Alarm/Immobiliser

[briwy]

Just in the process of getting a newer Bongo and want to fit a Cat 1 Alarm/Immobilser with remote locking and the facility to close the windows.

Has anyone got any recommendations please.

Its my understanding that these have to be fitted professionally to get a certificate which the insurance companies will accept. Is this correct?

[jimpearceuk]

Check with your insurance company about the discount available - I did and the saving was so small I would rather forget the CAT approval.

I went for one of these,

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-2-way-LCD-PAG ... 20b42bc865


£180 installed, my bongo actuator on the driver’s door was broken so £20 extra for that, the guy who fitted it was good, he was a big surprised when he started that the side, rear and front doors were not wires together in terms of the lights, he connected them!

Anyway - its not CAT approved but works great, and pages the keyfob for > 1 mile or so, on the IOW ferry the other day it was going crazy as the rough seas were setting off the alarm!

I like it on a camp site, wherever you are, if your alarm sounds you know about it, even if you’re not in ear shot.

Jim

[jaylee]

Fitted something similar to jimpearceuk's on mine.... The window closure module is handy! & so this mod too... http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... lit=mirror

I normally manually lock on ferry's & not bother with the alarm.... I mean, where they gonna go?!!!!

[The Great Pretender]

I normally manually lock on ferry's & not bother with the alarm.... I mean, where they gonna go?!!!!

[helen&tony]

Hi
I have a wee query on that alarm, as I've looked at a few like that. It appears that the pager has a sender, and that would be the T-shaped device with a button on it...where does that sit?...must it be on display on the dashboard or somewhere above the bodywork in the level of the windows for access to the button and not shielded by metal?
About Cat 1 alarms...these may be a few of the selected alarms selected by Thatcham, but by all means not the only alarms of a decent quality that are sophisticated enough to meet the requirements of providing a good level of security. The problem with the alarms favoured by insurance companies is that you find they are 3 times the price, as they carry the "Insurance Approved" tag, so they wind up the price for an item no better than one that is cheaper , and sometimes more sophisticated in it's own way. How much do you save on your insurance, anyway, by being tied to a particular group of products?...Let's face it, the only secure way of ensuring your car ain't nicked, is to park it on your property at night in a bunker on a moated island surrounded by aligators
Cheers
Helen

[jaylee]

Hi
I have a wee query on that alarm, as I've looked at a few like that. It appears that the pager has a sender, and that would be the T-shaped device with a button on it...where does that sit?...must it be on display on the dashboard or somewhere above the bodywork in the level of the windows for access to the button and not shielded by metal?
About Cat 1 alarms...these may be a few of the selected alarms selected by Thatcham, but by all means not the only alarms of a decent quality that are sophisticated enough to meet the requirements of providing a good level of security. The problem with the alarms favoured by insurance companies is that you find they are 3 times the price, as they carry the "Insurance Approved" tag, so they wind up the price for an item no better than one that is cheaper , and sometimes more sophisticated in it's own way. How much do you save on your insurance, anyway, by being tied to a particular group of products?...Let's face it, the only secure way of ensuring your car ain't nicked, is to park it on your property at night in a bunker on a moated island surrounded by aligators
Cheers
Helen

Mine is a lot more subtle than that... & they normally adheres to the window so chassis bodywork doesn't interfere with the transmission/reception? & don't have a call out feature.

"Driver call out feature (antenna module is provided with a call out switch, by pressing it for more than 2 sec. audible signal will be sent to lcd remote)"

I could be wrong? But it looks like the paging feature you get on home cordless phones on the base unit so any misplaced handsets can be found easy??


It don't look like a bad unit for the money... & to be honest (as i have read on American alarm sites.) It's better to have a properly installed budget alarm system, than a high end alarm poorly done! Make sure all connections are soldered...

" Window total closure (will shut all the windows on arming, some cars will need total closure module)"
You will need a closure module ad on for the Bongo.

I fitted a microwave sensor for the interior as well as the shock & door triggers, I also enjoyed the challenge of installing the alarm myself along with some of the extra bits & bobs to give the system a bit more practicality.
Something (i feel) you wont get with the average auto leccy, no matter how well meaning the customer service! But, if some toerag really wants it away.. They will!!

[321Away]

proffesional fitting is always better than personal, and more gadgets on an alarm system means more to trigger or malfunction, unbranded alarms are nice cheap options but its hit n miss as to whether you get a unit that works for more than a few weeks!
Pagers/GSM systems are just as easily overcome with jammers and blockers which are widely available. The cheap alarms are very easily bypassed and silenced due to simple transmission codes and non battery-backup sirens, fit what you want but as with everything, you get what you pay for and its all about how much you value your vehicle!!

Any decent installer will tailor the install to your request if asked, the main difference is a pro's install will take longer to bypass or overcome.

whilst we're on the subject, without naming names as i know i'll be accused of being biased, when your (no one ever does lol!) yearly check of your approved system comes up, take it to a differnt installer than fitted it because there are some conversion companies that aren't installing properly which invalidates insurance!!

Julian

[briwy]

Thanks for the replies everyone.
Plenty to think about, first thing is to check with the insurance company I reckon.

Re ferries, normally they ask for alarms to be turned off. I have been woken up mid Channel by alarms going off. Real pain.

Brian

[bigdaddycain]

Hi
I have a wee query on that alarm, as I've looked at a few like that. It appears that the pager has a sender, and that would be the T-shaped device with a button on it...where does that sit?...must it be on display on the dashboard or somewhere above the bodywork in the level of the windows for access to the button and not shielded by metal?
About Cat 1 alarms...these may be a few of the selected alarms selected by Thatcham, but by all means not the only alarms of a decent quality that are sophisticated enough to meet the requirements of providing a good level of security. The problem with the alarms favoured by insurance companies is that you find they are 3 times the price, as they carry the "Insurance Approved" tag, so they wind up the price for an item no better than one that is cheaper , and sometimes more sophisticated in it's own way. How much do you save on your insurance, anyway, by being tied to a particular group of products?...Let's face it, the only secure way of ensuring your car ain't nicked, is to park it on your property at night in a bunker on a moated island surrounded by aligators
Cheers
Helen

One particular car i had meant hefty premiums from most companies, (in excess of 2k) Adrian Flux would insure the car for £600 odd pounds, but i had to submit a signed copy of the bill for a CAT1 alarm/immob for them to insure me, without it they wouldn't insure the car at all.

[paulv]

Re ferries, normally they ask for alarms to be turned off. I have been woken up mid Channel by alarms going off. Real pain.

Brian

Sleeping accommodation on the Isle of Wight ferries is, shall we say, a little unnecessary!

[jimpearceuk]

The reason I used the example of the alarm on the ferry was to show the value of one that pages you - without this I would not of been aware I was keeping all the sleepers awake

Usual chaos on deck, just got out of my bongo locked it with the remote and went!

With regard to the t shaped sender, it's stuck to the windscreen behind the read view mirror.

Jim