Alarm System
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 40
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From: Texas, USA
Alarm System
I am interested in an appropriate alarm system for my new truck. I live in an area where truck thefts are not uncommon. I have never had a vehicle with such a device in it before, but I think I might want to protect my investment.
My key points of interest are
1. The system should be simple to activate/deactivate, preferably with the same key fob as my remote keyless entry
2. The system should be effective, not only raising a noisy alarm, but if there were a tracing system (Lo-Jack?) or pager, perhaps that would be worth it
3. It should NOT be too expensive. This isn't a Maserati!
Anyone want to make any recommendations?
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2000 F150 4.6LV8 Auto, Supercab SB XLT, Two-Tone Amazon Green/Gold, Extang Black Max
My key points of interest are
1. The system should be simple to activate/deactivate, preferably with the same key fob as my remote keyless entry
2. The system should be effective, not only raising a noisy alarm, but if there were a tracing system (Lo-Jack?) or pager, perhaps that would be worth it
3. It should NOT be too expensive. This isn't a Maserati!
Anyone want to make any recommendations?
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2000 F150 4.6LV8 Auto, Supercab SB XLT, Two-Tone Amazon Green/Gold, Extang Black Max
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 590
Likes: 0
TXSteve, this is a real good time to be buying an alarm, as a lot of the big box retailers like Circuit City and Best Buy will have them on sale for the holidays. If you work out a deal soon, you can get it installed before the after-christmas rush when everyone who had their mom/dad/girlfriend buyt hem one is trying to get it installed.
Assuming you won't be installing it yourself, I'd look at the quality of the installation shop's work as much as price. Personally, i prefer a shop that solders their wiring. Additionally, you can ask if the installers are MECP certified, which is not a real tough test for a guy who does it all day, but it will sure weed out the part-time high schoolers.
DEI (Viper, Rattler, and a bunch of other "snake" brand names)and Clifford are now both owned by the same company, and are both good and very reliable. Avital is probably third on my short list, but I'm sure there are other good ones out there and some one will tell me how wrong I am to only name those three. A decent alarm will run $150-$200 installed, and you can expect to add $75 for a pager. An alarm in this price range will include two remotes that are smaller than the factory Ford key fobs, and the new ones will have a better range (distance for use). Pagers are a point of personal preference, I'd probably look at adding a relay to honk the horn and a second siren for about $30 before I'd get the pager...make the truck so obnoxious that everybody around knows the alarm is going off before you'd get the page.
Sorry for rambling, but I can give more info if you want...
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My credentials? Yeah, they're right over there....
framed and hanging on the shade tree.
Assuming you won't be installing it yourself, I'd look at the quality of the installation shop's work as much as price. Personally, i prefer a shop that solders their wiring. Additionally, you can ask if the installers are MECP certified, which is not a real tough test for a guy who does it all day, but it will sure weed out the part-time high schoolers.
DEI (Viper, Rattler, and a bunch of other "snake" brand names)and Clifford are now both owned by the same company, and are both good and very reliable. Avital is probably third on my short list, but I'm sure there are other good ones out there and some one will tell me how wrong I am to only name those three. A decent alarm will run $150-$200 installed, and you can expect to add $75 for a pager. An alarm in this price range will include two remotes that are smaller than the factory Ford key fobs, and the new ones will have a better range (distance for use). Pagers are a point of personal preference, I'd probably look at adding a relay to honk the horn and a second siren for about $30 before I'd get the pager...make the truck so obnoxious that everybody around knows the alarm is going off before you'd get the page.
Sorry for rambling, but I can give more info if you want...
------------------
My credentials? Yeah, they're right over there....
framed and hanging on the shade tree.