New Zealand Product Range

New from Cobra is the AK4615, which is really taking alarm technology to a new level. Not only does the alarm feature a wireless siren (more about that later) it also works as a CAN-BUS, or PLIP (upgrade) alarm, plus has the option of operating from a Cobra remote.

Cobra have just put the alarm though Thatcham testing and the alarm meets the respected CAT 2-1 criteria. Thatcham are also publishing certification dates (Something the AUS/NZ standards really need to take note of and follow).

AK4615 Thatcham Certificate

CAN-BUS or PLIP Alarm

The AK4615 can be configured to work in almost any vehicle as it can be programmed for CAN-BUS software or as a conventional Upgrade alarm. Each unit needs to be programmed before installation and simply plugs into a computer via the USB port to hook up to the Cobra’s Antares software program.

Once plugged in the installer can select Between CAN-BUS and PLIP Alarm then decide which vehicle platform the alarm needs and change most of the features.

Having had a play myself I can say that the alarm is very versatile but does require some technical knowledge to fully understand what it is capable of.

Minor changes such as siren arm/disarm chirp selection and volume can still be adjusted once the alarm is in the vehicle.

CAN-BUS Vehicle List

The number of vehicle now featuring CAN-BUS is rapidly growing. A full list of compatable cars can be found here: http://vehiclesecurity.co.nz/cobra-CAN-BUS.php

Note: If your vehicle is not listed then chances are it can be wired as an upgrade alarm, please contact us for details.

Wireless Siren

The Ak4615 is the first car alarm to feature a wireless siren. Whilst it still needs a power supply to charge the battery back-up siren there is no longer the need to wire the siren up to the alarm ECU which saves the need to run cables between the two.

Only One Way Communication

The Siren has a bonnet switch input which will trigger it into action if opened when armed, so there is no need to run any cables though the firewall. That said because there is only one way wireless communication from the alarm ECU to the siren, the bonnet sense wire only triggers the siren into life and not the main alarm. Having said that many CAN-BUS vehicles already have a factory bonnet switch that the CAN-BUS system will read directly. For cars that don’t, this means that the pager out-put or hazard lights won’t activate if the bonnet is opened. If you do want this feature then it maybe worth asking the installer to hard wire a bonnet switch to the main alarm ECU.

New Features

The AK4615 effectively replaces both the AB3868 and the AK4908. It also has plenty of new features lacking in past models such as Pager out-put and the ability to hook up a second digital siren, or Immobiliser (remember not all CAN-BUS vehicles have a factory immobiliser, for example 2012 Corolla Wagon). The other great option is that of a Cobra remote which may well prove much more cost effective then a visit to the local car dealer for a spare.

Cobra AK4615

RRP: $700.00

Insurance Approved:

Thatcham Cat 2-1 Upgrde

Obsessive Rating:
Class Leading Security

Cobra seems to be the only manufacture who have a active R&D department. The only alternatives seem very outdated!

OVERVIEW

Features:

Pager Output

Wireless Digital Battery Back-up Siren

Ultrasonics

Dash Mount LED Over-ride

Full operation via Factory remote

Options:

Cobra Remote Controls

Additional sensors

8509 Immobiliser

4310 Siren

Drivers Card

Steal Shield Product Range

The SS440 and SS440U are both rated as a NZSA 4 star and claim to be the cheapest insurance rated alarms in NZ. The U stands for shock sensor which is the only difference between the two models.

Feature wise it’s nearly identical to the Uniden VS1600XR and the Mongoose M60B, so much so that it’s very tempting to simply cut and paste the review! All have the very annoying “anti hot wire” feature that sets the siren off when attempting to start the car after the immobiliser has kicked in. If you don’t want to be despised by your neighbours then I’d suggest all three be avoided!

The Steal Shield SS440 & SS440UU

The Security case is bulky and easy to open (just like the Mongoose and Uniden) which limits where it can be hidden on most cars. Once found there are 4 screws to undo and game over!

Easy over-ride!

Nearly all the SS440′s that I’ve serviced or removed have had the Over-ride pin number printed on the external case of the security housing which is a concern!

Still gets meets with AS/NZS standards!

Easy Remote Cloning

Another vulnerability the SS440 has is the ease in which it’s remotes can be copied without the owners knowledge, on the plus side at least they are not a common as some other brands!

RRP: SS440U: 399.00  SS440: $349.00

Insurance Approved: NZSA 4 star

Obsessive Rating:
Fine if you don’t really care about how secure your car is or if your neighbours like you!

But it is cheap and may tick the box that your insurance company requires.

OVERVIEW

Features:

Standard Siren

Two 2 Button Remotes

Dual Immobiliser

Pin Over-ride

MONGOOSE PRODUCT RANGE

Mongoose have recently been making an effort to push their CA1 Toyota alarm. It is claimed that is now rated as a NZSA 5 star (I’ll get on to that later) and I dare say that they will be attempting to hit Toyota NZ to push sales.

The question that all Toyota owners will want to know. Is it actually any good, or should they consider the excellent Cobra AK4147?

The recent 5 star Muppetry post pretty much covers my views on the siren that is offered by the “TA”.

It seems incredible that Mongoose have the technical know how to produce a CAN-BUS alarm, yet seem unable to make a digital battery back-up siren. Let’s face it, the Managing Director of Mongoose reads the blog on a regular basis and takes the time to comment so he will be well aware of how little protection such sirens offer!

Easy installation

Where Mongoose will probably win with the “TA” is the ease of installation. The alarm simply plugs into the Toyota Diagnostic plug, add the siren etc and done. This means that any fool can now install it with little, or no technical know how whatsoever.

How Much Protection?

Mongoose state under the list of alarm features: ” CanBus data communication for added security”. Quite how this offers added security is beyond me. All that is required to defeat the alarm is for the siren to be ripped out of the engine bay and the alarm to be unplugged from the easy to access diagnostic plug!

Tested and certified to AS/NZS3749.1 2003 Class A.

We almost need a Tui billboard for this one! I’ll be expressing my concerns about the standards soon as CAN-BUS alarms were not even around in 2003 when they were last reviewed!

Mongoose “TA” Toyota Alarm (CA1) 

CA1 (Controlled by Toyota Remote)

RRP NZ: $499.00

Insurance Approved: NZSA 5 Star

Obsessive Rating: Nearly as Feckless as the NZSA Star rating System!

An alarm made so easy to install that even a simpleton could fit it. Sadly the concept of an alarm being a security product seems to be an oversight! 

OVERVIEW

Features:

Easy Installation

Controlled by Toyota remote

Battery Back-up Siren with Over-ride keys

Glass break sensor.

Autowatch Product range

The Autowatch 674Ri is a remote Immobiliser. It comes with two remote controls and is rated as a Thatcham CAT 2 system.

Note: This qualifies as a NZSA 3 star without the usual shortcomings.

Most other remote immobilisers are simply alarms with the siren removed, whilst this may save most manufactures a couple of dollars to produce, it does have a disadvantage.

With most other systems the alarm can be triggered. Of course there is no siren to sound but the hazard lights will still flash. This will cause the inbuilt relays to click and help give away the immobilisers location. On top of this it does seem to have that pointless annoyance factor!

The 674Ri has the same security housing as most other Autowatch systems and is certainly the hardest stand alone remote immobiliser system to crack. The remote controls require a pin code to program so are not vulnerable to cloning. It has two inbuilt immobiliser relays along with the option of a 3rd external immobilisation cut. It is the only remote immobiliser availble in NZ that meets the respected Thatcham CAT 2 standards.

Autowatch 674Ri

RRP NZ$370.00

Insurance Approved:

Thatcham CAT 2 to 1

Obsessive Rating: Best stand alone remote immobiliser in NZ

Simple to use effective security!

OVERVIEW

Features:

2 Point Engine Immobiliser

Optional 3rd external immobilisation cut

Compact Attack Proof Security Housing

2 One Button Remotes

Hazard flash lock/unlock confirmation

Red Dash Mount LED

New Zealand Product Range

The Cobra AK4138 is basically the AK4198 and the 8509 combined. Together the system is a full blown Thatcham Cat 1 system with plenty of cool options.

The system is completely modular which means that the Siren, Alarm ECU and immobiliser are all separate and communicate to each other via a secure bus network.

There are a number of advantages in having separate modules. The first is it that they are small and easier to install into tight areas. The second is that most alarms give away the immobiliser location by containing the indicator relays which click away when the alarm is triggered.

The Cobra immobiliser is the only system in NZ which is totally attack proof plus the siren is simply in a league of it’s own. It can be used as an internal screamer or as a second external siren.  This post explains why it is so much better than the competition: http://vehiclesecurity.co.nz/blog/battery-back-up-sirens

Ultrasonics come as standard which are far more effective then the glass break sensors found on most other alarms.

Not Hardcore enough?

If you want to take the AK4138 to the next level then it can have a second 8509 Immobiliser added to it as well as a second digital battery back-up siren. Add to this the optional drivers card, and tilt sensor and there really is nothing in its class.

AK4198 Remote

The Remotes are waterproof and muppet proof with two simple button that do what they should.

The lock button will arm the alarm, and also has the option to active the optional window closure. A second press will disable the ultrasonics giving the user the option of leaving a window open, and a 3rd press will disable the optional microwave or tilt sensor (perfect if you want to take the car on a ferry). Once fully armed (after 22 seconds) the lock button will active the car finder mode then a second press will act as a panic alarm.

As for the Unlock button, well it disarms the alarm and unlocks the doors! It will also disarm the immobiliser once it has auto armed.

RRP: $850.00
Insurance Approved: Thatcham Cat 1
Obsessive Rating: 10/10

Looking at some of the alarms that  the NZSA give a 5 star rating to it would only be right to give the AK4138 a 10 Star rating. It simply is that much better then the competition!

OVERVIEW
Features:
Digital Battery Back-up Siren
Ultrasonics
Two 2 Button Remotes
Three Immobiliser Cuts
Door Open Warning Tones
Dash Mount LED Over-ride
Car Finder Via Remote
Panic Via Remote
BUS line for optional accessories
Options:
Controlled Window Closure
Drivers Card (anti key theft)
Additional Immobiliser via secure BUS line
Additional Siren for internal protection
Pager Output
Level Sensor
Microwave Sensor

New Zealand Product Range

With more and more cars having Immobilisers these days the easiest way to take a car is with the keys. The Cobra Drivers Card is designed to protect your vehicle even if the car keys and remote are stolen. It can be programed to the Cobra AK4198, AKG198, AK4138, and AK4147, as well as the soon to be released new generation of Cobra alarms. Details of which will be available later in the year.

Every time you turn the Ignition on the alarm will look to see if the Drivers Card is in range. If it is seen within 30 seconds then the alarms warning buzzer will beep once to say all is good. The alarm will also look for the Drivers Card every time the drivers door is open to protect against getting Hijacked.

What happens if you don’t have the Drivers Card?

If the card is not in range, then the buzzer will start beeping to warn you that the card has not been detected. At this stage the alarms remote control has already been blocked by the alarm and you have further 30 seconds to enter the first two digits of your over-ride code. Here’s a You Tube clip featuring the Obsessive Go-Kart which shows what happens in such an event:

The Obsessive Go-Kart also contains the Cobra 4310 internal digital battery back-up siren and Obsessive GPS Tracking which is the reason why my cell phone starts ringing.

Once the alarm has sounded the only way to recover the car is with the full over-ride code or with the Drivers Card.

Cobra Drivers Card

Obsessive Rating: Fantastic.

Very easy to live with and damn effective when needed. Small enough to fit in your wallet and requires no action other than having it in range.

Battery life is about 2 years with normal use.

RRP: $100.00

I no longer drive off and leave my wallet in the house which is an added bonus as I’ve always got money for a Coffee

MONGOOSE PRODUCT RANGE

A customer made a comment to me last week about how my blog had changed the way they look at car alarms. He had a Mongoose M60GNZ and was feeling a little paranoid after reading the “can your remote be copied?” post.

Although he trusted my view points and opinion he was still trying to get his head around the idea that an “Insurance approved” car security system could have such a basic flaw,  so he asked me to demonstrate how easy it actually was to make a copy of his remote.

I took his car keys, and spent 15 seconds programing a new remote that I had (Note: I’m not posting the actual method here for obvious reasons) and then said “done!”

His jaw dropped in horror and the reply then came. “I’d like a quote on a new alarm system please“.

Mongoose M25 Transponder Immobiliser

You’re probably thinking what the hell has this got to do with the Mongoose M25 Immobiliser? Well that’s simple, it suffers from the same flaw! Unlike the Autowatch 573PPi or the Dynatron D2200 which both require the over-ride pin code to program a new transponder tag,  the Mongoose M25 can have a new transponder tag coded to the system in a matter of seconds. This in my view is a major oversight!

Certified to AS/NZS4601 amendment 1 2003 Immobiliser Standard

Yes it meets with the above standard (NZSA 3 star) but what security does that really offer? Let’s be honest here, AS/NZS4601 is a not even worth the paper it is printed on, if you passed me a copy of it I would probably end up using it as toilet paper! My advice for what it is worth is to look for a Thatcham CAT 2 approved Immobiliser system.

On a positive note at least the M25 does not unlock your doors so a scumbag with a copied transponder tag would have to go to the trouble of actually breaking into the car! The M25 also has the lowest RRP of the three Transponder systems available.

The M25 comes with three immobiliser cuts where as both the Autowatch 573PPi and Dynatron D2200 only have two, having said that the Mongoose is the largest unit of the 3 which makes it harder for a good installer to hind. It is also easy to open up.

M25 Transponder Immobiliser

RRP NZ: $299.00

Insurance Approved: NZSA 3 Star

Obsessive Rating: EPIC FAIL!

You may as well have a sticker on your car window saying “Take Me!”

The M25 is to bulky, and despite being the cheapest falls along way short of what I would expect from a vehicle security system.

OVERVIEW

Features:

Three Circuit Immobiliser

X2 Transponder Tags

DYNATRON PRODUCT RANGE

The Dynatron D2200 is the second Transponder immobiliser to be reviewed here. Like the Autowatch 573PPi it is a dual circuit immobiliser but unlike the Autowatch it does not have the option of a third external cut.

The D2200 shares the same security housing found on the rest of the Dynatron range which means it is not attack proof, but still complies with the laughable  AS/NZS 4601:2003  standards (or should that be lack of standards?) for immobilisers. On the plus side it is reasonably compact so would give a competent installer the opportunity to install it to high standard.

Pin Code Protected Transponder Tags.

Programming a new transponder tag is only possible with the units over-ride pin number. This is a good security feature as it prevents others from cloning an extra transponder tag on the sly!

Personally I would like to see Dynatron introduce this into their alarms which are all vulnerable to remote cloning. Infact I believe that pin code protected remotes/transponder tags should be a basic requirement for all insurance approved alarms/immobilisers.

Dual Immobiliser, With Two Simple Transponder Tags

Like the Autowatch 573PPi, the D2200 comes with two transponder tags that turn off the immobiliser when in proximity of the Ignition barrel.

One thing that I find odd with the D2200 is that the LED will flash rapidly whilst counting down the seconds until the Immobiliser arms. Now there is nothing wrong with this but personally I find it unnecessary.

RRP NZ: $340.00

Insurance Approved:

NZSA 3 Star

Obsessive Rating: Not as good as the Autowatch 573PPi but much better than the Mongoose M25

Would benefit for having an attack proof security housing!

OVERVIEW

Features:

Dual Circuit Immobiliser

X2 Transponder Tags

PIN Code Protection against Unauthorised Tag Programming

Autowatch Product range

The Autowatch 573PPi is the first of the Transponder Immobilisers to be reviewed here. The first thing worth mentioning is that the the only transponder Immobiliser available in New Zealand that actually has an attack proof security housing. I’m sure I don’t need to explain why this is important!

Whilst the 573PPi is larger then most of the other current range of Autowatch Immobilisers it is still reasonably small. The only way to program new transponder tags is with the over-ride pin number. Have a read of the “Can Your Remote be Copied” post which despite being about remotes is still applicable to transponder immobilisers.

Attack proof Security Housing

The 573PPi comes with two transponder tags (see photo below) that attach to your key ring. They are 45mm long and disarm the immobiliser when in proximity of the coil which is installed near the ignition barrel. If you want additional tags then the 573PPi can learn up to 8 of them.

The Immobiliser arms 30 seconds after this ignition is turned off (or last disarmed if the ignition is not turned on) at which point a red LED starts to flash to indicate the system is armed. The 575PPi comes with two immobilisation points and has an output for a 3rd external cut if required.

573PPi (Passive Proximity Immobiliser)

RRP NZ: $370.00

Insurance Approved:

NZSA 3 Star (AS/NZS 4601:2000 certified)

Obsessive Rating: Top Notch

Good enough to go in the Obsessive Go-Kart, so it’s fair to say it’s better than the other options!

OVERVIEW

Features:

Dual Circuit Immobiliser (Output for 3rd Cut)

X2 Transponder Tags

Attack Proof Security Housing

PIN Code Protection against Unauthorised Tag Programming

MONGOOSE PRODUCT RANGE

Following on from the other Immobiliser reviews it is now time to look at what Mongoose have to offer. The Immobiliser I am reviewing here is the top model known as the M80 Series, but the same security housing can also be found with the MAP80 Upgrade alarm.

All the Mongoose Systems covered here meet with NZSA standards (which I have questioned in the past!) but fail to meet with the respected standards set by Thatcham.

Both the M80 Series and the MAP80 cut 3 Immobiliser circuits, but to be effective the unit needs to be well hidden and be difficult to open up. Lets see how the Mongoose stands up….

How big is the Mongoose Immobiliser?

M80/MAP80 Series Immobiliser Housing

As with all my other review I shall start off by looking at the size of the Mongoose Immobiliser.

The Dimentions:

Height: 5.0cm

Width: 10.4 cm plus cables plugged into one side

Length: 12.0cm plus cables coming out of one end

The Mongoose is easily the biggest of all the Immobilisers I have looked at so assuming your mode of transport is not the TARDIS finding the space to hide it effectively is extremely difficult.

Security Housing?

The vital Immobiliser circuits are protected by 2 Torx screws which I managed to open in 17 seconds. Sure you need a Torx Screwdriver (which is available from most tool shops) but once you have one they are easier to undo than normal screws as the Torx bit grips very well!

Obsessive Rating: Big Fat and Easy to get inside (Lets not make any sexists jokes here!)

Another NZSA approved system that I find very disappointing!