Mobile electronics require a much different purchasing process than something you are buying for home use. A piece of furniture, a new toaster or a new lawnmower may require similar levels of research before making the purchase, but once you have them, you can take them home, unpack them, and start using them right away. Mobile electronic products like a new radio, an amplifier or a remote start system are more akin to buying a new electrical panel for your home or pump for your pool or hot tub. None of these products will do anything unless they are installed properly. Importantly, if these products are not installed properly, significant and serious problems could arise.

One of the more complex purchases you can make in terms of an automotive accessory is a remote car starter. These fantastic products will let you start your car by pressing a button on a remote. Your car can idle safely and securely in your driveway or parking lot so that it will be more comfortable when you get to it. In the summer, a few minutes running your air conditioning can cool the interior of your vehicle significantly. In the winter, letting the engine build up heat and the rear defroster start melting ice, frost or snow can make heading to work much more pleasant.

What Comes With a Remote Start System?

If you walk into your local mobile electronics retailer and look inside a remote starter box, you will see a black plastic case with as many as 20 different wire connectors and perhaps 100 individual electrical connections. There are usually three to six wire harnesses in the box, as well as a pair of remote controls, an antenna and the antenna data cable. If the system includes security features, then there will be a siren and a shock or motion sensor of some kind.

What’s with all the Wires?

You might wonder why there are so many harnesses and wires on the remote starter. Most remote starter systems are designed as universal platforms. They need inputs and outputs in order to work with thousands of different vehicles. Power, ground, ignition, start, door lock, door unlock, door trigger, key sense, and brake input are some of the simple-to-understand connections. There are dozens more. The system also needs to be able to communicate with vehicle interface modules, telematics devices and system programming devices during the installation process. Safety switches, LED’s, antennae, temperature probes and security sensors often have their own dedicated connectors.

What You Need to Know to Buy a Remote Starter System

As the consumer, you should prepare yourself with some information for the retailer before you go shopping. You don’t need to know what make or model of remote starter you want to purchase, but you do need a clear understanding of how you will use the system. You’ll need to know how much remote range is required based on where you park your car at home or work. Will you want 1-Way or 2-Way remotes? If you opt for a 2-Way remote, are you OK with LED indicators, or do you want an LCD display? Are you interested in adding security (car alarm) functions to the remote starter? If you have a minivan with power sliding doors, do you want the remote starter to be able to open and close them? Many remote starters can automatically activate heated seats, heated steering wheels and the rear window defroster if the temperature inside the vehicle is below a preset level. Are those features you may want?

At the same time, you are describing what you want your new remote starter to do, the salesperson will be honing in on the best system they have to give you those functions while working with your vehicle. He or she will need to know if your vehicle has a manual or automatic transmission. Does your vehicle have keyless entry? Does it have apush-to-start ignition system? You need to know the exact year, make, model and trim level of the vehicle in order to complete the quotation process. Different applications can often require significantly different interface hardware.

What Does a Remote Starter Cost?

As you can see, creating an accurate quote requires significant research on the part of the retailer. Without the proper information, asking “what does a remote starter cost?” is like asking how much a new house or car costs. There are simply too many options and variables to provide an all-encompassing answer.

The answer to the question of what a remote starter costs is based on the features and performance you want from the system. If you have a common vehicle and don’t need much range, you can get a quality remote starter for $300 or $400. If you want as much range as possible, want the heated seats and rear defroster to activate automatically, have a manual transmission, choose an LCD remote and want security features like a siren and shock sensor, the bill could be well over $1000.

Remote Starter System Quality

As with any product, there are good quality products and inexpensive products. We can’t tell you which to buy and which to avoid, but a general rule of thumb is to stick to the brands you have heard of. Premium products often provide better vehicle compatibility and more reliability in terms of their remotes. Some brands include remotes that are water resistant or even waterproof. Better quality systems often carry longer warranties.

How consumers perceive the performance of a remote starter is not in whether or not the vehicle starts, but often how quickly the system responds to commands from the remote and how easy it is to use. Premium products offer a better overall user experience.

Questions for the Retailer

After you and the salesperson are homing in on the perfect remote starter solution for your vehicle and your requirements, it is time to turn the interview process around and ask a few questions. Ask about the warranty on the remote starter. Most carry a long warranty on the control module and between one and three years on the remotes and accessories. Ask if you need to register with the manufacturer in order for the warranty to be valid. Some brands require this step. Ask about their warranty on the installation. Many premiere shops back their labor with a lifetime guarantee for as long as you own your vehicle.

Are they Worthy?

Here is where your gut instinct kicks in. Ask them about how they install the remote starter into your vehicle. There is no right answer here, but there are certainly wrong answers. A few key words to listen for are “soldering” or specific connection types such as a “Western Union”. If they mention “3M” or “tesa tape”, those are very good signs. We can’t really say that one method or term is better than another, but you will get a sense of their attention to detail in how they integrate the starter with your vehicle.

Many shops start every installation with a vehicle pre-inspection, just like when you rent a car. This process will identify any abnormalities in the physical condition of the vehicle or issues with the electrical system. For example, if the vehicle Check Engine light is on, that should be addressed before the remote starter installation begins. Some shops will use heavy-duty seat covers, floor mats and even steering wheel covers to protect the interior while they are working on it.

Have a look at the shop itself. Does it seem organized? Is the store relatively tidy? Ultimately, If you aren’t getting a warm and fuzzy feeling, ask more questions. If you aren’t comfortable, keep shopping.

Why Installation Matters

Let’s go back to our analogy of buying a new electrical panel for your home. Perhaps you want to add a few circuits to your workshop or the garage and the original panel has run out of room. Maybe you have a home with screw-in fuses and you want to upgrade to circuit breakers with an integrated GFCI for the kitchen and bathrooms? You should seek out a licensed electrician to perform the retrofit. He will know the local building code guidelines and understand how to route and secure the wiring safely to ensure maximum performance and reliability.

A single loose electrical connection, be it in the home or in your vehicle can be very dangerous. Poor connections can heat up or act intermittently. When working on the electrical system of your vehicle, every connection is equally important and should be treated as such. A quality electrical connection must be electrically conductive, mechanically secure and properly protected.

If you decided to look in a remote starter box, you will find instructions for the starter. This guide explains the function of each wire and connector on the starter brain. It does not explain which wires need to be used in your specific vehicle. Installing a remote car starter requires the technician to understand which wires need to be used to communicate with your vehicle in order to make it start. It takes years of experience and constant education to be a good remote start installer.

Who you choose to integrate the remote starter system you want into your vehicle is more important than any of the features on the remote starter itself. A mediocre quality remote starter that is installed properly can outperform a premium starter that has a questionable installation. We recommend looking for the best possible starter and installation for long-term enjoyment of the system.

Add Comfort and Convenience Today

Purchasing a remote starter for yourself, for a friend or a family member is a great idea for birthdays and holidays. When it is the middle of the summer, coming out of work after a long day to a car that is already cooling off can be refreshing. Likewise, heading out the door on a cold winter morning to toasty warm seats and windows that are easy to brush off can not only save you time but significantly reduce your stress level. Visit your local mobile enhancement retailer and ask about the remote start options available for your car, truck or SUV. You’ll be glad you did.

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.

With the colder weather upon us, the mobile electronics industry is shifting its focus from audio systems to remote car starters. When it comes to buying a remote car starter, the biggest decision consumers have to make is how much range they need. If you are looking for the ultimate in convenience, a telematics system that uses your smartphone to communicate with the remote starter system is the epitome of control solutions. Let’s look at how smartphone control systems work and some of the options they provide.

How Smartphone Remote Starters Work

A remote car starter is, in concept, a very simple premise. Pressing a button on a radio-frequency remote control tells a control module (or two) in your car, truck or SUV to start. A limitation of this technology is range – that’s the distance between you and your vehicle where commands from the remote work reliably. If you are farther away than your remote control allows, your vehicle won’t start.

A few years ago, someone came up with the idea to use a cellular radio to transmit information to and from your remote car starter system. This cellular radio uses the same technology as your cell phone but foregoes the ability to transmit audio. Pressing a button on your phone’s screen transmits a command to the system’s network server using your cellular data connection. The server authenticates your user account, then forwards that command to the cellular radio in the car through a cell phone carrier. Once the module in the car receives the signal, it tells the remote car starter to begin the starting sequence. While this sounds complicated, the entire process typically takes less than 20 seconds.

Two-Way Communication

Once the car starts successfully, the control module in the car sends a confirmation back to the server, which relays that message to the app on your phone. The application will display an icon or message that shows the vehicle has started. This bidirectional confirmation lets you know when your vehicle has completed any requested task. Door locking, unlocking, power trunk release and system auxiliary outputs are controllable from within most applications.

Added Features and Functions

Once you have the control module in your vehicle, many additional functions can be performed. While some remote starter systems require additional hardware, you can usually check the temperature of the vehicle interior or request the vehicle’s battery voltage from the app.

Some premium control modules include a compact GPS receiver. Pressing a button on the smartphone app will send a request for the GPS receiver to provide the vehicle location. The app will display the location on a map and will typically include the vehicle’s speed and heading. The location is typically accurate to within a few meters and can be as detailed as letting you know which side of your driveway the car is parked on.

Security Features

Most applications include the ability to configure alerts that use location information. Geofencing will send you an alert if your vehicle enters or exits a preset area. Perhaps one of your kids is supposed to stay within the city limits when he or she borrows a vehicle. Some systems provide automatic alerts if the vehicle changes location without having been unlocked first. This warning is often a sign that someone is trying to tow your vehicle.

Most cellular control modules will work with security systems as well. You can arm or disarm the system using the app. If the alarm is triggered, a warning will be displayed on your phone in seconds. Some systems can be configured to send a text message and an e-mail as well.

Do I Have To Worry About Range?

The beauty of using the cellular communication network is that there is no real limit to how far away you can be from your vehicle. As long as your phone and the vehicle are in an area covered by cell towers, you can be across the street or across the country and still be able to communicate with your remote starter. In fact, your vehicle could be parked at the local airport and you could be sitting poolside in the tropics. As long as you have cell phone access, you are connected.

Is There a Cost Involved?

Manufacturers of these smartphone control modules use third-party cellular networks. As such, they have to pay for that usage. This cost is passed on to the consumer. Most service plans start around $6 a month for basic remote control function coverage. These basic plans include locking, unlocking, remote starting and control of auxiliary outputs. There are typically discounts for yearly or multi-year subscriptions.

For systems with GPS functions, plan pricing starts at about $8 a month. These premium services add vehicle location and speed requests, over-speed alerts and the aforementioned geofencing features.

Are These Tracking Systems?

While any of the GPS systems can certainly provide the vehicle location at a moment’s notice, these systems operate differently than a classic tracking system. Modern tracking systems automatically transmit their location to the host server every few minutes. Depending on how the information will be used, the frequency of these transmissions varies between 1 and 20 minutes while the vehicle is in operation. Tracking solutions designed for corporate applications can track mileage and idle time and can help manage maintenance schedules. A few systems include logic to identify aggressive driving behaviors to assist in driver coaching.

Remote Starter Smartphone Control Is Here Now

Many manufacturers offer integration with smartwatches like the Apple Watch. The app on the watch relays information to the phone, and subsequently, on to your vehicle. Alerts from the vehicle are, of course, displayed on your watch.

Several companies are working to integrate Google Home and Amazon’s Alexa and Echo voice control into their telematics systems. Currently, there are safety issues around appropriate security and authentication processes, but being able to lock and unlock your vehicle is as simple as saying, “OK, Google, unlock my car.”

Visit Your Local Mobile Electronics Specialty Retailer Today

If you are interested in a telematics system for your car, truck or SUV, drop into your local mobile electronics specialty retailer. Ask them about adding a remote car starter or security system with smartphone control to your vehicle. They will be able to explain all the options and let you know what the cost will be. With your smartphone able to control your vehicle, locking keys in the car or not having enough range on your remote starter will never be a concern again.

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.

It’s fall, and for the mobile electronics industry, the focus shifts directly to the sales and installation of remote car starters. The size of the remote start industry is inconceivably vast. Some retailers sell and install more than a thousand of these handy little gadgets in a single season! Best Car Audio wants to help you make the purchasing process easier. Here is our introduction to remote car starter remote control options.

What Does the Remote Do?

The remote control provided with your car starter allows you to start your vehicle without having to go outside or put your key in the ignition. The philosophy is that on a cold winter morning or scorching hot summer day, you can start your vehicle a few minutes before you go outside, giving the heating or cooling system a head start on making the vehicle more comfortable.

Remote controls communicate with your vehicle using radio frequency transmission. There are two different types of communication – Amplitude Modulation (AM) and Frequency Modulation (FM). The methodology of communication alone does not determine the performance of the remote regarding range, and range is a key point in choosing a remote control. Range is the distance between you and your vehicle when the remote starter will execute commands from the remote. If you are out of range and you press the Start button on your remote, nothing happens.

Typical Range Performance

Last year, we tested a few systems that claimed to offer one-mile range. We installed both systems in the same vehicle, one after the other. We parked the vehicle in the same location to test each system. Both systems offered performance that was nearly identical and worked reliably up to about 1,600 feet away – not close to a mile. We contacted some industry peers about the performance of other systems. We saw a test of another brand, rated to provide 1 mile of range and capable of starting the vehicle from as far as 1.25 miles away. As expected, the performance of your system may vary dramatically.

Why didn’t the systems we tested work as advertised? Most manufacturers advertise “maximum range.” This distance would be under ideal conditions: no buildings, no foliage, no radio frequency interference. Imagine being in the middle of a desert and everyone else turned off all their radios, cellphone systems, TV broadcasts, satellite communications and so forth. In this impossible scenario, you’d get about a mile of range.

Why did the other system exceed the manufacturer’s ratings? Maybe this manufacturer under-rated the range. Maybe there was a lack of interference in the area. The purpose of this discussion is to clarify that performance differs based on the system you choose and where you use it.

When you go shopping for remotes, you will see a few options for range. Manufacturers advertise the shortest-range remotes as working as far away as 800 feet. Next up are the 1/4-mile or about 1,300- to 1,500-foot range units. Different companies offer different intermediate range solutions, increasing to 2,500 or 3,000 feet, then to 1 mile. One manufacturer offers a remote that claims to work at up to 3 miles. That is very cool!

Remote Feature Overview

The next consideration in selecting a car remote starter revolves around the number of buttons on the remote. The product specialist at your mobile electronics retailer will advise you about what the remote starter can control for vehicle options. These options include door locks, factory alarm control, trunk/hatch release, sliding door control, rear window defroster activation and more. Once you decide which, if any, of these features will be part of your system, you can decide which remote you need.

One-button remotes are, of course, the simplest. The single button can be used to lock and unlock the vehicle, as well as activate the remote car starter. Some remotes have four or five buttons. These remotes have dedicated buttons for locking/arming, unlocking/disarming, trunk release and remote starting. Most five-button remotes include a Function key to access additional features like auxiliary outputs and vehicle information display. Multi-button remotes are required when the system includes features like trunk or hatch release. Single-button remotes can’t activate those features.

Communication Options

Separate from the range and button configuration of a remote are options for how the remote communicates with the vehicle. A one-way remote is like your TV remote – it only sends commands to the vehicle. You have no way of knowing whether the command was received or executed unless you can physically see the vehicle. A two-way remote can send commands to the vehicle and receive information back from the vehicle. Every two-way remote has some method of letting you know what is happening. This information can be presented via LEDs, on an LCD screen, with beeps and vibrations, or a combination of many of these.

Let’s look at a real-world example of how a two-way remote control can be beneficial. The simplest of functions is locking your car. You press the button on your remote control, and the car should lock. But what if you didn’t lock the car before you went into a shopping mall, office building or home? If you have a one-way remote, you can only hope that pressing the lock button at this longer distance will secure your vehicle. If you have a two-way remote and the vehicle is in range, the vehicle will send a confirmation to the remote to let you know it worked – that it received and executed the command. No guessing is required.

Several manufacturers offer additional vehicle information display on remotes with LCD screens. You can query the vehicle to display battery voltage or vehicle temperature.

Other Communication Options

System control options use different technologies. These include Bluetooth interfaces that allow you to control the system from an app on your phone. Smartphone interfaces use the cellular network and an app to let you manage and monitor your vehicle from anywhere in the world – as long as you have a data connection. Proximity keys that unlock the vehicle when you approach it are another option. There are also small keypads that mount to the inside of the windshield so you can type in a code to lock or unlock the vehicle.

Whatever remote control solution you pick for your remote starter, be sure to deal with a reputable retailer to install the system. You want to choose someone who will take their time to perform the installation as reliably as possible. They should be cautious and gentle with your vehicle as they disassemble it to access wiring. They must stand behind the work they do. In many cases, the quality and reliability of the installation are proportional to the price for the system. If the price seems too good to be true, you may want to do some additional research. Online reviews are a great source of information.

Enjoy your remote car starter – it really will make a big difference in the comfort of 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.