Another Remote Start Question... Viper Range
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Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 106
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From: KS
Another Remote Start Question... Viper Range
For those of you with Viper remote starts, what is your opinion of the range you're seeing versus the advertised range? With winter right around the corner, I'd really like to get another remote start, but my last experience with the Viper systems was less than satisfactory.
I started out with the 5301 (didn't want an alarm system, only the remote start) on my last truck, which has an advertised range of 2000'. I tested the range under various circumstances, but the one that mattered to me the most, which was from my office to my truck (a distance of about 300'), failed every time. I went back to the installer, they looked it over, and told me they adjusted the antennae. Didn't matter, I still got the same results.
I then had them trade out the 5301 for the 5501, which has an advertised range of 1 mile. I realize this advertised range is based on ideal, line of sight conditions, but even 1/4 mile of reliable range would suit my needs 99% of the time. The result with the 5501 was that it would work from my office about half the time. To put this into perspective, at 300' the distance from my office to the parking lot is only 5.6% of the advertised range. I could understand the unit only operating at 90%, 80% or even 70% of the advertised range in less than ideal conditions, but less than 5.6%???
Before anyone suggests that there must be some kind of interference where I work, remember that I tested both systems under various different scenarios, including large parking lots where I could see my truck when I walked out the door of the store I was in.
I wouldn't imagine that the vehicle in which the system is installed in would have any effect on the outcome of the performance. Additionally, the installer is not some chain store with a bunch of high school kids doing the installations, so that shouldn't be the issue either.
So, do I take a chance and go with the 5501 again and hope for better results, or should I look at the new smart start system?
I started out with the 5301 (didn't want an alarm system, only the remote start) on my last truck, which has an advertised range of 2000'. I tested the range under various circumstances, but the one that mattered to me the most, which was from my office to my truck (a distance of about 300'), failed every time. I went back to the installer, they looked it over, and told me they adjusted the antennae. Didn't matter, I still got the same results.
I then had them trade out the 5301 for the 5501, which has an advertised range of 1 mile. I realize this advertised range is based on ideal, line of sight conditions, but even 1/4 mile of reliable range would suit my needs 99% of the time. The result with the 5501 was that it would work from my office about half the time. To put this into perspective, at 300' the distance from my office to the parking lot is only 5.6% of the advertised range. I could understand the unit only operating at 90%, 80% or even 70% of the advertised range in less than ideal conditions, but less than 5.6%???
Before anyone suggests that there must be some kind of interference where I work, remember that I tested both systems under various different scenarios, including large parking lots where I could see my truck when I walked out the door of the store I was in.
I wouldn't imagine that the vehicle in which the system is installed in would have any effect on the outcome of the performance. Additionally, the installer is not some chain store with a bunch of high school kids doing the installations, so that shouldn't be the issue either.
So, do I take a chance and go with the 5501 again and hope for better results, or should I look at the new smart start system?
Ex Badge Bunny
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 23,414
Likes: 63
From: SoCal
Well, I had the 5701 version (remote start AND alarm) installed a couple weeks ago.... It is advertised with a 2000ft range. Thus far, I have not had any kind of interference issues, no matter where I'm at. I'm pretty pleased with it...