Alarm & Tracking Systems

[paste007]

Would appreciate any feedback regarding Alarm and Tracking Systems? I understand that some systems have a remote notification (via a keyfob) and also have sattelite tracking for vehicle recovery.

[giusepi]

Well, I've had the Scorpio SR-i500 model alarm w/ remote for about 9 months now. Initially I was very impressed with it functions and "cool factor", but the faults have caught up with it. For one, it doesnt work more than 50 ft away in most circumstances, secondly, nobody listens to alarms anyways, third, the single AAA battery on the remote dies in about 2 weeks, and lastly it seems the Remote keyfob wont last longer than few more months. Bad build quality. All that being said, it is still awesome when the proximity sensor scares some kid that walks to close by.

[yomikey]

I have the following issue's, any helpful idea's??I have since had trouble's with the alarm. The local bike shop replaced the bike battery for me a few mth's ago, since then the remote doesn't tell you what state the alarm is in. You can still turn it on or off but you don't know if it's on or off or even been activated. The cost to send it back to USA is almost as much as a new alarm.Aritronix say that there may have been a voltage issue if the alarm was not disconnected when the battery was installed, this is not mentioned in the installation instruction's and I would have thought it should not be so sensitive.

[redzdvl]

Gary - I had the dealer install a Lo-Jack onto my last bike... alarms are just noise makers & yes, people dont pay much attention to them & the theives will steal yer bike & leave the alarm going off on the ground in it's place...

Lo-Jack is inconspicous & if your bike is stolen... once the police are notified - they activate the signal (GPS) & can track it down ... Lo-Jack also guarantees 24 hour recovery or they will pay you up to $5000. not bad in my book ... (specially since i only paid $5300 for the bike... )

ya can always get a bike alarm to go with it too...

[RolnCode3]

Originally Posted by redzdvl

Lo-Jack is inconspicous & if your bike is stolen... once the police are notified - they activate the signal (GPS) & can track it down ...

Unless it's changed extremely recently (last month or so), Lojack isn't GPS. It's actually a radio transmitter that is picked up by receivers mounted on the patrol cars and stationary tower antennas. If you see a police car that has 4 identical antennas mounted in a "square" on top, that's a Lojack setup. This means the police have to triangulate the location, rather than just go to where the GPS says the bike is.

Upside - it works inside buildings.
Downside - it takes lots of resources and time to find it.

Just an FYI.

[JPM]

And not all police departments in Northern Ca. have the lojack system in their patrol cars; my department just got them last year in 2 cars. Southern Ca. has had them for a long time though.

[redzdvl]

Y'all should know by now that the East Coast (New York in particular) always gets the cutting edge eletronic gizmos & upgrades b4 the other coast does... & believe it or not... some of it does trickle on down the pike to DC & VA ... that's why our L-J's use GPS instead of radio or cell signals that way they can locate it quicker & more accurately...

yes it does take some resources... but so does every other call that goes out thru dispatch... & our participating jurisdictions out here - all signed up for & agreed to the terms of L-J's use, because it makes their job of locating stolen vehicles (& those that are stealing them in most cases) much easier & quicker... I kno y'all have heard of the bait cars that were/are being put out... they want them to be stolen, so they can bust the people doing it... hey!, lets put L-J trackers in the bait cars! what a fine idea! let's do!

& yes not all departments participate... but VSP does... (why is it called VA *State* Police if'n VA is a Commonwealth ?? ) damn bacward redneck politicians ruin everythin!



so there !

& that's all i have to say 'bout thaaat!

[RolnCode3]

No worries. By "lots of resources" it usually turns into about 15-20 minutes with 4-5 patrol cars and a helicopter if available. Not a HUGE resource commitment, but more than most calls for service.

It is 100% a valuable tool, no questions asked. In major metro areas, there's a good chance the department (or CHP) has it. And, if the bad guy travels to a metro area they'll pick it up there.

Certainly can't hurt to install it.

And I'll admit I know zero about L-J (or whatever it's called).