Devine Concepts

Mobile Electronics Expert in Naples, Florida

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Product Spotlight: DroneMobile XC Connected Dashcam Security System

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DroneMobile XC

Thieves frequently target vehicles from Hyundai, Kia, Toyota, Lexus, RAM, Chevrolet, and Honda. These vehicles are often stolen for their parts or exported overseas. Well-integrated anti-theft systems like those from Compustar greatly reduce the chances that a thief will drive off in your vehicle. However, vehicle owners have long sought the ability to monitor their vehicle and its surroundings using their smartphone. The DroneMobile XC connected dash cam is the perfect solution. Let’s check it out!

What is DroneMobile?

DroneMobile is a smartphone interface created by Firstech, the parent company of Compustar and Arctic Start. DroneMobile allows you to use an app on your smartphone to communicate with, monitor and control your vehicle from almost anywhere on the planet. If the shock sensor on your Compustar alarm is triggered, the DroneMobile app will notify you within seconds. If someone opens a door, you’ll get an alert. If a thief is trying to cut off a catalytic converter, you’ll know about it.

DroneMobile hardware works with a remote car starter or security system to add smartphone control. Door lock, trunk release, and, when applicable, remote starter activation are as simple as tapping the screen of your Android-based smartphone or iPhone. The communication is bidirectional, so you’ll be advised when the command is executed. This feedback lets you know the car is locked and safe in your driveway for the evening.

DroneMobile XC is the only dash cam we’ve reviewed that offers this level of functionality and integration with aftermarket remote start or alarm systems.

DroneMobile XC
With a DroneMobile and a Compustar remote car starter, you can lock, unlock, or remote start your car or truck from anywhere your phone has cellular or Internet service.

GPS Locating Services

The DroneMobile system offers services at various feature levels. The basic package provides door lock and remote start control. You also get security alerts from an optional (but highly recommended) DAS-II security sensor. This means that impact, motion, or tilting will result in a nearly instant phone notification. You can also monitor the temperature inside the vehicle and keep an eye on battery voltage.

Upgrading to one of the Premium plans adds location-based alerts and monitoring. If the system reports that your vehicle has moved from where you parked it without authorization, you can tap the map screen to view its current location. You can set Geofences around specific areas to monitor usage. Several of the top programs include full breadcrumb trail tracking with turn-by-turn updates.

DroneMobile XC
GPS-based locating services allow you to monitor the location of your vehicle at any time.

High-Speed Communication

One of DroneMobile’s best features is its speed. Factory-installed smartphone control systems, such as MyMazda, can take more than 30 seconds to relay a command to the vehicle. It’s incredibly frustrating to have to wait that long. DroneMobile uses the fastest LTE services and Amazon cloud servers to execute a command in a second or two. Often, they can be faster than a key fob remote control. That’s truly impressive.

Live Video Feed

What makes the DroneMobile XC so special is its integrated camera system. It includes a Sony Starvis 2K QHD camera that monitors everything in front of the vehicle while you are driving. Videos are stored on an included 64GB microSD memory card.

What sets the XC apart from other dashcams is that it can use the onboard LTE modem to transmit video to the DroneMobile app on your smartphone. Using artificial intelligence, your phone can warn you when someone walks in front of your vehicle. You can turn on the video feed to see who is lurking around your vehicle. You can even speak with them. If it’s the neighbor kids, you can ask them to be careful around your pride and joy. If it’s someone more nefarious, you can alert them that the police have been notified and that the vehicle is being tracked.

The DroneMobile XC features many of the same capabilities as the DAS-II security sensor. So, impact, tilt, motion or glass breakage will immediately trigger an alert.

DroneMobile XC
The DroneMobile XC allows you to see what the camera sees in real time.

DroneMobile XC Installation

The DroneMobile XC mounts to the front windshield and can be mostly hidden behind the rearview mirror. It starts recording video as soon as the vehicle is started. Your DroneMobile retailer can add the optional RC1 rear camera to capture what’s happening behind your car or truck as you drive. Another option is the IR1 interior camera. A second camera capturing what’s happening inside the vehicle is a wise investment if you drive a taxi, limousine, Uber, Lyft, or other rideshare service. The IR1 includes infrared LEDs, so it can see in the dark without lighting up the interior. Only one additional camera can be added to the DroneMobile XC.

For the DroneMobile XC to control your vehicle, you need a remote car starter or security system from Compustar or one of its sister products. This system must be integrated into your car or truck to monitor door locks, the hood, trunk and ignition. If you want remote starter features, then a controller with remote start functionality and a vehicle data interface will be required.

A local authorized DroneMobile and Compustar retailer can tell you the total cost of the system, including professional installation and configuration. Likewise, they can review the prices for the DroneMobile XC service plans to help you choose an option that provides the features you desire.

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.

Product Spotlight: Compustar 2WG17 Remote Kit

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Compustar 2WG17 Remote KitCompustar was one of the first brands to allow consumers to choose a remote control package to accompany their remote start controller. Previously, we looked at flagship-level solutions like the PRO T13 and PRO R5. In this spotlight, we’re taking a closer look at the new and more affordable 2WG17 remote package. Let’s check it out!

What’s Included with the 2WG17:

  • The Compustar 2WG17 remote bundle includes:
  • A pair of three-button remote controls
  • A Drone X2/LTE module
  • An antenna with cable
  • A temperature sensor

Your authorized retailer can recommend the most suitable system controller for your vehicle. If you’re looking for full-featured performance, something like the CM-X is a popular and capable choice.

2-Way Remote Control

Taking a closer look, we see that the remotes included in this kit differ from each other. The primary remote, model 2WG17R-FM, is a two-way unit. It features three buttons, and three LED indicators located just above the top button. These LEDs confirm when a command like locking or remote starting is successfully received and executed by the vehicle control module.

The LEDs also indicate the remaining engine runtime when the vehicle is running via remote start:

  • All three LEDs flash when 100% of runtime remains
  • Center and right LEDs flash at 50%
  • Only the right LED (start icon) flashes at 25%

Don’t be fooled by the remote’s simple three-button design. Lock, unlock, and remote start are directly accessible, while advanced functions are handled through intuitive button combinations:

  • Trunk release: Press and hold the unlock button for 2.5 seconds
  • Auxiliary output 1: Press start, then double-press the lock button
  • Auxiliary output 2: Press start, then double-press the unlock button

These outputs can be programmed to control functions like sliding doors, tailgate glass releases, or additional lighting.

Using other button combinations, you can also control features such as siren chirps, shock sensor settings, valet mode, ignition-controlled door locks, passive locking, and turbo timer activation. This makes the remote highly customizable to fit your specific needs.

Compustar 2WG17 Remote Kit
The main remote includes LEDs to confirm when commands are executed using 2-way communication with the vehicle controller.

1-Way Remote Control

The secondary remote, model 1WG17-FM, offers similar core control functions but does not include 2-way confirmation LEDs. It’s a great backup remote or a simpler option for another household driver.

Both remotes feature up to 3,000 feet of range thanks to Frequency Modulation (FM) signal transmission. That’s enough to start your vehicle from inside a small apartment, office building, or even across a massive parking lot.

Another standout feature is that both remotes are water-resistant. It should keep functioning without issue if you accidentally drop your key fob in a puddle or snowbank. This durability adds a layer of everyday peace of mind and extends the lifespan of your investment.

Compustar 2WG17 Remote Kit
The companion remote in the 2WG17 kit offers the same 3000 feet of range.

Drone Smartphone Control

The 2WG17 package includes a Drone X2/LTE module for smartphone control. When paired with the DroneMobile app, you gain full access to your remote start system from virtually anywhere your phone has internet access.

You can:

  • Lock or unlock the doors
  • Start or stop the engine
  • Release the trunk
  • Activate auxiliary features

Whether at the office or vacationing in another country, you can easily check the vehicle’s status or control it. On the beach in Mexico and want make sure the doors are locked – it’s as simple a tapping an icon in the DroneMobile app.

GPS tracking is also enabled with a compatible service plan. If your vehicle is moved—say, loaded onto a flatbed—you’ll receive a notification. You can then alert authorities and provide your vehicle’s location in real time.

Retailers can walk you through the available service plans and help you select one that matches your needs.

Compustar 2WG17 Remote Kit
The 2WG17 kit includes a Drone smartphone interface for your remote car starter.

Ready to Roll in Comfort

The included temperature sensor allows for automatic climate-related activation features. For instance, you can:

  • Automatically turn on the rear window defroster when starting the vehicle in cold temperatures
  • Trigger heated seats or a heated steering wheel

The product specialist helping to configure your system can tell you which factory features in your vehicle are compatible with these automatic activations. These small touches add significant comfort and convenience during extreme weather.

Add Comfort with a Compustar 2WG17 Remote Car Starter

Whether you live in Montana or New York and dread frigid winter mornings, or you’re in Florida or Texas and want to avoid stepping into a sweltering vehicle, a remote car starter from Compustar ensures your ride is comfortable every time you get in.

The 2WG17 remote kit offers high-quality, affordable functionality. It combines convenience, rugged durability, and peace of mind thanks to two-way command confirmation. It’s a smart upgrade for any vehicle.

For more information on the Compustar 2WG17 remote kit or any of Compustar’s remote car starter and vehicle security solutions, drop by a local authorized retailer. You can find a shop near you using the dealer locator tool on the Compustar website. Be sure to follow Compustar on Facebook, Instagram, and, of course, on YouTube to learn about the new technologies they bring to the market.

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.

10 Things You Didn’t Know You Could Do with a Remote Car Starter

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Remote Car StarterWith summer coming to an end and frost in the forecast, there’s no better time to add a remote starter to your car, truck or SUV. Most of us know that our remote starter systems can also control the power locks in our vehicles, but many systems are full of additional advanced features that add convenience and improved comfort to our vehicles. Let’s look at 10 things you may not know your remote starter can do.

Before we dive in, we should let you know that the functions we are going to describe are dependent on the model of remote starter you choose, the remote you choose and the vehicle you own. Talk to your local mobile enhancement retailer about these options and any associated costs.

1. Rear Window Defroster Activation

You may know about this one, since it is probably the number-one option people add to their remote starter systems. If the interior of your vehicle is below a certain predetermined temperature when the car is remote started, the remote starter system can automatically activate the rear window defroster to help you see clearly when it is time to go. Even a few minutes of warm-up time can make clearing the rear window quick and easy before you get in the car. Likewise, some cars have sideview mirror defrosters tied to the rear window heating system for added convenience.

2. Trunk/Hatch Release

Remote Car StarterTrunk or hatch release from a multi-button remote isn’t all that exciting, but it sure is convenient. If your vehicle doesn’t happen to have a trunk release button, ask your retailer about adding a solenoid. Yep, they can add the power trunk function to most vehicles.

3. Remote Start Your Car from Your Phone or Apple Watch

Several different options for telematics systems use an application on your iPhone or Android phone to lock, unlock and remote start your vehicle. Several of these apps are compatible with the Apple Watch, so you can press a button on your wrist to warm up your vehicle.

4. Start Automatically When the Weather is Cold or Hot

Many remote starter systems can be programmed to start automatically when the internal vehicle temperature drops below or rises above a predetermined temperature. Temperature start will ensure the temperature does not get too extreme.

5. Start Every Few Hours or Daily

Some systems offer the ability to start every few hours. When the temperature outside is frigidly cold, keeping some warmth in the engine, fuel system and coolant is useful. You can toggle this function from most remote controls.

6. Protect Your Vehicle

Remote Car StarterA remote starter system can often be upgraded with security system functions. Starter kill, a siren and a multi-stage shock sensor help to ensure that would-be thieves are sent packing if they start messing with your vehicle. If you have a two-way remote control or a smartphone telematics system, you will be alerted as soon as the alarm goes off.

7. Control Power Sliding Doors

If you drive a van with motorized sliding side doors, your mobile enhancement retailed can often add control for those into your remote started. Most system includes one or two auxiliary outputs that can be used to open or close doors or power tailgates.

8. Control Power Windows and Sunroof

Remote Car StarterRemote starters are just as useful when the weather is hot as they are when it’s cold. In many applications, we can add a module that allows you to roll your windows up or down, and open or close your sunroof. Imagine arriving at your destination with your windows down and sunroof open. You get out of the vehicle and start walking away. When you press the lock button on your remote, all the windows roll up, and the sunroof closes automatically. It’s not only a convenient feature, but it’s kinda cool, too!

9. Control Multiple Vehicles

Remote Car StarterIf there are two vehicles in your family with similar remote starter systems, you can often control both from a single remote control. Depending on your remote, you can toggle between vehicles, or control the second vehicle using an extra button press before the function you want to activate.

10. Extend the Life of Your Engine

Remote Car StarterPerhaps this should be the first item, because it’s one of the most important features a remote starter offers. Most people think they are buying a remote starter to make the vehicle more comfortable for them. While this is true, letting your engine warm up before you start driving can extend its life dramatically.

The oil in your engine is responsible for preventing metal-on-metal contact. When the engine is cold, the oil is thicker and has a harder time flowing. If you start your car and start driving right away, the oil may not be able to protect the engine. Even 2 minutes of warm-up time when it’s 40 degrees out can help warm up the oil and get it flowing. (Always be gentle on the gas until the engine has warmed up fully – remote started or not.)

Remote Car Starters Add Convenience

Even if you just want a head start on warming up your vehicle, a remote car starter is an excellent way to save time and improve your comfort. Talk to your local mobile enhancement retailer about the options that are available for 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.

Product Spotlight: Compustar EZGO-II

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Compustar EZGO-II

Hands-free proximity unlocking is a feature found on many new cars and trucks fresh off the showroom floor. The Compustar EZGO-II adds this convenience to your remote car starter or security system. Let’s take a close look at this unique keyless entry solution.

What are Keyless Entry and Proximity Unlocking?

A typical keyless entry system uses a key fob to unlock the doors of your car or truck. The key fob communicates with the electronics in the vehicle using radio frequency signals. In most cases, you need to press the unlock button on the fob to disarm the security system and unlock the doors. This keyless entry technology was a major upgrade from manually inserting a key into a door lock, as was common in the ’90s.

Compustar developed a fully hands-free unlocking solution when it launched the Compustar PRO T13 and R5 remote controls for its starters and alarms in 2021. That same technology is now available in the EZGO-II proximity unlocking system.

Proximity unlocking refers to the automated process of unlocking the doors of your car or truck as you approach the vehicle. As we found when testing the T13 and R5 remotes, when you are about four or five feet from the door, the system will automatically detect the remote in your pocket and unlock the vehicle. In most cases, the tailgate of an SUV or truck will also unlock to provide full access to the vehicle.

Once the last door is closed, the system will search for the EZGO-II remote. When it doesn’t detect the remote, it automatically locks the doors. If you remain around the vehicle for five minutes or more after turning off the engine, the proximity locking feature is disabled until a door is opened or the vehicle is started.

With a Compustar remote starter or alarm and the EZGO-II, looking for car keys is a thing of the past.

The EZGO-II Remote

The EZGO-II system includes a small antenna and a compact, square remote with a single button. In terms of features, it’s surprisingly similar to the T5 remote we mentioned earlier. First and foremost, the remote will automatically unlock your vehicle as you approach. This is a godsend if you are carrying groceries or have one of your kids in your arms. Sure, you still have to pull the door handle to open it, but that’s always been the case.

Next, the remote’s single button allows you to lock or unlock the doors from up to 150 feet away from the vehicle. A single tap sends a lock command, and double-tapping the button sends the unlock command.

Finally, if you hold the button for 2.5 seconds, the remote will transmit a start command to your car starter. Pressing and holding the button again for 2.5 seconds will transmit a stop command. So, if you are in your home and the vehicle is in the driveway, the EZGO-II remote provides enough range to start the vehicle remotely.

The EZGO-II remote has a small LED that indicates when it is within range of the remote car starter or security system controller.

If you need additional range, then upgrading your car starter or security system with the Drone smartphone-based control system is a perfect solution. So long as you have access to the Internet, you can lock, unlock or remote start the vehicle. With a premium service plan, you can also use GPS-based tracking to monitor the vehicle’s location and how it’s being used.

Compustar EZGO-II
If you need more range to control your vehicle, add the Drone smartphone control system.

How Does Proximity Unlocking Work?

If you are like us, then knowing how something works is as interesting as the features it offers. The EZGO-II system uses a communication system called Bluetooth Low Energy, or Bluetooth LE. The key fob transmits a low-power signal that can be picked up by the EZGO-II antenna mounted to the dash. If the signal matches the security pattern, the antenna sends a digital command to the remote start or security system controller in the vehicle. That module then sends an unlock command to the vehicle’s door locks or, in some cases, the body control module (BCM).

When you close the last door, the antenna starts communicating with the EZGO-II remote again. Once the communication stops, as would happen when you walk away from the vehicle, the antenna sends a lock command to the controller.

Bluetooth LE was designed specifically for applications like what we’ve described above. These systems can consume as little as one microamp of current when in standby mode. As such, a typical CR2032 coin cell can last for more than a year. Even when communicating, the current draw is well under five milliamps. This communication is brief, however – lasting only as long as the remote is near the vehicle and the engine isn’t running. Put another way, the remote only consumes relatively high amounts of current while you are approaching or walking away from your car or truck. Honestly, that’s pretty cool!

Compustar EZGO-II
The EZGO-II remote control is incredibly small, measuring 1.5 inches square and only 0.25-inches thick.

Upgrade Your Convenience System Today

If you have a Compustar, NuStart, or FTX-branded remote car starter, the EZGO-II should be a compatible upgrade. Your Firstech (the parent company of the above brands) retailer can provide up to two additional remotes—whether they’re the EZGO-II or a more conventional one-button or four-button unit.

If you want to unlock your car, truck or SUV by simply walking up to it, you can find an authorized Compustar retailer near you using the dealer locator tool on their website. Be sure to follow Compustar on Facebook, Instagram and, of course, YouTube to stay up to date with all the new products and technologies available from this award-winning company.

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.

Why Does My Car Have Surround Sound?

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Surround SoundIf you have ever been to a movie theatre, you have probably experienced what is known as surround sound. There are at least five discreet audio tracks encoded into the film you are watching, and most also include a Low-Frequency Effects (LFE) channel. The purpose of these audio channels is to allow the source of each sound to be directed to a particular location in the theater so everyone can enjoy a realistic experience, no matter where they are sitting.

This is what has brought about the introduction of surround sound processing to the automotive world. It is relatively easy for an audio system designer to set up a realistic listening experience from a single listening position using equalization, precise output level adjustment and signal delay. Even when you sit much closer to one speaker, careful tuning can make the music appear to come from an imaginary speaker array all across the soundstage.

The Front Stage

For mobile audio enthusiasts, much of our efforts in system design and tuning go into the creation of the front stage. This term describes the speakers that are installed in front of us and their locations. We can use signal processing to adjust the output of each speaker so the music sounds as if it is coming from the center of the dash, even though you are sitting on the left side of the vehicle. The problem with these adjustments is that they only work for one seating location. The passenger often suffers with less-than-ideal frequency response and most of the music seems to emanate from the right side of the dash. For realism, this is less than ideal.

Sound-steering Technology

Surround SoundMost movie theaters have dedicated left, center and right speakers behind the main screen. Including the center channel allows the audio producer to fix the position of voices and effects in a specific location relative to the screen. If someone is being interviewed and is centered in the image, their voice will most likely be reproduced by the center speaker only. If they move across the picture, the level of their voice decreases in the center and increases in one of the left or right speakers relative to their position. Even if you are sitting on the far right side of the theatre, voices and sounds are steered for incredible realism.

Surround Sound in Cars and Trucks

Surround SoundThink about how well the ability to steer sound works in a theater when you are in a less-than-ideal seating position. Now think about your vehicle. You are sitting much closer to the left-side speakers. You will hear sound from them before anything from the right speakers, and those sounds will be louder. Your music will seem to come from the door or left side of the dash.

By including a center channel in the middle of the dash, the system designer can route audio signals that are equal in amplitude in both left and right channels to the center speaker. To improve the accuracy of the system a step further, those signals are also removed from the left and right speakers. The result is a system that reproduces music evenly across the dash from both the left and right seat. Music sounds great from the back seats as well.

Rear and Side Speakers

Surround SoundIn our movie theater, the rear or side speakers are primarily used for special effects. A helicopter or plane flying into the scene from behind us is a good example. In modern movie production, that information is hardcoded into the surround channels.

Because we are only listening to two-channel audio (left and right) in our vehicles, there is no opportunity for the music producers to direct specific sounds to rear channels. However, complex signal processors from companies like Bose and Harman do an excellent job of extracting audio information that is suitable for the rear speakers. Sophisticated algorithms can also produce an increased sense of soundstage width in systems with speakers in the rear doors. Rear deck speakers add a sense of ambiance and room size to the performance. How they analyze the relative phase and amplitude of signals within the stereo recording is simply amazing. So, too, are the results of their efforts. Your music can appear to come from spaces beyond the boundaries of your vehicle.

Mix it Up

OK, we admit that the title of this article is click bait. We are talking about upmixers here. An upmixer, by definition, takes a number of audio channels (in our case, two) and turns them into a greater number of channels (usually six). If we feed an upmixer left and right signals, it can generate left, center, right, left rear, right rear and subwoofer output signals. Some upmixers provide eight channels: left, center, right, left side, right side, left rear, right rear and subwoofer. Many OEM systems use these 7.1 systems with great success!

You sold me! Gimme, Gimme, Gimme!

Surround SoundWhen it comes to the aftermarket, the options for upmixers are limited. Some people have mucked around with using computers or tablets with external sound cards, but the interface is clunky and frustrating. On top of that, you don’t get a radio tuner, there is no backup camera input and you can’t add SiriusXM. Tablets look cool, but they are not ideal for use in vehicles.

The Alpine PXA-H800 processor (and companion RUX-C800 controller) includes Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II and DTS Digital Surround decoding. This processor will generate a genuine center channel signal with audio information that is removed from the left and right channels.

Audiofrog hasn’t been shy about the fact that they are working on a new signal processor that is specifically designed to create a realistic center channel and surround channels. The solution is called Multiseat Stereo. Unlike most systems that use versions of DTS or Dolby Digital, Audiofrog has partnered with PerfectSurround to create a system that is free from phase artifacts.

Confused? Don’t be. In a nutshell, PerfectSurround does a better job of steering sound than other processing systems. The results are more realistic and provide better bass focus in the front of the vehicle. There is no firm release date as yet, due to patent applications and all that business stuff, but keep your eyes peeled.

The Future of Great Mobile Audio for Everyone

If you and your co-pilot both love great car audio, then a mobile sound system with a correctly processed center channel is an easy way for both of you to enjoy a realistic performance from any position in the vehicle. If your car or truck came with a surround sound system, visit your local mobile enhancement retailer to find out how they can upgrade it with better speakers, more power and tuning that matches your listening preferences.

If you are designing a new system, then keep an eye out for new processors to arrive on the market. The future of mobile entertainment that sounds realistic for everyone in the vehicle will be based on upmixers.

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.