Boat security alarms
 

Has anyone tried a radar proximity alarm in a boat. They're usually used in conv. cars and pickup beds. I was wondering how well they would work on a rocking boat, ie. accidentally activated by rocking next to another boat, dock, etc. Also, this sounds stupid, but does the radar shoot through the fiberglass making it too sensitive to nearby docks, etc.
Gary

Re: Boat security alarms
 

i used to install alarms back in the day. The proximity alarms wont get activated by a boat rocking unless you have alot of loose stuff moving around inside the boat. The unit can be adjusted for sensitivity also. So you can make it only go off if someone was to step inside the boat. If it were me i think i would put two onboard. One in the engine compartment or you could wire a pin switch there too so when the hatch is opened it would trigger and the proximity alarm close to the helm near the cabin door. I cant remember where ive seen it before but i know someone make a pinswitch that replaces one of the snaps on boat covers...so when someone starts to try and take the cover off the boat it will trigger.

Re: Boat security alarms
 

I've used a small pir (passive infared) device in my boat with great sucess. I mounted it low, but it was able to see the whole cockpit area. I wired it to an old Page Alert alarm, so it would beep the remote pager. I was close by the boat so it worked good.
I've seen those snap switches. They look good, but I never used one. PIR won't detect through the hull or glass.

Re: Boat security alarms
 

Re: Boat security alarms
 

I've seen the Bulldog and Advent radar units. Who makes the infarred?
Gary

Re: Boat security alarms
 

Car alarms don't even work in cars, why do you think they would work in a boat? The use of a car alarm, or motion sensing products in a boat will result in more false alarms than when used in a car. No one pays attention to an alarm system that provides regular false alarms.

PIR and shock detection sensor devices false alarm on temperature change, canvas wind rattle and flexing, birds landing on the boat, pelican dropping a fish on the boat, and (as is the case with cars) thunder and little bumps.

Most alarms sold as "boat alarms" are nothing more than a $11 (wholesale) car alarm. A good example of an $11 car alarm being sold as a boat alarm can be seen at: http://www.aqualarm.net/store/boat-security.asp.

I agree with Sonic28. http://www.canvassnapalarm.com appears to be an excellent product designed for boats. It can't provide a false alarm.

Re: Boat security alarms
 

I have been in the security business for twenty two years and can offer a few suggestions and some insight. Firstly, a car system probably wont last long in a moist salt air environment but that can easily be overcome. There is a system that I offer that has waterPROOF miniature remotes. They are less than half the size of a car alarm remote and even smaller than a postage stamp. You can swim with the remote in your pocket. The control module is conformal coated to resist corrosion. I offer a backup battery in the event the battery is cut. You can add magnetic contacts to trigger if door or hatch opens. I dont recommend pins as they fail. I dont recommend radar type motion sensors as they can pick up radio frequency interference and false trigger. I dont recommend passive infrared devices as a hot cabin will render the sensor unpredictable at best. I do like snap sensors but dont like the one suggested above as I feel you will have a hell of a time drilling a hole that large in a nice boat and finding clearance for the depth of that unit. I can offer you snap solutions that dont require a large hole and can use identical snaps currently on your boat. Additionally the snaps must cover more than one snap to truly be effective.

Typically, I incorporate a gps device to notify you of alarm emergency and give you boat location if it is stolen. If any OSO member needs boat security advice, call me at (813)882-8477.

Andy Buzz
Buzz-Off Alarm Systems
Maximum Audio
www.buzz-off.com

Re: Boat security alarms
 

A quick look at www.buzz-off.com shows that Mr. Buzz is selling car alarms, which unless my experience fails me would be virtually impossible to seal as they come from China as an "unopenable" unit. Spray whatever you want on it, paint it, and call it whatever you want but it is still a car alarm that won't hold up in a marine environment. Think about it....a car alarm, made in China to be used on cars, taking the pounding of 6 foot waves, and getting a good dose of (at least) salt air.

I have a Canvas SnapAlarm installed on my 38 Scarab. You cannot tell that the snap sensor is not just any other male snap member. I have 4 sensors installed. They will install anywhere where the back side is accessible. The sensors that come with Canvas SnapAlarm are made in the U.S. in Georgia and designed only for use on boats. Since I can't seem to find any parts on my boat made in China, and since ALL car alarms are made in China, I don't think there is a good match. Boat alarms for boats and car alarms for cars.

Re: Boat security alarms
 

The product that I am suggesting is not a car alarm and with all due respect, being in the business over twenty two years may give my recommendations more credibility than most. The system that I sell for boats is actually a multi-purpose security device designed for use in motorcycles, snow mobiles, and boats. Yes, it is made in China; the source of the highest quality security products. Although the system that I have sucessfully installed in many boats and motorcycles, is designed in the United States, we must bear in mind that China produces electronics with the highest reliability records with superior quality control and consistency over the U.S. The origin of the product has little to do with marine security so I will avoid further digressing the real topic.

I am not knocking someones idea of taking a threaded brass tube and inserting electronics inside. The package I recommend is designed to not need this tube, nor any holes drilled into the boat. Additionally, my package triggers even if the wires to the snaps are cut.

When it comes to marine protection, experience in choosing the correct sensors and product design is what will prevail in outsmarting a thief. The pounding of waves will not effect a properly loaded wave soldered board. Another important issue is that the remote must be waterproof. Water resistant won't cut it.

Please take my advice for whatever it is worth to you. I have over 47,500 satisfied customers in my local area and have already proven to myself what works and what does not. This post is not an attempt to take business from someone else. The goal is to help fellow OSO members avoid a loss and to assist those that want assistance.

Andy Buzz
Buzz-Off Alarm Systems
Maximum Audio

Re: Boat security alarms
 

This is going into the cabin of a cruiser. I would suspect entering through a broken window would be easier than breaking through a door or hatch. So no door switch or snap switch, etc is going to work. Need a proximity detector for the interior. Reccomendations?
BTW, first I've seen of the snap alarm, very cool.
Gary

Re: Boat security alarms
 

The PIR device I used was not very high tech. I pulled it from a motion sensing wall switch like the kind you use in a walk-in closet. The electronics for the PIR worked on 12v, and the output when it sensed motion was a short duration pulse. More than enough to trigger any alarm system's positive sense input. As far as heat, or flapping canvas goes, I never had that problem. As a matter of fact, I use a portable PIR device stuck on the outside of my canvas to scare away seagulls! Gary, check out: http://www.radioshack.com/product.as...ct%5Fid=49-426 This is a portable pir device. I've modified things like this before to use the output to trigger an alarm system. The important thing to watch for is current draw. You don't want to kill your battery. All this is not very high tech, but it works for me.:)

Re: Boat security alarms
 

A PIR will work inside a cabin but not just any PIR. Low cost, low quality PIRs will react and provide false alarms from heat changes in the cabin, swinging curtains, and even VHF transmissions originating nearby. I use one that has been tested in a marine environment on my SeaRay. In three years it has never provided a false alarm. I got it from http://www.voicealarm.com for $99. I have the full VoiceAlarm system on my SeaRay and found that this motion sensor is great for protecting against someone breaking in via the overhead hatches, instead of having to do the wiring required for magnetic switches on each of my 3 overhead hatches.

Re: Boat security alarms
 

Great, that should work! Wire it into my horn relay and it should keep the bad guys away. I've foud 110V AC ones but wanted one to wire to 12V system.
Gary

Re: Boat security alarms
 

Read the specs on the PIR. You will find the effectiveness of a PIR is drastically reduced by heat in cabin past 100 degrees. If you are in a cool climate, this may not matter and work well. If you are in a hot climate, you would need a microwave type movement sensor. The security device that I offer has inputs that will accept PIR or microwave sensors. You can also add magnetic contacts and many other types of sensors.

Microwave sensors see thru fiberglass and can false if the boat is in the water moving near a dock. PIR is more stable. The best sensor are called Dual Technology where both body heat and motion must be present to trigger. The heat portion will still be hindered by high cabin temp but if the cabin is a small cabin, the hinderance may not matter as short range may be enough.

Re: Boat security alarms
 

Can't remember the brand, but theres a fairly new unit out there that provides remote notification and also provides alarm functionality (as a "second" priority).

The main unit is programmable via RS232 and software to set high and low alarm levels for a handfull of digital (on/off) AND analog (voltage, temp, etc) inputs. When an alarm state is detected, the unit will (via connection to an onboard cellular telephone) call a preset number and deliver one of many selectable messages over and over for a selectable time period (several minutes will ensure that even an answering machine will get the message in its entirety). I believe it will also call several numbers in sequence and deliver the message to them all.

Example: The cabin temperature drops below 40 degrees. A preset low cabin temp alarm state is triggered. The unit calls your home, office, and cellphone and delivers 3 minutes of a message that repeats "This is your boat, my cabin temperature has dropped below 40 degrees - repeat".

I believe you can also CALL the cellphone on the boat and if it is set to "auto answer", the unit will answer and repeat the status of each zone (normal, "near" high limit, "near" low limit).

The unit was primarily designed for boats left unattended in extremely cold or hot weather.

It can also utilize intrusion sensors and the full range of entry alarm trigger sensors.
Can also drive any type of alarm horn, etc..

I thought this was very cool. Can't remember the name or website.

The unit itself was around $3500. The cell interface was about another $700 (but you could probably cable one up for less). It came with no "sensors" but they offered several types of temp sensors, etc.

mc

Re: Boat security alarms
 

For those that want notification, I offer a unit that for around $550 plus the alarm and sensors, will notify you via cellular if the alarm triggers or if the boat is moved. It will also provide gps location of boat. You or the police can follow stolen boat in real time or prevent the theft by getting there in time.

Re: Boat security alarms
 

[QUOTE=Andy Buzz] Yes, it is made in China; the source of the highest quality security products. Although the system that I have sucessfully installed in many boats and motorcycles, is designed in the United States, we must bear in mind that China produces electronics with the highest reliability records with superior quality control and consistency over the U.S. [QUOTE=Andy Buzz]

You must either be Chinese, or totally oblivious to fact.

As a purchasing agent for a large corporation I can enlighten you. When you purchase products from any Chinese producer you are surprised the first time you are invoiced and find a 8% to 15% additional discount above and beyond the negotiated price of the product. Then you learn that this is their "known failure rate" either DOA or within warranty. They don't want the junk back so they discount their known failure rate.

Directed Electronics (your car alarm equipment supplier), and you, know what the failure rate is. DEI buys the product from China and receives the discount for "known failure rate". Unfortunately, you and your customers have to suffer the inconveniences of the "known failure rate". Let's say, for example, that the failure rate on your Chinese car alarms is only 3%. That means that of your 47,000 customers about 1,410 have suffered the inconvenience of in-warranty failures. It seems to me that 1,410 dissatisfied customers is 1,410 too many. If you install Chinese car alarms on boats for use in a marine environment surely your failure rate and dissatisfied customer base is much higher.

Our company purchases electronic products from U.S. manufacturers who have demonstrated a zero percent failure rate.

It is an insult to the intelligence of the readers on this forum for you to say that Chinese quality is greater than that of U.S. manufactured products. Everyone on this forum has experience with Chinese products and knows better.

Re: Boat security alarms
 

Not trying to be arguementative but you must be disillusioned if you think anything has a zero percent failure rate. It is fact that when it comes to mass produced electronics, the Chinese are second only to the Japanese. Maybe you could avoid making this personal by suggesting that I am Chinese as I am not. On the other hand, I am an expert in the security field and can tell you that I do have experience to judge products that work well.

You are suggesting a product that uses the same fender type key that was used in security alarms sold by Zayre under the label Universal in 1978. The optional one button remote is even water resistant. The fuseholder is not marine grade and I could go on and on.

I guess this post is not about security anyway. It is about the Chinese vs American security products and there defects according to your calculations that are rediculously calculated. It is fact that when large international orders are negotiated, that typically they provide overrun product. The purpose is to allow field disposal rather than having to return products thru customs and await shipping that could easily take six weeks each way.

Your calculator can only help you extrapolate the correct defect rate if you input the correct information. Personally, based on your answers, that are strictly grossly exagerated slams on the Chinese, I doubt you could assist a fellow boater with suggestions on marine security intelligently regardless of the origin of the product.

Re: Boat security alarms
 

look into Flagship Marine Security, I rescently installed their system on my boat and am very pleased with it, I did not see ant ather company offer a similar product(deck sensors) once adjusted it works just as advertised and is 100% out of the way and invisable, came in a very neat litlle control panel and was easy to install

Re: Boat security alarms
 

I am not promoting any product. Only stating experience with boat alarm products that I have on my two personal boats. Both products are differrent, both are made in the U.S.A., and both have served me for a long time without any failures or false alarms.

Your constant self-backslapping about experience in security is very egotistical while based primarily on installing car alarms, in which field you do have more experience. Security in general and marine security, I doubt you come close to 20 years with the government in security, followed by 15 years, up to now, with the largest security provider in the Southern Hemisphere working in Colombia where there are real security issues and measures. I know more about security and marine security than you will ever learn in your life. Read up on MTSA and ISPS and you will learn how little you really know.

From many years of personal experience in dealing with Chinese manufacturers, including one which our company owns 50%, I also have more knowledge in Chinese quality and the Chinese mentality of low price. Do you know what the importer pays for one of your premier car alarms? I'll tell you.
About $11.00. If you doubt it I will put you in touch with the ex-Vice President of one of the larger car alarm distributor in the U.S. who will educate you on the known failure rate, economics of offering a "lifetime warranty" on a product sold for $250 that cost $11.00, and anything else that you deny knowing about your industry.

Your position and statements on this forum are designed to be self-serving in your sale of the only products you have which are made in China. If you had a product to offer that was made in the U.S.A. you would be on this same forum telling everyone about how your quality was better because it was made in the U.S. Your biggest mistake is hammering on the subject because the readers here understand you are trying to sell them the products you have available. By the way, I don't think this forum is to be used for commercialization of your products or services.

From a socio-economic standpoint, most of the forum users should agree that, aside from the known inferior quality, the fact that not one car alarm system is made in the U.S. (where years ago there were many), indicates the damage to the U.S. economy, and the tremendous loss of manufacturing jobs that has occured in the U.S. in recent years from the import of (principally) Chinese (Taiwanese) products.

Finally, anyone can readily see the quality of off-shore produced products by visiting Best Buy or Circuit City. See if you can find a Sony DVD player with more than 90 days of warranty. Anyone over 20 years of age has noticed that there isn't much quality in products anymore. It used to be that when you purchased a new TV you expected that it would last 10 to 20 years. Now when you buy a new TV you'd better buy the extended warranty.

So, Mr. Buzz, I only repeat the statement that caused you to climb on your sales soap box, "Car alarms are for cars and boat alarms are for boats". I think you should let this thread die because my next post will include a link to your Better Business Bureau file which will expose the "quality" and "service" complaints therein.

Re: Boat security alarms
 

Wow!:)

Re: Boat security alarms
 

Blah, Blah, Blah....Blah, Blah, Blah Blah! I see that your 4 days of experience as a registered user has been serving you well! You spent your time projecting your opinions as being factual and correct and state that mine are what your assume to be my sales soapbox. Never once have I slammed any idea, product or manufacturer discussed here on this thread. Merely, did I make a mistake and as to state what my experience has shown me over the past 22 years. You, however, have chosen to slam every thing that I have said as being a mere sales pitch.

I indeed have verifiable information and a legitamate company that I am NOT at all ashamed of...

You, on the otherhand, claim to have all of this "worldly" experience in the marine security business - - And this may be true, however, OSO members can not see any validity or crediblity to this testament, as again, you have 4 days experience as a registered user.

Never did I say you were wrong and that I was right - - nor, did I make this to be personal...but, again, I have nothing to hide - - I am just providing information that people might view as valuable.

As a successful business owner, I have nothing to hide, so, here the link to my wesite www.buzz-off.com and for those in seeing my Satisfactory Rating at the BBB - - http://www.clearwater.bbb.org/common...l?bid=22000609.

I am posting here because I have passion for the industry and hope to provide knowledge with what I know that might be of some use for fellow OSO members. Besides, if I was only interested in pedeling a car alarm , I could find much easier avenues in which I can capture a much wider audience... Many OSO members have benefitted from my advice in marine security, audio and home theater products and have become satisfied customers.

I extend my offer to assist fellow OSO members, if I can provide you with any advice that my 22 years of business in security and audio can provide, please feel free to contact me.

Andy Buzz
Buzz-Off Alarm Systems
Maximum Audio

Re: Boat security alarms
 

Here is the correct link:

http://www.clearwater.bbb.org/common...l?bid=22000609

Re: Boat security alarms
 

http://www.clearwater.bbb.org/
commonreport.html?bid=22000609

Re: Boat security alarms
 

Andy and Rick...
There is nothing I enjoy more than two competant individuals bantering back and forth. but before I decide who is right and who is wrong let me put my .02 cents in. Before I go any farther let me tell you a couple of things.
1. I have been in 12volt consumer electronics for 27 years.
2. I have an electrical engineering degree from U of Michigan
3. I am not asian!!!!!!!
Back in the early eighties there were a number of car security manufacturers in the U.S.. Crimestopper,Code Alarm, Clifford, Ungo Box, Maxiguard, Chapman, VSE were all good products that did what they were supposed to do-protect the vehicle. Unfortunately the technology had not changed for years and all of a sudden there were a half a dozen Italian alarm companies (Dalme, Piranha, Serpico, Ranger, Elsar, Doberman) that were producing remote control alarm system that were years ahead of the key pad systems that the US had been manufacturing. This gave the U.S. guys a kick in the ass they needed and everyone of these companies got on the remote control bandwagon and within three years all the Italian manufacturers were gone. Now down in Florida a retailer (Steve Zabuliski) was bringing in a car alarm from Taiwan under his own name and it was called Titan. Another person in Ohio Darrell Issa was bringing in the same product under the name Viper by Directed Electronics. Darrel was interested in the product on a national level and Steve was using it for his retail store so Darrel convinced Charles Chin the owner of Nu Tech the manufacturer to give him an exclusive and the rest is history. Well there is something that did happen. Audiovox,Magnadyne, Directed Electronics and a couple of others all have their product built by Nu Tech in Taiwan. The failure rate on this product is about as good as it can get and over the past 20 years I have seen this little operation that started in Ohio grow to be one of the largest security companies on the Planet. Directed electronics owns Clifford, Avital, Viper , Hornet, Steal stopper, Automate,Valet,python, rattler,sidewinder etc. Audiovox owns Code alarm and Chapman. Howard Miller still owns Crimestopper.Ungo box is owned by Clarion and is designed by Directed Electronics. By far and away the majority of car alarms are now and have been produced in Taiwan. The only company that I know that builds car security in this country is JBS Technology (Bulldog) in Ohio. More and more manufacturing jobs are being done in China, we build DVD players there. We build them for a variety of companies like Toshiba, RCA and Initial because labor is very inexpensive and its what we have to do to compete. The Chinese are becoming very strong as they go through there industrial revolution and comapnies like GM are investing a ton to build plants there. Rick I agree with you we have lost allot of jobs to asia but when retailers sell you the optional warranty it is because they make a huge profit from it. Many manufacturers have to back up the product way past the warranty period because the big box retailers are going to send it back under warranty anyway or they won't pay there bill.Twenty years ago a 19" TV was 250.00 its still the same price today. We all like that but to be able to do that we needed to find cheap labor. If we built 19" TV's here they would be $500.00 and everyone would ***** about the price and buy the Toshiba, Sony, RCA becasue it was cheaper.
The only industry where we are world class is in areospace technology, design and manufacturing. Now here is a little food for thought. Labor in China is cheap. Hand laid boat hulls are very labor intensive. Hmmn if we built boats there the price would be 30% less. I wonder if Brunswick is over there right now?
Good luck to both of you and remember we are all on the same team!

Re: Boat security alarms
 

Rick one other thought on the 11.00 alarm
Here is a basic breakdown
alarm brain with 4 relays on board $11.00 deduct 1.00 for every relay
harness $1.85-3.10 depends on length and gauge of wire, fuse size.
2 button remote control $2.40 each with battery
overide switch .40 each
LED indicater .25
siren 6 tone 3.25 each
pin switches .27 each ....optional
butt connectors .01 each ......optional
extra range antenna.... optional
package with instruction manual 1.45
The FOB cost for a high end alarm is about $23.50 FOB Taiwan.Yes there are less expensive models and even here I have shown how to save 4.00 just by removing on board relays.
The Freight, duties etc run about 3.00 now your at $26.00
The factory has to work on 30% margin to cover costs and now your at $37.35. The factory sells this in some cases to a distributor who marks it up 20% and now its up to $46.62
The distributor sells it to you local retailer who marks it up 40% and now its $79.95 plus labor. 2 hours labor at $50.00-65.00 per hour now its $179.00 to $209.00 installed.
Now before anyone thinks the dealers are getting rich consider the following
Good sales people and installers are hard to find and they get paid top dollar. advertising, workmans comp., phone, electric, advertising, insurance, water, gas, lost sales to the internet, and warranty eat a ton out of the profit.

Re: Boat security alarms
 

Baja,

You, obviously, are very knowledgable in that marketplace. There is, however, a flaw in your statement about a US produced TV costing $500.00 and the implication that no one would buy it. I would buy it. Not based on any national bias, but simply because I have alot of experience (personal and business) in "out-sourced" products failing. A recent example (of many); I purchased a Sony DVD. It was the most expensive offered. It failed after about 6 months. What a surprise to find that the warranty (parts and labor) was only 90 days. I am now in the market for a 50" plasma and am scared to death to invest high 4 figures without buying the $500 extended warranty.

My point is simple. Car alarms are designed for use on cars in a "land" environment. They don't work real well in even that environment. I can't remember the last time I walked out of the mall when there wasn't a car alarm sounding (from false alarm) that NO ONE pays attention to anymore. It seems to me that if the price is comparable, or even a little more, that the prudent boat owner, wishing to protect his investment, would purchase a product designed for a boat and manufactured in the U.S.

You were very careful in your post to avoid expressing an opinion on this subject. I'm curious as to what your learned opinion is.

Re: Boat security alarms
 

Rick,
I have a tip for you DON"T buy plasma. plasma has a great picture but LCD is the future and its coming on strong.
Plasma has some inheirent issues
1. It builds up allot of heat
2. it will only last half as long as LCD and the pitcure quality reall starts to fade after 5 years of use.
3. It consumes three times as much power as an LCD.
You'll notice that the price of plasma is dropping, if you can wait a little longer you will be happier with LCD.

One other point on products
whether its built in the US or in Asia the parts cost the same. when you purchase resistors,IC's, diodes etc there is no cost savings. The only difference is the labor to manufacturer goods. People in China that do assembly typically get paid about $50.00 per month. most live in dorms right at the factory and their meals and uniforms are provided. They normally work from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. six days per week and get Sundays off. Even though companies could use automated insertion devices they are very expensive to maintain and after doing a cost analysis it is still less money to build in Asia or India and bring the product in by ship. I for one would like to do more manufacturing in the U.S. My company still builds woofers in S. California because the shipping weight of the items makes it cost effective. My last thought is thats its a global economy and we need to find manufacturing methods to gain an edge.
I did not mean to offend you saying that you would not buy the product. Its just that the many people out there shop strickly on price and price alone. Most figure if it last for 90 days it will work for 10 years. I am not a fan of having to "PAY" for an extended warranty but big box retailers like automotive companies make a fortune selling them. Its basically pure profit some companies even spiff the sales people for selling them.

security systems
I designed security systems for Clifford, Delta Electronica of Varese Italy AKA Cobra car alarms and Massive security. A quick note security systems in Europe have to have 3 areas to disable the vehicle before they get an insurance discount. Fuel, starter, and ignition interups-they are real serious about theft over there. The biggest problem with security is the sensors-this is what causes 90% of false alarms. The other 9% is typically bad installations or defective product 1%. I personally like systems that do not have a current sense feature or use inexpensive shock or motion sensor technology. I prefer systems that trigger with a solid ground pulse like when a snap switch, mat switch or door is open. Marine security needs to have the circuit boards conformal coated and all connections should be soldiered and encased in shrink tubing. You can buy conformal coating spray its about 10.00 and one can can do about 25 alarm boards. did you know that the design is basically the same for all security systems whether its for home, business ,car or marine. A processor is on guard and looks for an input. once the processor sees this it send an output to a siren, horn,lights,pager,telephone interface etc.Most systems are designed to run on 12volts-yes even the home systems with battery backup usually the battery is 12 volts.The car systems usually use a mil spec circuit board, most home and business sytems use a cheaper single sided board. Home and business systems don't have the enviormental and temperature issues that car and boats have. so now here is my answer to the 64,000.00 dollar question...can you use a car alarm in a boat? my answer is
yes provided the brain is conformal coated. Be careful not to coat any expossed relay contacts on the board. Even if your located in Kansas install the brain in an area where water can't come in contact with the circuit board. Fuse all power input and output connections. If you don't have a clue what you are doing seek out a professional that knows boats!
Good luck with your projects!

Re: Boat security alarms
 

BTW,
$19.95 for a PIR at Radio Shack. With an RF remote to activate/deactivate!
Supposed to work up to 122 degrees.
What the hell, I'll see if it works.
Gary

Re: Boat security alarms
 

Sure!
Do what I did. I used a cheap PIR, and a Page Alert alarm. I got the Page Alert at a swapmeet for 5 bucks, took it apart and sprayed the board with conformal coat (GC Electronics brand), put it back together, and it does the job for me:)
Baja2700, I agree with you on the plasma tv. I've worked in consumer electronics service for a long time, and I won't touch one!

OS: Plasma vs. LCD
 

OK, Baja and Liberator, I've got all these cables sticking out of my new Home Theatre wall and need to make a decision soon. I need your help. Why is LCD better than Plasma? What is the difference in quality of the display? Why is 50" LCD only $2,000 and Plasma at $6,000? What brands to you recommend? Your help is appreciated!!

Re: Boat security alarms
 

i have 3 sharp lcd tv's in my home and couldn't be happier. about to buy a forth . i bought mine through www.buydig.com and smoke "bigbox stores" out the game. delivered via fedx ground. lcd is much better than plasma.

Re: Boat security alarms
 

Like I mentioned earlier...LCD is up and coming plasma is on the way out. I posted what is wrong with plasma in an earlier part of this thread. The 50" LCD that are 2 grand are rear projection units but the flat panel are now being built and are coming in from a variety of manufacturers all that are good.Check out Panasonic,Sharp, LG and Westing house. Westinghouse has some new 27-30' coming into Bestbuy with some pretty hot pricing.sharp is supposed to start shipping its new 45" this month. Sharp panels are first rate and all the monitors I design I use their panels. They would be my choice.

Re: Boat security alarms
 

The technology of plasma is just not there yet. a plasma display is a light emitting display. What that means is each pixel is essentially a small flourescent light bulb. Inside each pixel is three sub pixels (Red Blue Green). These bulbs although bright initally, quickly lose their brightness. LCD displays on the other hand, are light filtering devices. each pixel (or sub pixel), lets through light in varying amounts to create color images. The light is supplied by a color corrected back light. The advantage here is in the technology used for that back light. It doesn't tend to lose it's intensity like the plasma displays, and the backlight could be replaceable (that I'm not sure of though). I have worked on some small LCD displays where the backlight was replaceable. Neither display is perfect, but if you want to go with a thin screen, you'll be happier with LCD in the long run. Check out this link, it gives a much more thorough explanaition of plasma displays. http://www.howstuffworks.com/plasma-display.htm

Re: Boat security alarms
 

I have hundreds of Plasma Displays running for years now and only one failure. That was fixed under warrantee a year and a half after purchase. Runco and Fujitsu plasmas all come with 3 year warrantee's. None of the screens that I have sold have noticable light output or burn in. If you want a 50 or larger screen then you have to go Plasma. Black levels on LCD's are horible, but getting better. The 30" and belows are starting to get acceptable.

Jon

Re: Boat security alarms
 

All I can do is advise, if you like plasma...go for it. Down the road you'll have LCD because there won't be any plasma. I'm in the industry and know whats happening internally and right now plasma does have a better picture than LCD but the new organic LCD are a great improvement and the dollars are being spent to improve LCD. As the research continues and the technology improves LCD is going to be the only way to go.

Re: Boat security alarms
 

Audio is right as far as the black level of LCD. I'm still not keen on the plasma though.
Runco is high end. I've got front projector (not Runco).

Re: Boat security alarms
 

I am also in the business. I will be in aprox, 50 million dollars in houses today. I do ONLY very high end installs. First house is a 120,000 buck system, next house is a 250,000 system, and the last place is a 2 million dollar system with 7 theaters, and 14 Plasma TV's, and this is only the 8000 sq ft side of the house, the guy is building a 13,000 sqft addition!!! I have heard people say that Plasma is going out and all that. They have been saying it for years. I do not think that it is the case. You have to remember that LCD is NOT any cheaper then plasma right now, and plasma's have dropped in price drastically. Even you yourself have said that Plasma's have a better picture, so why the hard on for LCD? It may very well be that they will be better in the future, but right now they are not. You also have the same issues with LCD as Plasma as far as pixel drop out and all that. That is the largest contributer to plasma and LCD failure. That and Power supply/mother boards. Very rarely does the screen ever go bad. Like I said, hundreds sold and only one failure, and these things get used. I even have one outside at a guys tennis court.

Jon

Re: Boat security alarms
 

I work with companies like Sharp and LG and I leave for Asia in 3 weeks to attend the Hong Kong electronics show. At last years show there was very little plasma shown. In this industry there is the retail side and the manufacturing side. I understand your point of view because you are selling the best product that is available today. I don't have anything against plasma,cd, 8track,16 track, cassette, or any other format. I only look at what is today and what will be down the road. All I know is that very little engineering is being done on plasma and a massive amount of money is being invested in LCD. If you are at the H.K. show make your own assessment of the situation.

Re: Boat security alarms
 

I agree with you about the LCD having more money put into it. That is because it is cheaper to make a LCD Panel then a plasma one. IF they can get the LCD's to work as well they stand to profit a lot more from them. The new Zenith 30" LCD is very impressive but still not as good as the Sony Plama of the same size. So for me and my customers we sell them what is best today, not what will maybe be best tomarrow, If you buy LCD now you LCD will not be any better with next years models.... Ya know what I mean? There have been HUGE improvements with Plamsa over the last year or so weather they are advertising it or not. I will try and get some snaps for ya of the project that I am at today.... I am married to this place!!!! :D:D

Jon