4341shn (12/06/82)
To date I have received very little response to my request for auto alarm information. What I have is given below. This includes information garnered on my own. If you have any information, please send it to me and I will post an update later. Steven Nurenberg (houxt!4341shn) 1) One person at BTL has a Chapman lock and pager system. In fact, this combination prevent the theft of his car once. 2) Another BTL person told me that he uses a series of toggle switches wired as a combination lock to disable the ignition. One virtue of this approach is that the thief doesn't know if the car is broken or protected. 3) When I was in Cleveland over Thanksgiving I came across a system known as the Thug Bug (tm) manufactured by Commusec Corp of Twinsburg, OH (216-425-3288). The unit consists of a keypad, control module (which is mounted in the engine compartment), and a thermal actuator (to be explained). When you turn off the ignition, the unit automatically disables the ignition. To de-activate the system, you turn the ignition to the on position and enter a four digit code. The car can then be started. The unit can also be placed in what they call a memory mode which is a valet mode that prevents the system from automatically activating. The thermal actuator is connected up to the hood release (for cars with an interior hood release) or a new release is added somehow. To open the hood, you enter the four digit code and then hold the zero key for 5 to 25 seconds till the hood opens. Thus, the thief can not get into the engine compartment to disable the system. In memory mode, the zero key by itself will open the hood (say when you take the car in for servicing). The system can be interconnected with standard passive alarm systems with siren, current sensor, etc. to make a complete system. 4) I visited one of my local auto parts stores to see what kind of things were available on the do-it-yourself market (Pep Boys in Cherry Hill, NJ): they sell several systems made by Anes Electronics of Venice, CA including: - Passive alarm controlled by ignition switch - Passive alarm controlled by keypad - Radio pager Another auto parts store carried equipment made by Cal Custom Hawk, Carson, CA: - remote control alarm system that turns on dome light 5) Auto Page of LA, CA makes several paging/remote control systems. no info available. 6) I picked up a copy of "Personal Security" published by Petersen's at a local book store. It contains a fair amount of info on protection including an article on auto protection, ads, and a list of manufacturers. Again, if you have info on auto security devices, please let me know!!