VIPER 791 Alarm Questions

[rsiwicki]

Do any of you all have experience installing the above mentioned alarm? I have done alarm install about 10 years ago when in college, but this one looks to be a bit more advanced with programing and the such. Do I specifically need to find an installer or can I install it myself and then take it to a dealer to have the features adjusted. This alarm will be installed on a 69 vette that I recently purchased and so I don't want just anybody installing the alarm not knowing what wires go to what on the vette. Also where is a good place to buy all the parts I need to install myself if I go that route. I will be buying the GPS and paging system so I will know at all times what the status of my car is.

I live here in Miami so if any of you all have any S. Florida connections then let me know who to call.

[Silvia007]

From what I can tell, I can adjust all the features on my 791 via remote and/or valet switch, I've heard that if the alarm was locked using a bitwriter then you're gonna have to get a bitwriter or take it to a dealer. Usually, new units are never locked. As far as buying the alarm itself, my local alarm shop sells the 791xv for about $599. I got mine off ebay brand new for $279. For parts, all I used was wiring stuff from the local radio shack.

[rsiwicki]

thanks for the info....I could not get a straight answer out of the local dealer on the bitwriter thingy and their price for the main alarm was $499 installed and say they will only sell it installed. I told them there was no way in hell that they were going to touch my 69 vette. I am going to buy all parts next week and take the car to a local vette guy for intallation who is suppose to be really good with the electronics in these cars and installing the power door lock actuators and all so I can rest assured that if anybody messes with my car they will only have about a 1/4 head start before I open a can of whoop a$$.

one more question....how exactly does the GPS to cell phone alert thingy work. They told me at first there was no such thing and then said yeah they have that option but we don't know anything about it. The main reason I am buying this is that I can be alerted anywhere via my cell phone if there is problem with my car and that is what I want.

[Silvia007]

Holy smokes, no wonder you won't let anyone touch the electronics or for that matter anything on your vette, that thing is beautiful.

For the GPS tracking, you'll have to purchase another unit that works like a standalone unit. Once hooked up to your car alarm though, you can bascially control your car from a phone or internet equipped computer from anywhere in the world. You can start it, lock/unlock your doors, arm/disarm your alarm; basically anything your alarm is equipped to do, you can control. Pretty darn neat, especially if you are too far away for your repsonder to work, you'll still get notified by phone.

[Silvia007]

Oh, forgot to mention, you can also track it anytime also. Viper does charge a fee for the GPS service, but first year is free, no setup fee, no nothing, completely free first year.

[rsiwicki]

thanks for the compliments on the vette and info on the alarm. I spoke in length to Directed Electronics who manufacturers? Vipers Alarms today and they told me I need a Viper 5000 model since the only difference with the 791 is the remote start for which I don't need. Also they informed me about the GPS system as a stand alone that can talk to the Viper alarm as you stated and I can control & monitor my alarm and car from anywhere with a cell or internet which is exactly what I want. I asked about the alarms on ebay includign bitwriters for sale and they seemed very surprise to hear that the alarms were being sold off individually and also the bitwriters. They told me that the dealers are not suppose to sell the alarm separately without installation by themselves which puts in a a real bind since the local Viper dealers have no knowlege of a 69 vette and I supposedly just can't buy the alarm from them separately to have a vette specialist install it. I think I found one shop that will work something out with me having the vette experts install the system and then me take the car to the alarm shop for them to hook it up with the bitwriter adjusting the programing and making sure everything works correctly including the GPS function. They told me about the GPS system and that is what I definitely need also so I can rest a little easier because as of right now I am very stressed about leaving my car unattended for more than 5 minutes as I had no idea how much attention it would bring.

[Silvia2b]

You really need to find a new shop. It may be that the person you will trust might not have any experience with that particular model of Corvette but is a very competent installer with much more experience on car security than your expert at the Vette shop. I would concentrate on building a relationship with a local installer willing to undertake your job and feels comfortable working on a classic like yours. It will be a better working system when all connections are proper and programming is completed specific to the options and features desired. Many shops skip the programming, just install and leave defaults. I would use Directed electronics find a retailer here http://www.directed.com/contact/locator.aspAnd go in person and talk to some of the people at those shops that will actually do the work. Talking to a salesperson is not the same. You have already figured out what product you want, just decide which service you are willing to pay for and find the shop that will do it for the correct price. You might want to pay for and schedule a consult with the shop to look at the vehicle and decide if they can do the job right for you. If you can read people just talking to the installer will give you a better feeling about having them do the work, if the installer seems like a lowlife out to take you cash and do a sh*&ty job installing the alarm then go somewhere else. I’m not saying the first place you call or visit will be right. You will never know until you go ask. Any questions.

[Silvia2b]

Check out this press release for more info on the newest GPS offering from DEI. http://www.directed.com/press/press.asp