If you’ve never seen one before, a Mercedes Benz Sprinter is an extremely nice full size van. It can be purchased as a cargo van, crew van, passenger van, cab chassis, or minibus… Enough options for you? Well how about a fully loaded Sprinter 3500 Airstream edition? The Mercedes Sprinter upgraded by Airstream is made to be a luxury motor home. The inside is absolutely gorgeous, and comes equipped with a kitchenette, bathroom, bed, and a bunch of other great options. A client from Ellicott City, MD, bought a 2013 Airstream Sprinter and brought it to us looking for protection… If anyone is going to be staying in this vehicle for long periods of time, more than likely they will have valuables stored on board so we understand that completely! The client also wanted to be able to track the vehicle and receive alerts on his smartphone if anyone tampers with the vehicle. Not a problem! We went right to work.
Compustar + Drone = Ultimate Security
We knew ahead of time that this vehicle had a very challenging electrical system to work on. After doing our research we were ready to go. The first step was to choose an alarm system that would give us smartphone capabilities. We turned to Compustar… Compustar has been our favorite remote start manufacturer for several years. They make great products that are built to last. They also make an exciting product called the “Drone.” This is a module that can be used by itself just for tracking, or added to a Compustar alarm system. The Drone allows you to operate a Compustar alarm system via your smartphone. There is a Drone app that gives you controls like lock/unlock and start, along with a premium option for real-time GPS tracking. This was the perfect solution for this particular client.
The electrical system on this vehicle is so advanced that many retailers are not willing to take on a project like this. Our Service Manager Jack was up for the challenge. We have worked on many challenging vehicles over the years, and had no concerns at all. After building our Mercedes E55 AMG demo vehicle, we learned the “ins and outs” and the operations of Mercedes electrical systems. This smartphone alarm system would NOT defeat us!
The Best in Security and Convenience
We installed the Drone and the Compustar alarm system in a hidden area of the vehicle (as we do with all security systems). We opted to use an upgraded IRS shock sensor add-on because of its size. The upgraded shock sensor will be more accurate on a Sprinter. All together, this alarm system allows the client to lock/arm, unlock/disarm and track his vehicle right from his Android smartphone. The range is unlimited, as long as both your phone and the vehicle have cell service. Even though this system was designed to be operated via his smartphone, the client wanted to have an actual remote as a backup or to give to anyone else who borrows the vehicle. The remote kit we used was a premium two-way kit also made by Compustar. This does not allow for tracking, but it will arm and disarm the system from up to 1 mile away and receive confirmation of the commands right on the remote! If you are within range, it will also alert you when the alarm is sounding off.
Smartphone Alarm Systems Are The Way Of The Future
Smartphone alarm systems are a “way of the future.” Chevrolet (along with other car manufacturers) is already planning on having a similar type of smartphone operated system on all their vehicles moving forward. This is a great technology. There are many other situations that many people don’t think of where this type of system can be a great benefit. What if you are traveling in San Antonio and your best friend locked the keys in the vehicle when they borrowed it? Not a problem. Just hit unlock from your smartphone and voila! What if your son decided to take the vehicle on a road trip without asking and you want to know EXACTLY where he is? Check the live tracking map and meet him there! And the list goes on…
The client was very pleased with the work we performed on his Mercedes Sprinter. He was able to achieve his goals in protection and peace of mind. While he was here, we also replaced his XM Radio tuner that another facility had installed that was having issues.
If you are looking for a smartphone alarm system, look no further than the Compustar Drone. It incorporates technology that is effective, reliable… and just downright cool! We also have several other types of alarm systems, as well as alarm AND remote start packages to offer. Feel free to send us an email, give us a call, or stop by our facility and let our experienced salespeople design a solution completely custom-tailored to your needs!