Wireless Start-Up?

[fourfourto]

Originally Posted by marin8703

thats what I was thinking too, but, from what i have understood so far, onstar might not be able to get the signal if its in a grage or building or whatever, and apperantly they dont have good communication set up with law enforcement.

lojack apperantly can receive signal from building or garages, and is kindof operated by the police, kind of. Seems that the process of locating might go faster and smoother

What do you think?

Easy to check, park truck in a building or wherever and hit the blue on star button and ask them to check your location.They always seem willing to talk to you or answer questions.

Also with on star if you drive off the road and no ones around and the air bag goes off if you dont answer they will send help.Lojack cant do that.

[RoyalH3]

The place im dealing with says that you cant program the stock key fob to start the car?? Any ideas on what i should tell them besides i have a forum of people that have it?

[RoyalH3]

To put in my 2 cents on the lojack/onstar thing... H3's come with onstar standard so you, considering you pay the monthly fee, already have the onstar gps tracking. BUT, i do agree that i would feel alot better in having the lojack system just because thats all they are used for. They are designed to recover vehichles and nothing else, unlike onstar which it is a feature. Psh, you could do onstar and lojack and then laugh at people who try to steal your car

[fourfourto]

Originally Posted by RoyalH3

The place im dealing with says that you cant program the stock key fob to start the car?? Any ideas on what i should tell them besides i have a forum of people that have it?

A good shop would look into it?.otherwise try a different installer that know newer cars and trucks.Good luck

[Nefarious]

To reprogram a factory remote, the shop needs to have a scan tool that can put the vehicle into BCM programming mode. There are some other ways as well, but the scan tool is the easiest. The whole process takes less than 5 mins for an installer that knows what he's doing.

[dеiтайожни]

fourfourto's remote start with the factory key fob... works, I'm not sure I'd recommend it, but it's not reprogrammed. The remote start activate is hooked up to the door locks (either lock or unlock), looking for 2 pulses. Any installer would know what you mean if you told them this. I just don't like the fact that anyone can start your truck by hitting the locks twice!

IMO OnStar is just fine, I wouldn't get lojack. If you want more control, you can get something like the viper gps system. That way you can track your truck yourself over the internet or phone, turn it on/off, etc.. and get some vigilante justice if it's stolen. But of course it's range is limited just like OnStars.

[H3HUMMER]

ON-STAR is satellite

[H3HUMMER]

Well it can be done i had mine for a year now.
If they do not know how go somewhere else other wise you will have problems.

[H3HUMMER]

Well i pick ON-STAR any day over lojack
lojack is old school

[f5fstop]

Originally Posted by H3HUMMER

ON-STAR is satellite

Only thing transmitted via Satellite on Onstar is the signal from the GPS satellites to the Onstar module. Voice communications are via digital verizon network, and one 6.1 version modules and older, there is an Analog backup via Verizon.
When you place a call on Onstar you go out via the little black antenna that is attached to the black wart on top of the H3. The wart contains the XM and the Onstar GPS antennas. (Wart is the engineering term for the three-phase antenna. )
When you initiate a call to Onstar and ask for your location, the Onstar operator pings the Onstar module which has your location via the GPS system.

As for which is better. Lojack relies (or used to rely) on the local police having the equipment, which LoJack gave them to track. Smaller police departments did not have the equipment, so if the vehicle was stolen in the middle of nowhere (like Moab ), no way to locate the vehicle.
Onstar can locate almost anywhere there is voice communications via Verizon or one of their contracted service providers they offer for roaming.
If you are in a parking garage, you might be able to obtain cell service, but you will most likely lose GPS coverage. My Garmin, which is twice as sensitive as the GPS used in the vehicle, can't receive satellite coverage in a building with multiple floors or with metal/concrete ceiling, unless it is near a window or large opening. Near a large window or opening, the GPS might be able to get a signal from one or two satellites which will give your location pretty close.
Now, if Lojack has switched to GPS satellites, they will have the same limitations as Onstar.

Best feature of Onstar (versus first year free) is no special equipment is required by the Law, and the operators can track the police right to the vehicle. They also have a good reputation with the police. Onstar's range is only limited by the cell phone coverage, and with the older units (6.1 and older), with the capability of analog service, the coverage (until next year when analog goes completely away) is pretty darn good in the USA.

[marin8703]

thanks for the info on onstar versus lojack everyone! I desided not to get it installed, from what i understand from you guys onstar is capable to do the job.

on another note...

...what do you guys think of the Viper 5900 (p/n 5301V)MSRP $659.99? Its got an advertised range of one mile.

I had viper on one of my other cars and hadnt had a problem until last week, something wrong with the antenna, but installer changed it for free, no questions asked, and this is 2+ years after the install, so i was pretty happy. overall pretty happy with it, has responder tech but didnt have a remote starter.

Another issue i had is with the viper responder remote. It would drain the AAA battery in about a month, they replaced the first remote free but the new one they gave me is almost the same, maybe a little better. Is this what you guys are getting?

So what do you think of the above mentioned system, most likely with some other optional bells and wistles. What types of sensors or optional things would you recommend if any?

[f5fstop]

From my own experiences with my VIPER responder remote that I use everyday, one month is standard on an Alkaline, and about 5-weeks on a rechargeable. The one I keep sitting by my bed, lasts almost two months with a rechargeable. I have the backlight turned on as well as the vibrate, the one in the bedroom has only the beep turned on.
As with any battery powered item, the more it is used the faster it will drain. The installer told me they get about three-to-four weeks on a charge, depending on the settings, and how much use.
I use the Eveready "green" rechargeable for two reasons. They do last longer in electronic devices, and they are a lot cheaper in the long run. (I did some studies with my Garmin 60CSX. I got a steady 8 hours with alkalines with the backlit display on constantly, 14 hours with AA rechargeables...made me a believer.)
Talking with others who have the same type of responder remote, it seems one month is about maximum for alkalines.

[H3HUMMER]

Originally Posted by f5fstop

Only thing transmitted via Satellite on Onstar is the signal from the GPS satellites to the Onstar module. Voice communications are via digital verizon network, and one 6.1 version modules and older, there is an Analog backup via Verizon.
When you place a call on Onstar you go out via the little black antenna that is attached to the black wart on top of the H3. The wart contains the XM and the Onstar GPS antennas. (Wart is the engineering term for the three-phase antenna. )
When you initiate a call to Onstar and ask for your location, the Onstar operator pings the Onstar module which has your location via the GPS system.

As for which is better. Lojack relies (or used to rely) on the local police having the equipment, which LoJack gave them to track. Smaller police departments did not have the equipment, so if the vehicle was stolen in the middle of nowhere (like Moab ), no way to locate the vehicle.
Onstar can locate almost anywhere there is voice communications via Verizon or one of their contracted service providers they offer for roaming.
If you are in a parking garage, you might be able to obtain cell service, but you will most likely lose GPS coverage. My Garmin, which is twice as sensitive as the GPS used in the vehicle, can't receive satellite coverage in a building with multiple floors or with metal/concrete ceiling, unless it is near a window or large opening. Near a large window or opening, the GPS might be able to get a signal from one or two satellites which will give your location pretty close.
Now, if Lojack has switched to GPS satellites, they will have the same limitations as Onstar.

Best feature of Onstar (versus first year free) is no special equipment is required by the Law, and the operators can track the police right to the vehicle. They also have a good reputation with the police. Onstar's range is only limited by the cell phone coverage, and with the older units (6.1 and older), with the capability of analog service, the coverage (until next year when analog goes completely away) is pretty darn good in the USA.

I know about VERIZON they suck trust me. 6 year merger
GTE AND BELL ALANTIC

[f5fstop]

Originally Posted by H3HUMMER

I know about VERIZON they suck trust me. 6 year merger
GTE AND BELL ALANTIC

I don't understand what you are trying to say, other than give a personal opinion of Verizon. I can contradict that with the fact I have had Verizon for about four years, and never had a problem with their service or coverage. So, guess I can't trust you.

[aetherH3]

I went down to Circuit City to get some information on the DEI Valet 561R and they fed me some BS about needing a Python alarm and two different bypasses. Out the door would have been ~$450... For that i would rather walk outside, start my car, go inside and have a glass of OJ while its warming up...

How hard are these to install?

[mountainbiker]

Originally Posted by aetherH3

I went down to Circuit City to get some information on the DEI Valet 561R and they fed me some BS about needing a Python alarm and two different bypasses. Out the door would have been ~$450... For that i would rather walk outside, start my car, go inside and have a glass of OJ while its warming up.

LOL for $450 I'll fly over and start it for you.

I had the Viper (and big stereo job) installed on my Explorer but sadly I just paid the entire bill. However, the install was not difficult for them. One feature of my Viper can is has module to roll up and down my windows. I love this feature and have had good fun with the remote start in scaring people. I tried to get the window module installed in the sun roof. However, the sun roof had 3 positions: open/close/vent, and the window module could only do 2. (This may have been changed since my install.) For example, windows open, doors unlocked, and sun roof open. Alarm the system and doors locks, windows go up, and sun roof went to vent. We just took it out. The motion sensor inside would hand extrance to the vehicle, but if it rains the sun roof might still be open.

You can get a 2nd, 3rd, ... opinion on the install process. My shop was an independent shop with smarts. I want to find a good shop here but here my choices are probably even worse than yours.

You can ask DEI via their web site about the Viper and Python. Be aware it can take a LONG time for a response. The following is a reponse from them I rec'd after 2 weeks (really 2 weeks):

Originally Posted by Directed Electronics email response

A reply to your request has been made:
Ticket Number: 125954304

The Reply:
hi The Valet 561T uses the factory remote..

[b]ORIGINAL REQUEST:[/n]
Can you tell me if DEI offers a remote start system that utilizes the original OEM key fob remote and not a DEI remote? Vehicle: 2006 Hummer H3.