Devine Concepts

Mobile Electronics Expert in Naples, Florida

Remote Car Starters

A Close Look at the DroneMobile Car Starter Remote Control System

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DroneMobile Remote Control

DroneMobile is undoubtedly one of the best solutions to control a remote car starter or security system in your car or truck. While the traditional key fob remote is a great backup, being able to send commands to your vehicle from almost anywhere using your smartphone is ultra-convenient. Better yet, your vehicle can use DroneMobile to send notifications to advise you if someone is tampering with it. Let’s take a close look at some of the features of this impressive vehicle control and communication system.

What Is DroneMobile?

Telematics is the name given to solutions used to monitor the location and operation of cars and trucks using a telecommunication system. Suppose your vehicle has a Compustar, iDataStart or iDatalink remote car starter or security system. In that case, DroneMobile allows you to use your smartphone to send commands to the system controller in the vehicle instead of a traditional key fob. The system uses an application on your Android or Apple smartphone to talk to a DroneMobile computer module in your vehicle using the cellular data network. You can send unlock, lock or remote start commands with a simple touch of a button. Auxiliary outputs and trunk release control are also available. You can even activate the panic feature right from your phone.

DroneMobile Remote Control
The DroneMobile App makes it easy to send remote start, locking and unlocking and trunk release commands to your vehicle.

When you launch the DroneMobile app, you’ll initially see a status screen display for the last vehicle you sent commands to. Indeed, DroneMobile will work with any number of vehicles, making it perfect for a family with two cars or a company with a fleet of commercial vehicles. The status screen displays the battery voltage and the temperature inside your car or truck (if you have a temperature sensor built into your remote car starter). All of these functions are included with the Basic service package, which costs as little as $3.99 a month. That’s much less than most factory-installed telematics systems cost.

DroneMobile Remote Control
Vehicle battery voltage and internal temperature information can easily be seen on the status screen of the DroneMobile app.

Vehicle Security Features

Another essential feature of DroneMobile is its security features. If you have a Compustar car alarm or have added the DAS or DAS-II sensor to a Compustar remote car starter, then alerts from the alarm will show up on your phone as a notification. If you have installed the DroneMobile app on your smartwatch, the notifications will also show up there.

DroneMobile Remote Control
Alarm notifications will be displayed on a smartwatch when the DroneMobile App is installed.

Another feature included in the Premium and higher packages is towing alerts. If your vehicle is moved without the ignition being turned on, you’ll get an instant notification on your smartphone. If you have a luxury or exotic vehicle and are concerned that someone might tow it away in the middle of the night, this feature is a perfect way to protect your pride and joy.

Find and Track Your Vehicle or Fleet

If you opt for the Premium service plan, you can access a full suite of GPS-based functions and warnings. When you log into the app, DroneMobile will show you exactly where your vehicle is located on Apple or Google maps. Tapping on the map screen will enlarge the map and show you the engine status (off or running); if the vehicle is moving, it will display how fast it’s traveling. This feature is quite handy if you share your car or truck with a family member.

DroneMobile Remote Control
The DroneMobile system will let you know where your vehicle is and how fast it’s traveling with a few quick taps.

You can also configure GPS-based alerts and notifications. Speed Monitoring will notify you if the vehicle exceeds a predefined limit. Likewise, you can set curfew hours and receive a notification if the vehicle is started during that time. These features are excellent for business owners with a fleet of vehicles.

DroneMobile Remote Control
The advanced tracking features are like having a silent watchdog that keeps an eye on your vehicle for you.

The Premium plan also includes user-configurable Point of Interest and geofence warnings. If one of your kids borrows the family vehicle to go to work, you can configure a geofence around the location and receive a notification when they arrive and when they leave. This is also an excellent feature for company vehicles that are intended for use in specific areas.

DroneMobile Remote Control
It’s easy to configure a geofence around a destination to receive alerts from the DroneMobile system.

The Premium service plan will also track how far the vehicle has been driven to let you know when it’s time for service and maintenance. Should the computer in your car or truck produce a check engine light or error code, DroneMobile can forward that information to you.

Advanced GPS Features Are Great for Business

The DroneMobile Premium Plus and Ultimate service plans add detailed breadcrumb trails and turn-by-turn tracking. If you use your vehicle for work, the system will log each trip. You can log into the DroneMobile website to generate travel reports for your expenses. That information is stored for six months, so there is lots of time to create reports for income tax purposes.

DroneMobile Remote Control
The turn-by-turn and breadcrumb trail features of the Premium Plus service plan are excellent tools for fleet owners.

High-Speed Communication

One complaint we hear from people using factory-installed smartphone control systems is that they seem to take forever to send commands from the smartphone app to the vehicle. We’ve heard from many people that the process can take 30 to 60 seconds. DroneMobile modules are built using LTE-based cellular communication radios, and the authentication database is hosted by Amazon Web Services (AWS). The result is a system that works with lightning-quick speed. In most cases, commands from your phone or watch are received and executed by the vehicle in two to three seconds. You’ll get confirmation back to the app that whatever command you’ve requested has been completed in the same blazing-fast time.

Ready When You Are

Compustar bundles a Drone X1 module with most of its premium two-way remote-control systems. New users are provided a 30-day Premium trial to experiment with the system’s features. An important consideration is that you can activate DroneMobile as you need it. If you don’t need to remote start your vehicle in the summer and only use the system in the winter, you can pay for service from December to March. Should your vehicle be stolen or you lock your keys inside and need access, you can activate the subscription and use the tracking or unlock the doors in a few minutes. You can even use DroneMobile from a desktop computer connected to the internet by visiting the DroneMobile website. One of our co-workers managed to lock his keys and phone in his truck. He used a computer at the restaurant he was dining at to log into the website and send an unlock command to the vehicle. The whole process took only a few minutes. You can even log into the dronemobile.com website using the web browser on a smartphone or tablet. As long as you have internet access, you are connected.

DroneMobile Remote Control
The DroneMobile website lets you send commands to your vehicle quickly and easily.

DroneMobile – The Ultimate Vehicle Control and Monitoring System

If you want to communicate with the remote car starter or security system in your car or truck from almost anywhere in the country, visit a local authorized Compustar or iDataStart retailer and ask about adding DroneMobile. Once you’re used to its speed and convenience, you’ll wonder how you lived without it.

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: iDatastart VWX Remote Starter for Volkswagen and Audi

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Volkswagen Car Starter

Volkswagen, Audi and Bentley vehicle owners are in luck! The VWX remote car starter from iDatastart was specifically designed for your vehicle. Starting your car a few minutes before leaving for work or the drive home will let the engine warm up in the winter or allow the air conditioning to cool things off in the summer. Either way, your drive will be much more enjoyable. Let’s take a close look at the features and some of the options available from this unique remote car starter.

iDatastart VWX Features and Compatibility

The VWX includes all the inputs and outputs necessary to allow it to start Volkswagen and Audi vehicles reliably. Aside from starting your Golf, Jetta, A3 or A4, you have complete remote control over door locking, unlocking and trunk or hatch release control on compatible models. The system includes a dedicated output for the vehicle horn, and an optional siren can be added to provide enhanced security and protection. The system can monitor the hood, trunk and door status to let you know if someone is trying to break in.

Depending on the specific year, make, and model of the Volkswagen or Audi vehicle you own, the VWX can automatically activate the rear window defroster and factory-installed heated or cooled seats after the vehicle is started.

Volkswagen Car Starter
The IDatastart VWX is a remote car starter controller specifically designed to work with Audi, Volkswagen and Bentley vehicles.

Remote Control Options

The VWX can be used with current Compustar remote control kits, including the fantastic 3-mile-range, two-way T13 LCD unit or the one-button R5. The new Q9 remote is an excellent option for a price-conscious two-way remote with an LCD screen. Two-way communication lets you know that a lock, unlock or remote start request sent from the remote has been received by the VWX controller in the vehicle.

Volkswagen Car Starter
Compustar offers a variety of remotes like the Q9, T13, R5 or R3 that work with the VWX controller.

For the ultimate convenience, you can pair the VWX with the DroneMobile smartphone telematic control system. You can send commands over the cellular data network to your vehicle using an app on your Apple or Android-based smartphone and a communication module connected to the VWX in the vehicle. You can check to ensure that the doors are locked when the car is parked at the airport and you’re sitting at the pool bar at a resort in the Bahamas.

Using one of the Premium service plans for DroneMobile adds GPS locating and alert options. You will get a notification any time your vehicle moves or an alert if someone drives off after bedtime. If you share your car or SUV with a family member, a quick tap on the smartphone app will let you know exactly where your vehicle is and how fast it’s traveling.

If your vehicle comes with a keyless entry fob, the iDatastart VWX can be programmed to work with that remote. Pressing unlock will not only open the doors but deactivate the security features of the VWX. The VWX can be configured to remote start the vehicle if you press the lock button on the factory remotes three times in quick succession. This feature is called 3X Lock Start and is handy if you want to use the factory key fob to keep your keychain uncluttered, along with DroneMobile for those times when you are too far away from the RF remote.

Volkswagen Car Starter
DroneMobile is an easy way to remote start or unlock your Volkswagen or Audi from almost anywhere using your smartphone.

Upgrade Your Comfort with a Volkswagen or Audi Remote Starter

If you are shopping for a remote car starter for a 2006 or newer Volkswagen or Audi (or a Bentley Bentayga), drop by a local authorized retailer and ask about the iDatastart VWX system. They can explain exactly which features and functions are compatible with your vehicle’s specific year, model and trim level. The dealer will also help you choose the best remote control solution based on where you park the vehicle at home, at work and out on the town. Ensuring that you have the right control options and range is crucial to warming up or cooling the vehicle long before it’s time to drive off.

For more information on the iDatastart VWX, you can visit the iData website. In the United States, iDatastart products are distributed by Firstech, the parent company of Compustar. Most Compustar retailers have access to this unique Volkswagen and Audi-specific car starter solution.

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.

DroneMobile Smartphone Vehicle Control Response Time vs OEM

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Smartphone Control

Being able to lock, unlock or remote start your car or truck using an app on your smartphone is handy. In listening to what owners of these solutions have been saying over the last few years, we’ve noticed a disturbing pattern: Most factory-installed remote systems are agonizingly slow. Nobody wants to wait around for their vehicle to unlock. So let’s do some research and see how the DroneMobile system from Firstech stacks up in terms of responsiveness.

What Is a Telematics System?

In the context of cars and trucks, telematics is a way of remotely controlling basic vehicle functions using an app on your smartphone. In essence, these systems replicate the operation of a key fob to let you lock or unlock your vehicle, pop the trunk or hatch, or remote start the engine. In addition, many systems include a GPS receiver that can locate your vehicle on a map or configure location-based security alerts.

DroneMobile is the aftermarket telematics system offered by Firstech – the company behind Compustar remote car starter and security systems. DroneMobile can be integrated with a Compustar remote car starter to provide unlimited control range. So long as your vehicle is parked somewhere with cellular service and your smartphone has access to the internet, you can send commands quickly and easily.

Smartphone Control
DroneMobile does much more than just let you lock, unlock and remotely start your vehicle.

Smartphone Control Response Time

In addition to reliability and ease of use, impressive response time is one of the main reasons thousands of people have upgraded their cars and trucks with this system. Firstech moved its authentication services to AWS a few years ago to increase reliability and responsiveness. AWS is one of the world’s premier cloud computing platforms and is used by companies like Netflix, Amazon, Capital One, Coca-Cola, Expedia and thousands more to host their online platforms.

If you’re sitting at your desk at work and want to remote start your vehicle with your smartphone, it doesn’t matter significantly if the process takes 2, 20 or 120 seconds. However, if you’re walking up to your vehicle and want to use your phone to unlock it, response time matters. The last thing you want is to stand in front of your vehicle for 30, 40 or 60 seconds while data commands travel around the globe. You want the system to unlock as quickly as possible so you can be on your way.

We surveyed a group of friends to look at the response time of the telematics systems that came with their cars and trucks. The answers were surprising in all regards. Most response times were slower than we expected, with a surprisingly significant number of users completely giving up on these systems because they often didn’t respond.

Smartphone Control

If we average all the responses, it took just under 18 seconds from when an icon on the smartphone was pressed to when the vehicle responded on most factory-installed telematics systems. In most cases, this was a simple lock or unlock command. However, the time it took for these vehicles to remote start and then report their status back to the app was often more than twice that.

DroneMobile – The King of Vehicle Remote Control Speed

Most of the employees at BestCarAudio.com have Compustar remote starters installed in their vehicles. We also have DroneMobile telematics systems integrated with those starters. We surveyed our team and many of our peers and found that the average response time for a lock or unlock request was about 2 seconds. In some cases, it was less. Sending a lock command over LTE was often faster than using a one-button RF remote. This isn’t a failing of the remote – it waits a second before transmitting to see if you’re going to press the button again.

If you have remote started your car or truck from inside your home, work, a restaurant or movie theater and are approaching the vehicle, using the DroneMobile system to unlock the doors in about 2 seconds is, frankly, the way these systems should work.

Upgrade Your Vehicle with DroneMobile

Many friends we talked with for this article expressed an interest in replacing the factory system with a solution like DroneMobile. The slow response time or complete failure of the system to function had led many of them to abandon using the factory-installed solutions. If you’re shopping for a lightning-quick telematics system for your car or truck, drop by a local DroneMobile retailer today. You can learn more about this impressive smartphone control solution by visiting the DroneMobile website, their Facebook page, Instagram feed or YouTube channel.

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.

Car Starter Remote Control Options

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Starter RemoteIt’s fall, and for the mobile electronics industry, the focus shifts directly to the sales and installation of remote car starters. The size of the remote start industry is inconceivably vast. Some retailers sell and install more than a thousand of these handy little gadgets in a single season! Best Car Audio wants to help you make the purchasing process easier. Here is our introduction to remote car starter remote control options.

What Does the Remote Do?

The remote control provided with your car starter allows you to start your vehicle without having to go outside or put your key in the ignition. The philosophy is that on a cold winter morning or scorching hot summer day, you can start your vehicle a few minutes before you go outside, giving the heating or cooling system a head start on making the vehicle more comfortable.

Starter Remote
Remote range is affected by a number of things

Remote controls communicate with your vehicle using radio frequency transmission. There are two different types of communication – Amplitude Modulation (AM) and Frequency Modulation (FM). The methodology of communication alone does not determine the performance of the remote regarding range, and range is a key point in choosing a remote control. Range is the distance between you and your vehicle when the remote starter will execute commands from the remote. If you are out of range and you press the Start button on your remote, nothing happens.

Typical Range Performance

Last year, we tested a few systems that claimed to offer one-mile range. We installed both systems in the same vehicle, one after the other. We parked the vehicle in the same location to test each system. Both systems offered performance that was nearly identical and worked reliably up to about 1,600 feet away – not close to a mile. We contacted some industry peers about the performance of other systems. We saw a test of another brand, rated to provide 1 mile of range and capable of starting the vehicle from as far as 1.25 miles away. As expected, the performance of your system may vary dramatically.

Why didn’t the systems we tested work as advertised? Most manufacturers advertise “maximum range.” This distance would be under ideal conditions: no buildings, no foliage, no radio frequency interference. Imagine being in the middle of a desert and everyone else turned off all their radios, cellphone systems, TV broadcasts, satellite communications and so forth. In this impossible scenario, you’d get about a mile of range.

Starter Remote
3 mile remote range is now a reality

Why did the other system exceed the manufacturer’s ratings? Maybe this manufacturer under-rated the range. Maybe there was a lack of interference in the area. The purpose of this discussion is to clarify that performance differs based on the system you choose and where you use it.

When you go shopping for remotes, you will see a few options for range. Manufacturers advertise the shortest-range remotes as working as far away as 800 feet. Next up are the 1/4-mile or about 1,300- to 1,500-foot range units. Different companies offer different intermediate range solutions, increasing to 2,500 or 3,000 feet, then to 1 mile. One manufacturer offers a remote that claims to work at up to 3 miles. That is very cool!

Remote Feature Overview

The next consideration in selecting a car remote starter revolves around the number of buttons on the remote. The product specialist at your mobile electronics retailer will advise you about what the remote starter can control for vehicle options. These options include door locks, factory alarm control, trunk/hatch release, sliding door control, rear window defroster activation and more. Once you decide which, if any, of these features will be part of your system, you can decide which remote you need.

Starter Remote
Color displays and multiple buttons add convenience.

One-button remotes are, of course, the simplest. The single button can be used to lock and unlock the vehicle, as well as activate the remote car starter. Some remotes have four or five buttons. These remotes have dedicated buttons for locking/arming, unlocking/disarming, trunk release and remote starting. Most five-button remotes include a Function key to access additional features like auxiliary outputs and vehicle information display. Multi-button remotes are required when the system includes features like trunk or hatch release. Single-button remotes can’t activate those features.

Communication Options

Separate from the range and button configuration of a remote are options for how the remote communicates with the vehicle. A one-way remote is like your TV remote – it only sends commands to the vehicle. You have no way of knowing whether the command was received or executed unless you can physically see the vehicle. A two-way remote can send commands to the vehicle and receive information back from the vehicle. Every two-way remote has some method of letting you know what is happening. This information can be presented via LEDs, on an LCD screen, with beeps and vibrations, or a combination of many of these.

Starter Remote
2-way remote with LCD display

Let’s look at a real-world example of how a two-way remote control can be beneficial. The simplest of functions is locking your car. You press the button on your remote control, and the car should lock. But what if you didn’t lock the car before you went into a shopping mall, office building or home? If you have a one-way remote, you can only hope that pressing the lock button at this longer distance will secure your vehicle. If you have a two-way remote and the vehicle is in range, the vehicle will send a confirmation to the remote to let you know it worked – that it received and executed the command. No guessing is required.

Several manufacturers offer additional vehicle information display on remotes with LCD screens. You can query the vehicle to display battery voltage or vehicle temperature.

Other Communication Options

Starter Remote
The ultimate in long-range use is with smartphone based systems.

System control options use different technologies. These include Bluetooth interfaces that allow you to control the system from an app on your phone. Smartphone interfaces use the cellular network and an app to let you manage and monitor your vehicle from anywhere in the world – as long as you have a data connection. Proximity keys that unlock the vehicle when you approach it are another option. There are also small keypads that mount to the inside of the windshield so you can type in a code to lock or unlock the vehicle.

Whatever remote control solution you pick for your remote starter, be sure to deal with a reputable retailer to install the system. You want to choose someone who will take their time to perform the installation as reliably as possible. They should be cautious and gentle with your vehicle as they disassemble it to access wiring. They must stand behind the work they do. In many cases, the quality and reliability of the installation are proportional to the price for the system. If the price seems too good to be true, you may want to do some additional research. Online reviews are a great source of information.

Enjoy your remote car starter – it really will make a big difference in the comfort of 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.

Convenience System Accessories

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Convenience System Accessories

A remote starter, keyless entry or security system is a great way to enhance the functionality of your vehicle. A remote starter can make dealing with weather extremes much more comfortable. A properly installed security system can let you know if someone damages your vehicle or tries to steal it. If your car didn’t come with a remote control to unlock the doors, a keyless entry system can speed up the process of getting into your vehicle and locking it when you leave. An entire list of convenience options can be added to these systems to make them even more convenient and further improve the security of your vehicle.

Cellular Interface

ConvenienceMany companies sell smartphone interfaces for remote start and security systems. These systems work by interfacing between an app on your smartphone and the convenience system in your vehicle. Yes, you have to pay for a monthly (or yearly) service plan, so don’t be surprised by that aspect. These systems will allow you to lock and unlock your vehicle, start it remotely (if you have a remote starter installed), and pop the trunk if that is hooked up.

The best part is that if you have a security system, your phone will alert you with a message if your alarm goes off. Anywhere your car and your smartphone have access to a cellular connection, you can control the system.

Many smartphone interfaces include GPS receivers. Such a receiver can send the longitude and latitude of your vehicle to the app on your smartphone. This information will let you know exactly where your vehicle is and how fast it is traveling. The app also can let you know right away if the vehicle moves when it’s not supposed to.

Some of these systems include the ability to monitor battery voltage, advise you of vehicle diagnostic codes and tell you the temperature of the vehicle interior. A few of these systems include a built-in backup battery and will alert you if the unit is disconnected.

Power Window Control Interfaces

One of the “classic” convenience accessories is the power window interface. This module lets your convenience system roll your windows up and down with the press of a button on your remote. The system can be programmed to roll the windows up when the doors are locked. Many of these window control systems have the option of venting a window an inch or two with a short press of the button on your remote, then rolling the window down completely when you hold the button for a second or two.

Power window modules also can be used to control sliding doors or sun roofs.

Tilt and Motion Sensors

ConvenienceIf you are worried about someone stealing your wheels or towing your vehicle, then a tilt and motion sensor would be a great addition. These sensors calibrate themselves each time the alarm is armed, then trigger the system when the vehicle angle changes by more than a couple degrees. These sensors should not trigger the alarm under normal wind conditions, thanks to integrated software that recognizes when the vehicle is rocking.

Backup Battery Siren

If you are concerned about someone cutting you the wire to your siren so they can work on bypassing the rest of a security system, ask your mobile electronics retailer about a battery backup siren. These sirens will go off if someone cuts the wiring to it. A key on the siren will turn it off.

Radar Sensors Boost Protection

If you have a convertible-top vehicle or like to leave your windows down, a radar or field disturbance sensor is a great way to keep your vehicle protected. These sensors Convenienceusually have two stages of protection. The first will provide a warning to an intruder when something or someone enters the field. The second triggers the alarm right away. Your installer can fine-tune the size of the fields for a given sensor mounting location and vehicle type.

Keypads Add Convenience

Several companies offer convenience keypads that attach to the inside of your windshield. You can type in a code of your choice to arm or Conveniencedisarm the system.

Some keypads have the option of acting as a pager for an owner who has a two-way remote or smartphone interface. These systems use technology similar to what a smartphone uses with a glass screen uses to detect your finger presses.

Proximity Remote

Many new cars have proximity keys that unlock the doors when you walk up to the vehicle. Your installer can add similar technology to an aftermarket keyless entry system. You simply keep a fob in your pocket. When you walk up to the vehicle, it will disarm the alarm without your having to press a button.

High-output Sirens

ConvenienceIf you want to get people’s attention when your alarm goes off, then the addition of a high-output siren is just for you. Some of these sirens are extremely loud, while others offer a sound that is truly ear-piercing! These high-frequency sirens are often called pain generators and are typically installed in the vehicle.

Protecting your vehicle from theft or vandalism is an art. Some installers take great pride in their security system installations. They conceal wiring in the dash very carefully and use wire protection that matches the factory look and feel. Split-loom, flexible-conduit, Tesa tape and vinyl tape are just some of the wire protection options. Installers route wires with factory wiring to further conceal their work.

Adding features and functionality to a security or convenience system is a great way to enhance its performance and usefulness. These are just a few of the possible additions available. Be sure to ask your local mobile electronics specialist retailer about the options they have available.

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.