Blaupunkt Alaska RDM168

		DEI In-Car Review www.directed.com
		CAR SOUND road-tests a dei system based around a Viper 600ESP alarm and an 820T Carcom unit.
		by Rob Hephner

		To refer to an alarm as just an alarm is very misleading. To properly represent what's being interfaced with a vehicle, it should be referred to as a system (realize that with today's complicated electrical systems, computers, and airbags, only a qualified and certified professional should install an alarm in your vehicle). We recently had the opportunity to install a DEI-based system consisting of a Viper 600ESP alarm, a 508D Perimeter sensor, a 530T Window Automation System, and an 820T CarCom unit in a 1999 Mazda Miata. The 600ESP was wired to control both the door locks and the trunk and offer standard alarm features. These features were made easy by the fact that the alarm offers on-board relays. Since the vehicle is a convertible, we decided to also employ the 508D perimeter sensor. This allows protection when the roof is down by creating a field around the vehicle and its interior. The installation went off without a hitch - the data that DEI provided helped the installer find the wires he needed to interface with easily. Once the alarm was completely installed, he programmed the two remotes so they would offer different features via DEI's killer Bitwriter. After the lower bolster was put in place, we were off to testing! On The Road The unit performed effortlessly and perfectly. Upon using the first remote, the alarm silently armed and disarmed only when the remote was used. We also programmed this remote to pop the trunk and roll the windows up when arming or down upon disarming via the 530T. The 530T also allowed us to vent the windows when the system was armed. When I entered the vehicle and started the car, it acted normally. One of the features that I really liked was the ability to panic the alarm when the ignition was on. This feature could also be changed by the installer for each remote. Upon arming the car with the second remote, the first difference was noticed immediately - the car now chirped upon arming and disarming. When I started the car, the doors locked a few seconds after the engine was running. The doors also unlocked after the car was turned off. Both the lock and unlock with ignition can be configured separately so that you will always be safe. About 30 seconds after I closed the door, the car armed itself! Yes, the remote had changed the alarm to a passively arming system. The final thing to test, or so I thought, was the perimeter sensor. The sensor was installed in the middle of the car so that anyone reaching into the vehicle would set the alarm off and anyone walking up to the vehicle would be warned away by chirps. All of the features worked without fail. A Phone Call Away It used to be that range was an incredible issue with remotes, but that's not the case with this system. DEI's CarCom system is a high-tech remote that can be accessed by any telephone in the world (as long as it has touch-tones). The automated system that you call asks for your CarCom PIN and then for a security code. Once you enter the system, you can arm/disarm the system, pop your trunk, or activate any other feature your alarm can do - all from miles away. This is a really good feature for people who travel a lot and need to start their car every so often to keep their battery charged. But, it can come in really handy at other times, which brings me back to why I remembered range. I was just finishing this story and had gone to the mall for lunch. My wife saw my car in the parking lot and it reminded her that she had something to give to me to take to the cleaners on the way home. She called me from the parking lot and asked if I could come out to meet her because she was headed back to work - I was at the other end of the mall. So what did I do? Well, I dialed into my CarCom account, disarmed the car, popped the trunk, and re-armed the car after she put the item in the trunk. My wife was back to work on time, and I was able to get the stuff I needed. Many other features are available on this Viper alarm and others offered at your local retailer. Stop in and ask for a brochure or an explanation on all of the features available.
		For more information on any of these DEI products, call 800-274-0200 during business hours to be connected to a retailer near you, or visit DEI on the Web at www.directed.com.