Looking for a good car alarm

[EXIT]

Having finally sorted out insurance for a Skyline, I'm looking for a good car alarm to help protect my soon to be toy!

What brands/makes are would you guys recommend ? Anything to steer clear of ?

[skyline33]

go for the boomerang, I'm going to be getting one

[Guest tgriffin]

I'd also like to know which ones are good.

I read about the Brant Nemesis last night and it sounded very comprehensive (www.brant.com.au). But then I went to the Quiktrak site (www.quiktrak.com.au) and it seemed to be everything and more (i.e. tracking).

Is the alarm/immobiliser that Quiktrak install as good as the Nemesis? If not, does the tracking make up for it? Can BOTH be installed? If so, is there any point?

I will be getting a Skyline in the next quarter, and I don't mind spending $900 for Brant or $1800 for Quiktrak, not considering price - which do you guys recommend?

There was a thread in the NSW forum called 'Theives' which said Quiktrak could be foiled by putting aluminium foil over the antenna or something - is it really that bad?

Bottom line: for <$2,000, what is the best alarm and/or tracking system available?

[Drivebai]

hey all,

i think i may go for the Brant Nemesis as well, i cant afford tracking, i heard the Boomerang is good however it only really has good features like turbo timer remote engine start etc, it only has a one point immobiliser and the wiring is colour coded.

i think i may get the nemesis as after all its about car security..

it has 6 point immobiliser and a keypad pin code thing..

and i've tried to find out info on the web for other alarms but there's not much out there.. i thik the NEmesis is the best i;'ve seen so far.. but please if anyone else has some other suggestions let me know as i'm still deciding which alarm to get still as well...

but if i do get the nemesis alarm i'll post up what i think of it.

[Guest tgriffin]

Am I right in thinking the alarm in Quiktrak / Boomerang isn't as GOOD as a standalone one such as the Nemesis, but combined with tracking it reduces overall risk?

Or is the alarm in Quiktrak actually decent? You mentioned the Boomerang one is a little lacking..

[Drivebai]

yeah well the boomerang has cool features but i'm after the best protection rather than features, i spoke to one of the dealers of Boomerang he says yes they only have one point immobiliser and colour coded wiring, but they can also incorporate it into another system, which has touch point ignition (where you have to touch certain points to be abel to start the car...) so that may be an option too... then i spoke to Brant who said they are bringing out Nemesis 2 which works in conjunction with Nemesis 1 but this will also have Vehicle tracking as well.. so u'll have nemesis alarm plus tracking... so that is also an option... speak to Nick at brant alarms he's really helpful, and i cant remember the name of the guy at boomerang.. but go to www.incaroption.com.au

and call the guy from there.. he was pretty helpful too but if u find anyither alarm systems let me know.

[Guest tgriffin]

Hey guys,

I just got off the phone with Brant Sydney and they quoted me for the NEMESIS 2:

- $2650 full install

- $320/yr monitoring (includes GST)

That is significantly more expensive. What do you guys reckon vs. Quiktrak?

P.S. I presume the initial install includes 1yr monitoring.

^^ I double checked, the $2650 comes with 1yr monitoring.

[skyline33]

thats heaps, I'm pretty sure with the boomerang you can get optional immobilisation points, please someone correct me if i'm wrong

[Guest tgriffin]

Most of you guys think pretty highly of the Brant Nemesis, so I think I'll get that. It certainly is a premium but it sounds like the alarm/immobiliser AND the tracking is far superior than that of Quiktrak, but it's a hefty price to pay (over a grand more than Quiktrak and like 50 extra a year).

Any bad stuff to say about Brant before I pencil them in?

BTW the Nemesis 2 (tracking) is literally Nemesis 1 + tracking

[Shell]

I've got a Brant, but not the nemesis, just the basic one - the AA something...

I've had it 2 years and it seems pretty good, guess I won't really know until someone tries to steal the car

[Guest shano2]

Shell,

I think you were refering to the AA02A. I have the same and they are a bloody good alarm. No problems so far.

No alarm is completely failsafe. If they really want your car they'll just back up a tilt tray and take it.

I did heaps of research before deciding on the brant and I couldn't find anything better.

As far as a turbo timer feature in the alarm goes (which was mentioned further up the thread) those alarm co's which FULLY comply with Aus standards don't have this feature as it actually against the law, at least in NSW and possibly other states, to leave your car unlocked / running and you can be fined for it so co's like brant won't offer such a feature in fact they used to have it and removed that feature once the law came into being.

The Nemisis is a great alarm albeit a little cumbersome having to enter a pin number each time you get into the car. But that's the cost of protection I guess.

I know at the time I had my brant alarm fitted I spoke to Nick Grant and he said

1.) Their alarm is compatible with tracking devices and

2.) they were working on an alarm system which incorporated a tracking system which must be the Nemisis 2 mentioned above.

It is my understanding that most of the satalite tracking systems only offer coverage of your car in the metro area the car is housed in (i.e. Sydney). While there are no specs for the Nemisis 2 on their website yet there is mention of "vehicle tracking" which in it's specs mentions it is "GSM" based which, in my opinion is better than most tracking systems as it is based on a what is basically a mobile phone connection so coverage is available out side the metro area whereever you have coverage.

Another interesting product along the same lines is this one :

http://www.rojone.com.au/guardian.htm

Basically it is a tracking device which is also based on a GSM (and GPRS) connection and is separate to your alarm (it can be connected to your alarm). This sytem will ring you on your mobile phone (or other designated phone) once it detects an intrusion and you can then access the system to disable the car via a completely separate bunch of immobiliser(s) that those your alarm disables plus it will give you the location, speed, direction of travel etc of your car to within approx 10 metres. This system will connect to your alarm so that it will call you if your alarm is triggered the beauty of this system being a separate entity is while the thief is disabling your alarm you are being notified silently by this system and you can take action to recover your car if they manage to drive it away. Even if they tow the car away you can still track it.

Since this system is based on a mobile phone connection rather than satalite tracking you don't have to pay a couple of $200~$400 bucks a year for monitoring just put a $5 / month sim card in it.

No I don't work for any of these companies listed I just having nothing better to do than research car security

[Guest tgriffin]

Hey Shano,

Thanks for the info. I looked at the Rojone Genius, looks pretty slick.

I also spoke to Nick Grant via e-mail and he said this when I asked him why his system was better than Quiktrak:

"Quiktrak is restricted to metro areas Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane. Ours is GPS/GSM satellite operated so covers everywhere where the digital phone system works all across Australia. It is fully monitored 24/7"

It's interesting that it uses GPS - Quiktrak doesn't mention GPS on their site and I'd say they would if they used it, I think Quiktrak just use GSM.

[Guest shano2]

tgriffin,

No worries.

While I'm quite sure the Brant system is just as comprehensive the Rojone Genius as far as the tracking side of things goes (as are all brant products are) the thing I like about the Rojone product is that is a separate entity to your car alarm.

Which allows you to monitor the car yourself (only you know any relevant pin numbers, phone numbers etc) and while the prick trying to knock off your pride and joy is wasting time disabling the alarm you are already taking steps to either kick the living shit out of him or have the police find the car and catch him red handed and return your car safely.

I would be most interested to see how the Nemisis 2 works, being an integrated unit the only thing I would question is if the thief is able to disable the alarm does that also disable the tracking.

My preference at this stage would be to install the Nemisis AND the Rojone Genius (this will be my choice for my next car unless I'm satisfied the Nemisis 2 can offer the same protection).

Having said that I just sent Brant an email for some specs on their Nemisis 2 as they don't appear to have anything up on their website yet.

Quite frankly the Quiktrak system doesn't even enter the equation IMHO. It's good system but things have advanced since it's introduction and I believe there are products around which are far more user friendly (i.e Nemisis 2, Ronjone and others)

[Guest tgriffin]

Hey Shano,

"It is exactly the same as Nemesis 1 only with tracking included."

That is what Nick Grant said when I asked him what the Nemesis 2 was.

[Guest shano2]

Yeah but what are the specifics of the tracking side of the system??

Is the vehicle tracked in the same manner as Quiktrak (i.e completely monitored via Brant or some affiliate) with the exception of being GSM/GPRS based??

Or does it allow some user input like the Rojone system??

Or a combination of the two??

[Guest tgriffin]

Hey Shano,

It's monitored 24/7 by Brant, they do all the calling/tracking/etc just like Quiktrak.

[hippy]

those alarms seem to be way over my price range for an alarm .. i was wondering if anyone here is using viper brand car alarms?? if so do u think its any good?? is there an official web site i can go to?? is the wiring colour coded( they shouldn't be) ??

[Guest tgriffin]

It's not just an alarm, it's tracking too.

Originally posted by hippy

those alarms seem to be way over my price range for an alarm .. i was wondering if anyone here is using viper brand car alarms?? if so do u think its any good?? is there an official web site i can go to?? is the wiring colour coded( they shouldn't be) ??

[Guest GR33DyMANGO]

remember there may be thieves reading this. its a tad ironic if your going to tell people what type of alarm etc u have..... it only makes it easier for them to break into your car.....

[Guest 4NGI3]

hey hippy, i'm with u! i can't afford to pay that much for an alarm either. please don't put it down to not loving my car as much as everyone else, but my budget is not as expendable.

Shaneo, you're getting the Nemisis AND the Rojone Genius? dude can i borrow some money? how much is that gonna set u back? but hey i'd get them both if my budget allowed it!

anyways... does anyone have any suggestions of alarms that aren't so extravagent but will still deter bastard thieves? that tracking thing sound good but i guess that's what's making the alarms so pricey.

i like the idea of the key pad thingy before u start ur car - that's a good feature isn't it? and also wot do u think of the alarms that go, "STEP AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE!". hehe i really like those. anyone know what thats called and is it expensive? is it good to keep the thieves away or is it just novelty? i've always wanted one of those! but i guess the whole point of this post is to ask if anyone knows of a GOOD alarm system that's not gonna break the bank?

thanks.