When car alarms were first introduced, a wailing horn caused everyone to stop and stare at the offending vehicle. Today, the repetitive honking of an old school car alarm is ignored as people go about their daily lives, and it certainly doesn’t deter a prowling thief. Welcome to the next generation of auto security.

Car alarms with two-way communication are surfing the wave of the future.

“It essentially works like a pager system,” says Randy Shipperbottom, car audio manager at East Hamilton Radio (EHR). Providing you’re within range of your vehicle, a notification will be sent to your pager, letting you know that the car alarm has been triggered. “The average range is about a ¼ mile,” Shipperbottom adds. Once you’ve received the page from your car, you can then go and see what activated the alarm.

So what happens if your car isn’t there when you go check on it?

“If the vehicle has been stolen, you’re likely not going to get it back until the police find it,” Shipperbottom says, but you can have a theft recovery system installed that will help track your vehicle if stolen. “You let them know it’s been taken, and they’ll find it and apprehend the thief and vehicle wherever it is in North America,” Shipperbottom explains. The tracking system uses GPS to pinpoint the vehicle’s exact location.

A tracking system is slightly different from a theft recovery system.

“It’s a little more personal. You can have your vehicle text or email you if it goes outside a certain area or if it goes over a certain speed limit,” Shipperbottom says. The tracking system can be used by parents to keep tabs on their young drivers borrowing the car.

Car starters provide a secure and convenient way to start your car without going outside. On those chilly winter mornings, your toasty warm car will be waiting for you in your driveway. With the two way communication technology, your car will send a message to your pager, informing you that it has started successfully, so you can enjoy your cup of coffee before heading outside. But isn’t a running vehicle a welcome invitation for potential thieves?

“It’s very unlikely,” admits Shipperbottom. “When you get into the vehicle, you still need to put the key into the ignition and turn the key before the car will allow you to put your foot on the brake and put it in drive.” If a thief tries to put the car in drive without the key being in the ignition, the car will turn off. “The key needs to be in the ignition for the vehicle to stay running while you shift.”

For more information on car starters and alarms, visit www.easthamiltonradio.on.ca.