Ravelco vs. The Competition

Use the following chart to select your level of vehicle security.

	Effectiveness	Reliability	Ease of Use	Prevents Auto Theft
Ravelco
Car Alarms
Tracking Systems
Clubs & Immobilizers
Key Code Systems

What does all this mean?

Effectiveness - Does the product do what you expect it to do?
Reliability - Will your car always start with the device installed and will there be no false alarms?
Ease of Use - If it is hard or confusing, people won't use it. Is the system simple to use?
Prevents Auto Theft - Does the device actually PREVENT auto theft?

Ravelco vs. Car Alarms

	Effectiveness	Reliability	Ease of Use	Prevents Auto Theft
Ravelco
Car Alarms

Known in the industry as "nuisance alarms." Outlawed in some major cities, including New York City. They are totally ineffective in deterring auto theft.

Annoying Car Alarms According to the non-profit Highway Loss Data Institute, cars with alarms "show no overall reduction in theft losses" compared to cars without alarms.

Thunderstorms, passing vehicles, slight bumps, and even temperature fluctuations can set them off. Who hasn't heard and ignored an alarm?

To make matters worse, a "code grabber" or "scanner" that will overcome any alarm system manufactured today can be purchased for less than $100 on the Internet. Even the systems that claim to have Anti-Scan or Code Grabbing Technology can still be defeated, as demonstrated on CBS' The Early Show and 48 Hours.

Some tow truck companies and car washes have and use these scanners when someone's keys are accidentally locked in a car that is equipped with an alarm. Another negative: If the remote transmitter battery dies, you cannot get the vehicle started until you replace the battery in the transmitter. Trying to find a suitable battery can be a chore in itself.

Car dealers usually will push an alarm system because it makes them more money and they are very easy to install.

The remote control "keyless entry" capability for locking and unlocking the doors of a vehicle with this type of alarm system is a great option to have, but as far as security is concerned, the remote control alarm system only interrupts the starter wire, and this can easily be bypassed by a thief under the dash in a matter of seconds.

Ravelco vs. Tracking Systems

	Effectiveness	Reliability	Ease of Use	Prevents Auto Theft
Ravelco
Tracking Systems

Although they sound good on paper, these costly systems are not very effective.

GPS Tracking Systems They come into play only after the vehicle has been stolen, as reported by the Boston Police Department, the city in which the idea originated.

By the time the victim reports their vehicle stolen, (which is usually the next day) it has already been stripped and dumped.

If the owner of the stolen vehicle is lucky, the thief will not have removed the tracking transponder while stripping the vehicle and the tracking system will lead the police to the abandoned shell of the vehicle.

These systems are not available in all areas, and they are not very practical in big cities. Furthermore, they are expensive ($595 and up) and some even require a monthly monitoring fee.

Many people in the security industry call the system "after the fact jack" rather than LoJack.

General Motors offers a system called the "OnStar System". These systems are easily defeated by the thief breaking the antenna off of the roof of the vehicle. No Security What So Ever!

What you might not know about tracking systems and vehicle recovery:

Vehicle tracking systems are costly, often with a monthly monitoring fee on top of an up front purchase price.
Will your car get top police priority by the oilice after being reported?
Most recovered vehicles have already been picked over by the thieves. Using simple hand tools it only takes minutes to get the most valuable parts of your car.
The resale value of a recovered car can drop dramatically, and the theft will appear on the vehicle history report.
Consider the amount of time you'll need to take off work, or from your personal life in dealing with a car theft.

As indicated by the NICB "Look for a well-designed layer 3 device - such as the Ravelco Anti-Theft Device."

A good layer three device will foil amateurs and professional thieves and should eliminate the need for a tracking device.

Ravelco vs. Clubs & Immobilizers

	Effectiveness	Reliability	Ease of Use	Prevents Auto Theft
Ravelco
Clubs & Immobilizers

Flat Plug Devices

These devices are all mounted below the dash. The connections are very simple to make and only go to each end of the starter wire beneath the dash.

The more sophisticated models include a red flashing light . . . which has nothing at all to do with the device's ability to deter theft. It is merely a red light that either blinks or burns continuously.

Car thieves can overcome these devices in seconds by using a jumper wire or even with an "old fashioned" hat pin, simply by sticking it through one wire and into the other.

They typically have a maximum of six different combinations and most car dealers use the same combination on every vehicle they sell.

These systems are cheap, which enables some car dealers to install them on every vehicle in stock and try to sell their vehicles at a higher price. If a customer balks and does not want to pay for it, the dealer simply inserts a chip that will override the system.

Dealers also know that these systems often result in problems . . . and customer complaints. There have been dozens of companies that manufacture flat plug devices, most of them have gone out of business already and the remaining few have just about run their course.

Steering Column Collars

Now nearly obsolete, these devices are worthless in terms of theft protection. All a thief has to do is reach below the dash; pry the ignition switch off the topside of the steering column post, exposing a rod; and pull the rod upward, allowing the vehicle to start.

The Club

Widely advertised, this device is probably the best known anti theft product on the market today.

But as demonstrated on CBS' American Journal, a car thief using a hacksaw can cut through the vehicle's steering wheel and remove The Club in just 22 seconds!

The program also demonstrated how a thief can spray "freon" into the locking mechanism of The Club, hit the now - frozen lock with a hammer, and shatter it like glass, enabling him to remove The Club. In addition, there is a device called the Club Buster, which will break The Club and AutoLock devices in 60 seconds.

The Club Buster is intended for locksmiths, tow truck operators, and auto repossession professionals, but any thief can buy it over the internet right now for $93.

Keypad Systems

These systems connect to the starter wire under the dash. They can be defeated in seconds by locating the "brain box" of the keypad (which usually is wire-tied or taped to the steering column under the dash) and then touching the two contacts with a jumper wire.

Remote Starter Kills

Many car dealers promote this type of device because it is easy to install and the dealer can charge up to $499 for it. Customers might think that they are paying top dollar for top-of-the-line security, but this device is easy to defeat.

It comes with a remote control and a special re-worked starter relay that replaces the factory starter relay in your vehicle's power distribution box. The power distribution box is easy to access directly under the hood of your vehicle. All you have to do is to lift the cover of the box, pull out the relay, replace it with any factory relay (cost: $2) and you can drive away the vehicle.

The remote control on this device can be scanned and bypassed with a scanner box in seconds.

Ravelco vs. Key Code Systems

	Effectiveness	Reliability	Ease of Use	Prevents Auto Theft
Ravelco
Key Code Systems

GM's PASSlock II, FORD's SecuriLock, CHRYSLER's SentryKey and TOYOTA's Engine Immobilizer

These transponder based anti theft systems consist of a miniature transponder which is imbedded in the ignition key head itself. When the key is inserted into the ignition a radio frequency (RF) is transmitted to the key. This in turn energizes the transponder which replies with an ID number.

If the ID is recognized by the on board computer the ignition and starting system is enabled. If access is attempted without the correct code, critical systems (ignition, starter) remain inoperable. These systems are factory installed, on almost all the new GM, FORD, CHRYSLER and TOYOTA vehicles, at no charge.

These systems keep honest people honest and are very easy to bypass. All a thief has to do is cut the black wire in the three wire ribbon cable located under the dash and measure the resistance between the black wire and the yellow starter wire with a volt meter. They then touch the two wires with the matching resistor and the vehicle will start.

This sounds complicated, but only takes about 20 seconds to defeat . . . which is probably why the factory installs these systems free. These systems are not very effective and they are bypassed all the time.

Recently, a national automotive magazine published information on how to bypass these systems, also there is are companies who manufacture products that bypass the transponder key system in any vehicle made. Available on the internet for under $100.

KeyCode Systems