Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 35

Thread: Cheap as Chinese alarm - A review

  1. #1
    Join Date
    8th December 2009 - 16:11
    Bike
    Nothing, sadly
    Location
    Browns Bay
    Posts
    175

    Cheap as Chinese alarm - A review

    Morning,

    Thought I'd do a write up for all those cheapskates out there contemplating an alarm, but seeing whether it's worth getting something off Trademe for $35, or to go the whole hog and get something proper. Having arrived today, will do an opening now and installation tomorrow.

    Note: I'm coming from a trial and error background, having played with car wiring, knowing physics and general electronics and how it works, but having never touched a motorcycles electrics, so this can be considered a review for anyone as long as you have a basic understanding.

    Price: $35 + ship

    What's in the box,

    The box is in basic retail packaging with a wiring diagram on the back in Chinese.
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	P1611[01]_21-07-10.jpg 
Views:	33 
Size:	385.0 KB 
ID:	213469
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	P1611_21-07-10.jpg 
Views:	23 
Size:	474.2 KB 
ID:	213471

    Package includes:
    2 adhesive strips one for siren, one for box.
    One key dongle
    The control box
    The siren
    Handwritten English Instructions
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	P1612[01]_21-07-10.jpg 
Views:	54 
Size:	524.1 KB 
ID:	213470

    And this is the bike in question, a 2007 Hyosung GV250.
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	P1318[01]_21-07-10.jpg 
Views:	28 
Size:	536.5 KB 
ID:	213468

    Installation begins tomorrow, will also do a write-up for a Cameleon oiler as soon as it arrives.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    13th February 2006 - 13:12
    Bike
    raptor 1000
    Location
    Dunedin
    Posts
    2,975
    i cant wait for episode 2

  3. #3
    Join Date
    29th April 2008 - 12:38
    Bike
    Can Am Spyder RS. 2010
    Location
    rotorua
    Posts
    688
    I have a captive Chinese student if you need a decent translation.
    The perversity of the universe tends towards a maximum

  4. #4
    Join Date
    8th December 2009 - 16:11
    Bike
    Nothing, sadly
    Location
    Browns Bay
    Posts
    175
    Translation would be fantastic, the English instructions have literally been typed out on Wordpad and confirmation would be great.

    Scan of box below.
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	CCF21072010_00000.jpg 
Views:	92 
Size:	455.6 KB 
ID:	213496

    Right click and select "View Image" to see it big enough to read. Else download it to the desktop.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    8th December 2009 - 16:11
    Bike
    Nothing, sadly
    Location
    Browns Bay
    Posts
    175
    Attempt One:

    Abject Failure

    The alarm works and is extremely loud, just trying to get it functioning bypassing the ignition into the starter relay, as well as attaching to the lights in order to set them off if there's any power movement or touching of controls.

    Will try again this weekend once I've purchased some more fuses, heh.

    For construction I used 10A Automotive Cable, and wire joiners so that in the event of the alarm not working, I can quickly remove it without having to solder or have any exposed wires. Will also simplify my second attempt. Bike still runs(Hyosung conveniently provides a spare 15A fuse) but I don't want to blow it and be stranded.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	P1212_22-07-10.jpg 
Views:	35 
Size:	542.7 KB 
ID:	213716
    Indecent Exposure

  6. #6
    Join Date
    3rd September 2004 - 08:51
    Bike
    05 iHornet 900
    Location
    Westham
    Posts
    1,751
    Quote Originally Posted by Suntoucher View Post
    Attempt One:

    Abject Failure
    .....
    I have no personal experience on this alarm, but Dargor has one on his FZR 400. Have borrowed it a couple of times and it blows fuses ... something to do with the Ignition bypass/ isolate circuit ??
    If the alarm goes off... its time to replace the fuse. I havent investigated the wiring but you could be having the same issues. There could be an error in the wiring circuit wiring description...

    Just a thought

    Just had a look at the circuit diagram you supplied off the box .... Man tis a little er unhelpful. So I will modify my statement
    "There is likely an error in the wiring circuit wiring description... "

  7. #7
    Join Date
    10th May 2009 - 15:22
    Bike
    2010 Honda CB1000R Predator
    Location
    Orewa, Auckland
    Posts
    4,490
    Blog Entries
    19
    I have a question for you - really one to be considered before you buy the alarm, but still you can consider it now.

    The first thing you need to do is decide how you think your bike is most likely to be stolen. Once you know that, then you can consider things that mitigate that risk, like an alarm.

    From my limited knowledge, most bikes stolen are broken down for parts within 24 hours. They tend to be stolen by people with utes or trucks, so they can lift and take the whole bike away quickly.

    There has been a recent spate of thefts involving two people visiting people advertising bikes for sales, one of them takes the bike for a test ride, and never comes back. The second person leaves shortly after the first one has taken the bike, and they vehicle they come in is stolen.

    Bike alarms also have a habbit of flattening batteries, leaving bikes un-startable. So consider this also.

    You can get disc locks. But peope have a habbit of trying to ride away with them and doing a lot of damage to the bike. Better to get insurance - the excess is likely to be cheaper than the damage.

    When the bike is at "home" you can get a wire restraint and restrain it to a solid ground restraint, but evertything needs to be solid. Bolt cutters and a hack saw are readily available.

    For my money, if I was going to get anything it would be one fo the cheap Chinese GPS/cell transmitters you can get from www.dealextreme.com. As long as you notice you bike has been stolen quite quickly you stand a chance of TXTing the unit to get the GPS co-ordindates.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    6th February 2010 - 19:32
    Bike
    V-Strom 1000
    Location
    Wellington
    Posts
    677
    Quote Originally Posted by p.dath View Post
    For my money, if I was going to get anything it would be one fo the cheap Chinese GPS/cell transmitters you can get from www.dealextreme.com. As long as you notice you bike has been stolen quite quickly you stand a chance of TXTing the unit to get the GPS co-ordindates.
    Which will be great as long as they haven't bought one of the $28 GPS jammers from the same website I second the insurance and cable lock option.

    WELLINGTON: Tag-o-rama

  9. #9
    Join Date
    10th May 2009 - 15:22
    Bike
    2010 Honda CB1000R Predator
    Location
    Orewa, Auckland
    Posts
    4,490
    Blog Entries
    19
    Quote Originally Posted by rustyrobot View Post
    Which will be great as long as they haven't bought one of the $28 GPS jammers from the same website I second the insurance and cable lock option.
    Haha. I have not heard of any instances of GPS jammers being used in NZ yet. I suspect it would tend to be used by people stealing expensive cars with the expectation that the cars would have GPS trackers. Especially those cars with the sticker advertising the fact they have a GPS based tracking system (Doh!).

    I'd be surprised to see bike thiefs using GPS jammers this early on in the game.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    3rd September 2004 - 08:51
    Bike
    05 iHornet 900
    Location
    Westham
    Posts
    1,751
    Quote Originally Posted by p.dath View Post
    ...... Chinese GPS/cell transmitters you can get from www.dealextreme.com. As long as you notice you bike has been stolen quite quickly you stand a chance of TXTing the unit to get the GPS co-ordindates.
    So is it this gizmo ? http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.39993
    So to get this up and running you also need a sim card on a plan from your favorite Cell provider ?

    And the relay shown can perhaps do the immobilising biso on command from authorised cell phone ??

  11. #11
    Join Date
    10th May 2009 - 15:22
    Bike
    2010 Honda CB1000R Predator
    Location
    Orewa, Auckland
    Posts
    4,490
    Blog Entries
    19
    Quote Originally Posted by Warr View Post
    So is it this gizmo ? http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.39993
    So to get this up and running you also need a sim card on a plan from your favorite Cell provider ?

    And the relay shown can perhaps do the immobilising biso on command from authorised cell phone ??
    That one looks good. I was actually lookng at another one last month that has a built in battery as well, and was about the size of a cigarette packet.

    Remember, most bikes that are stolen are stripped down for parts within 24 hours. I think an immobiliser is not worth it because of this.

    Now consider the tiny little unit with a built in battery that can keep running for a couple of days after the bike has been taken apart ...

  12. #12
    Join Date
    10th May 2009 - 15:22
    Bike
    2010 Honda CB1000R Predator
    Location
    Orewa, Auckland
    Posts
    4,490
    Blog Entries
    19
    Something more like:
    http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.11314
    or:
    http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.34844

    Basically you use the bike's battery to charge up it's internal battery.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    4th July 2010 - 19:25
    Bike
    Suzuki
    Location
    Auckland
    Posts
    64
    Quote Originally Posted by p.dath View Post
    For my money, if I was going to get anything it would be one fo the cheap Chinese GPS/cell transmitters you can get from www.dealextreme.com.
    I assume then that this company is safe to deal with (you appear to have dealt with them before) - don't like spreading my credit card details all over the world too much. This company seems to be Hong Kong based.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    25th April 2009 - 17:38
    Bike
    RC36, RC31, KR-E, CR125
    Location
    Manawatu
    Posts
    7,364
    Quote Originally Posted by Warr View Post
    So is it this gizmo ? http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.39993
    So to get this up and running you also need a sim card on a plan from your favorite Cell provider ?

    And the relay shown can perhaps do the immobilising biso on command from authorised cell phone ??
    i reviewed one i got from them a while ago thread is here
    "A shark on whiskey is mighty risky, but a shark on beer is a beer engineer" - Tad Ghostal

  15. #15
    Join Date
    17th February 2005 - 11:36
    Bike
    Bikes!
    Location
    Christchurch
    Posts
    9,649
    Maybe I'm just smarter than the average theif, but I wouldn't be nicking bikes or cars without a GPS jammer.

    Quote Originally Posted by p.dath View Post
    Now consider the tiny little unit with a built in battery that can keep running for a couple of days after the bike has been taken apart ...
    It's not that tiny, and I tell you what, if I were stripping your bike down, and I found something with a couple of aerials sticking out, or something obviously not OEM, it's be getting the bucket of water treatment straight away.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •