Devine Concepts

Mobile Electronics Expert in Naples, Florida

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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.

Are Single or Dual Voice Coil Subwoofers Better?

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Voice CoilWhen it comes to buying subwoofers, a lot of people have questions or make assumptions about the benefits and drawbacks of single voice coil and dual voice coil versions. Understanding the differences between them requires a slightly enhanced understanding of how an amplifier works. We cover both topics in this article.

How an Amplifier Works

An amplifier is a simple device that takes an audio signal (from your radio, for example) and increases the voltage. That’s it.

You may (logically) be asking yourself, “Why do we call it a power amplifier?” We get an increase in power because the speakers we connect to the outputs of the amplifier have a low impedance. In car audio, we typically see loads between 1 and 4 ohms. This low impedance, combined with the increased voltage of the audio signal in the amplifier, causes relatively large amounts of current to flow through the voice coil of the speaker. This current flow causes a magnetic field and, subsequently, the voice coil moves toward or away from the magnetic field created by the stationary magnet on the speaker.

(OK, maybe this didn’t stay as simple as originally planned.)

Amplifier Load Determines Amplifier Power

Voice Coil
Ohm’s Law Pie Chart
Let’s use an example of an amplifier that has a peak output voltage of 20 V. We don’t need to worry about the fact that this is an alternating current signal – we will examine this at a single point in time. With 20 V applied to our voice coil, let’s say we have a 4 ohm impedance on this coil. Ohm’s law states that a potential of 20 volts applied across a resistance of 4 ohms will result in 5 amp of current to flow. Using the equation P (Power) = Voltage x Current, we get 20 x 5, or 100 watts of power. If we change the impedance of the load to 2 ohms, we double the current to 10 amps, for a resulting power level of 200 watts.

If you look at the specifications for an amplifier, especially a subwoofer amplifier, you will see power ratings at different load impedances. In most cases, unless the voltage of the power supply in the amplifier is adjustable, amplifiers will make more power as the load impedance decreases.

What About These Subs?

Deciding which subwoofers to buy depends on the amp you are using and the number of subwoofers you are going to use. You want to choose a combination of subwoofers that will let you wire the voice coils together to an impedance that will allow the amp to make the power you want. Let’s look at several examples.

Example 1

Voice Coil
Images courtesy of JL Audio

We have the option of two different fictional subwoofers, each rated for 750 watts of continuous power handling. One subwoofer has a single 4 ohm voice coil. The other subwoofer has dual 4 ohm voice coils.

The dual voice coil subwoofer can have its coils wired in series to produce an 8 ohm load, or in parallel to produce a 2 ohm load. To complete this fictional example, we have an amplifier that will produce 400 watts into a 4 ohm load and 700 watts into a 2 ohm load. We have a small car and want to use a single 12 inch subwoofer in a large vented enclosure to get maximum low-frequency output. What sub should we use?

If we use the single voice coil subwoofer, the amplifier will not make full power in the 4 ohm load. We should use the dual voice coil subwoofer and wire the voice coils in parallel to present the amp with a 2 ohm load.

Example 2

Voice Coil
Images courtesy of JL Audio

In this example, we have the same electronic equipment, but the vehicle is a large SUV. There is a lot of room for subwoofers, and the owner wants to list to reggae, loudly. The owner has listened to a friend’s system and found out that a pair of subs matches his listening preferences perfectly. Which subs should we use?

If we use the dual voice coil subs, we have three options for wiring the four (two on each sub) voice coils together. We could wire all the coils in parallel. Parallel wiring will present the amp with a 1 ohm load. Most likely, the amp will go into protection because the load is too low. We could wire all the coils in series to present the amp with a 16 ohm load – but that’s not going to happen. We could wire the voice coils on each subwoofer in series, then parallel the pair of subwoofers to get a 4 ohm load. A 4 ohm load is not ideal.

If we use a pair of single voice coil subwoofers, however, and wire the subs in parallel, we get a 2 ohm load. Happy amp and happy customer!

Choosing and Wiring Subwoofers

  • Voice CoilYou can use as many subwoofers as you want on a single amplifier.
  • You must use all the voice coils on each sub. If you need a 4 ohm load but have a dual 4 ohm sub, using only one coil is going to cause issues. Bad issues.
  • Wire all the subwoofers you choose so the current going through each subwoofer is the same. In most cases, this means using pairs of subs. In the past, several companies offered dual 6 ohm voice coil subs that could be wired in groups of three to present amplifiers with standard load impedances of 1 or 4 ohms.

Do not wire one dual voice coil subs in series and one in parallel before connecting the subs together in parallel. You will get more current through the (parallel) low-impedance subwoofer. This imbalance will upset the performance of the enclosure and wreak havoc with the reliability and quality of your system. This is unrelated to the wiring of multiple subwoofers, but: Don’t mix and match different subwoofers. Each has its enclosure requirements and response characteristics. There is no way to guarantee that the output of two different subwoofers will sum positively at all frequencies.

So, Which Voice Coil Configuration Is Better?

The answer to the question “which is better” is neither. SVC and DVC subwoofers are simply two different options when buying. They are analogous to a tire manufacturer offering different-sized tires for different vehicles – there is an application for each.

Adding a subwoofer system should be one of the very first things you do to upgrade a factory audio system. When you are ready to make the leap into the realism, impact and dynamics that a great subwoofer can add, drop by your local car audio specialist retailer. They would be happy to work with you to design a system that meets your performance expectations.

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: Rockford Fosgate M2 Subwoofers and Coaxial Speakers

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Rockford Fosgate M2

When it comes to delivering great sound on your boat or powersports vehicle, the M2 series of subwoofers and coaxial speakers from Rockford Fosgate delivers fantastic performance. These Element Ready speakers and subs not only sound impressive, but they look cool and are designed with materials that can handle the worst punishment Mother Nature can dish out.

Rockford Fosgate M2-Series Coaxial Speakers

Rockford Fosgate M2

Whether you need a speaker for the dash of your side-by-side or the bow of your boat, the new M2 coaxial speakers from Rockford Fosgate are a great choice. The models of the flagship M2 series combine the best audio performance, the coolest styling and the most power handling available.

You have your choice of 6.5- or 8-inch coaxials in black or white. In addition, all the M2 speakers and subwoofers include the Color Optix feature with integrated RGB LED illumination. When combined with the PMX-RGB controller, you can choose from hundreds of color options to add extra style to your vehicle. You can even control the lighting using your Apple or Android smartphone using the RF Connect app.

Rockford Fosgate M2

The M2 coaxial speakers are based on an injection-molded PA66 glass fiber reinforced frame that offers good rigidity. The mineral-filled polypropylene woofer cones feature a thermoplastic elastomer surround and Rockford Fosgate’s Vertical Attach Surround Technique (VAST) that increases effective cone area. A 1-inch voice coil wrapped around a Kapton former is at the heart of these drivers. The 1-inch tweeter in each speaker features a dual neodymium magnet motor and a laminated “PXNX” diaphragm design for clean, crisp highs. The tweeter is suspended above the woofer, so there’s no pole piece to take up valuable space. This design increases the surface area of the woofer for more output. Electrical connections are made via corrosion-resistant brass terminals or waterproof Deutsch-style connectors.

The RGB LED lighting is concealed and protected by an optically clear, UV-stable lens. In addition, a weathertight Deutsch connector is provided for each driver so your installer can connect the LEDs in the grille to the controller. Speaking of the grille, you can choose from the twin six-spoke Sport option or the stainless steel mesh design.

Every component used on the speakers includes UV inhibitors, which help ensure that they look great and won’t break down and yellow, chalk, crack or fade when exposed to harsh sunlight. The speakers pass the ASTM G154 500-hour accelerated weather test for UV exposure and the ASTM B117 500-hour salt fog exposure test. In addition, the ISO 60068-2-24 structural integrity test confirms that the designs can handle the bumps and impacts common to marine and powersports applications.

Rockford Fosgate M2

The M2-65 (white) and M2-65B (black) speaker sets have a power rating of 150 watts continuous and 600 watts peak power. The speakers have a nominal impedance of 4 ohms and a 1-watt, 1-meter sensitivity of 91.8 dB. The 8-inch M2-8 and M2-8B speakers up the power handling to 250 watts, with peak power rated at 1,000 watts. Sensitivity increases to an impressive 93.1 dB at 1-watt, 1-meter.

This driver design is also available in Rockford Fosgate’s M2 two-way wake tower speakers in white or black.

M2 Subwoofers Bring Fun to the Party

Rockford Fosgate M2

Of course, no serious mobile sound system is complete without subwoofers. Rockford Fosgate has you covered with no less than 16 options. First, you have your choice of 10- or 12-inch drivers in dual 2-ohm or dual 4-ohm voice coil configurations. Next, you can pick from white or black cosmetics to complement or contrast your vehicle. Finally, you can choose from drivers designed for infinite baffle or sealed applications. Any combination of the above criteria is available to ensure that your boat looks and sounds the best it can. All the subwoofers in the M2 series feature Color Optix RGB LED lighting built-in. Deutsch connectors are provided for both speaker power and lighting connections for a clean and tidy installation.

Rockford Fosgate M2

The subwoofers feature 1.95-inch two-layer voice coils and are rated to handle 400 watts continuously with peaks of 1,600 watts. The specific Xmax specification varies by model, but all are around 0.5 inch in each direction. The 10-inch sealed subwoofers will work in enclosures as small as 0.5 cubic foot, and the 12’s require at least 0.75 cubic foot. Wisely, the owner’s manual has suggestions for implementing a (correctly named) infrasonic filter in vented enclosure and infinite baffle installations.

The included Versa switch allows your installer to switch from series or parallel voice coil wiring quickly during installation. In addition, the subwoofers are made from materials similar to that of the coaxial speakers and pass all the same physical and environmental test requirements to function reliably.

Rockford Fosgate M2

Upgrade Your Adventure with Rockford Fosgate Speakers and Subwoofers

If it’s time to upgrade the audio system on your boat or powersports vehicle, drop by your local authorized Rockford Fosgate dealer and ask about the complete line of Element Ready M2 subwoofers and coaxial speakers. They’d be happy to design a system that will sound amazing. You can find a dealer in the U.S. or Canada using the Dealer Locator on their website. Also, be sure to follow the Rockford Fosgate Facebook page, Instagram feed and YouTube channel to be the first to see the latest demo vehicles and new products from our friends in Tempe, Arizona.

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 Is the Best Car Sharing GPS Tracking Solution

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Car Sharing GPS

Just as Uber and Lyft have changed the way we move around when we don’t have access to a vehicle, car sharing is changing how we rent vehicles. If you’re sharing your vehicle through Turo, Getaround, HyreCar or Outdoorsy and you’re looking for the best GPS tracking and control solutions, DroneMobile is an excellent choice. Being able to check your vehicle’s location at any time gives you peace of mind, and best of all, the system is reliable, accurate and easy to use. Let’s take a close look at the features and information that make DroneMobile the top choice for people who own car-sharing vehicles.

Precision Vehicle Location Information

DroneMobile can be added to your vehicle as a stand-alone tracking solution or an accessory to a security or remote car starter system. This telematics solution provides state-of-the-art LTE-based communication with a vehicle using the DroneMobile app on your Android or Apple smartphone or tablet, or via the web interface on a laptop or personal computer. One key element is that the hardware is completely invisible and can’t be easily disabled by the end user.

Car Sharing GPS
As soon as you launch the DroneMobile app, the system displays the location of your car or truck.

Locating and tracking your vehicle in case of an emergency is as easy as launching the app on your device or logging in to the website. In a second or two, you’ll know the exact location of your car or truck. You’ll be provided with the address where the vehicle is, and you can check its speed if it’s in motion. You can even use your Apple Watch or a WearOS device to check the vehicle location.

Car Sharing GPS
You can check your vehicle’s location with an Apple Watch or a WearOS device.

Instant Alerts Add Peace of Mind

The DroneMobile system does much more than report a vehicle’s location. You can configure alerts for vehicle speed, operating hours and excessive idling. If you want, you can receive a notification any time the ignition is turned on or off. DroneMobile monitors battery voltage and can send you a warning message if its low, so the person renting your vehicle will never be stranded. If you add DroneMobile to a security system, you’ll know when the alarm is triggered and what caused the alert.

The system pushes instant notifications directly to your smartphone. LTE communication (with 3G fallback) between the vehicle and blazing-fast servers means you get these alerts usually within two seconds, if not faster!

Car Sharing GPS
Alerts are pushed directly to your smartphone, so you’ll always know what’s happening with your vehicle.

Detailed Information Makes Managing Your Rental Easy

If you choose the DroneMobile Premium Plus or Ultimate service package, you can see turn-by-turn details of where the vehicle has been driven. The data includes the total distance traveled and timestamps for stop and start locations and each turn made during the trip. If your car-sharing service uses per-mile billing, this information is perfect for invoicing.

Car Sharing GPS
Details about each drive are available by logging into the DroneMobile website or using the Activity tab in the smartphone app.

Monitor Your Car-Sharing Vehicle with DroneMobile GPS

Renting out your vehicle can be stressful. DroneMobile helps to alleviate this stress by letting you monitor the vehicle usage, its security and location. More than 2,000 dealers across the United States and Canada are available to install DroneMobile in your vehicle. You can find one near you using the Dealer Locator on the DroneMobile website. Learn more about DroneMobile products by following them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or their 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.

Product Spotlight: Rockford Fosgate DSR1 Digital Signal Processor

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Rockford DSR1

Thanks to the DSR1 digital signal processor from Rockford Fosgate, upgrading car audio systems has never been easier. Aside from a full suite of easily configurable audio processing features, the DSR1 includes an iDatalink Maestro amplifier replacement interface. Maestro technology can be used to upgrade the audio system in more than 1,500 vehicle applications with reliable and predictable results. The DSR1 is compact, powerful and, most importantly, it can make the stereo in your car, truck or SUV sound amazing.

Rockford Fosgate DSR1 Features

At its core, the DSR1 is the latest generation of Rockford Fosgate’s 3-SIXTY digital sound processor. The compact unit includes four pre-amp inputs that will accept up to 4 volts of signal from a radio and four speaker-level inputs that will accept signals up to 12.5 volts from an amplifier. The DSR1 includes a DC offset detection circuit that will power the unit up when it detects that the factory radio has turned on. Rockford has also included a coaxial digital input for connectivity with SP/DIF-equipped factory-installed audio system. The eight outputs are rated to produce up to 4 volts, making them compatible with any amplifier on the market.

Rockford DSR1

The software used to configure the DSR1 is designed for tablets and smartphones. Your installer can download the PerfectTune app from the Apple Store or Google Play store and use this slick graphical interface to configure the input and output connections and calibrate your audio system.

Rockford DSR1
Your installer has several options to route audio signals into the DSR1.

From a system configuration perspective, the DSR1 can accept audio on one or two sets of inputs. There are output configuration options that include front/rear/sub, front two-way/rear/sub, center/front/rear/sub, front three-way/sub and a few more options. The function of the optional PLC2 remote is configurable in the software to act as subwoofer level control, a Punch bass boost control or the master volume control for the system.

Rockford DSR1
The front three-way and subwoofer option is one of the eight available output configurations available in the PerfectTune app.
Rockford DSR1
The optional PLC 2 remote control can be configured as a subwoofer level, Punch EQ or master level control.

The setup options continue with crossovers adjustable in frequency from 20 Hz to 10 kHz with slopes of 6 dB through 48 dB per octave. All of the filters have a Linkwitz-Riley alignment, so they sum flat at the crossover point. Your technician can apply high- or low-pass filters to each channel or use both to create a bandpass crossover for midbass and midrange drivers. Your installer can implement an infrasonic filter on the subwoofers by applying a high-pass filter at 20 or 25 Hz to protect drivers from excursion issues at high volume levels.

Rockford DSR1
Channels three and four configured with a 300 to 3.5 kHz bandpass filter to power a set of midrange speakers.

Each output has a dedicated output trim level control to adjust each driver before your technician implements equalizer settings to smooth the output. The EQ for each of the eight outputs has 31 bands of adjustment. Each band can be fine-tuned in terms of frequency, Q-factor and boost or cut. Lastly, the signal delay settings for each channel are adjustable in 0.01-millisecond steps. Rockford Fosgate includes a delay calculator tool that allows your installer to enter the distance to each speaker. In turn, it provides the equivalent delay setting information while minimizing the maximum overall delay.

Rockford DSR1
The eight output channels have dedicated 31-band parametric equalizers that your tech can use to fine-tune the response of your car audio system.
Rockford DSR1
The built-in delay calculator makes quick work of configuring the signal delays for each speaker in a system.

iDatalink Maestro Integration Features

Many modern cars and trucks use a source unit and amplifier configuration with a fixed-level audio signal. Volume, tone, fader and balance adjustments take place inside the amplifier. Additionally, signal processing like equalization, crossovers, volume-based tone adjustments and all-pass filters are applied to the outputs of the factory-installed amplifier to maximize the performance of the speakers that came with the vehicle. Attempting to undo this processing is complicated. Enter the Maestro Interface. As experts in working with the digital networks in cars and trucks, iDatalink partnered with Rockford Fosgate to create an interface that will convert the CAN signals passing from a factory-installed radio to the amplifier into commands that the DSR1 can execute. When you turn up the volume on the radio, that command is forwarded to the DSR1 and the master output level increases.

Rather than experimenting with the input EQ and mixers on a DSP, or adding unwanted delay from an integration processing, using a solution like the DSR1 allows your installer to create an audio system that works just like the one from the factory. Not only will the music sound great, but prompts from the navigation system, audio from Bluetooth hands-free phone calls and chimes from safety solutions will function flawlessly.

Rockford DSR1
The DSR1 can replace a CAN-controlled amplifier to provide you with eight channels of output that can feed any amplifier on the market.

Why Upgrade Your Car Stereo with the Rockford Fosgate DSR1?

If you don’t have a digital signal processor in your aftermarket audio system, adding a solution like the DSR1 from Rockford Fosgate is the easiest way to add realism and authenticity to the listening experience. Instruments and vocals will sound more lifelike, and your music will be reproduced with accurate staging and imaging that will make you feel like you are at a concert.

There are DSR1 applications for select Ford, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Fiat, Maserati, Volkswagen, Lexus, Subaru, Toyota, Nissan and Infiniti vehicles. When combined with a dedicated integration harness, upgrading your car audio system while retaining the factory infotainment system couldn’t be easier. Your installer can configure your new amplifier, speakers and subwoofer quickly with the PerfectTune app and deliver an audio system that sounds amazing. Likewise, the DSR1 is an ideal solution to upgrade audio system performance on a motorcycle, boat or side-by-side.

To find an authorized Rockford Fosgate retailer that can install a calibrate the DSR1 in your car or truck, visit the Dealer Locator page on their website. Be sure to give them a follow on Facebook and Instagram and learn more about their fantastic mobile, marine, motorcycle and powersports audio upgrades on YouTube.

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.