- Viper Smart Start with GPS Tracking
What else would you like your smart phone to do? Except for teenagers who already exclaim “OMG” if they don’t have their phone, eventually our smart phones will be everything for us. For now though, we are talking about using it to start your car. About two years ago, DEI, which manufactures Viper alarms and other sister brand alarms, released Smart Start. It was first released for the iPhone of course, and then not too long after it was released for Android and Blackberry phones.
Smart Start allows the user’s smart phone to now act as the vehicles remote. It will allow the phone to lock and unlock as well as other alarm or remote start features people typically have. It can also be used for havoc such as when my husband uses the Smart Start to scare the “Wooly Boogers” out of unknowing pedestrians who had the misfortune to walk near his truck as he uses the Trunk option to blow his train horns. I could go on all day and into the night spouting numerous tales of Chris’ mischievous uses of his train horn on the innocent (and valet attendants) but my purpose is to inform you of a great product.
First I would like to give a list of the basics of this fine product. There are two different modules to choose from. The first is Smart Start. At the very least it will lock, unlock, panic, start and disengage your engine, trunk pop and if you have an alarm, the lock and unlock will arm and disarm. This can be either an add on option to an existing DEI brand alarm/remote start that has an ESP2 port or if you are shopping around for a new remote start or remote start with alarm they can be bought as an all in one package. If you are not sure if your existing remote start has an ESP2 port you can call us or come by the store. Knowing the model number of the alarm or remote start would be helpful but sometimes knowing just the remote’s model number will suffice.
The second is Smart Start with GPS tracking. You should try to decide if you want GPS tracking before installation for time and convenience sake. The GPS is a little more expensive but can be completely independent. If all you want is GPS for tracking your teenaged driver, then a remote start is not
necessary. It doesn’t have to be able lock and unlock, arm or disarm. It can be used to track a vehicle only. As a GPS tracker only, it can be installed in under an hour and, voila; you do know where your child is. It has the ability to alert you by phone if any speed or distance limitations have been broken. Or, if you have an aging parent who has a hard time finding their way home this would help you locate them during a very stressful and possibly traumatic moment.
The beauty of either module is the range. As long as your phone is getting a good signal and your vehicle is in a good signal area, then tracking and all other
commands listed above are possible no matter where you are. You will no longer have a “KEVIN!” moment (from “Home Alone”), wondering if you armed your car as you are boarding the plane. When you are out of town, you can continue to check the status of a vehicle if you are concerned about a teenaged
driver using your car for some joyriding.
All this synergy comes with a price, of course. The networking fee for either equals out to less than $6 per month. If you pay for 3 years up front you will receive several months free. This may sound like a long term investment, however the Smart Start can easily be removed and reinstalled to the next vehicle whether you take the remote start module or not. That way you aren’t paying for a whole new Smart Start, as well.
We have been using this product for quite some time now and with the smart phone era truly coming of age, I believe this will be as common and as expected as keyless entry with a new car. There are many more features to read up on at www.viper.com. Also starting in November and through January, DEI is offering a $100 mail in rebate for the GPS tracking module or any package with the GPS tracking module. Check it out or please call us or come by.
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