Why do they still make car alarms? (2015) • Hacker News Board

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#301

Post by gnicholas » Wed, Jan 20, 2021, 2:15 AM UTC

netsharc wrote: post #254

gnicholas wrote: post #198

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you have an iPhone and connect it to your car via Bluetooth (even just for music/calls — doesn't require CarPlay), then the Maps app will show "parked car" where you last parked it. Pretty slick!

Does this work in underground car parks with no GPS line of sight?

Good question. I would imagine it records the last known GPS location before you disconnected from Bluetooth. But it would be great if it did something smarter, like using accelerometer data to dead reckon the location. It could even try to use data from both your incoming trip to the underground parking spot and your exit from the parking spot to wherever you’re going. Probably too optimistic to think this is what’s happening through.

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#302

Post by astura » Wed, Jan 20, 2021, 2:17 AM UTC

anonymousiam wrote: post #112

If the author had a Ring doorbell (and looked at their crime reports), or participated on NextDoor, they would know that theft from parked cars is the number one problem in most neighborhoods. An alarm is still a good deterrent for people who do not park their cars in a garage.

But everyone just totally ignores car alarms, so they don't function as any sort of deterrent in practice. Thieves will still take your shit even if an alarm is going off.

When was the last time you ran outside to confront a possible theft when you heard a car alarm go off?

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#303

Post by Pxtl » Wed, Jan 20, 2021, 2:18 AM UTC

anonymousiam wrote: post #157

chrisseaton wrote: post #134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't get what people are stealing from parked cars? You can't remove radios anymore. What are they taking? Surely nobody's leaving a laptop or a purse in a car?

In my neighborhood, I've seen multiple reports of guns being stolen from vehicles. Anything of value should be hidden, such as dash cams, radar detectors, coins for parking meters, etc. People post videos all the time of hoodlums looking into car windows deciding whether or not it's worthwhile to break in.

Something something responsible gun owners something something if guns are outlawed only outlaws will have guns.

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#304

Post by fingerlocks » Wed, Jan 20, 2021, 2:18 AM UTC

bagels wrote: post #290

turtlegrids wrote: post #152

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The alarm is aftermarket, and silent. All it does is make the fuel pump go in reverse. Would you mind disclosing what brand/model this alarm is? This would be great for a couple of “issues” I’ve been having. If you aren’t comfortable saying publicly, could you send me a message with the info? And Amazon/Aliexpress/eBay link?

Seems like a really complicated kill switch.

Exactly. Every fuel pump has a ground that you can put a switch on to kill it. No need to run it in reverse.

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#305

Post by syntheticcorp » Wed, Jan 20, 2021, 2:23 AM UTC

RegnisGnaw wrote: post #222

alkonaut wrote: post #85

Most likely thing to be stolen from my car is probably wheels, catalytic converter. Both of these require jacking up the car, shoving some bricks under it, and stripping the parts in a matter of minutes. All I need from an alarm is something that takes care of that scenario. If someone steals it the car they have - as the article says - likely done it the easiest way: they walked in my unlocked front door and took my…

Depends where you live. Where I’m living it’s also the Motor Vehicle Inspection Sticker. Here every 1/2/3 years (depending on the age) you need to get your car inspected and they give you a sticker if you pass. People steal the stickers to drive cars that either rail inspector or know it won’t pass. Last year someone broke my driver side window and manage to remove my sticker.

Do the stickers not have identifying details like the car’s plate number?

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

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Post by addandsubtract » Wed, Jan 20, 2021, 2:24 AM UTC

ghaff wrote: post #179

98codes wrote: post #158

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's definitely a "find your car in the giant lot" button if you ask me

I've actually wondered. Is there a super-easy "here's where I've parked my card app"? As in push a couple of buttons after you park your car and you're set? Super low friction. Not sure I've seen it.

Google maps does this. Either after you complete a trip or if you tap on your current location marker. It's only as accurate as your GPS and won't help you in a park house, but pretty frictionless if you're already using Google maps to navigate.

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#307

Post by boomboomsubban » Wed, Jan 20, 2021, 2:28 AM UTC

olyjohn wrote: post #215

boomboomsubban wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A button on the keyring next to lock/unlock doors to start an alarm, generally honking and flashing the lights. Nearly ubiquitous on cars in the US, though personally I've never seen one activated for anything but a mistake.

I mean. You may never see someone use the panic button legitimately. The idea is that if someone is following you to your car, or threatening you you can hit that to garner attention and hopefully scare somebody off. That’s never happened to most people I know. Doesn’t mean it can’t be a useful tool if used properly.

Mistakes happen so often I question if it garners attention anymore.

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#308

Post by chrisseaton » Wed, Jan 20, 2021, 2:33 AM UTC

fy20 wrote: post #247

chrisseaton wrote: post #134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't get what people are stealing from parked cars? You can't remove radios anymore. What are they taking? Surely nobody's leaving a laptop or a purse in a car?

The thing about radios isn't true. You can remove them easily, but they are usually locked in software to that vehicle so can't easily be reused. That doesn't mean they can't... Last year someone broke into the underground parking of my apartment building and stole the radios from a couple of new BMWs. No way was that just a random smash and grab, as to get in you need to go through the car elevator or unlock two doo…

> The thing about radios isn't true. You can remove them easily

Do you think cars still use the old ISO 7736 and ISO 10487 standards for radios? Those standard-sized oblong units where people would replace them with after-market radios? That's not the case anymore and hasn't been more than a decade or two. Car radios these days are an integral part of the cars computers and the infotainment system. They aren't removable or swappable.

If you ripped out a new BMW's computer what on earth are you going to do with that? It won't fit in or connect to any other model.

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#309

Post by coryrc » Wed, Jan 20, 2021, 2:33 AM UTC

fingerlocks wrote: post #304

bagels wrote: post #290

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Seems like a really complicated kill switch.

Exactly. Every fuel pump has a ground that you can put a switch on to kill it. No need to run it in reverse.

Except old engines with mechanical fuel pumps like the GGP has

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#310

Post by TaylorAlexander » Wed, Jan 20, 2021, 2:34 AM UTC

ineedasername wrote: post #261

spiritplumber wrote: post #244

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It prevents the fuel pump in the engine from working (I had to add an electric fuel pump because the original one isn't doing very well). Yes on the hot meal. I've been homeless and it stinks.

It amazes me that, in wealthy countries, there are significant homelessness problems due to economic displacement. I consider it an existence-proof of the idea that a free market cannot solve all problems. I think homelessness due to other causes-- mental health for example-- are more complex but similarly demonstrate fundamental flaws in the framework of society. Only once was I able to give a homeless person a meal…

As others have said the USA is far from a free market. Instead the wealthy use the state to manipulate markets for their benefit, and the rest of us suffer as a result.

I've come to see "free markets" as the economic fabric on top of which we can build structures to support one another. For example we could form large healthcare collectives in a free market, as an alternative to state controlled health care (or insurance companies). I think a big factor is collective control versus minority control of the institutions that provide services like that.

As far as what a person without housing will do with the money - I'd rather offer the help than assume they don't know whats best for them. Even if they use it for drugs or alcohol as is often the source of much hand-wringing - then maybe it will help them get through the day. Of course, giving money to shelters is a good use of money too. And food banks.