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Audiovox Rampage AA929 Car Alarm Review

If you're looking for a cheap car alarm that does the job, you may want to check out the Audiovox Rampage AA929 review over at epinions.  The user got the alarm for $22 from eBay and said it only took 10 minutes to install. "This unit has lots of great features! It has a very loud alarm also. I recommend this alarm if your as cheap as me. I do plan on buying a more expensive unit to install on my Car and will put this one on my truck, eventually. My next alarm will have a pager so I know when it is going off. But for now it is a great little helper and makes me feel much better about leaving my car somewhere." A list of features (what the alarm does) is listed in the review too.

Full review: Audiovox Rampage Car Alarm Review

Cold Weather Car Thieves

There have been quite a few car thefts in the news in Seattle over the last few days.  With the colded weather, people are going outside to turn on their cars to warm up in the morning, then going back inside for a few minutes.  It's in that time that car thieves are striking.  The news cast I caught said some were crimes of opportunity (oh, look, a running car with no one around), but some thieves plan for this time of year, so they can take advantage of this.  The moral of the story... don't leave your car running with your keys in it for any reason!

Car Thieves Favor Imports--How to Protect Your Car

The National Insurance Crime Bureau reports the most frequently stolen cars in the U.S. in 2004:

1. 1995 Honda Civic
2. 1989 Toyota Camry
3. 1991 Honda Accord
4. 1994 Dodge Caravan
5. 1994 Chevrolet Full Size C/K 1500 Pickup
6. 1997 Ford F150 Series
7. 2003 Dodge Ram Pickup
8. 1990 Acura Integra
9. 1988 Toyota Pickup
10. 1991 Nissan Sentra

If you own one of these cars (or any car for that matter), what can you do to protect yourself?  Geico recommends that you lock your vehicle any time you leave it (even if it's in your driveway), that you park in attended lots in well-lit areas, that you close your windows completely when parked, that you never leave your car running while you dash inside somewhere, and that you park with the wheels turned curbside in order to make your car more difficult to tow.

LoJack Car Security System

A recent article in the Seattle PI about the LoJack Security System starts out: "If you think you face difficult times, imagine you're a car thief. The LoJack security system has hurt the business model of auto theft, forcing thieves to go into new lines of work...Sold for $695, the LoJack is a radio transmitter that is hidden on a vehicle and then activated if the car is stolen. The transmitter then silently summons the police -- and it is ruining the economics of auto theft."  Entitled "Creative Thinking Foils Car Thieves," the article offers information on how LoJack works and why it's so effective (not only for the car owner who purchases and installs it, but for every car owner, because it's a hidden device that makes car thieves think twice about stealing in general) as well as thoughts on why hidden security systems and "creative" means for protecting your stuff could be smarter moves than devices like the Club or noisy car alarms in the long run.

More Car Thefts in the Summer?

Recent news article "Police Say Heed Car Theft Precautions, Especially During Summer" takes a look at the need to keep your car secure, especially in the summer.  The good weather can draw out would-be thieves, and owners may be more likely to leave their windows down and their cars accessible as well.  The article says, "Probably the most common error is leaving keys in the car. The second one is leaving the car open and accessible."  As for suggestions on keeping your car safe, they recommend: "Don`t leave your purse in your car, don`t leave your keys in your car even for a split instance to go in and get a drink at a gas station or anything, because they are everywhere; they`re looking for you to mess up one time."

Keyless Entry a Security Risk?

Keyless entry has been in use for several years, offering convenience for car owners. Recent PCWorld article "Does Your Car Key Pose a Security Risk?" suggests we you may be paying for that convenience with a lessening of security for your vehicle. The RFID chip, widely used by car manufacturers like Nissan, Ford, and Toyota (some 150 million may be in use in the US alone) may be cheap and easy to hack. The technology is also used in the ExxonMobil Speedpass, a key-tag for wireless transactions at gas pumps.

In a case study, "With just 'a few hundred dollars worth of equipment,' Rubin says his team was able to wirelessly interact with car keys and payment tags at close range, and obtain enough information to crack their security system."

Car Alarm Reviews

Someone asked about car alarm reviews, so here's a few that I dug up:

Audiovox APS996A Prestige Review (Remote Start Car Alarm)

Bulldog 6002PRO Professional Car Alarm & Reviews (reviews are under the product spiel)

Car Alarm Reviews at Epinions (they have a big variety, though a lot of stuff is just listed without having reviews).

Keyless Entry Information

Keyless entry devices usually go on your keychain. The simplest ones will lock and unlock your door while more complicated ones can be rigged to the horn or a car alarm system and even start your car remotely.  Remote keyless entry systems work by combining a radio transmitter and radio reciver. The transmitter goes on your keychain and when a button is pressed, it sends a signal, usually at 300-400 Mhz, to the receiver inside the car which is tuned to that particular frequency. The transmitter then sends a unique code.

In the beginning, keyless entry systems were fairly simple, but for security purposes, they have become more complex.  Today's transmitters and receivers are synchronized and use a rolling code that constantly changes.  This helps thwart people who use radio scanners to try and capture your code.

Remote keyless entry makes a lot of sense from a personal safety and security standpoint. If you're fiddling with your keys in a dark parking lot, you're opening yourself up as a target.  Better to be able to get in your car quickly.

Source for this information:

How Remote Entry Works

Browse Keyless Entry Systems:

Remote Engine Start and Keyless Entry System.
Code Alarm Remote Start System With Keyless Entry
Audiovox APS-45B Keyless Entry System

Installing a Car Alarm

Car alarm installation will vary from car to car and alarm to alarm but DIY help site eHow has a thorough article called How to Install a Car Alarm that I recommend for those who are looking for the basics or maybe wondering what's involved before they commit to installing an alarm themselves. The articles offers a step by step guide both of what's needed for preparation and what to do with the actual installation. Helpful tips are included.

How to Prevent Car Theft

An online newspaper offers the following tips for preventing car theft this season:

"Always lock your car after parking it.

Do not leave valuables in the car.

Do not leave keys in the car. Keys left in the car often result in the car being stolen.

Park in well-lighted areas.

Mark your car radios, other car equipment, CD's and tools with your operator license number.

Lock your packages and gifts in your car's trunk, especially during the holiday season."

For more tips, read the full article: Prevent car theft this winter.

Other resources on preventing car theft:

Learn about the Types of Car Theft and more on Car Theft Prevention