Alarm Questions

[NViejeP]

This weekend or next weekend I will be buying a two-way paging alarm. I've got a few questions though.

1) Whats the difference between the Clifford 10.5X and the Viper 5000? The stats seem identical. Any real difference if the price is the same?

2) I went to look at many different authorized Clifford and Viper dealers. Is the installation of an alarm vital to the way it operates, like will it be better if instlaled better? Reason I ask is because there are many shops I've been looking around.

There are these two shops I can't decide between, one shop has a cool salesman and me and him are friends but their installers seem kind of whack and lazy becasue they were sloppy on my amp install and left me with an engine noise I had to fix. However, this other shop's manager is kind of an asshole but I don't know how they install or whatever.

Both are authorized dealers, and ironically at both shops I saw 10.5Xs being installed while I was there.

3) How do I adjust the input sensitivty level of the alarm? Is on the LCD remote or on the brain?

4) Will 1 shock sensor be able to cover my whole 4runner, what will that do for me? Will I know if someone bumped my car, if someone broke the window, if someone is jumping on my car?

 

[sketch1]

Technically Viper and Clifford are the same, both owned by DEI. Viper is the lower end, clifford is the higer... I would recommend clifford, I have one now (not paging system) and never had any problems with it. My alarm you can either adjust with the remote, or I can hook mine into a computer and make much easier, and much finer adjustments.

I would go with whichever company you think will do a better install. Or if one of them offers a lifetime warranty on installation(such as my shop does) I would go with that. That way if you ever do have a problem they will take care of it.

Another nice thing about clifford (not sure about viper) is they make them pretty much theft proof. Clifford makes every wire coming out of the brain box black so that if someone does try to break into your car they aren't going to be able to disarm the alarm by finding and cutting the "red wire"(or whatever color).

In terms of the shock sensor clifford has the best sensor available. Called the Omni Sensor, may be included in that alarm, may have to be added, if added its only 80 dollars, that was the price 4 years ago anyway. Basically the way a normal shock sensor works you place it somewhere in the car, say front quarter panel, the front corner panel if hit is going to register, the rear opposite quarter panel, probably not. The omni sensor can be placed anywhere and pick up impacts anywhere on the car at the same level. You basically put the sensor in program mode, tap the car at the level you want it to register at and then its set. You don't adjust by a dial or knob, you adjust be physically hitting you car so you can pick the exact strength you want it to pick up. On my mustang I could tap the front hood lightly with my fist and it would register, then I could do the same on the spoiler on the trunk and it would also register. It is extremly accurate. The other nice thing is it recognizes the difference between an impact and wind. I could tap the car with my fist and it registers, but if I were to rock it back and forth severly it won't.

 

[NViejeP]

Really now? Anyone knwo if this "omni" sensor comes with a 10.5X?

What model do you have?

 

[NViejeP]

It says mine comes included with a dual stage shock sensor..

 

[sketch1]

I have the Clifford Avant Guard 4 (not made anymore now it is the Avant Guard 5) Mine did not come with the omni sensor, I had to add it extra, the Avant Guard 5 however, now includes the Omni Sensor. I don't see the 10.5x on cliffords website, is that one the Viper? If so that won't use the omni sensor, that is exclusive to the clifford brand.

See a list of Clifford Accessories here

 

[NViejeP]

The avantguard might be overkill for me.

I'm only protecting like a $200 amplifer, and a $300 subwoofer. And a $100 head unit.

Its a Clifford Matrix 10.5x.

 

[sketch1]

Oh I wasn't recommended the Avant Guard for you, that is what I have. However it is nice that it comes with a 3,000 dollar anti theft guarantee...pays your deductible if you car ever gets stolen.

Looks like the Matrix systems won't work with the other accessories. So thats a no go for the Omni Sensor. I am sure their other shock sensor works well, but not nearly as well as the Omni. But either way I would go with Clifford.

 

[NViejeP]

Okay cool. Where I get this alarm installed is kind of the big question for me right now.

Maybe you guys can help:

Shop A) The salesman is really cool and like sto give me hookups. He'll talk with me and doesn't pressure me into buying stuff. He even sent me to his brother so I can get a box made for cheaper. However, when I got my amp installled by them, they left the ground wire a foot in excess, and ran all the wires down one side which led to engine noise. Took it back, the installer said it was my head unit, so I decided to rewire it on my own, and fixed it on my own. He wired the RCAs next to the ground. So their installers aren't that great. However, I did see a very nice and expesnive pimped out trucking getting a 10.5x installed by the same installer. So I don't know, he seems capable.

Shop B) Went in for the first time last week, they had a mercedes getting a 10.5x installed in while I was there. Salesman was okay, he wasn't an asshole but he wasn't as cool as the first guy. I dont know about their work.

Shop C) The guy that works here kept talking about all the customers he gets, very small shop, no display. He kept talking about how the mayor went to his shop, and a pro baseball player even came. And about how the quality of his shop's work is the best.

Where would you go?

 

[sketch1]

It all comes down to the installer, not the salesman. My shop has a lifetime guarantee on installation, so if something were to come loose, or stop working due to an installation issue they will fix it for free. If shop A will gaurantee thier work for life I would go there since you like the salesman, for an alarm while you should expect a good installation job, you are never going to see it so if it's a little sloppy it's not that big of a deal.

 

[Erebos]

Just curious, but does anyone know what is the alarm package that Toyota have for their car when they try to sell to you when you get the car? I forgot the name but I remember seeing it on the web site as an accessory, I think it was VIP something.

 

[riceandpho]

get a compustar, its way better than the DEI branded alarms, i got the compustar 2W900FM, 3000 feet of 2 way range lol, o yea since ur in frisco, go to oakland, go to audiomobile of oakland, its located on 307 11th St, Oakland, CA, (510) 839-1992, tell tham that thomas with the white 4runner sent u there, thats me, i went there last week too lol

 

[n8buddy]

Ya I would also recommend compustar. Mine is an Arctic Start Rt2w900fmr with '6000 foot range'. It is made by compustar I think, as the remote looks identical. Works awsome, and lots of possible upgrades (AUX inpust to control windows, stereo etc.)