I'm in the market for a new alarm because I'm tired of all the smash and grab thieves in my neighbourhood. I'm looking to get a 2 way paging alarm with a good range such as the Compustar and I think I need some additional sensors as well. Any advice is welcome.

1. By putting an ultrasonic interior sensor and a glass breakage sensor, would that be redundant?

2. Can the Compustar even handle 2 additional sensors?

3. Is Ebay the cheapest source for the Compustar 2WSS-AS? ($260 US shipped)

4. Can you program the Compustar to arm without turning on the ultrasonic interior sensor? (I like passive arming and sometimes when someone waits for me in the car, it'll auto-arm)

5. Can you program the remote start to start with 3 different modes? e.g. turn on your heat and defroster / turn on the a/c / just the plain simple start.

6. Can you program the Compustar to arm with automatic window roll up? (Do you need additional equipment for this, if so how much?)

7. Is it worth installing a mini piezo siren and battery backup?

7. How much would installation be for all the bells and whistles that I described?

BTW I drive a STOCK 1993 Civic Sedan with power windows and door locks but I'm thinking about installing this on a new 2006 Civic Sedan if I get one. People still break in with nothing better to do than to take my ash tray with a few coins in it or my prescription glasses??!?

 

Ahhhhh yes to all except getting it online, if you want warranty you will have to get it at an authorized dealer, you can check them out here http://www.compustar.com. the Compustar alarm, starter, alarm/starter combos are very flexable units, lots of programing options and an input port for extra sensors, and IMO one of the very best units out there. 94

 

I appreciate your reply. One of the reasons why I want to get it online is because of the cost factor. Warranty really isn't too much of an issue for me (or should it be?!?) because I trust most things work the way it should (gulp, knock on wood) when installed properly. I have an Avital alarm installed by someone who knew what he was doing but wasn't an authorized dealer. For the most part, I've been satisfied.

My biggest fear is that I will get ripped off by installers or car shops if I don't do my homework. I don't mind paying $500 for everything inclusive but if the shop tries to charge me $700 then I could bargain with him knowing that ebay sells it for so much less. Plus I like the added control of being able to research online. This forum has proved to be one of the more useful forums I've extracted data from. I would be borderline comfortable with installing it myself but I would prefer to pay some guy a couple hundred bucks to do the job right. In fact, I wish I could get my hands on the Compustar install manual and the 2006 Civic electrical guide. With the complexity of alarm installs I'd prefer to be able to do my own troubleshooting rather than bitch and complain to get warranty follow-ups. I've had to reinstall a door lock actuator because the guy installed it backwards and it kept jamming and not working.

I'm glad to know that the Compustar is a very flexible system. Thanks for your input.

 

My suggestion is to do it yourself. Just get the basic functioning of the alarm first, flush out the rest of the alarm connections later, then make each option beyond that a seperate project. Some of those things you mentioned are highly complicated. If you're not comfortable making wire connections, work on that first. Learn to use a digital volt meter to probe wires. You don't need to know more than how to check a wire for 12V, put 12V to the wire and test for ground, and test for continuity. As for wiring connections, if you don't already know how to solder, just get comfortable crimping butt connectors. If done right, they are solid and reliable connections.

Everything you need to know is in my walkthrough:
http://members.***.net/shaundr....html

Not to second guess FCM, but I get the feeling he glossed over your post a bit.

1. No.
2. You have to splice them in with diodes to isolate their ground triggers, and possibly provide a seperate power source depending on the type of sensor.
3. I don't know. Probably.
4. Most high end alarms have "zone bypass". Most of them require you connect a programmable status output wire if I'm not mistaken.
5. You have to wire up an output wire for each thing.
6. You probably need a window module like the one DEI makes.
7. Yes very much so, especially if you hide the alarm well (not under the dash).
7. A expletive of a lot. That's the best answer you'll get from me since you have two #7's! j/k

Sorry about the "probablys", I installed that Compustar for someone recently, but not with all those options. I've only delved into those options with the Viper alarms. But they're strongly positive "probablys", I promise.

 

Thanks Suspendedhatch. That's a really informative website you have there. I'm sure I'll find it extremely useful whether I will be doing this myself or not. The extend of my own car expertise is limited to wiring an aftermarket head unit, speakers, amp, sub, some oil changes and adding sound proofing to my Civic.

Wiring a top-of-the-line Compustar alarm might be stretching my capabilities but at least I'll know what to ask for and how to inspect it afterwards when I do get this done. Thanks a lot.

 

I think doing your own stereo is a good jump off point to doing your own alarm. Hopefully you didn't twist the wires together and wrap them in electric tape! The main functionality of the alarm is as simple as installing a stereo. You just tap into existing wires. Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

Sorry suspendedHatch may be right, I did kind of "gloss over " a little but.
1- yes adding an ultrasonic or glass break sensor, IMO would be redundant. although adding a dual stage proximity sensor, also redundant, but what I would add.
2- yes you can add as many sensors as you want, but sH is correct, you would have to add diodes to each trigger output to isolate the sensors from each other.
3- yes eBay is the cheapest source I have ever seen for Compustar units, but you get what you pay for.
4- yes the Compustars impact senor can be turned off and on, if adding other sensors a relay would have to be installed, and one of the EXT outputs used to "open" the relay on the extra sensor input port on the Compustar.
5- yes you can have a "3 mode" turn on, again relays and EXTs would be used.
6- yes window roll up can be added, yes a window module will be needed.
7- yes any layer you add, piezo, batt. backup can't hurt.
7-again , I did not deal with this question because install rates vary so much but, we would charge, [on the 2006 Civic] about $200 basic alarm starter, $50 + $40 for bypass module and install, $20 for door locks, and depending on power window type on the 2006 $40-$80 + $60 for module, add about $20 for every extra sensor, siren, batt. or EXT function you add. You can easily spend $500 - $700 on the install if you go "full load", and with us anyway that would be no cut wires, [other then any disabling, starter cut, ign. kill and the like] all soldered connections, "stealth install" and a lifetime warranty on the install, and the Compustar, [as we are a dealer].
I agree with sH about you installing it yourself, if car wiring and 12VDC does not make you too nervous then it's not that big a deal, a little before hand preparation, and some basic tools, the ability to solder, have and use a multimeter, [or at least a computer safe test light] and of coarse a fair amount of patience and you can do it, and of coarse we will be here to help. 94

 

i have one for sale from my homegirl...its prety new still shes asking 240, but will take an offer, where you from?