Conference terri::cars_uk

    Don't know about cobra alarms but on Moss alarms you actually get
    supplied with a tuning wand and its up to you to adjust the pot inside
    th sender unit to achieve maximum range for arming and disarming.
      As for your ultrasonic remember that most security alarms have some
    sort of current sensing circuit to detect courtesy lights coming on so
    it may be this which is triggering your alarm not the ultra sonics, try
    sitting in the car and arming in and then see if you can set it off by
    lifting then dropping your arm, this should tell you if they are
    working or not.
    
    
    Regards martin

     Or try turning the interior light off.  Setting the alarm, then opening a 
     front door.  The voltage sense won't, be triggered (unless you have 
     central locking!) and the alarm should be set off by ultrasonics alone.
     
     You might find that they are completely hatstand, and the voltage drop 
     alone is doing the work.
     

    Or if you have a bulb in the boot/hatch and the bulbs blown you wont
    get the voltage drop as this may have been the only operating the alarm
    before.
    
    Regards Martin

    A friend of mine has the BMW version of this type of alarm fitted on
    her BMW. The alarm only seems to work correctly within a 50 yard radius
    of the BMW deler in Portsmouth.
    
    The car in question is a year old and the alarm ahs never really set
    on/off correctly since the ar was bought. BMW say the alarm works
    corectly and only offer to change the batteries in the handset for the
    alarm. We however know that the alarm is not functioning correctly. The
    current car requires you to satnd next to the driver's door and aim the
    alarm handset at the middle of the dash.  Occasionally the alarm will
    work from the front of the car and/or from the passenger side of the
    car, but never from behind the car. 
    
    A previous BMW that my friend had came complete with the same type of alarm
    fitted. Now this alarm would set on/of yards from the vehicle at any
    angle (including on one occasion from a first floor flat window). 

    Re: .0
    
    Exactly the same thing with my Pirhanna alarm (rebadged by VSL), even
    new batteries make little difference.  I've left it alone because I
    *WAS* changing my car shortly (See car scheme note in UK_DIGITAL !!!).
    
    Suppose I should get it fixed but at the moment I would be quite happy
    if the damn thing got pinched (Only joking Mr Insurance man !).
    
    .Stevie.

RE .2 and .3, I know that it's a true ultrasonic alarm since there's an emitter/
detector pod on the dash. My car's never had a light switch for the boot, and
the alarm used to trigger when the boot was opened.

It makes me think, do these things age and lose their sensitivity in the
process?

    Just because it has a pod on the dash does'nt mean to say that its just
    that which sets it off as said before its probably got some sort of
    current sensing circuitry which sets it off when your internal light
    comes, its possible that the ultra sonic connections just need
    reseating where they plug in th eback of the alarm.
    
    Regards Martin
    
    p.s most receivers for the remote are in the unit itself which probably
    has a peice of loose wire for an ariel.

    I've got a cobra alarm with ultra sonic sensors. My alarm has been 
    activating itself for no apparent reason (sensitivity set very low)
    
    In your experience are the sennsors likely to be faulty ?
    
    I phoned COBRA and they told me to place the sensors HIGH on the door
    pillars (they're currentlky � way down). I was told that they needed a 
    good view of the car (over headrests) otherwise they are prone to 
    activating the alarm - especially in cold weather.
    
    Is someone pulling my ...?
    
    Thanks
    
    ---Rhys