Gellyneck
LIFE MEMBER
Lockdown Outsmart The Thief
- Thread starter irnbru
- Start date
- Apr 18, 2009
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zac
LIFE MEMBER
According to their website they are Insurance and Thatcham Approved CAT 1 for their Motorhome alarm. I don't have one so i can't comment but if it is Insurance approved it might make a big difference to some.
DuxDeluxe
LIFE MEMBER
That must be fairly recent as when I enquired they were not.... Simon Howards Motorhomes comment seems to bear this out.
I would go for Vanbitz without doubt anyway. Had two systems on two vans without any issues at all. I have a crummy scorpion system with tracker on my van which apparently was a factory fit. Pain in the neck as I have never yet managed to disable the internal movement sensor despite numerous conflicting instructions
- May 7, 2013
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- On our 2nd MH now a AutoTrail Savannah which we're absolutely delighted with
Confirm they are Thatcham approved
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- May 8, 2010
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Likewise. We've got their system and Safeguard are happy with it. The fact that it could be fitted on the drive was a major selling point for us, and we have found Carl to be accessible and helpful
.zac
LIFE MEMBER
I agree i would also go with vanbitz as i have with my last 2 motorhomes, i don't think it is very good for a company to provide an 0870 number for support as these being called from a mobile will be a tad expensive for sure in fact that's also the sales line.
As I understand it, and I may be wrong, but the OSTT website seems to confirm this:
They sell a more basic MH alarm based on a Gemini alarm system which they state is Cat 1 approved.
They also sell their Lockdown system which as far as I am aware is not an approved Thatcham alarm system, but OSTT claim it is "TUV accredited" which could mean any number of things.
DuxDeluxe
LIFE MEMBER
I think that may be where confusion comes, perhaps. I was given a firm no from the insurers but that was a while ago
A few posts on my MH owners FB group only a couple of weeks ago from owners who were having to swallow the usual increases in insurance premiums at renewal because of difficulty in finding other insurers who would accept the system. I think that maybe more of an issue where insurers insist on Thatcham approved systems being fitted to vans over a specific value. If the van is under that threshold and the alarm isn't a requirement of them being able to quote, they may be more happy to accept it solely for the purpose of offering a "discount" which may or may not be fictitious
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ambulancekidd
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- Sep 23, 2014
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- Since 1964 Gosh that makes me feel old.
Watching with interest, the system in our van is ancient.
andy63
Free Member
DuxDeluxe
LIFE MEMBER
Yep, due to the value of the van, Comfort would only accept a Thatcham system.A few posts on my MH owners FB group only a couple of weeks ago from owners who were having to swallow the usual increases in insurance premiums at renewal because of difficulty in finding other insurers who would accept the system. I think that maybe more of an issue where insurers insist on Thatcham approved systems being fitted to vans over a specific value. If the van is under that threshold and the alarm isn't a requirement of them being able to quote, they may be more happy to accept it solely for the purpose of offering a "discount" which may or may not be fictitious
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Silver-Fox
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Gellyneck
LIFE MEMBER
More to the point Andy is how many times have they set it off already!
My subscription better no go up to cover the cost of all the phone calls from Carl.
DuxDeluxe
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- Apr 18, 2009
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OP
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irnbru
LIFE MEMBER
Yes we got Outsmart fitted today. We can sleep peacefully now
Mum particularly likes the panic button and says all solo travellers should have one fitted especially women.. movan
. I secretly think she enjoys it even more since we got it thrown in free 
It looks a very tidy job, nothing not to like.
More to the point Andy is how many times have they set it off already!
My subscription better no go up to cover the cost of all the phone calls from Carl.
Haha Grant, I've not set it yet. It will be more likely Alan to set it off, he likes to check everything always works as it should.
I didn't personally ask but I believe Carl did try and join at one point.
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- Apr 18, 2009
- 3,569
- 3,367
- Funster No
- 6,340
- MH
- Hymer B584, A Class
- Exp
- Not long enough!
Gellyneck
LIFE MEMBER
Dead easy to check. I do it "regularly"!
Lock the doors, set the alarm using the fob, unlock and open one of the doors and answer your mobile!
DBK
LIFE MEMBER
Been there, done that. Several times.Dead easy to check. I do it "regularly"!
Lock the doors, set the alarm using the fob, unlock and open one of the doors and answer your mobile!
We live in Halifax and OSTT is up the road in York. However we went to Vanbitz 3 years ago and just incorporated the I installation into a weeks holiday. No brainer for me. Growler and non starter well worth it, excellent system. Was not an insurance requirement for me, I had a Sigma alarm on the van when I purchased it. Didn't like it so replaced it.
From I know if you have a say 80k+ MH as mentioned previously alot of insurer dont accept OSTT
Its personal choice at the end of the day.
hilldweller
LIFE MEMBER
Yes we got Outsmart fitted today. We can sleep peacefully now
Don't get complacent. It's just a buzzer.
Have you read Jim's security handbook ? Make sure you see the big picture.
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- Apr 25, 2014
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irnbru Sandra I was there when Wendo55 van alarm was triggered. We were at a show next to one another, the alarm was triggered silently they tried to ring her but she had left her phone in the van, they contacted her next number which belonged to someone who was also at the show.
At the time it was funny as Wendy had no idea the alarm had been activated, I think the dog had set it off. Her contact person was also parked close to us and passed the phone over to Wendy.
It was very impressive the service provided.
At the time it was funny as Wendy had no idea the alarm had been activated, I think the dog had set it off. Her contact person was also parked close to us and passed the phone over to Wendy.
It was very impressive the service provided.
hilldweller
LIFE MEMBER
You completely misunderstand me.
You post "I have an alarm, yippee I'm safe". As do many others.
This is totally the wrong attitude. You have an alarm, you are a bit safer in one area. There are so many other areas where you are at risk. This is why our resident security expert wrote a book on the subject and why I said "don't get complacent" just because you have the capability of detecting an intruder.
OP
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irnbru
LIFE MEMBER
hilldweller Sorry yes I think I did misunderstand you. I thought you were meaning the panic button was just a buzzer when in fact it doesn't buzz.
We have wild camped for several years so never get complacent but having the van alarmed does help peace of mind especially now that my dog has gone.
We have wild camped for several years so never get complacent but having the van alarmed does help peace of mind especially now that my dog has gone.
Brockley
Free Member
At the risk of being an 'invisible poster' again, my experience of OSTT is very good. We live in a low crime area but love to wild camp throughout Europe. We did so without any sophisticated alarm system without significant incidents for 13 years. Of course common sense plays a significant part in this, but when we got this new van we researched alarm systems and decided to go with OSTT for the following reasons.
1. Insurance discount argument is negligible. I find bargaining quite effective.
2. Carl Meyer maintains a friendly personal service even when alarm is set off accidentally. They are straight on the phone(s).
3. Any point of entry can be alarmed. Acces to hab area from garage in many vans is a common vulnerability.
4. Like the panic button.
5. The van can be tracked and immobilised remotely.
6. You can set the alarm while sleeping in the van and use the other button to turn off the internal motion sensor. Also good if you want to leave a part in the van while away from it (not that we do but many take pets with them).
Disadvantages:-
Keep arming the alarm while close to the van (or inside it) when taking the keys from my pocket. Spoke with Carl a few times because of this ?. He is talking about producing a sheath for the alarm fob which makes it impossible to press either button by accident. So if you see this Carl, take a look at the attached pictures of a sheath I've made for ours out of folded aluminium sheet. I could be persuaded to knock a few out for you for a good price ??
1. Insurance discount argument is negligible. I find bargaining quite effective.
2. Carl Meyer maintains a friendly personal service even when alarm is set off accidentally. They are straight on the phone(s).
3. Any point of entry can be alarmed. Acces to hab area from garage in many vans is a common vulnerability.
4. Like the panic button.
5. The van can be tracked and immobilised remotely.
6. You can set the alarm while sleeping in the van and use the other button to turn off the internal motion sensor. Also good if you want to leave a part in the van while away from it (not that we do but many take pets with them).
Disadvantages:-
Keep arming the alarm while close to the van (or inside it) when taking the keys from my pocket. Spoke with Carl a few times because of this ?. He is talking about producing a sheath for the alarm fob which makes it impossible to press either button by accident. So if you see this Carl, take a look at the attached pictures of a sheath I've made for ours out of folded aluminium sheet. I could be persuaded to knock a few out for you for a good price ??
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