i have a lot of project parts that i want to throw onto my integra soon, but want to upgrade to a 2way pager alarm before i do to be a little safer. im deciding on either the clifford matrix rsx 3.5 or the compustar 2wss-as. the clifford is about $208 and the compustar is $240 off ebay. ive read through the archives and compustar has the best possible range, but a few people have said that the setup is funny for some reason. and a lot of people say clifford and dei have the best reputations and at the same time compustar is the hottest new up and comer on the market i believe. what do you guys think? greater range/compustar? or reliable company/clifford? thanks.

 

compustar just sounds goofy....anyhow i have a friend who works at a car audio place adn he says clifford is the best... looks better too... my 2 cents

 

We sell and install both the Compustar and the Clifford at our shop and the Compustar outperforms the Clifford in all ways, but not by much, range is the biggest diff. with the Compustar being much better.

Compustar has a lifetime over the counter exchange warranty when installed at an authorized dealer, and I understand that they have no auth. online dealers, so if you are getting it online, check into warranty. 94

 

how does it outperform the clifford? is the range noticeably different? the price difference between the two is not that great so i just want to get the best alarm possible. ive heard that the clifford and viper are basically the same 2ways and that their range is not that great, say parking lot and inside the theatre you wont get anything, will the compustar make it from a parking lot to a theatre? with a 1.5 mile range, im guessing with obstruction in the way the adjusted range would be at least .75 miles which is still a shitload. im also an installer at one of the big chains so im going to be installing myself and not too worried about warranty etc.

 

Viper and Clifford are the same, DEI.

The Compustrar outperforms in range and flexability, also have found it to have less warranty problems. 94

 

I installed the RSX 3.5 on my prelude about a month ago. Works great and I love the auto start function for cold mornings. I recommend you buy it from a wholesaler and install it yourself.

 

I was debating over VIper or Compustar. But went with Viper Remote page 791x series.

The fact that Compurstar is great with range, yet Viper or any of DEI products, has an optional GPS system compatibility.. GPS was set in my mind..

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by synik &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I was debating over VIper or Compustar. But went with Viper Remote page 791x series.

The fact that Compurstar is great with range, yet Viper or any of DEI products, has an optional GPS system compatibility.. GPS was set in my mind.. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Actually, my dealer said he can put the DEI GPS system into my CompuStar. So there really is no difference.

I just got my CompuStar installed 2 days ago. I got the 2W900FM-AS. Its their newest one. Basically the same as the 2WFM-AS but in the 900 frequency. The range got bumped up to 3000', about 1/2 mile.

I was testing the range against my friends Viper 791, also a 2 way, he said its rated at 1.5 miles or something. We did it in the mall, we parked in right beside each other and walked in. He lost communication w/ his car about 100 feet into the mall. And I still had a link w/ my car We went into the arcade about 150feet from the entrance and I could still page my car w/ full signal with all the electrical interferance that the games are giving off. We kept on walked deeper and deeper into the mall. I lost signal about 1000-1500 feet. We were parked on the 2nd floor and I could still get signal in the 1st floor.

I believe that the alarm is only as good as the installer. Although, we paid about the same for installation, at different locations, I get better signal than his.

Alarm wise, its basically the same thing. Its all in the quality of the sensors you use. and both companies are pretty reputable and should be about the same quality.

One thing I have to stress is that it is not legal to do remote start with the DEI systems, on a manual transmission. It requires a magnet switch at the clutch pedal. Basically it bypasses the clutch switch, so you dont have to have the clutch pressed in to start the car. This option is about $150 to do at my dealer, and it is illegal. Compustar is the only alarm right now that is legal to do remote start on a 5 speed. This was another deciding factor when I was shopping around.

Compustar is pretty hard to install yourself because the last half for it is all programing with the CompuStar laptop. So professional installation is recommanded.

Hopefully that helped a little, good luck.
~Swift out...

 

compustar laptop? ah whats that? i was going to be installing myself, im an installer at circuit city, im not a seasoned pro, but i know what im doing and there are other guys who can help with lots of experience. how come you went with the 2w900fm-as? its the newest but the 2wss-as is supposed to have the best range because it uses the spread spectrum technology instead of the 900mhz frequency, but still your alarm sounds great even tho it has the lower range it still went that far, it makes me believe that the 2wss-as would be even further.

 

The 2W900FM-AS is the newest one. the 2WFM-AS was the 1st 2 way alarm, then came the SS, then they upgraded the FM one to 900FM frequency, instead of the old 400fm.(i think, maybe it was 300, it doesnt matter)

The SS does have the most range, under the right conditions. The SS is alot pickier about attenna placement, and remote and stuff. They supposidly fixxed it by getting rid of the keychain idea and went w/ a belt clip. But I wanted something that has been proven to be more reliable.

The laptop that im talking about is for authorized installers I believe. It is for programming. You can most likely still install the alarm, but programming features are more of a pain in the ****.

I could upgrade to the SS if I want, just pay the $125 difference. Its just a different antenna and remote, I think even the brain is the same.

Again, I am not an installer, I'm just trying to help out with the information I have and I trust.

~Swift out...

 

okay swift brought up a good argument, i know the ss is not meant to be on a keychain and is used with a belt clip. i however plan on using it on a keychain since i dont like belt clips. but still the ss should outperform 900mhz frequencies shouldnt it?

 

damnit..-=P Dont tell me that.. I want a Compustar all this time...GRrr! But makes sense... GPS should be compatible with any alarms! It just uses the signal of door/hood/trunk open... and thats abOut it....

hMm... DaMN!

( I actually got my remote start to work.. -=P ) on my Viper..

 

Why would you want to pay extra $100+ if you can get the same amount of reception for less...

 

the 2wss-as is going for about $240 and the 2w900fm is about $200 on ebay. i know how to install so no labor charge there. both come with a 2nd 1way remote also i believe. $40 isnt much difference, but if it helps the range, i think the 2wss-as is rated 1.5m and the 2w900fm is rated 1m or .75m

 

O ok, i forgot about ebay. just to let you know that theres no way that the lifetime warranty on the alarm brain will ever hold if something does go wrong. But if ur not an authorized installer, it wouldnt hold up anyways.

good luck. let me knowhow it turns out

 

o, I forgot to tell you, I dont even think the SS remote even has a hole for a keychain. they dont want you using a keychain on it. Unless you want to duct tape?

 

I heard tha compustar is better for manual cars. like it has a bypass or sumthin so if you tired to start your car in first gear, it wouldnt turn over or sumthin. i dunt kno .. just wat i heard. But i have tha matrix rsx 3.5 and it works perfectly fine to me. loving tha engine start and added window modules.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 97dc4 0614 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I heard tha compustar is better for manual cars. like it has a bypass or sumthin so if you tired to start your car in first gear, it wouldnt turn over or sumthin. i dunt kno .. just wat i heard. But i have tha matrix rsx 3.5 and it works perfectly fine to me. loving tha engine start and added window modules.</TD></TR></TABLE> Any remote start made for manual trans. will have a "failsafe".

Compustars "failsafe" is its "ready mode" it works like this. Before turning off ign.

1-step on break and hold
2-pull/step on E brake
3-release foot brake
4-turn ign. off and remove key, motor will keep running
5- open door and get out of car, trans. must be out of gear, or you wouldn't be able to get out with motor running
6- close door, motor will turn off, alarm will arm, [alarm/starter] doors will lock, [if wired].
If a door is opened, ready mode will be shut down and you will not be able to remote start the car 94

 

could you just wire a turbo timer to the car and when it activates when you take the key out and then get out the car will still be on till like 30 seconds to a minute and then shut down and it will make sure that you can not be in gear because the turbo timer kept the motor running after you got out of the car? on the door you could wire up a relay that is triggered to the door so when you open it but do not start it will disable the remote start. The cost would be for the turbo timer and relays and wires are not that expensive.

Let me know if this idea would work.

 

This alarm has a turbo timer built in, u could keep it running from 2 minutes to like 20 i believe.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by eg92b16a2 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">could you just wire a turbo timer to the car and when it activates when you take the key out and then get out the car will still be on till like 30 seconds to a minute and then shut down and it will make sure that you can not be in gear because the turbo timer kept the motor running after you got out of the car? on the door you could wire up a relay that is triggered to the door so when you open it but do not start it will disable the remote start. The cost would be for the turbo timer and relays and wires are not that expensive.

Let me know if this idea would work.</TD></TR></TABLE>My question would be, why, as the Compustar has the "ready mode".

And the cost diff. between a remote start for an auto and a standerd will be way les then the cost of a turbo timer. 94

 

for those people with a turbo timer.. im assuming you guys dont have kill switches? im soon to be boosted/and other things but im not going with turbo timer because of my kill switches, id rather suck up having to sit a minute or two to cool down then not flip my switch

 

btw i just ordered the 2wss-as so lets see how it goes, i was like f it, $240 on an alarm and put it on so i can hurry up and throw on my other goods

 

bump, anyone got anymore experience or opinion on this 2 alarms system?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by simpleaznx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">for those people with a turbo timer.. im assuming you guys dont have kill switches? im soon to be boosted/and other things but im not going with turbo timer because of my kill switches, id rather suck up having to sit a minute or two to cool down then not flip my switch</TD></TR></TABLE>All remote starts have an output when running, that and a relay will let you have the "cutoffs" and still be able to use the turbo timer. 94