Car remote starter app

exmeaguy

Well-known member
Oct 6, 2010
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Does anyone know of an Android app that works as a car remote starter? And cost? Anyone use one?
 
I don't think it's even possible since you need infrared emitter on the phone, and I believe currently there are no phones with this.
 
I would assume this would work on a cars that had blue tooth?
 
the viper remote start is pricey.

the app is free, but you have to buy a box to install in your car, which is about $300 and you also have to pay a monthly fee to keep the service working.

I wish there was a cheaper alternative because i'd love to have one, but i'm not paying that. heh
 
agreed.
I saw it last year for BB and I was like what a waste of money.
I can see paying the initial cost, etc. but not a monthly fee.
 
I think the fee is $49 a year or $99 for three years. Not too bad for the service.
 
but why pay for the service if you are paying for the device?
I have a remote starter and bought the remote.
No annual fee, nothing.

Just my 2 cents.
 
I agree.. I'm trying to set something like this up myself. I figure I could use an old phone or cheap tablet with a cheap data package or free wifi. Rogers in Canada has a "Flex" dataplan for minimum $5.00/month for 10mb, which may be enough for simple data communicaiton like this. If I can access this phone remotely with another phone ( with say team viewer), I could get it's GPS location, and maybe internal car temp, and maybe with a bluetooth relay interface, I could start the car, the rear defrost, the blower, A/C etc. Even simply sending a txt msg to the phone, if the headphone jack could trigger a relay or opto-coupler connected to the Aux start input of my remote starter, that would be great.

Directed Electronics (DEI) makes a SmartStart interface as someone else mentioned, which interfaces to some remote starter systems they and others make (like Viper) I think it justs connects through a 4pin connector with +12, ground, TX, and RX ( maybe RS232?). If that is true, maybe a Raspberry Pi could be interfaced with it. The service fee for Canada is $70 for 1 year, and $150 for 3 years. These include roadside service, so not too bad a deal. Just not sure if the roadside is like or with CAA, or what the response times are..... I think with the Rogers Flex, it's like pay-as-you-go, and can suspend at any time.