Product Spotlight: Compustar CS697-A Vehicle Security System

Though best known for its class-leading remote car starters, Compustar is rolling out a new line of vehicle security systems that includes the affordable CS697-A to protect your car or truck. While many vehicle owners believe the security system that comes with their vehicle is adequate, the reality is that those solutions are limited in their capabilities. An aftermarket alarm is the only way to completely protect your vehicle.

Features of the Compustar CS697-A Vehicle Security System

The CS697-A car alarm includes a dual-stage shock sensor, starter disable circuitry and two remote controls. The shock sensor monitors the body of the car or truck for sudden impacts from door dings in a parking lot or an attempt to break a window. Moderate impacts will result in the system honking the vehicle horn and flashing the parking lights. Significant impacts set off the full alarm, flashing the lights and honking the horn for 30 seconds. The system also includes dedicated door monitoring inputs and the ability to monitor the hood and trunk or hatch of your car or SUV. Additional sensors and door switches can be added for commercial vehicles or heavy-equipment applications.

Compustar Security — The CS697-A is based on the easily expandable Compustar CM2400 control module.

The system includes keyless entry functionality that will let you lock or unlock your doors remotely. Your installer can integrate the 697-A system with the remote trunk or hatch release function to make loading or unloading easier. The system activates the interior dome light for 45 seconds after receiving the unlock command so you can make sure everything inside is safe before you get in. Finally, two auxiliary outputs are provided to control options like a power sliding door or power window control module for added convenience.

According to the FBI, almost 250,000 vehicles are stolen in the United States every year. To help combat this, Compustar includes its E-LOCK relay in the 697-A. When properly integrated into your vehicle, this relay functions as a stand-alone starter-kill to further complicate the efforts of thieves hoping to steal your vehicle.

Vehicle Protection Upgrade Options

While this vehicle security system provides a solid set of features, just like Compustar’s remote car starters, it’s based around a control unit that’s easily upgradable. A high-output siren can be added to attract additional attention to the vehicle. Likewise, the DAS-II four-in-one sensor is another popular upgrade as it adds a digital tilt/motion sensor with glass breakage detection. If you’re concerned about wheel or catalytic converter theft, DAS-II is a great option.

You can also add the KP2 touchpad that mounts to the inside of your windshield. You can enter a user-defined code by touching the glass to disarm and unlock the vehicle. You can also choose to upgrade to a two-way remote control that will alert you when the alarm is triggered. If you choose a remote upgrade package like the PRO R5 or PRO T13, the proximity unlock function will unlock the doors automatically when you are within about 6 feet of the vehicle.

The ultimate upgrade is the Drone telematics system. You can be anywhere on the planet and still receive security warning notifications from your car or truck, so long as your smartphone can access the Internet. Better yet, Drone includes options to add GPS-based features that will send alerts if the car or truck moves while the system is armed or during user-programmable curfew hours. Impact, motion, tilt and glass breakage alerts from the DAS-II sensor are also relayed to your smartphone using the DroneMobile app.

Protect Your Investment with an Aftermarket Car Alarm

In 2019, Ford and Ram pickup trucks were the top two most stolen vehicles in the U.S. While these trucks came with factory-installed security, their popularity made them key targets for thieves. An aftermarket security system adds valuable damage and vandalism protection and a second starter-kill circuit that, when appropriately integrated, makes unauthorized starting of the vehicle nearly impossible.

Drop by your local Compustar retailer today to learn more about the CS697-A and its security and convenience options. You can learn more about Compustar car alarm and remote starter solutions by visiting their website, Facebook Page, Instagram Page or their 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.

Should You Buy a Remote Car Starter from a Car Dealer?

Before we dive into a discussion of the potential benefits and drawbacks of purchasing a dealer-installed remote car starter, let’s make it clear that, as they say, your mileage may vary. What we mean is that no two installers will install a car starter the same way, and your car dealer might offer high-quality products and employ an expertly trained technician with years of experience. The alternative, as we’ll point out in this article, is that someone unqualified might be messing with the wiring in the dash of your brand-new vehicle.

The Dealership Remote Starter Sales Process

More often than not, new cars don’t come with a remote car starter. Cars are often designed as global solutions, so while the folks in Mexico could benefit from letting the air conditioning run for a few minutes on a 120-degree summer day, most people associate starter systems with cold weather. If you ask about a starter during the purchase process and it’s not something on the feature list in the brochure, chances are very good that the dealership will be performing, or at least coordinating, the installation before you pick up the vehicle. This is very common and not in any way abnormal. Hundreds of reputable mobile enhancement shops around the country provide upgrades and enhancements for local car dealers.

Find Out Who’s Working on Your Vehicle

Dealer Remote Starter — Here’s an example of proper remote car starter wiring preparation from Mobile Edge in Lehighton, Pennsylvania.

Let’s get to the point, shall we? If you agree to purchase a remote car starter system from the dealership, you need to ask a few very important questions. First, find out who will be installing the system in the vehicle. Ask for proof of their qualifications. Sadly, and though there are exceptions, automotive repair technicians are not always trained to upgrade vehicles reliably. If a local shop is doing the work, visit that shop and ask to see samples of their wiring. Quality retailers will typically be able to show you how they prep the remote starter hardware before working on the vehicle.

How Are Electrical Connections Made?

A car or truck driving down the road is subject to often intense vibrations. All of these little bumps and wiggles can wreak havoc on poorly executed electrical connections. Vehicle manufacturers have invested millions of dollars to ensure that the wiring in your vehicle is secure and connections to components remain reliable. It’s crucial that you know how the shop that is going to work on your car will make mechanically stable connections when installing a car starter. There are many different ways to connect two wires. When executed properly, both soldered and crimped connections can work well. What doesn’t work well is twisting and taping or T-taps.

What Remote Starter System Are You Buying?

Next, and of similar importance to the reliability of your vehicle, is the quality of the remote starter hardware. There are very inexpensive starter systems on the market. These systems often don’t include many extra features or options and definitely don’t provide much range. You may find that old starter technology puts greater strain on a vehicle’s electrical system. If you don’t drive at least once or twice a week, you could wake up to a dead or very weak battery on a cold morning.

Find out what brand of starter is being installed in the vehicle. It’s your money, and you most certainly have the right to know what’s being installed in your car.

Remote Range and Control Options

If you visit a specialty mobile enhancement retailer to purchase a car starter, they should ask you a series of questions that will help them determine which product is best for your situation. This extends beyond knowing the make, model and year of the vehicle. The salesperson should be trying to determine how much remote range you need, if you need a single- or multi-button remote, if you want rear window defroster control, if there are heated seats, a heated steering wheel or perhaps a power sliding door in a minivan that you want to open remotely. If you aren’t being asked these questions, the process is broken.

Another great option is a telematics solution. Products like DroneMobile allow you to use an app on your phone to start your car with a simple tap. You can even upgrade the service to include GPS-based vehicle locating and geofencing features for added safety.

What Should a Car Starter Cost?

The answer to this is tricky. Without knowing exactly what you are getting, it’s hard to determine value. We suggest that you shop around at some local specialty retailers to find out what they charge for a car starter for your vehicle. The owner of the Mazda CX-5 with the single-function, pull-up antenna remote shown above was charged $700 for the car starter system. That’s an unreasonable price for old technology.

Choose Who Works on Your Vehicle

Before you agree to any dealership-installed upgrades on a new vehicle, find out exactly what they intend to do. Get the make and model of the car starter (or window tint or paint protection film) and do some research. Chances are, a local specialty mobile enhancement retailer can offer a similar or better solution, with a better installation for improved reliability, often for a lot less money.

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.

Two Stories about how the Drone Smartphone System Saved the Day

While the convenience of being able to remote start your car from your smartphone with the Drone system is obvious, this easy-to-use system has been able to get clients out of a jam on more than one occasion. Let’s take a look at two examples where DroneMobile users have used their telematics systems when they got into a bind.

Keys and Phone Locked in Your Car?

Our friend Bob was on his way to work when he realized his truck was almost out of gas. As is normal on most mornings, he didn’t leave much extra time for stops on his way to the office. Not wanting to run out of fuel, he pulled into a Shell station to fill up his truck. In a rush to get the truck fueled and back on the road, he managed to lock his keys, phone and wallet in the vehicle.

In cases like this, there are usually two options. First, call someone at home to bring an extra set of keys. Option two is to call a tow truck in hopes that the driver can unlock the doors with a lockout kit. As luck would have it for poor coffee-deprived Bob, nobody was home.

Thankfully, he’d equipped his truck with a remote car starter that includes a Drone smartphone interface. He asked a fellow patron at the gas station if they would let him download the DroneMobile app so that he could unlock his vehicle. With the app installed in a few seconds, he entered his username and password to log in, then sent an unlock command to the truck. The doors were open three seconds later. After uninstalling the app on the phone, he bought his helpful friend a coffee for their trouble.

Log in to Drone on a Computer

Using another phone with the DroneMobile App was a great idea. Given the speed of most cellular data connections, it took less then two minutes to complete the entire process. Bob could have logged into the www.dronemobile.com website using the smartphone’s web browser and sent the unlock command. Another option would have been to call a family member and have them unlock the vehicle from their phone, or have them log in on the website and send the unlock command. With Drone on-board, there’s a lot of options to get out of a headache scenario like this.

You Won’t Get Lost in a Big City

It seems inevitable that even when we think we know where we’re going, circumstances lead to us getting lost. We recently heard of a case where a friend’s wife had to go into Buffalo for a meeting. They live just outside of Niagara Falls, so this wasn’t a long trip. Kelly did the best she could, having looked up her destination on Google, but after a few detours caused by construction and one-way streets, she quickly found herself somewhere she didn’t recognize. She didn’t have a navigation system in her car and didn’t want to risk getting a ticket by using her phone. She called her husband using her Bluetooth system for help.

The trick to getting un-lost is to know where you are. Her husband logged into the Drone website and used the GPS-based vehicle locating function to find her location. As it turned out, Kelly was just a few blocks from where she wanted to go. Her husband gave her directions to the parking lot she was looking for, and she made it to her meeting right on time.

Add the Convenience of Drone to Your Car or Truck Today

These stories are just two examples of how the features of Drone extend well beyond remote starting your vehicle on a cold winter morning. If you’re interested in adding a remote car starter with the Drone telematics system to your vehicle, drop by your local authorized Firstech retailer. You can find one using the dealer locator on their website. For more information about Drone, be sure to follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. You can learn more about the amazing features of the Drone system with the videos on their 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.

How to Prevent Vehicle Warm-Up Thefts

Leaving your vehicle unattended and running is an open invitation for thieves to steal your car or truck. In Northern states and Canada, these crimes are often called warm-up thefts, and their frequency peaks as cold weather arrives. The reality is, whether you’re letting your air conditioning run on a hot summer day in Texas or Arizona or have the heater and rear window defroster going on a cold morning in North Dakota or Alberta, leaving your vehicle running and unattended is a dangerous proposition. Let’s look at how you can prevent someone from stealing your vehicle and still have it comfortable inside when it’s time to go.

What Are Warm-Up Thefts?

Imagine the all-so-common scenario of wanting to start your vehicle’s engine so it can warm up before you leave for work. You throw on a coat and boots, head out, put the key in the ignition and start the vehicle. While you’re back in the house grabbing your coffee and lunch bag, a thief can hop in the car or truck and drive away a matter of seconds.

Not only is your car or truck gone, but you also have the hassle of explaining the whole thing to the police and your insurance company. Many insurers want to see the vehicle keys before paying to replace your car or truck, a policy that comes in the wake of many fraudulent claims.

Can You Keep Your Vehicle Locked?

If you recall back to the ’80s, cars came with two keys. One key was for the ignition and the other was for the door locks. Back then, it was easy to start the vehicle, then lock the doors to keep things secure. As we’ve moved to single-key and keyless solutions, the simple issue of locking the car doors while having the engine running is more complicated. If the key is in the car, how are you going to lock it?

For cars with keyless entry systems, very few will allow you to lock the doors with the remote once the engine has started. Even without the key nearby, these cars can often be driven away. A new key might cost the thief a few hundred dollars and he or she still makes a tidy profit selling the stolen vehicle.

Remote Car Starters Let You Warm the Vehicle Safely

The beauty of a remote car starter is that when it’s integrated into the vehicle properly, your car or truck is just as difficult to steal once started as it is when off. Car starter systems don’t typically bypass security functions like transponder or proximity keys. As such, in order to drive a remote started vehicle, you still need the original key. Likewise, once the engine has started, a process that takes a second or two, the doors usually remain locked. Finally, almost every starter system is tied into the brake or clutch. If either pedal is pressed before the ignition is turned on with one of the original vehicle keys, the starter system shuts the engine down immediately.

Questions about how your specific vehicle works should be directed to the sales team at your local specialty mobile enhancement retailer before you agree to the installation.

Avoid Warm-Up Thefts with an Auto Start System

If you’re hoping to avoid being the victim of a warm-up theft, the options are simple: Stay in the vehicle while it warms up, or have a high-quality remote start system installed by a professional. As we remind all of our readers, wisely choose the technician who’s going to work on your vehicle. The safety and reliability of your car, truck or SUV depends on how each connection is executed, where components are located and the integration and starter hardware you choose. Upgrades and modifications to your vehicle should never be taken lightly.

Drop by a few of the specialty mobile enhancement retailers in your area and ask them about the car starter products they offer and how they perform their installations. Better yet, ask to look at examples of their work. Once you know your options, you can choose the retailer that offers the highest-quality 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.

Product Spotlight: Compustar PRO T13 Remote Kit

Car or truck owners looking for a remote start solution with the most features and longest range will want to check out the new PRO T13 remote kit from Compustar. Considered the new benchmark for performance, the T13 combines an amazing 3 miles of range with a color LCD screen and the new Proximity Unlock feature. If that isn’t enough, the T13 includes a built-in rechargeable battery, water-resistant case and reliability that has made Compustar the quality leader in the car starter industry.

Compustar PRO T13 Design and Features

The first thing you’ll notice is a bright color LCD screen that includes graphics that show when your vehicle is locked, unlocked or remote started. You can also see the voltage of the vehicle battery as well as the interior temperature. Of course, because it features 2-way communication, you’ll always know if the commands you’ve sent have been received and executed at the vehicle. Lastly, the screen shows the remote’s battery level and whether audible or vibration alerts are active.

Though the remote only has three buttons, the intuitive design allows you to access a variety of secondary options like trunk release, car finder and auxiliary outputs. In all, more than 50 commands and setting options are available to give you complete, personalized control over your vehicle. You can even change the language from English to Spanish or French.

A built-in lithium-ion rechargeable battery powers the T13. A micro-USB connection on the top of the remote makes charging easy. You can recharge the remote using a powered USB port in your vehicle while you drive. The battery lasts about 45 days on a full charge with systems that don’t include security features.

Finally, the T13 remote is waterproof and is built with reinforced high-strength materials to withstand the abuse that comes with being sat on or occasionally dropped in a puddle or snowbank. Compustar backs all PRO-Series remotes with a three-year warranty.

Proximity Unlock Feature

A new and unique capability of the PRO T13 is the Proximity Unlock feature. If you’re leaving a store with your arms full of groceries or supplies, the vehicle will unlock automatically when you are within 3 to 6 feet of the Compustar antenna on the windshield. The antenna’s centralized placement allows the system to work just as efficiently from the vehicle’s passenger side. Fumbling with keys in your hands while you carry the kids or digging at the bottom of your purse will be an afterthought.

You can disable the Proximity Unlock feature with just a few quick button-presses on the remote if you are working nearby and want to keep your vehicle locked.

Industry-Leading Range Performance

If you’ve ever tried to use a remote start system from inside a large building, then you’ll know how important it is to have as much range as possible. The PRO T13 remote uses spread-spectrum technology to provide up 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) of range. This incredible transmitting power means that you’re more likely to be able to start your car from the depths of a warehouse, office tower or apartment than when using a remote that only offers 1 mile of range.

Companion Remote and Drone Telematics Included

Known formally as the RFX-P2WT13-SF (in the United States), the kit includes the amazing color LCD PRO T13 remote, a one-button long-range PRO R5 remote, a Drone X1-LTE interface, an antenna and all the cables your installer will require to complete a new installation or upgrade an existing one.

This PRO R5 remote offers up to 2 miles (3.2 km) of range to make it easy for someone else in your home or for a co-worker to use your vehicle. The remote also features the same easy-to-charge lithium-ion battery as the T13. Even though it has the most intuitive interface available, the Proximity Unlock feature makes it easy to get into your car or truck without having to search for the keys.

If you’re shopping in the United States, then your PRO T13 remote system will include one of the Drone X1-LTE telematics interfaces. When combined with an app on your smartphone, Drone lets you control and monitor your vehicle from anywhere you have cellular data access. You could be on the other side of the city or vacationing in another state – you’ll still be able to monitor the vehicle. Your local authorized Drone retailer can help you choose the right Drone service plan for your needs.

Upgrade Your Vehicle with Compustar Convenience Today

Whether you’re shopping for a new remote car starter or already have a Compustar, Arctic Start, RTX or iDatastart system in your vehicle, your local authorized Compustar PRO retailer can get you set up with the new PRO T13 remote system today! You can find a shop near you by visiting the Find a Dealer page on the Compustar website. Be sure to visit Compustar’s Facebook and Instagram pages and their YouTube Channel to learn more about their amazing products.

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.

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Product Spotlight: Compustar CS697-A Vehicle Security System

Features of the Compustar CS697-A Vehicle Security System

Vehicle Protection Upgrade Options

Protect Your Investment with an Aftermarket Car Alarm

Should You Buy a Remote Car Starter from a Car Dealer?

The Dealership Remote Starter Sales Process

Find Out Who’s Working on Your Vehicle

How Are Electrical Connections Made?

What Remote Starter System Are You Buying?

Remote Range and Control Options

What Should a Car Starter Cost?

Choose Who Works on Your Vehicle

Two Stories about how the Drone Smartphone System Saved the Day

Keys and Phone Locked in Your Car?

Log in to Drone on a Computer

You Won’t Get Lost in a Big City

Add the Convenience of Drone to Your Car or Truck Today

How to Prevent Vehicle Warm-Up Thefts

What Are Warm-Up Thefts?

Can You Keep Your Vehicle Locked?

Remote Car Starters Let You Warm the Vehicle Safely

Avoid Warm-Up Thefts with an Auto Start System

Product Spotlight: Compustar PRO T13 Remote Kit

Compustar PRO T13 Design and Features

Proximity Unlock Feature

Industry-Leading Range Performance

Companion Remote and Drone Telematics Included

Upgrade Your Vehicle with Compustar Convenience Today

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