The purpose of the car alarm is quite obvious. This device is made to prevent an intruder from unauthorized entry into the vehicle interior, start it and drive away. The car alarm should also notify the owner of the situation. This function is performed by a car alarm with telephone notification.
Principle of operation
Today, a typical car protection system is a few sensors connected to a programmed processor. The processor is the main element of the entire system and determines the effectiveness of the car alarm. The car alarm works by receiving information from sensors located in different parts of the car. Therefore, correct and correct placement of sensors is the basis for effective alarm operation. If you don’t follow this rule, one of two scenarios can happen. The car alarm will either not work or will go off despite the absence of an intruder. If misplaced sensors get wet, they can become too sensitive, and the slightest movement can trigger them.
When it comes to specific solutions, no signaling company discloses the details. This, of course, has a logical explanation – anyone can read such information, and then all cars equipped with the company’s alarms will be open to intruders.
Types of car alarms
When choosing an alarm, you must first of all remember that each of these systems has its own level (class) of security. The car alarms available on the market fall into several main classes:
● A popular class – such an alarm has all the necessary components, such as a door opening and damper sensor, as well as its own siren. The disadvantage is the fixed code for the car alarm remote control.
● Standard class – this type of protection already allows you to change the code, so it is more difficult for hijackers to overcome this security. They also have an additional power supply and a sensor that protects the car from burglary. Each theft is signaled by a siren and lights. The alarm can also be activated using the remote control.
● Professional class – this group of alarm systems has even more protection. There are at least two locks for electrical circuits and sensors that protect the case from burglary. These types of alarms also have their own power supply, so they are active even after the battery is disconnected. They are also very durable and resistant to various types of damage.
● The subclass are high class alarms and have several additional useful enhancements. These include: a vehicle position sensor (thanks to this, it is possible to detect theft of a car that will be taken in tow by a tow truck, truck or minibus), a hijack prevention function. It is also a car alarm with GSM notification. Even if the car was stolen, the owner will receive accurate and reliable information about the location of the vehicle.
Car alarm price with installation
How much does a car alarm cost? The cheapest, but at the same time, the simplest car alarms can be bought for only around $70. They include a switchboard and several sensors located in the vehicle. You must add the assembly cost to this amount, but since the system is quite simple, the total cost of such a system will not exceed $150.
A top-class alarm system with many additional elements costs about $450. Experts advise to choose alarms from lesser known companies with unusual designs and install them in hard-to-reach places. This makes it more likely that the person trying to hack will not know how to deal with this type of security. If you bought a new car that comes with a factory protection system, you should invest in it and install another alarm.
Additional security
Providing more effective car alarms is associated with the use of additional security. Here is some of them:
● An immobilizer is an electronic device that supports car alarms that turn off the power supply. This makes it impossible to start the engine. In new vehicles, this device is usually fitted at the factory. After inserting the original key into the ignition switch, the device is switched off. Unfortunately, the widespread use of this device over the years in automobiles means that it is fairly well known to professional car thieves.
● The engine start lock is the main power switch or ignition switch. Such protection is disabled by a special button. On the one hand, the switch should be reasonably well hidden, but still within reach. Otherwise, an attacker can easily find the switch.
● Mechanical locks are by far the cheapest form of theft protection, such as steering wheel, gearbox or clutch lock. It is not very difficult to cross them, but for a thief they will create a certain obstacle that will delay his actions.
This system was developed by Hui Song of Frostburg State University and Senkun Zhu and Guo Hong Cao of Pennsylvania State University. Several SVATS sensors are installed in the vehicle in places invisible to the thief. Adjacent cars in the same parking lot, equipped with the same system, can constantly communicate with our car and thus control each other. The most important components of the system are the neighboring cars and the relay station in the parking lot. When the owner leaves the car in the parking lot, his SVATS system sends a welcome signal to the cars parked there (a request to connect to the system).
All SVATS-equipped vehicles nearby react to this signal. The vehicles exchange business cards and save the new friend’s data. A new car in the parking lot communicates only with its closest neighbors, guided by the strength of the relay signal. All cars in this group regularly send presence signals to each other until the car owner turns off the alarm. A car taken from the parking lot by the owner sends a farewell signal to his colleagues in the car, and they remove it from their list. However, if neighboring cars receive neither the next presence signal nor a farewell signal, they start to sound an alarm. Through the station’s repeater, the theft is reported to the owner of the vehicle, the parking guard and the police. sends his car colleagues a farewell signal and they remove it from their list. However, if neighboring cars receive neither the next presence signal nor a farewell signal, they start to sound an alarm. Through the station’s repeater, the theft is reported to the owner of the vehicle, the parking guard and the police. sends his car colleagues a farewell signal and they remove it from their list. However, if neighboring cars receive neither the next presence signal nor a farewell signal, they start to sound an alarm. Through the station’s repeater, the theft is reported to the owner of the vehicle, parking guards and the police.
All cars in this group regularly send presence signals to each other until the car owner turns off the alarm. A car taken from the parking lot by the owner sends a farewell signal to his colleagues in the car, and they remove it from their list. However, if nearby vehicles do not receive another presence or farewell signal, they will sound an alarm. Through the station’s repeater, the theft is reported to the owner of the vehicle, parking guards and the police.
The varying strength of the vehicle presence signals caused by, for example, a discharge of the battery is not perceived as a theft signal, but the SVATS is also sensitive to “strange” vehicle movements, such as when the vehicle is pushed and swayed by a hijacker.
SVATS has already been tested on a group of vehicles. Scientists hijacked one of the cars from the group one after another, and the remaining cars in the parking lot in 100% of cases noticed after 4-9 seconds that their satellite had disappeared.
If you have an old car without any security system, you can sell it to save up for a newer and safer car. Cars Wanted Newcastle will top cash for cars for your convenience.
