahoe, Suburban, Escalade or Yukon. Your local specialty mobile enhancement retailer has hundreds of additional upgrades and accessories to make your big SUV more comfortable, functional or enjoyable.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, Car Audio, Lighting, Remote Car Starters, RESOURCE LIBRARY, Truck Accessories

A Close Look at the DroneMobile Car Starter Remote Control System

DroneMobile Remote Control

DroneMobile is undoubtedly one of the best solutions to control a remote car starter or security system in your car or truck. While the traditional key fob remote is a great backup, being able to send commands to your vehicle from almost anywhere using your smartphone is ultra-convenient. Better yet, your vehicle can use DroneMobile to send notifications to advise you if someone is tampering with it. Let’s take a close look at some of the features of this impressive vehicle control and communication system.

What Is DroneMobile?

Telematics is the name given to solutions used to monitor the location and operation of cars and trucks using a telecommunication system. Suppose your vehicle has a Compustar, iDataStart or iDatalink remote car starter or security system. In that case, DroneMobile allows you to use your smartphone to send commands to the system controller in the vehicle instead of a traditional key fob. The system uses an application on your Android or Apple smartphone to talk to a DroneMobile computer module in your vehicle using the cellular data network. You can send unlock, lock or remote start commands with a simple touch of a button. Auxiliary outputs and trunk release control are also available. You can even activate the panic feature right from your phone.

DroneMobile Remote Control
The DroneMobile App makes it easy to send remote start, locking and unlocking and trunk release commands to your vehicle.

When you launch the DroneMobile app, you’ll initially see a status screen display for the last vehicle you sent commands to. Indeed, DroneMobile will work with any number of vehicles, making it perfect for a family with two cars or a company with a fleet of commercial vehicles. The status screen displays the battery voltage and the temperature inside your car or truck (if you have a temperature sensor built into your remote car starter). All of these functions are included with the Basic service package, which costs as little as $3.99 a month. That’s much less than most factory-installed telematics systems cost.

DroneMobile Remote Control
Vehicle battery voltage and internal temperature information can easily be seen on the status screen of the DroneMobile app.

Vehicle Security Features

Another essential feature of DroneMobile is its security features. If you have a Compustar car alarm or have added the DAS or DAS-II sensor to a Compustar remote car starter, then alerts from the alarm will show up on your phone as a notification. If you have installed the DroneMobile app on your smartwatch, the notifications will also show up there.

DroneMobile Remote Control
Alarm notifications will be displayed on a smartwatch when the DroneMobile App is installed.

Another feature included in the Premium and higher packages is towing alerts. If your vehicle is moved without the ignition being turned on, you’ll get an instant notification on your smartphone. If you have a luxury or exotic vehicle and are concerned that someone might tow it away in the middle of the night, this feature is a perfect way to protect your pride and joy.

Find and Track Your Vehicle or Fleet

If you opt for the Premium service plan, you can access a full suite of GPS-based functions and warnings. When you log into the app, DroneMobile will show you exactly where your vehicle is located on Apple or Google maps. Tapping on the map screen will enlarge the map and show you the engine status (off or running); if the vehicle is moving, it will display how fast it’s traveling. This feature is quite handy if you share your car or truck with a family member.

DroneMobile Remote Control
The DroneMobile system will let you know where your vehicle is and how fast it’s traveling with a few quick taps.

You can also configure GPS-based alerts and notifications. Speed Monitoring will notify you if the vehicle exceeds a predefined limit. Likewise, you can set curfew hours and receive a notification if the vehicle is started during that time. These features are excellent for business owners with a fleet of vehicles.

DroneMobile Remote Control
The advanced tracking features are like having a silent watchdog that keeps an eye on your vehicle for you.

The Premium plan also includes user-configurable Point of Interest and geofence warnings. If one of your kids borrows the family vehicle to go to work, you can configure a geofence around the location and receive a notification when they arrive and when they leave. This is also an excellent feature for company vehicles that are intended for use in specific areas.

DroneMobile Remote Control
It’s easy to configure a geofence around a destination to receive alerts from the DroneMobile system.

The Premium service plan will also track how far the vehicle has been driven to let you know when it’s time for service and maintenance. Should the computer in your car or truck produce a check engine light or error code, DroneMobile can forward that information to you.

Advanced GPS Features Are Great for Business

The DroneMobile Premium Plus and Ultimate service plans add detailed breadcrumb trails and turn-by-turn tracking. If you use your vehicle for work, the system will log each trip. You can log into the DroneMobile website to generate travel reports for your expenses. That information is stored for six months, so there is lots of time to create reports for income tax purposes.

DroneMobile Remote Control
The turn-by-turn and breadcrumb trail features of the Premium Plus service plan are excellent tools for fleet owners.

High-Speed Communication

One complaint we hear from people using factory-installed smartphone control systems is that they seem to take forever to send commands from the smartphone app to the vehicle. We’ve heard from many people that the process can take 30 to 60 seconds. DroneMobile modules are built using LTE-based cellular communication radios, and the authentication database is hosted by Amazon Web Services (AWS). The result is a system that works with lightning-quick speed. In most cases, commands from your phone or watch are received and executed by the vehicle in two to three seconds. You’ll get confirmation back to the app that whatever command you’ve requested has been completed in the same blazing-fast time.

Ready When You Are

Compustar bundles a Drone X1 module with most of its premium two-way remote-control systems. New users are provided a 30-day Premium trial to experiment with the system’s features. An important consideration is that you can activate DroneMobile as you need it. If you don’t need to remote start your vehicle in the summer and only use the system in the winter, you can pay for service from December to March. Should your vehicle be stolen or you lock your keys inside and need access, you can activate the subscription and use the tracking or unlock the doors in a few minutes. You can even use DroneMobile from a desktop computer connected to the internet by visiting the DroneMobile website. One of our co-workers managed to lock his keys and phone in his truck. He used a computer at the restaurant he was dining at to log into the website and send an unlock command to the vehicle. The whole process took only a few minutes. You can even log into the dronemobile.com website using the web browser on a smartphone or tablet. As long as you have internet access, you are connected.

DroneMobile Remote Control
The DroneMobile website lets you send commands to your vehicle quickly and easily.

DroneMobile – The Ultimate Vehicle Control and Monitoring System

If you want to communicate with the remote car starter or security system in your car or truck from almost anywhere in the country, visit a local authorized Compustar or iDataStart retailer and ask about adding DroneMobile. Once you’re used to its speed and convenience, you’ll wonder how you lived without it.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, PRODUCTS, Remote Car Starters, RESOURCE LIBRARY Tagged With: DroneMobile

Product Spotlight: iDatastart VWX Remote Starter for Volkswagen and Audi

Volkswagen Car Starter

Volkswagen, Audi and Bentley vehicle owners are in luck! The VWX remote car starter from iDatastart was specifically designed for your vehicle. Starting your car a few minutes before leaving for work or the drive home will let the engine warm up in the winter or allow the air conditioning to cool things off in the summer. Either way, your drive will be much more enjoyable. Let’s take a close look at the features and some of the options available from this unique remote car starter.

iDatastart VWX Features and Compatibility

The VWX includes all the inputs and outputs necessary to allow it to start Volkswagen and Audi vehicles reliably. Aside from starting your Golf, Jetta, A3 or A4, you have complete remote control over door locking, unlocking and trunk or hatch release control on compatible models. The system includes a dedicated output for the vehicle horn, and an optional siren can be added to provide enhanced security and protection. The system can monitor the hood, trunk and door status to let you know if someone is trying to break in.

Depending on the specific year, make, and model of the Volkswagen or Audi vehicle you own, the VWX can automatically activate the rear window defroster and factory-installed heated or cooled seats after the vehicle is started.

Volkswagen Car Starter
The IDatastart VWX is a remote car starter controller specifically designed to work with Audi, Volkswagen and Bentley vehicles.

Remote Control Options

The VWX can be used with current Compustar remote control kits, including the fantastic 3-mile-range, two-way T13 LCD unit or the one-button R5. The new Q9 remote is an excellent option for a price-conscious two-way remote with an LCD screen. Two-way communication lets you know that a lock, unlock or remote start request sent from the remote has been received by the VWX controller in the vehicle.

Volkswagen Car Starter
Compustar offers a variety of remotes like the Q9, T13, R5 or R3 that work with the VWX controller.

For the ultimate convenience, you can pair the VWX with the DroneMobile smartphone telematic control system. You can send commands over the cellular data network to your vehicle using an app on your Apple or Android-based smartphone and a communication module connected to the VWX in the vehicle. You can check to ensure that the doors are locked when the car is parked at the airport and you’re sitting at the pool bar at a resort in the Bahamas.

Using one of the Premium service plans for DroneMobile adds GPS locating and alert options. You will get a notification any time your vehicle moves or an alert if someone drives off after bedtime. If you share your car or SUV with a family member, a quick tap on the smartphone app will let you know exactly where your vehicle is and how fast it’s traveling.

If your vehicle comes with a keyless entry fob, the iDatastart VWX can be programmed to work with that remote. Pressing unlock will not only open the doors but deactivate the security features of the VWX. The VWX can be configured to remote start the vehicle if you press the lock button on the factory remotes three times in quick succession. This feature is called 3X Lock Start and is handy if you want to use the factory key fob to keep your keychain uncluttered, along with DroneMobile for those times when you are too far away from the RF remote.

Volkswagen Car Starter
DroneMobile is an easy way to remote start or unlock your Volkswagen or Audi from almost anywhere using your smartphone.

Upgrade Your Comfort with a Volkswagen or Audi Remote Starter

If you are shopping for a remote car starter for a 2006 or newer Volkswagen or Audi (or a Bentley Bentayga), drop by a local authorized retailer and ask about the iDatastart VWX system. They can explain exactly which features and functions are compatible with your vehicle’s specific year, model and trim level. The dealer will also help you choose the best remote control solution based on where you park the vehicle at home, at work and out on the town. Ensuring that you have the right control options and range is crucial to warming up or cooling the vehicle long before it’s time to drive off.

For more information on the iDatastart VWX, you can visit the iData website. In the United States, iDatastart products are distributed by Firstech, the parent company of Compustar. Most Compustar retailers have access to this unique Volkswagen and Audi-specific car starter solution.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, PRODUCTS, Remote Car Starters, RESOURCE LIBRARY Tagged With: idatastart

DroneMobile Smartphone Vehicle Control Response Time vs OEM

Smartphone Control

Being able to lock, unlock or remote start your car or truck using an app on your smartphone is handy. In listening to what owners of these solutions have been saying over the last few years, we’ve noticed a disturbing pattern: Most factory-installed remote systems are agonizingly slow. Nobody wants to wait around for their vehicle to unlock. So let’s do some research and see how the DroneMobile system from Firstech stacks up in terms of responsiveness.

What Is a Telematics System?

In the context of cars and trucks, telematics is a way of remotely controlling basic vehicle functions using an app on your smartphone. In essence, these systems replicate the operation of a key fob to let you lock or unlock your vehicle, pop the trunk or hatch, or remote start the engine. In addition, many systems include a GPS receiver that can locate your vehicle on a map or configure location-based security alerts.

DroneMobile is the aftermarket telematics system offered by Firstech – the company behind Compustar remote car starter and security systems. DroneMobile can be integrated with a Compustar remote car starter to provide unlimited control range. So long as your vehicle is parked somewhere with cellular service and your smartphone has access to the internet, you can send commands quickly and easily.

Smartphone Control
DroneMobile does much more than just let you lock, unlock and remotely start your vehicle.

Smartphone Control Response Time

In addition to reliability and ease of use, impressive response time is one of the main reasons thousands of people have upgraded their cars and trucks with this system. Firstech moved its authentication services to AWS a few years ago to increase reliability and responsiveness. AWS is one of the world’s premier cloud computing platforms and is used by companies like Netflix, Amazon, Capital One, Coca-Cola, Expedia and thousands more to host their online platforms.

If you’re sitting at your desk at work and want to remote start your vehicle with your smartphone, it doesn’t matter significantly if the process takes 2, 20 or 120 seconds. However, if you’re walking up to your vehicle and want to use your phone to unlock it, response time matters. The last thing you want is to stand in front of your vehicle for 30, 40 or 60 seconds while data commands travel around the globe. You want the system to unlock as quickly as possible so you can be on your way.

We surveyed a group of friends to look at the response time of the telematics systems that came with their cars and trucks. The answers were surprising in all regards. Most response times were slower than we expected, with a surprisingly significant number of users completely giving up on these systems because they often didn’t respond.

Smartphone Control

If we average all the responses, it took just under 18 seconds from when an icon on the smartphone was pressed to when the vehicle responded on most factory-installed telematics systems. In most cases, this was a simple lock or unlock command. However, the time it took for these vehicles to remote start and then report their status back to the app was often more than twice that.

DroneMobile – The King of Vehicle Remote Control Speed

Most of the employees at BestCarAudio.com have Compustar remote starters installed in their vehicles. We also have DroneMobile telematics systems integrated with those starters. We surveyed our team and many of our peers and found that the average response time for a lock or unlock request was about 2 seconds. In some cases, it was less. Sending a lock command over LTE was often faster than using a one-button RF remote. This isn’t a failing of the remote – it waits a second before transmitting to see if you’re going to press the button again.

If you have remote started your car or truck from inside your home, work, a restaurant or movie theater and are approaching the vehicle, using the DroneMobile system to unlock the doors in about 2 seconds is, frankly, the way these systems should work.

Upgrade Your Vehicle with DroneMobile

Many friends we talked with for this article expressed an interest in replacing the factory system with a solution like DroneMobile. The slow response time or complete failure of the system to function had led many of them to abandon using the factory-installed solutions. If you’re shopping for a lightning-quick telematics system for your car or truck, drop by a local DroneMobile retailer today. You can learn more about this impressive smartphone control solution by visiting the DroneMobile website, their Facebook page, Instagram feed or YouTube channel.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, PRODUCTS, Remote Car Starters, RESOURCE LIBRARY Tagged With: DroneMobile

Control Your Vehicle Remotely with Your Smartphone

Smartphone Remote

Using a smartphone app to control your remote start or car alarm system is nothing new. Technologies like Drone from Firstech have been around for several years. As with any technology, manufacturers are always working on new features that improve existing platforms’ usefulness or are developing alternative solutions. In this article, the BestCarAudio.com team will look at how smartphone remote control options have advanced over the years.

Lightning-Fast Response Times

One of the most significant changes to systems such as Drone has been the implementation of LTE connectivity. LTE, which unceremoniously stands for Long-Term Evolution, offers a boost in data transmission rate over the traditional 3G communication standard that’s been around since 2003. Not only is the maximum speed much faster, but the latency or delay time is reduced.

What does this improvement in speed mean to someone with a Drone X1-LTE or X1-MAX interface in their vehicle? Commands from your phone are relayed to your vehicle four to ten times faster than with 3G systems. Unlocking your car with Drone is just about as fast as using a one-button RF remote. The speed is absolutely amazing, considering that the message from your phone has to travel through the internet to the Drone servers at Amazon Web Services (AWS), be authenticated, then forwarded to the cellular network for transmission to your vehicle.

More Than Just a Remote Control

Drone does a lot more than just let your phone mimic the buttons on a wireless remote. The system lets you monitor battery voltage, so you’ll know if there’s something wrong before you get to your vehicle and are stranded with a dead battery. Likewise, you can check the temperature inside your vehicle from the app to let you decide if you need to remote start the vehicle five minutes before leaving work, or just a minute.

Smartphone Remote
Knowing whether the interior of your car or truck is hot or cold makes it easy to decide when to use your remote start system.

If you have opted for one of the GPS-activated Premium or Ultimate packages, the system will provide maintenance reminders based on the distance you’ve driven. These can help you plan when you need an oil change based on actual vehicle use. If you are managing a fleet of vehicles, this is a godsend!

The system can also communicate with the engine management system to monitor diagnostic trouble codes. If the Check Engine light pops up, you’ll get a message on your phone. In some cases, these warnings are related to something simple like a loose gas cap. In some cases, these warnings indicate that something is wrong with the vehicle and that it needs immediate service. Again, this might be information that your staff doesn’t always remember to share with you as a fleet owner.

Smartphone Remote
Real-time tracking of vehicle use lets you know when it’s time for regular maintenance.

Bluetooth Vehicle Control Options

If you want effectively unlimited range, then a cellular-based smartphone remote control option is the only choice. With that said, what if your phone could connect to your vehicle directly using technology like Bluetooth? A product called CarLink (in the US) or SmartControl (in Canada) may be exactly what you are looking for, and more!

This remote control package includes a one-button remotes that provide two-way communication with a range of up to 1.5 miles or 2.4 kilometers. The antenna and remotes work with most name-brand remote starter and security systems on the market, including Compustar, Viper, iDatastart, CodeAlarm, Omega, Pursuit and many more.

Smartphone Remote
The CarLink ASCLBTLR system includes a rechargeable one-button remote and an antenna, both of which include a Bluetooth transceiver to work with your smartphone.

Here’s where your phone comes into play. With the CarLink/SmartControl app installed on your phone, you have the option of connecting directly to the antenna in your vehicle using Bluetooth. You can lock, unlock, arm/disarm or remote start your vehicle with a tap on the screen. You can also monitor battery voltage and remaining remote start runtime, and if your starter system includes a thermistor, you can see the temperature in the vehicle. Pretty neat, isn’t it?

Well, wait a second, it gets better. The remotes have Bluetooth transceivers built-in. This connectivity option means that you can connect your smartphone to the remote, then use the radio-frequency (RF) communication to talk to your vehicle. Now, your phone has more than a mile of range available, so you can start your car or check to make sure the doors are locked from inside an apartment or building. Best of all, because it’s all RF-based, there are no fees involved to use the service.

Smartphone Remote
The SmartControl RFK-6000 remote kit includes a Bluetooth-equipped windshield antenna and the unique ultra-thin TXBLCC rechargeable remote control with Bluetooth.

Update Your Car Starter or Security System with Smartphone Control

Whether you need unlimited range from a cellular-based smartphone control system or want to be able to use an RF remote with an app, many technologies are available. Drop by your local mobile enhancement retailer today to find out how you can make it easier than ever to start your car or truck using an app on your Android or Apple phone.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, Remote Car Starters, RESOURCE LIBRARY

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