Autowatch Product range

Autowatch Immobilisers not only meet with NZSA standards (OK that is hardly an achievement) but also meets with international standards such as VISA and Thatcham. What I find remarkable is that despite Autowatch being one of the big world players on the Alarm/Immobiliser market, is that I still come across customers who are reluctant to use a brand that they have not heard of! The madness of this view point is that if you travel outside of Australia or NZ it is the other way around. Mongoose? Dynatron? AVS? Never heard of any of them! Did I mention that none of the well known brands are actually approved elsewhere? More about that another time, this post is about the Autowatch Immobiliser!

The Immobiliser module is one of the smallest available, (The Cobra 8509 takes that title) it is certainly the smallest system that contains all of the alarm/Immobiliser circuitry and this makes it great from an installation point of view, it’s lack of bulk makes the module easier to hide. Of course a good installer is going to be the key here but at least the installer has some options where to place it.  To make my point clear here, the Mongoose M80 is twice the size and even the thought of trying to hide it effectively causes me to break out in a cold sweat!

Attack proof Security Housing

This is one of the requirements for Thatcham approval which is lacking from NZSA standards. I placed one on my bench, got the stopwatch out and had a crack at how long it would take to defeat. 2 minutes and 38 seconds later I had the Module open.

It is worth pointing out here that all tests are carried out on my bench and not in a vehicle. The other point to consider is that I am well practiced in getting past Immobilisers and already have knowledge about the best way to attack them.

The Autowatch is the only system which I have required a drill to get past it and even then it is still a challenge. This time is all the more impressive when compared to most of the other immobilisers I have tested so far…

The Immobiliser Attack time Chart

Cobra 8509: Undefeated

Autowatch (Above listed models): 2 Minutes and 38 Seconds

Dynatron (All Models): 39 Seconds

Mongoose M80: 17 Seconds

AVS (All Models): 10 Seconds

Meridian (All Models): 5 Seconds

The Module which I tested has the same security case as found on the following models:

674Ri

446RiS/446RiSG

446RLi Premium

555 CLAM

695CAN

Obsessive Rating: Compact and Hard to Crack

The simple fact that the Autowatch meets with Thatcham standards should be a good indication of its effectiveness

AVS Product Range

The AVS Series (S5, S4 and S3) along with the AVS A4 all share the same plastic case that contains the Immobiliser relays. For a  security system to be effective then it is vital to have an Immobiliser case that is difficult to locate and open.

All the AVS models meet with NZSA 3 star standards or above depending on which model, but as I have pointed out in the past NZSA standards for Immobilisers are so lame that they don’t count for much in the real world!

Given that having a NZSA rating does not give any guarantee to the quality of the Immobiliser the first thing to look at is how easy it is to get past.

How secure is the Immobiliser Housing of the AVS?

The AVS case is held together with two plastic clips. There are no security screws to speak of and the case clips can simply be flipped open with a flat blade screw driver. So the attack time is 10 seconds max! Once inside the Immobiliser points are fairly obvious and easy to bridge. It must be noted that on the S Series there is a 3rd Immobiliser cut which is in the large white plug which is not as easy to identify.

How Easy is the AVS to hide?

The AVS case is what I would describe as a Medium, It is certainly much bigger than the Cobra 8509 (Which is about as good as it gets!) or the Autowatch 446 range, but then It is smaller then The Mongoose M80 or Uniden VS2600XR. Personally I find the size of the AVS can limit how good the installation can be which as a installer (who actually cares) can be frustrating!

Overview

So in my opinion the case of the AVS, limits how effective it is as an Immobiliser. It could certainly be improved  if the case was glued up (see the Dynatron Immobiliser blog), or made a bit smaller.

Obsessive Rating: Could be improved!

New Zealand Product Range

The first thing you notice with the Cobra 8509 Immobiliser is it’s size, or should that be lack of size! It is tiny and certainly the smallest Immobiliser that I am aware of. This makes it an installers dream as the hiding locations are almost limitless.

The Cobra Immobiliser is completely separate to the alarm and is connected via a coded bus wire so can be added to most of the new generation of Cobra alarms. This makes the 8509 effective for two reasons:

The first is that it does not contain any alarm electronics such as hazard light relays which can often be a dead give away to the modules location. Listening for the clicking relays is a trick I often use to find an immobiliser, once I have silenced the siren I simply listen to where the sound is coming from which quickly narrows down the location area.

The second advantage is that due to its lack of alarm circuitry it is much smaller, making it much easier to hide.

Cobra V Mongoose – The Alarm World!

Mongoose M60 looks big and clumbersome!

Given that the Mongoose M60 is one of the best known alarms in New Zealand I felt it would be a good benchmark to test the Cobra against.

In the animal world it is well known that a Mongoose one of the few animals capable of fighting the great snake. I have also noted that Mongoose NZ have a video of a Mongoose killing a Cobra on their Facebook page. However in the world of car security the Cobra wins hands down. The Mongoose is light years behind the Cobra, if it was not for good marketing on the part of Mongoose I’m sure it would be an extinct relic!

Anyway I’ll get around to reviewing the Mongoose Immobiliser in the coming weeks,  right now I’m here to review what the Cobra has to offer…

The main thing to get exited about is that the Cobra 8509 has an attack proof security housing. It  is the only Immobiliser for sale on the NZ market that I have not been able to get inside and bypass. It also complies with Thatcham standards which makes the NZSA Star rating system look shamefully outdated. It is worth noting that you will not find AVS, Dynatron, Mongoose, Stealshield, Meridian or Uniden Immobilisers outside of New Zealand or Australia as the standards set here (or should that be lack of standards) are not accepted overseas.

Cobra 8509 Immobiliser

Obsessive Rating: Perfection

The 8509 is simply brilliant.

Small, attack proof and no clicking relays to give away its location.

The only weak point would be the Installer

If I was a Mongoose I would be losing the will to live right now. Bragging rights clearly go to Cobra so I’d be working hard on making a better product rather than spending time on Facebook!

DYNATRON PRODUCT RANGE

All Dynatron models come with the same security housing so this post is relevant to the entire range of products which include the: 3 Series, 7 Series, 4 Series and D2200.

How easy is it to Defeat?

Like most Immobilisers once the security housing is breached the Immobiliser points can be by-passed and the vehicle started so having an effective security housing is an important consideration.

Let’s start off by looking at the case of the Module which is shown in the photo below, it is not what I would consider to be attack proof.

Screws are easy to undo!

All that is stopping you from opening the case are 4 Phillip head screws which took me 34 seconds to undo with an old fashioned screw driver (would probably be quicker with an electric or ratchet one!) Dynatron used to use Tri-Wing screws which are not as common. Even if you have the a Tri-Wing security screw bit, they are fiddly things to undo so would offer better protection. It is a shame that they no longer come them and I can only assume that this is to save on production costs!

Obsessive Improvements

Plug the Screw holes!

With the screw heads being the biggest weakness with the Dynatron Immobiliser housing I like to cover the screw heads with Epoxy resin. It makes the Dynatron a far more effective Immobiliser. Of course hiding the Immobiliser in a really evil location also helps but this does take good knowledge of the vehicle it is being installed into. Having said that the same could be applied to any system. Or Could it?

Size Matters

I like to think of it as playing hide and seek. The larger you are the harder the game is, so being small is a huge advantage here. Of course being creative also helps but this is down to the installer. The Dynatron is of average size.

Obsessive rating: Let down but Security Case.

Needs security screws or even better, an Obsessive modification.

34 seconds is not that long – having said that there are far worse systems out there!

Crap Immobiliser - Warning!

It’s a little uncanny that I pulled out yet another Meridian Immobiliser today to add to the Car Alarm Graveyard. I was intending to do a review on the security housing of the Dynatron Immobiliser but that can now wait until next week!

I’ve now lost count of how may Meridian systems I have removed. To date I have yet to see one that has been installed to even a half respectable standard. Speaking to the owners of the vehicles I have removed them from they were normally installed by a used car yard! However the standard of the installation is not what I am looking at today. It is the Immobiliser security housing.

Meridian Immobiliser Case

Meridian Immobiliser Housing put to the Test!

The Meridian has two Torx 10 screws holding the case together which would probably take about 25 seconds to undo, I say probably because I haven’t actually got the stopwatch out and timed it, why would I when I can rip it open with my bare hands in 5 seconds? Much quicker than having to search in my tool box for my rarely used Torx 10 screwdriver!

But it does comply with AS/NZ Standards!

I wrote a letter to the NZSA (New Zealand Security Association) about two years ago expressing my concerns over the lack of security housing. They in turn wrote to the TF group that imports Meridian alarms with my concerns.

Here is their response:

“Our case is a softer plastic rather then a hard one, the manufacturer’s logic being that it can withstand attack with a hammer, most hard cases can’t, they split or shatter.

The AS/NZ standards obviously have no problem with it as they approved it.

Once someone has located a unit, any unit, most of them are relatively easy to open and once you got that they are all started within seconds, as far as that side goes.”

Stop. Hammer Time!

Quite why anyone would need to take a hammer to one is beyond me when it is clearly easy to open with your fingers…

Oh well enough said!

Obsessive Rating: Emabarrassing Poor!

Conclusive proof that AS/NZ standards are pathetic!

It probably goes without saying the Meridian fails to meet Thatcham standards

No Immobiliser!

If you’re looking to prevent your vehicle from getting stolen then getting a good electronic immobiliser is recommended. Insurance approved Immobilisers are rated as NZSA 3 star here in New Zealand. The NZSA also accept any immobiliser which has been given Thatcham CAT 2 status.

What makes an Immobiliser effective?

An immobiliser is only going to be effective if it is installed to a high standard. Immobilisers that are bulky limit where they can be hidden whereas a compact immobiliser can be placed in a hard to reach location making it harder for a would be thief to attack.

Attack Proof Immobiliser Enclosure

Thatcham CAT 2 Immobiliser

The security casing that houses the immobiliser circuit is an important factor. If it is easy to open then it is easy to by-pass. Thatcham requires CAT 2 immobilisers to have an attack proof security housing. Most Thatcham approved immobilisers are housed in 1.2mm+ steel or equivalent, or filled with a hard setting resin. The housing maybe glued, welded, riveted, cast or screwed together with one way screws. There are also other tests procedures that the enclosure must pass.

NZSA 3 Star Standards?

NZSA 3 Star Immobiliser

To gain NZSA 3 star approval an immobiliser must comply with AS/NZS4601 amendment 1 2003 . This Standard is only for Australia and New Zealand and it must be noted that most 3 star Immobilisers fail to reach Thatcham CAT 2 requirements.

As the AS/NZS4601 amendment 1 2003 standard is not as stringent as the Thatcham standard this probably explains why most immobilisers here don’t have very effective enclosures. To the best of my knowledge there is not one NZSA 3 star Immobiliser (With the exception of Autowatch which is an international product made in South Africa) that would actually pass Thatcham CAT 2 standards.

The Need For Higher Standards?

Given that about 2/3 cars in NZ are Japanese imports, which more often than not have no factory immobiliser, there are a huge number of vehicles which could be considered as a soft target. I would go as far as to say that most vehicles with a NZSA 3 star immobiliser (or above for that matter) installed remain a soft target. I remove and replace a huge number of alarms and Immobilisers and 9/10 of those that I rip out are extremely poor. This goes for both the installation and the Immobiliser. Whilst I don’t have the statistics on how many vehicles with an after market Immobiliser get stolen each year I would expect it to be a surprisingly large number.

To back up my view about the lack of standards (compared to those set by Thatcham) I will refer to a recent post involving the Immobiliser on the Mongoose M60 and M80.

It came to light that it was possible to program both systems to prevent the immobilisers form Auto arming. I raised my concerns with the NZSA who carried out an investigation yet still approve the systems. This simply proves my point about the lack of standards and my belief that they need to be reviewed. There is certainly a view that after market security is not effective in NZ and on the whole I have to agree with this. However if the right Immobiliser is chosen and it is installed by a competent installer then it can still make a big difference.

I shall be looking at Immobilisers in more detail in the coming weeks.

The Siren Test!

Battery Back-up Sirens are a basic requirement for any 5 star rated alarm. Being the part of the alarm that screams for your attention it is arguably the most important part of the alarm. I decided to put the major brands to the test to see how effective they are.

Before looking at the sirens I shall explain the different terms:

Digital Battery Back-Up Siren: These communicate with the alarm via a data wire so know if the alarm is armed or disarmed. As the siren knows the state of the alarm there is no need for an over-ride key so the siren can be hidden.

If the alarm is disarmed then the vehicles battery can be disconnected and the siren will not go off, this means that the Digital Battery back-up siren is not only easier to live with but also offers a higher level of protection.

Basic Battery Back-Up Siren: These sirens trigger when they detect a negative or positive pulse input, They are cheaper to to manufacture than Digital Battery Back-up Sirens and have no way of knowing if the alarm is armed of disarmed. Because of this disconnecting the power to them causes the siren to sound even if the alarm is disarmed. To get around this problem they have an over-ride key which will disable the siren. Due to this the siren needs to be accessible  which makes it vulnerable to attack.

The Battery Back-up Siren Review…

Autowatch Siren

The Autowatch Siren is of the Digital Variety, hence is has no over-ride key to worry about and can be hidden for that extra level of protection. It has soft arm/disarm chirps or can be programed to silent arming (actually silent arming isn’t strictly correct a it  gives a very discreet blip). The Autowatch comes a very respectable second here. It is not as loud as the excellent Cobra and does not offer arm/disarm volume control.

Obsessive Rating 8/10

Apart from the Cobra the Autowatch puts the others to the sword!

AVS Siren

The AVS Siren is a data siren, this means that it can not be tricked into being silenced by tampering with the wires as it does not rely on a negative or positive trigger wire. So whilst it is better than the Basic battery back-up sirens found with Dynatron, Mongoose and Meridian it still has an over ride key and needs to be accessible. Do not confuse this siren with the Digital ones found with the Autowatch and Cobra alarms.

Obsessive Rating 4/10

Let down by over-ride key!

Cobra Siren

The Cobra Siren is a Digital Battery Back-up one, it is extremely solid and better still has a very high pitch sound. It is certainly the loudest and most attention grabbing of the brands on offer here. The other great thing with the Cobra siren is that the Arm/Disarm chirps can be adjusted in volume to suit the owner.

The Cobra siren is so advanced that it will even give a diagnostic warning if it has been tampered with!

Obsessive Rating 10/10

So good that the Obsessive Wagon has 2 of them!

Dynatron Siren

The Dynatron Siren is a basic battery back-up siren with an over-ride key, Dynatron make a large and a small version but both need to be placed in an accessible location for the over-ride key access.

As with the AVS, Mongoose and Meridian siren this simply defeats the whole point of the siren being Battery Back-up!

Obsessive Rating 2/10

Go for the 4 Star Dynatron -At least the siren can be hidden!

Meridian Siren

The Siren found on Meridian alarms is a basic Battery back-up design, It is the same siren that is found on the old generation AVS alarms before they upgraded to the AVS data siren.

Whilst it is much better than the Meridian alarm what it comes with (probably because it made by someone else) it still isn’t very effective and is best avoided.

Obsessive Rating 2/10

More over-ride keys…..

Mongoose Siren

The Mongoose siren is another basic battery back up system with an over-ride key. It comes with bullet connectors which is a concern as unplugging the trigger wire allows the siren to be disabled in seconds. The bullet connections really should be cut off and the wires soldered and taped.

Obsessive rating: 1/10

Would be 2/10 if not for the poor Bullet connectors!

MONGOOSE PRODUCT RANGE

The MAP70 Series is part of the new generation of car alarms from Mongoose. Being a CAN-BUS alarm the MAP70  has the Cobra AK4908 and the Autowatch 695CAN to measure up to so it would be fair to assume that Mongoose have been hard at work in an effort to make a first class product.

Mongoose have 3 versions of the MAP70 Series. The MAP70GNZ comes with a Glass Break Sensor, The MAP70AU has Ultrasonics and the MAP70R2 has Ultrasonics along with 2 additional remotes. To keep things simple I shall refer to all 3 as the MAP70.

With most Modern vehicles being based on CAN-BUS wire platforms the MAP70 is an important alarm for Mongoose so it is disappointing that it is not rated as an Insurance approved alarm. Both the Cobra and Autowatch are certified as Thatcham CAT 2-1 and given that Thatcham standards are accepted by the NZSA, both qualify as a full blown 5 star alarm (assuming that the vehicle already has an approved Immobiliser).

The MAP70 is not at all similar to the other alarms in the Mongoose range, after taking a closer look it is clear why. The MAP70 is actually a  TYTAN DS400/CAN which is designed and manufactured in Poland. So much for Mongoose making their own products and keeping up with the latest technology!

MAP70R2

Option for Separate Mongoose Remotes

The MAP70RU is variant of the MAP70 but comes with 2 remotes which can command the vehicle and the alarm.

Poor Quality Siren

Unfortunately The MAP70 still uses the Old Style of Battery back-up siren with an over-ride key which means that the siren has to be left in an easily accessible position. Battery back-up sirens which can’t be hidden are about as pointless as a bucket with a hole in the bottom! Speaking of Over-ride keys the one on offer with the MAP70 is so basic that it would look more at home on a 5 year old girls jewellery box!

Misleading Siren Description?

Mongoose describe the siren as a ” Battery Back-up Digital Siren”, personally I find this description misleading. It is not a true digital battery back-up siren that actually knows if the alarm is armed or disarmed like the ones made by Cobra and Autowatch, it is a basic siren that is triggered by a negative pulse from the main alarm module. The only digits Mongoose get for this lame effort are big thumps down!

Mongoose MAP70 or TITAN DS400/CAN

MAP70 CAN-BUS Alarm

MAP70 Series RRP:

MAP70GNZ: 849.00

MAP70AU: 849.00

MAP70R2: 999.00

None Insurance Approved

Obsessive Rating: Very Disappointing

The MAP70 is more expensive than the excellent Cobra AK4908 and Autowatch 695CAN, yet it lacks the insurance approval and the Digital Battery Back-up siren.

OVERVIEW

Features:

Battery Back-up siren with Over-ride key

Ultrasonic’s

Operates from factory remote

Blue LED

Options:

Command via Mongoose remote (MAP70R2 only)

Additional sensors

A list of compatible Vehicles can be found on the Mongoose website

Autowatch Product range

The 695CAN is a CAN-BUS alarm made by Autowatch, it is rated as a Thatcham CAT 2-1 alarm and is designed for vehicles with existing remote Keyless entry and an Immobiliser, given that the NZSA accept Thatcham standards this means it is a fully compliant 5 star alarm. Being a CAN-BUS alarm the 695CAN communicates with the vehicles CAN-BUS platform so needs to be programed for the specific vehicle it is to be installed into.

The list of compatible vehicles is updated frequently and will continue to grow as most new cars released feature CAN-BUS technology. The Autowatch has the option to operate from a separate Autowatch remote on selected vehicles, this will almost certainly be a  cheaper option (on supported vehicles) then purchasing an additional remote key from your local car dealer.

Ultrasonics come as standard with the 695CAN along with a digital battery back-up siren. As the siren has no over-ride key this gives the installer the option of locating it in a hidden or hard to access location.

Wireless Sensor Options

Wireless sensors such as a P.I.R. or reed switch can be programed to the Autowatch, this is particularly useful in motor homes where running cables can be time consuming and unsightly.

The 695CAN has all the usual features that you would expect for a high end alarm and will support having additional sensors added such as a level/tilt sensor. It also has a  pager output so can be wired up to a tracking system

Autowatch CAN-BUS Security

695 CAN-BUS Alarm

RRP NZ: $795.00

Insurance Approved:

Thatcham CAT 2-1

Obsessive Rating: A Superb alarm with Advanced Technology

Has some great optional features which sets it apart from the competition such as wireless sensors and control via an Autowatch remote!

OVERVIEW

Features:

Digital Battery Back-up Siren

Ultrasonics

Operates from factory remote

Blue Dash Mount LED

Selectable Arm/Disarm Chirps

Pager Output

Options:

Operation via Autowatch Remote

Additional sensors

Wireless P.I.R Sensor

Wireless Reed Switch

Click here to see the list of Compatible Vehicles

New Zealand Product Range

Cobra were one of the first car alarm manufactures to produce a CAN BUS alarm, I installed my first one back in 2004 when I was still living in the UK, the vehicle was a MK 5 Volkswagen Golf and remember being impressed at how brilliant it was.

The AK4908 comes with Cobra’s Digital battery back-up siren along with Ultrasonic internal protection as standard.

CAN BUS alarms communicate directly with the vehicles BUS network and so each alarm needs to be programed with the correct software to read the individual vehicles data. Given that on many modern cars traditional upgrade alarms are difficult or impossible to install CAN-BUS alarms are a neat and reliable solution. Cobra have been making CAN BUS alarms longer then most of the competition and their experience shows in the quality of the AK4908.

Technical Wizardry

I recently installed a AK4908 into a new Audi A3 and was blown away by what it could do. However initially the system was giving me a head ache….

Audi A3 + Cobra AK4908 = Brilliant

I have a good habit of opening a cars window before working on the electrics to avoid locking the keys in the car, (Some lessons are learned  the hard way!!!) Anyway I had finished the alarm installation on the A3 and was puzzled as to why I was hearing a warning chirp on arming the system, I tested the alarm and found the ultrasonics did not work…

I read the installation and user manuals from cover to cover and there was no explanation so I phoned Cobra technical who were at a loss to what was happening. This left me only one option which was to take a break and put the kettle on. I closed the window and pressed the remote as I walked off. This time there was no warning chirp… Mmmm something has changed!!!

The alarm knew when the windows were not fully closed and gave a warning Chirp upon arming to inform that the car was not fully secure, it then turned off the Ultrasonic sensors to avoid a false alarm from potential air movement. Genius!

If only the Technical support was as cleaver as the Alarm then life would be easy! The only complaint I have is the lack of information available from Cobra Europe about what features are available with each vehicle. This could be a great selling point and seems a wasted opportunity.  Even to this day I have no information about what features are available for each model car, Aarrrrgghghhhhh…. Apart form being let down by humans the AK4908 is brilliant and on some vehicles may come with some extra bonus features, that said don’t expect window open warning on most cars!

AK4908 CAN BUS Alarm: An alarm geeks dream!

Cobra AK4908

RRP: $740.00

Insurance Approved:

Thatcham Cat 2-1 Upgrde

Obsessive Rating:
So cleaver its scary!

Even by Cobra’s high standards this is just brilliant….

OVERVIEW

Features:

Digital Battery Back-up Siren

Ultrasonics

Dash Mount LED Over-ride

Full operation via Factory remote

Options:

Additional sensors

Anti Hi-Jack

Click here to see the list of Compatible Vehicles