Start Your Engines! - 2-Way Car Alarm Systems

AutoPage RS-725LCDAutoPage has been making automotive security products for over 25 years. The company prides itself on "Better Security Made Affordable" and backs it up with the RS-725LCD's suggested retail price of $499. Out of the three alarms reviewed, the AutoPage two-way transmitter was the most conservatively styled. With its titanium finish, the overall look of the AutoPage two-way remote is similar to cell phones from a few years back - complete with a short black antenna. The LCD screen dominates the top half of the remote, while the five buttons occupy the remaining space. Four larger black buttons, each with multiple icons, surround a smaller, central blue button. Since there are no buttons on the side, the remote's layout puts all the buttons underneath the user's thumb. And for those with children who like to play with keys, the RS-725LCD's two-way remote is equipped with a button-lock feature, which prevents errant button presses.

The RS-725LCD's two-way remote features an image of a Porsche 911 centered in the LCD display. At the top of the display is a 24-hour clock that also doubles as a parking meter countdown timer and, when the remote start is activated, shows the remaining run time. If the alarm is equipped with the optional temperature sensor, the two-way remote can also display the vehicle's interior temperature. The two-way remote uses over 20 simple-to-understand icons to represent various alarm functions: closed padlock for locked, open padlock for unlocked, exhaust smoke behind the Porsche for engine running, etc. Not to be overlooked, the one-way transmitter was the smallest of the bunch yet still provided the same range as its bigger two-way brother.

Vehicle ignition immobilizers that once required a simple resistor to bypass, now require exact RF signal transmission to allow the vehicle to start. AutoPage has simplified the transponder process by providing an RS232 serial port on the side of the RS-725LCD's hideaway alarm brain. The RS232 serial port can directly connect and control an AP Data Link transponder bypass allowing the remote start to function in immobilizer-equipped vehicles. The RS232 port is also compatible with iData Link modules, which are web-programmable, thus allowing one module to work with any vehicle once the appropriate software has been loaded.

Don't be fooled by the plain styling of the RS-725LCD. AutoPage has equipped this two-way remote start with enough capability to perform solidly at a reasonable price. With two additional auxiliary output channels, extra accessory ports and simple transponder bypass compatibility, the RS-725LCD is a great unit to build a vehicle security and convenience system around.

*7 channels with optional channel expander