Most people have heard of a remote car starter that starts your vehicle with a touch of a button, but what about smartphone-controlled remote start systems? Since 1990, California Car Sounds and Tint has been installing remote starts. As vehicles have evolved, so has remote starter technology.
In the Early Years
Starting your car with a touch of a button uses RF or radio frequency technology, similarly to how AM radio works in your car. If the radio cuts out when we go around a building or hill, it’s because RF signals spread out in a straight line. To get the maximum reception from your radio in your car, you need to see the radio station’s antenna. This is exactly how a one-way remote starter works: The remote control is the radio station and the remote starter is the antenna. Many factors can interfere with one-way remote starter operation.
Does Your Car Talk to You?
A one-way remote starter remote control sends out the “start my car command” at the touch of a button, but as it gets further away, the signal gets weaker. The next evolution in remote start technology is two-way operation. When this remote starter receives the signal from your remote control, it sends a signal back to the remote control. This technology allows you to know if your car has started under remote control, confirm your doors are locked and – if equipped – even know if someone is breaking into your car. Two-way remote starters communicate through the remote control by using blinking LEDs or icons on an LCD screen on your remote control that you can see in the palm of your hand.
Smartphone-controlled Remote Starters Provide Global Communication
The ultimate in remote starter technology is smartphone-controlled remote start systems. Cellular technology has become very reliable in the last 10 years. Smartphone remote starting is very similar to two-way remote starters in regard to features, but is not as affected by buildings or line-of-sight range issues. Using your smartphone to start your vehicle has become the preferred starting method because it means you don’t have to carry any additional key fobs.
A customer shared a story about using his smartphone remote starter. He needed to access the trunk of his wife’s car and did not have her keys. Since they have his-and-her smartphone remote starters, he drove to the hospital where she works, popped the trunk from his smartphone, grabbed the item he needed and drove away. He did not have to disturb his wife or get her keys to access the trunk.
If you’re in the Campbell area, come into California Car Sound and Tint to get a demonstration of the latest smartphone-controlled remote start technology. Our professional sales staff can advise you of the real-world applications that other customers have already experienced in our area. If you are unable to come into our East Sunnyoaks location, contact us via our contact form, and one of our remote car starter professionals will get in touch to answer any of your questions.
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