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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Many consumers ask if a remote car starter affects the safety and security of their vehicle. A while back, we talked about warm-up thefts and how thieves prey on people who start their vehicles with the key to let them warm up in the morning. Leaving your key in your vehicle is, of course, begging for trouble, and a properly designed and installed remote start system is the perfect solution. Let’s talk about how car starters work in terms of theft prevention and the safety of those working on or around the vehicle.

Remote Started Vehicles Are Safe

Modern car starter systems integrate with the security and anti-theft systems built into modern vehicles. Digital communication on the CAN and LIN bus networks in the vehicle not only handles all the required authentic protocols, but many of the ignition and start commands can be issued by data as opposed to the conventional analog signal method from days gone by. This technology has eliminated the chance of a vehicle being “hot-wired” by crossing a few wires under the dash like in a scene from an ’80s movie or TV show.

Most car starters ensure that the doors are locked after the start process is complete. The systems also require the presence of a factory-issued wireless fob or the use of the key in the ignition. Finally, if the vehicle isn’t “started” with the key (either mechanically or electronically), the starter system will shut down as soon as the brake pedal is depressed. The latter scenario assumes that a thief was able to get into the locked vehicle.

Starter Safety for Mechanics and Technicians

If installed properly, a modern remote starter will include a hood pin or a tilt switch, or it will be integrated with a factory hood pin so the system is disabled when a technician or mechanic is working on the vehicle. Likewise, a properly installed starter system will include a valet switch or a way to put the system into a Valet mode using the remote. Once in Valet, the remote start functionality is disabled, but door lock and unlock functionality continues to work.

Another safety feature is over-rev production. If the engine speed exceeds a preset level before the ignition is turned on with the key or start button, the engine will shut down automatically.

Manual Transmission Starter Safety

Dozens, if not hundreds, of discussions have looked at the safety of remote car starters designed for use in vehicles with manual transmissions. The question of just how safe these systems are depends directly on the solution you purchase. A basic solution requires that you use some type of reservation mode. The process involves stopping the car and setting the parking brake, then sending the start command from the remote control to the vehicle. The owner can turn the engine off and exit the vehicle. The engine will continue to run. Once the lock button is pressed on the remote, the system shuts the engine down. If a door is opened before the car is started, the reservation mode is canceled.

Some companies take manual transmission starter safety even further by including a motion sensor with the system. If the vehicle moves when the engine starts, the ignition is disabled. Compustar systems include a sensor called the DAS2 that monitors motion, shock and glass breakage to ensure that the vehicle is safe and secure.

Choose Your Remote Starter Carefully

As we’ve said several dozen times, the performance and reliably of your car starter system depends on the products you choose and how those solutions are integrated into your vehicle. Lots of inexpensive products are available for every category of the mobile enhancement industry. Your satisfaction depends on your choice. In terms of a car starter, saving a few dollars may not be wise. Drop by a few local specialty mobile enhancement retailers to learn about the solutions that are available for your vehicle.

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.