Security alarms and anti-theft devices (Honda CR-V 1)

The more passive the blocking, the better

There is no immunity from theft. If a car can be priced, it is potentially a commodity and therefore an object of theft. What can be stolen will be stolen. The only question is where and when.

The most advanced means of protection remain electronic systems - security alarms and anti-theft devices. The first task is to notify about an attempted theft and exert psychological pressure on the thief. But what good is it if the car is parked on the street and the bedroom windows overlook the yard?! Even if it works in time, it causes nothing but irritation in passers-by. The thief doesn't brag much either, knowing for sure that it was just a scarecrow that worked. And while the owner puts on sweatpants and goes down in the elevator, he can manage to get to the Canadian border. Therefore, American-type alarms, so popular in the CIS, are not used in Europe. After all, if there was a false alarm, the owner would have to pay for all the police trips to the scene. Fortunately (in this sense), our police react to the sound of a car siren very rarely. Only the owner himself runs to her call, forced to first make sure that the alarm is not false and only then call the police. And while waiting for her, try to recapture the car. Anti-theft devices are much more effective, complex and expensive at the same time.



Abroad, the best advertisement for a security system is its recognition by an association of insurance companies. Otherwise, it's not worth going to the market with it. And what didn't work for "them" has now flooded our market. We don't have such an association, so insurance companies are forced to conduct the examination themselves.

Let us summarize some of the requirements put forward - we will highlight the main components of the systems according to the degree of protection and evaluate their effectiveness.

I. Cabin access and engine starting systems

Keys

They betray their owner if they fall into the wrong hands. The recently introduced Tlris system locks are no exception. Let us recall that there is a coded microcircuit built into the key without a power source, and a reader into the lock, respectively (radio reader), periodically requesting a key. If the microchip is recognized, the system disables the alarm and unlocks the engine. Unfortunately, Tlris only protects against lockpicks and counterfeit keys.

Remote control keychain

Infrared, radio or ultrasonic communication is used. Convenient, but can also betray. And if the battery is dead, it creates only problems: you can't arm the car, disarm it, or unlock the engine. Moreover, at the most inopportune moment. And many have already been car thieves of their own cars.

The system fails if a jammer - a broadband noise generator or similar device - is turned on nearby. And the number of opening tools - scanners, grabbers, etc. - is already not much less than the number of the systems themselves.

Tlris card or keychain

The thing is even more convenient. While in the reader's coverage area, it automatically confirms the right to start the engine and drive the car. If the connection is lost (the driver with the card left the car), the engine automatically shuts off. Does not distract the user and provides the highest comfort. But, like other physical password carriers, it allows unauthorized access if it falls into the hands of a thief.

An attempt to achieve maximum comfort by using several Tlris media often leads to the exact opposite result - their conflict during the next reading and protection activation.

Typeset password

In secret services, this type of clearance is considered the most secure. There are two inconveniences - you have to remember the password and enter it. However, cars with such access systems are stolen much less frequently. And entering a password is no more difficult than dialing a phone number. This is why many people are already starting to combine a system of inexpensive alarms and anti-theft devices with a password for access. And the manufacturing companies managed to quickly set up their production. In modern luxury cars, this mode is included in the program of the standard on-board computer.

Systems that require a password to be entered after the engine is started. Otherwise, the engine will shut off when you first brake or reduce the revs. This is where their main drawback lies - don't slow down and steal. The second disadvantage is the simplified password, since it must be entered while driving.

Combined access systems

For example, a radio key fob or Tlris card for external security and password access to start the engine. The most stable system in terms of protection.

II. Signaling (sound, light and radio pager)

Two levels of signaling are used: warning and alarm. The alarm should be activated if there is no response to the warning. Turning on without reason, it only irritates and soon ceases to attract attention. This is often used by thieves, who deliberately disturb the chosen car. Sometimes they use the monotony of siren voices - they place their own car with the same siren next to the selected one and turn it on periodically. When the owner stops reacting, they move from "training" to action. Therefore, make sure that the sound of your alarm is different from others. Or buy a radio pager.

He will quickly and quietly inform you what is happening with the car. Some people connect a relay to the pager that turns on the parking lot light and use this technique to simulate constant surveillance. But keep in mind that the pager is just as easily suppressed by a jammer, and there is always a chance to wake up in the morning well-rested, but somewhat impoverished.

III. Engine start blocking or forced engine shutdown systems

Foreign insurance companies require that the anti-theft device block at least three components: starter, ignition and fuel supply. And as a consequence - passive blocking of the engine if the processor does not work (disabled or destroyed).

The active one provides immobilization only when the processor is running. In addition, in order to maintain the ability to use the car if the security system fails, many of them use a normally closed mode of contacts of blocking relays. This is what car thieves take advantage of: it is enough to cut off the power wire of the main unit - and the entire system is neutralized. To find it even among wires of the same thickness and color, a light bulb with a sharp probe will suffice. The insulation of the wire is pierced, the remaining voltage is found when the ignition is off, and the direction of further actions is clear even to a poor student.



If the wires from the circuits being blocked converge to one block, this only makes the thief's job easier. The solution takes a couple of minutes. Here again, passive blocking has an advantage. especially if these are microimmobilizers and they are scattered throughout the car. And even more so if they are mounted in the standard units of the car, since it is simply impossible to neutralize them with a jumper.

Systems that provide forced engine shutdown must have an alarm system that warns that something is wrong with the car and that you should stay away from it. Otherwise, there is a chance to return the car, which was damaged not so much by the thief, but by unwitting neighbors on the highway.

IV. Vehicle return systems

We are talking about preventing a carjacking. In this case, it is wiser to allow the hijacker to drive away and, at a safe distance for you, forcibly turn off the engine. The mode is usually activated using a special key fob. But the hijackers will most likely take it away, and while driving they will try not to reduce the engine speed. Because such systems also turn off the engine when the speed drops below a certain level. Or they use a jammer, then there is no need to take away the key fob.

And what's even more likely is that they will take you for a ride in a car until they find all the traps. Then they will offer to turn them all off, train them to do this, and only after that will they be expelled. Then there will be practically no chance of getting the car back.



More precisely, this was the case until recently. Systems have appeared that allow you to block the engine at a distance of tens of kilometers with a phone call. We learned about one of them recently, when we received a pager from the LINK Telecom network. The list of services included "paging car alarm". The deeper we delved into the essence of the system, the more interested we became. To avoid accusations of advertising, we will not give its name, but will only list the elements that seemed to us to be the Ace of Base ("ace in the deck").

This is a specialized on-board computer based on an Intel processor, trained to protect the car. The system is based on microimmobilizers placed near or inside the controlled object. There can be up to eight independent ones. It can include any reasonable number of alarms and sensors. The system is controlled and access passwords are entered manually using a two-button keyboard. Status indication, confirmation of operations and some prompts are provided by a multi-color indicator and musical signals. Operational reprogramming is possible to change the system's operating algorithm. The computer is protected from electric shock or radio interference and remembers attempts to use them. It is possible to install a paging signal receiver ("Motorola") to receive external commands. The simplest of them is a sound pager: the processor, via radio command, plays one of a set of easily recognizable melodies into the passenger compartment. This way, it is possible to transmit conditional messages to the driver without distracting him from driving. The price of the system in the minimum configuration is about two hundred US dollars, with a receiver - twice as much.

(Full text available on the portal: hondabook)