Speed of Sound Technologies

Mobile Enhancement Experts in Milford CT

55 Woodmont Rd., Milford, CT 203-954-0066
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Services
    • Car Audio
    • Custom Installation
    • Driver Safety
    • Radar/Laser Detectors
    • Remote Starters
    • Truck Accessories
    • Vehicle Security
    • Window Tint
  • Location and Directions
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Product Spotlight: ARC Audio MOTO720

ARC Audio MOTO720

ARC Audio is known across the aftermarket motorcycle industry for having introduced some of the first audio upgrade packages specifically for Harley-Davidsons. The MOTO720 is the company’s second generation of extreme-power, motorcycle-specific amplifiers. With four channels of amplification and all the system configuration tools your installer will ever need, this amp should be at the top of your list for upgrades to the audio system in your Harley (or any other brand of motorcycle).

ARC Audio MOTO720 Features

The MOTO720 is based on an aluminum extrusion and measures in at a compact 8.125 inches wide, 5.43 inches deep and 1.8 inch high. The leading edge of the top of the amp is angled so that it will fit inside the fairing of 2014 and newer Harley-Davidson touring motorcycles like the Road Glide and Road King. Wisely, ARC put the connections for the amp on this narrow leading edge so that they won’t interfere with the instrument cluster in the dash. All of the crossover and sensitivity controls are located on the top of the amp under an easily removable machined aluminum cover that bears the ARC Audio logo and the amp model number.

ARC Audio MOTO720
Custom terminal blocks and locking connectors ensure that the MOTO720 will be reliable.

ARC Audio rates the amp as being capable of producing 150 watts per channel into 4-ohm loads, 180 watts per channel into a 2-ohm load, and an impressive 360 watts per channel pair when bridged to a single 4-ohm driver. Unlike many other products and brands out there, ARC’s power rating showcases its output abilities at a continuous power rating at .05% THD, giving you a real-life power rating and not just a number that looks good on paper with marketing attached. More impressive than the robust power ratings is its efficiency. The engineering team at ARC was able to wring out a mind-blowing 94% total efficiency at full power. That’s 10 to 15% better than most competing products. Making the most of the limited electrical systems on a motorcycle is crucial to being able to listen at high-volume levels. With this level of efficiency, the MOTO720 will play louder and longer than its competitors.

Amplifier Connections and Controls

The front edge of the amp includes a custom-tooled terminal block that will accept 8-AWG power and ground connections. Two blocks that will accept 12-AWG speaker cables are at the other end of the amp. The set screws for all 10 terminals plus the remote turn-on connection are accessible through openings in the top cover and are sealed to the inside of the amplifier. Should water get into the screw openings, it will pass through the terminal with no chance of collection and damage. Signal inputs are handled by two five-pin quick-connect jacks. ARC Audio has used these locking jacks as the speaker-level inputs on amps for decades. The amp includes a set of RCA jacks on pigtails for use with aftermarket source units, or it can be connected to the wiring from one of ARC’s Harley-specific wiring kits like the HD-FH2014. A third option is to connect the output of the ARC Audio PSM digital signal processor directly to the amp. As with all new ARC Audio products, the inputs feature a balanced differential design to help eliminate the potential for unwanted noise in the system.

ARC Audio MOTO720
Setting and configuration controls are concealed under a removable aluminum trim panel.

In terms of integrating this amp with the factory source unit on a motorcycle or in any kind of vehicle, ARC has included both DC-Offset and signal-detect remote turn-on features. The sensitivity controls are adjustable from 200 mV to 3.5 V. Each pair of channels has a selectable high- or low-pass crossover that can be set anywhere between 50 and 500 Hz. Additionally, all four channels can be fed using a single pair of inputs based on the position of the Input Select switch. ARC also included a two-channel mode switch that feeds the signal from channel 1 to outputs 1 and 2, and input 2 to channel 3 and 4 for high-power applications. Be careful: 320 watts to a single driver, other than a subwoofer, is a potentially dangerous amount of power.

A look inside the amp reveals a tidy and thoughtful design. All the power supply components are kept to the left side of the amp, the input and signal processing components are in the center and on two vertical boards in the back right. You can see the enclosed output chokes on the bottom right. This style of inductor emits less RF noise than typical open designs.

Worth noting is the tribute ARC included inside this amplifier, with a personalized logo in the center of the amp circuit board. It’s a caricature of Bob Morrow. Bob was the ARC Audio representative in the Arizona region and one of the first fields reps to work for the company. He passed away in May 2017. Bob was a true audio enthusiast and loved riding his Gold Wing.

ARC Audio MOTO720
Component layout is about much more than just making things fit. Component placement affects noise performance and the sound quality of an amplifier.

Premium Audio Quality for Motorcycle and Powersports Applications

If you’ve ever had the chance to audition an ARC Audio amplifier, then you’ll understand why they are considered among the best in the industry in terms of sound quality. Drop by your local authorized ARC Audio dealer to check out MOTO720 and the rest of the motorcycle and powersports solutions that are available. You can learn more about ARC Audio products by visiting their website, their Facebook page, their Instagram and their YouTube channel.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, Car Audio, PRODUCTS, RESOURCE LIBRARY Tagged With: ARC Audio

How Does the Drone Vehicle Smartphone Control System Work?

How Drone Works

Drone is the world-class vehicle telematics system from Firstech – the manufacturer of Compustar security and remote start systems. Drone will let you remote start your vehicle, control the door locks and trunk release, pinpoint the GPS location, monitor driving behavior and much more using the DroneMobile app on your smartphone or their website. How all these features work may seem like magic, but it’s actually quite logical. Let’s look at how the Drone system works.

A Look at the Drone Telematics System

In terms of hardware, Drone is a small computer module that a professional technician can integrate into your vehicle to provide remote control functionality. The module includes a cellular data radio to communicate with your smartphone. The vehicle hardware works with the DroneMobile app on an iOS or Android smartphone or the accounts.dronemobile.com web interface to send commands to and display information from your vehicle.

How Drone Works
The compact Drone module is mounted inside the dash of your vehicle and serves as a high-speed interface between your smartphone and your car or truck.

What Can Drone Do?

Remote control functions like remote start, door lock control, trunk release and auxiliary output activation are just one aspect of the Drone solution. Each Drone module includes a GPS receiver that receives information from several of the 32 GPS satellites that orbit the earth at any given time. Tapping on the map button in the DroneMobile app sends a command to the vehicle module to report its location. The longitude and latitude are relayed back to your phone and overlaid onto Apple Maps (in iOS devices) or Google Maps (on Android smartphones). Accuracy is usually within several meters, so you will always know exactly where your vehicle is located.

Any command or request from the app is sent from your phone using WiFi or a cellular data connection to the Drone servers. Drone uses Amazon Web Services to host their servers because their service is one of the fastest and most robust Cloud connectivity solutions available. The command, which includes security authentication information, is checked by the servers, then forwarded to the Drone hardware in your vehicle using a cellular data connection. The Drone module receives the command and activates the appropriate function, or returns the requested information. In most cases, the entire communication process takes only a second or two.

The beauty of Drone is that there are no range limits. If your vehicle is in range of a cell-phone tower and you have access to the Internet, you are in complete control. You could be in your house, an office building, or lying on a beach in Mexico – you are still connected.

How Drone Works
Users can log in to accounts.dronemobile.com from any browser to control and locate their vehicle or configured the Drone system.

Drone Security and Vehicle Tracking Features

If you have chosen a Compustar, Arctic Start, FTX or iDatastart security system or upgraded a remote starter with security features, alerts from the vehicle will be sent to your smartphone and displayed as notifications. Firstech’s DAS-II sensor will monitor your vehicle for impacts, tilting (if someone were to jack up the vehicle to steal a wheel or the catalytic converter), glass breakage and motion or acceleration. The X1-MAX has the features of the DAS-II built into the unit. You can also configure Drone to send notifications when the ignition is turned on or off, or when the remote starter is activated. Speed limit warnings, curfew alerts and geofence notifications are also available.

How Drone Works
With push notifications, you’ll know in seconds if someone is tampering with your vehicle.

Easy and Fast Remote Control from Almost Anywhere

If you are shopping for the easiest-to-use, fastest remote-control system for your vehicle remote starter or security system, look no further. We can demonstrate the features of this amazing product and let you know what it will take to upgrade your car or truck. For more information about Drone, visit their website. You should also follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Their YouTube channel contains hundreds of videos that offer in-depth explanations of specific Drone features and technologies.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, PRODUCTS, Remote Car Starters, RESOURCE LIBRARY Tagged With: DroneMobile

Product Spotlight: Hertz SPL Show Neo

SPL Neo

If you enjoy cranking your music, the SPL Show Neo speakers from Hertz might be the perfect solution for your car, truck or motorcycle. Designed with ultra-compact, high-flux neodymium magnets, these speaker solutions are capable of delivering rock-concert volume levels to ensure you hear every part of your music loudly and clearly.

More-Powerful New Magnets

The Hertz SPL Show line has been upgraded with new, stronger neodymium magnets. These N38H magnets are rated for high-temperature applications to ensure the speakers will continue to sound great for years, even after prolonged use at high output levels.

Hertz has designed each of the new SPL Show speakers with weather-resistant materials and properties to ensure they can withstand prolonged exposure to rain and the sun’s UV rays. The motor assemblies are treated with a corrosion-resistant electro-coating using a process called cataphoresis.

High-Efficiency Bullet Tweeter

The ST 25A Neo is a compact, high-efficiency, high-frequency compression driver that features an aluminum diaphragm mated to a 1-inch copper-clad aluminum ribbon voice-coil. The unit has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms and an amazing efficiency of 107 dB. The driver is rated to handle 100 watts of power when filtered at 5 kHz with a 12 dB/octave crossover. These same drivers are available in the ST 25K Neo kit version with inline passive crossovers and thread-on metal mesh grilles.

SPL Neo
The ST 25K Neo Kit includes a pair of compression-driver tweeters, passive crossovers and mesh grilles.

SPL Neo Midrange Drivers

The new Neo line includes 6.5- and 8-inch midrange drivers. Both speakers use a lightweight pressed paper cone that has been treated with a water-repellent coating. Compliance is provided by a double-roll cloth surround and a flat linear spider.

The 6.5-inch SV 165 NEO features a 1.5-inch voice-coil former that is wound to a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Continuous power handling is rated at 150 watts, with peak power at 400 watts. With a resonant frequency of 120 Hz and an Xmax specification of 1.5 mm, high-pass crossover points around 250 to 300 Hz will ensure maximum output with minimal distortion. Efficiency is specified at 97 dB and the compact neodymium magnet allows for a mounting depth of only 2.25 inches.

SPL Neo
The SV 165 NEO midrange driver is a perfect drop-in upgrade for your Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

The larger 8-inch SV 200 NEO uses a taller 1.5-inch-diameter voice-coil to increase Xmax to 2.7 mm and power handling to 200 watts continuous or 500 watts maximum. Efficiency also jumps to a mind-blowing 100 dB. Mounting depth for the 8-inch driver is a manageable 3.3 inches.

SPL Neo
With a sensitivity rating of 100 dB, the SV 200 NEO is perfect for high-output applications.

Coaxial High-Efficiency Speaker Solutions

Hertz developed a set of high-output two-way speaker solutions to make upgrading motorcycle audio systems easy, efficient and reliable. The solutions start with the 6.5-inch SX 165 NEO coaxial driver. This two-way speaker features the same weather-treated pressed-paper cone material as the SV 15 NEO. A large-diameter 1.4-inch PEI-dome tweeter provides excellent high-frequency output to beyond 20 kHz. The tweeter is protected with a resettable solid-state protection device to ensure years of reliable operation.

Hertz rates the speaker at being able to handle 100 watts of power when filtered with a high-pass crossover set to 150 Hz at a slope of -12 dB/octave. Peak power handling is 200 watts.

SPL Neo
The SX 165 NEO includes dual terminals to make it easy to daisy-chain multiple speakers together.

For saddlebag speaker applications on touring bikes, the Hertz SX 690 NEO is a great choice. This 6×9-class speaker features a three-way design with a 0.8-inch super-tweeter and a 1.4-inch tweeter. Both high-frequency drivers use Tetolon dome materials and feature the same resettable protection circuit used on the 6.5-inch driver. A rubber surround at the top edge of the weather-treated pressed-paper cone ensures reliability.

Efficiency is specified at 94 dB and Xmax at 5.5 mm. With lots of excursion capability available from the woofer, the SX 690 Neo can easily play down to 100 Hz or lower, depending on your output expectations. Power handling is listed at 130 watts continuous and 260 watts peak.

SPL Neo
Both the SX 690 NEO and the SX 165 NEO feature a flexible seal around the tweeter pole piece to ensure water and debris can’t enter the tight-tolerance voice-coil assembly.

Great Sound with Less Weight

One of the key features of the new NEO speakers is their weight. Compared to their ceramic-magnet brethren, they have much less effect on the handling of your motorcycle. For example, pair of SV 165 NEO weighs 3.96 pounds. A pair of the SV 165.1 comes in at 8 pounds. The SV 200 Neo is 5.3 pounds per pair compared to 12.4 pounds for the SV 200.1.

Turn Your Next Drive into a Concert with Hertz SPL Show Neo Speakers

When it comes time to upgrade the sound system on your motorcycle or side-by-side, or the one in your vehicle, if you want the system to play at extreme volume levels, drop by your local Hertz retailer and ask about the new SPL Show Neo speakers. For more information about Hertz products, visit their website. You can follow them on social media by liking their Facebook page, following their Instagram feed and Twitter, or subscribing to their YouTube channel.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, Car Audio, RESOURCE LIBRARY Tagged With: Hertz

Watts Are Watts, Or Are They? A Detailed Explanation for Car Audio Guys

WattsWhen people are looking at purchasing a car audio amplifier, the specification they check most often is how much power it can produce. Power is rated in watts – a universal unit of measurement of power. In this article, we explain what a watt is, and how it is measured – both the correct and incorrect way.

Dictionary Time!

WattsLet’s get the formal definition of a watt out of the way first. A watt is an SI (Systéme International) unit of the measurement of power. The power does not have to be electrical. In fact, the unit watt was named after James Watt and created to quantify the work a steam engine could do. In that kinetic application, a watt was the work done when the velocity of an object was moving steadily at 1 meter per second with a force of 1 newton opposing it. When referring to an electrical motor, 1 horsepower equals 746 watts.

As much fun as talking about horsepower is, we are car audio enthusiasts, so let’s get back on track with an explanation of the electrical watt.

In electrical terms, a watt is a transfer of 1 joule of energy over a period of 1 second. The next logical question is what is a joule? A joule is yet another SI unit of measurement, and it defines the amount of work required to move a charge of 1 coulomb through an electrical potential of 1 volt. Yes, the question now moves to the coulomb – what in the world is that? A coulomb is a unit of electrical charge – and is equal to -6.242 x 10^18 electrons.

Lost yet? Don’t fret; we are just appeasing the math and measurement nerds among us. Let’s break this down to what matters.

When we want to use electricity to do work, we have to flow electrons through a device like a filament, motor or voice coil. The result will be, in the case of a speaker, that the magnetic field created by the flow of electrons will cause the voice coil to be attracted to or repelled from the fixed magnet in our speaker. When we flow more electrons, more work is done, and the speaker moves farther toward or away from the magnet.

Power Math

Here is where we start to talk about power equations. There are three common methods of calculating the power in a circuit – but we need to know the values of other variables such as voltage, resistance or amperage. Any two of these variables can be used to calculate the power done in a circuit. Here are the equations:
WattsIf we have a circuit with a resistance of 4 ohms and we apply a voltage to it with a potential of 10 volts, then we have 25 watts of power. Increasing that voltage to 20 volts means the power available is now 100 watts. We can substitute and rearrange the variables in the equations above to figure out any other variable – it’s simple algebra.

Measuring Power

When a technician has an amplifier on a test bench and wants to measure power, the technician typically connects the amp to a bank of high-power load resistors, then measures the output of the amplifier when the signal has reached a distortion level of 1%. The measurement taken is voltage. Most often, we assume the load is not variable. Let’s say we measure 44 Volts RMS out of an amplifier and we have the amp connected to a 2 ohm load. That works out to 968 watts. It’s very simple and very repeatable – but it doesn’t work in the real world. Let’s look at why.

Resistance versus Reactance

This is going to get a bit technical. Audio signals are alternating current (AC) signals. AC signals are required to make the speaker cone move back and forth from its rest position, but they make power measurement much more complicated. The way conductors and loads react to AC signals is different from direct current (DC) signals.

Because AC signals change direction, the polarity of the magnetic fields they create also changes direction. Trying to change the polarity of magnetic fields wreaks havoc with the behavior of current flow. Once current gets flowing and sets up a magnetic field, it doesn’t like to stop. Imagine a DC voltage – all the electrons are moving in the same direction all the time. They are happy and have no complaints. When it comes to AC signals, though, that flow of electrons has to change directions. With a 20 k Hz signal, the change of directions happens 20,000 times a second. Electrons are lazy – they like to keep doing what they were doing. Because of this, they oppose a change of direction.

An inductor is truly nothing more than a coil of wire. We see inductors in passive crossover networks and the filter stages of Class D amplifiers. When electrons are flowing through an inductor, they set up a strong magnetic field. When you take away the voltage source, the electrons try to keep flowing. In fact, if you have seen a relay with a diode connected to it, that diode is there to give that flow of electrons somewhere to go, other than back into the circuit that was controlling the function of the relay.

WattsWhen we apply an AC signal to an inductor, the higher the frequency, the harder it is to change the direction of the flow of electrons. The resistance to the flow of alternating current is called inductive reactance. Think of it as resistance, but only applicable to AC signals. Inductors oppose a change in current flow. If we disconnect our alternating current source and measure the DC resistance of an inductor with a multimeter, the number we see on the screen is the resistance. To measure the reactance of an inductor, we need a device that can apply an AC signal and measure the effective voltage drop across the inductor.

The formula to calculate inductive reactance is Xl = 2 x pi x F x L, where F is the frequency of the applied AC signal, L is the inductance value of the inductor measured in henries and Xl is the inductive reactance in ohms. You can see that inductance increases with frequency, as we mentioned earlier.

The voice coil of a speaker is and acts as an inductor.

Current and Voltage

We have more bad news for you. Because an inductor opposes the change in current flow, a timing error arises. Timing of what, you ask? The relative time between the AC voltage across the inductor and the AC value of the current flowing in the inductor. In a perfect inductor (one with no DC resistance), the current through the inductor lags the voltage across the inductor by 90 degrees or ¼ of the frequency of the signal being passed through.

Watts

Let that sink in for a second, then think back to our equations for power. Power is voltage times current. But what if the current peak isn’t happening at the same time as the voltage peak? We can’t simply multiply the two numbers together to get the power in the circuit. Worse, the amount of time that the current lags voltage depends on the DC resistance of the inductor and the inductive reactance – for most car audio speakers, the DC resistance is usually somewhere between 2 and 8 ohms. The inductance is in between 0.04 mH for a high-quality tweeter to more than 5 mH for a big subwoofer.

There’s one more challenge: The inductance changes depending on the drive level of the speaker and the position of the speaker cone.

We’re sure you agree – It’s all very complicated, but don’t give up just yet.

How do we measure the real power in an AC circuit? There are a couple of ways. We can measure instantaneous current and voltage at a very high sampling rate and multiply them together. The sampling rate would have to be 20 or 30 times the frequency we measure to be reasonably accurate. We can also use conventional meters to measure the amount of current and voltage in the circuit, then use a Phase Angle Meter to find the relative relationship between the two. Pretty much none of us have a standalone phase angle meter in our toolboxes. What we can’t do is just multiply voltage and current times each other.

Those SPL Guys And Watts

If you are reading this, then you likely roam the Internet with some frequency. You have undoubtedly seen SPL enthusiasts attempt to measure the power produced by their amplifiers by “clamping”’ it. They connect a current clamp to one of the speaker wires coming out of the amp and put a voltmeter across the terminals of the amplifier.

This creates three problems:

  1. They should connect the voltmeter to the speaker terminals. Because of the high current flow, the resistance in speaker wire can waste a measurable amount of power.
  2. With a voltmeter and current clamp, we don’t know the phase relationship between the current flowing through the voice coils and the voltage across the voice coil.
  3. They typically perform these tests at extremely high power levels. The massive amounts of power heat up the voice coils quickly. This heat also increases their resistance quickly. This increase in resistance will cause the current flowing through the speaker to decrease. If the connected current clamp is in “peak hold” mode, it will store a peak reading of the initial current flowing through the voice coil. The reduction in current flow eases the load on the amplifier power supply and allows it to produce more voltage. As current decreases, the voltage out of the amplifier may increase, giving a false reading to the voltmeter in peak hold mode. This heating and resistance increase can happen in a matter of seconds.

If you thought our definition of the watt was complicated, then explaining how to calculate power in a reactive load would push you over the edge, so we won’t explain it all. That’s a topic saved for college or university courses on AC power. What we will do is provide a solution for making complicated power measurements.

WattsThe reality is when it comes to measuring power out of an amplifier while connected to a speaker, getting accurate results is very difficult. A few companies produce car audio power meters. The most popular unit is the D’Amore Engineering AMM-1. The AMM-1 is a handheld meter that simultaneously measures current and voltage, and calculates the phase angle between them to provide an accurate power measurement. The AMM-1 will show you how much real-world power your amplifier is making. (Please don’t cry if it’s less than you thought.)

The AMM-1 can also show volt-amps. Volt-amps are calculated by multiplying current times the voltage. You can also see the phase angle of the load on yet another screen. If you are serious about measuring power when an amplifier is driving a reactive load like a speaker, then this is the tool you need.

What You Need to Know

When you are shopping for an amplifier, the numbers you usually see quoted are measured into resistive loads. Most amplifiers have no problem with driving reactive loads, so you can trust the published numbers, as long as the distortion specification is clearly defined.

WattsThe CEA-2006A (now called CTA-2006A) specification for power measurement defines the maximum signal distortion during measurement as being 1%, and no more than 14.4 volts can be supplying the amp. Comparing power specs using this standard has leveled the playing field in the car audio industry.

We will look at some other very important amplifier specifications in another article. These other specifications may, in fact, be more important to choosing the right amp for your system than how much power the amp makes. Until then, drop into your local car audio specialist retailer to find out about the latest amplifiers available for your system. There are some amazing new amps on the market with a lot of cool features.

Happy listening!

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, Car Audio, RESOURCE LIBRARY

Product Spotlight: DroneMobile X1-MAX

Drone X1-MAX

In the summer of 2019, Firstech introduced a new version of its Drone vehicle telematics module called the X1-MAX. This new module took everything great about Drone vehicle tracking and remote control and injected it with a healthy dose of new-feature steroids. The result is a smartphone control solution that is unparalleled in capabilities while remaining easy to use.

The Drone Telematics Platform

Just like the Drone X1-LTE interface included with such Compustar RF kits as the P2WR3, the X1-MAX includes a built-in LTE cellular radio that communicates directly with the DroneMobile servers. The DroneMobile app on your iPhone or Android-based smartphone can control door locking and unlocking, remote start functionality and several auxiliary outputs. Additionally, Drone modules can provide GPS tracking, driver monitoring, security alerts and vehicle health monitoring functions. The unit can also be integrated with a remote start controller like the CM7000 and CM7200 from Compustar for additional features or the inclusion of an RF remote option.

Drone X1-MAX
Complete control over your vehicle is as easy a few taps on the screen of your smartphone using the DroneMobile app.

Both systems include a GPS receiver that can be used with the DroneMobile smartphone app or the web interface to locate your vehicle and provide position-based geofencing alerts. Using the GPS features requires a subscription to the Premium, Premium Plus or Ultimate service plan instead of the Basic subscription.

Of course, both units will communicate directly with Compustar, Arctic Start, FTX, ADS iDatastart and Mid City Engineering car starters to control door locks and starting functionality. Control for optional auxiliary accessories like trunk release, sliding door or power windows may also be available.

Remote start, door locking and trunk release commands can be sent through Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also use the DroneMobile app with your Apple Watch or an Android Smartwatch. There’s also an iPhone Widget to make it easy to access commonly-used functions almost instantly.

The DroneMobile app includes provisions for controlling and monitoring multiple vehicles. The Family Sharing feature allows others to control the vehicle from their smartphones. Sharing is also great for businesses that use Drone. Finally, driver monitoring features like curfew alerts, geofencing, trip reporting and speeding alerts are also available.

Drone X1-MAX

New Drone Hardware Features

The X1-MAX separates itself from the X1-LTE with the inclusion of a built-in lithium-ion backup battery that will maintain location and control communication if the vehicle battery is disconnected or the wiring is cut. Once you get an alert that the battery is disconnected, you’ll have more than enough time to check the vehicle to see what’s going on or contact local law enforcement.

The X1-MAX includes CAN/OBD network connectivity hardware so that the module can communicate directly with the computer system in your vehicle. For example, should the ECM in the vehicle generate a Diagnostics Trouble Code (DTC), the Drone system will push that information through to your smartphone. Fuel level monitoring will also be available on many vehicles. These features are still in the final testing stages and, according to Firstech, should be available in the fall of 2020.

The X1-MAX system includes onboard security sensors for impact, glass breakage and tilt. If someone tries to jack the car up to steal your wheels, you’ll get a notification on your smartphone. Likewise, if a thief attempts to break a window, or if someone bumps into your vehicle, those conditions will also send an alert. Interestingly and conveniently, users can adjust the shock sensor sensitivity directly from the DroneMobile app. The tilt sensor also functions as an accelerometer so that warnings about abrupt acceleration or braking can be logged or sent to the phone application.

Finally, the X1-MAX includes a Bluetooth 4.2 radio. You can pair your smartphone directly to the system to control all the functions from the DroneMobile app. If you are traveling to a campsite or cottage outside of cellphone coverage range, Bluetooth ensures that you have complete control over the vehicle.

Drone X1-MAX

Control Your Vehicle from Almost Anywhere

Firstech recently upgraded the behind-the-scenes control system for Drone to use Amazon Web Services IoT for lightning-fast connectivity and fantastic reliability. Globally recognized companies like Formula 1, Volkswagen Group, and, of course, Amazon trust AWS IoT for their cloud-based services.

The X1-MAX is currently available for purchase exclusively in the United States.

Drone telematics systems have quickly become the industry reference for features and intuitive functionality. If you’re looking for a long-range remote control, vehicle tracking and maintenance logging solution for your car, truck or SUV, visit your local authorized Drone retailer. You can learn more about Drone by visiting their website, Facebook page, YouTube channel or Instagram. You can find a local retailer using their online dealer locator.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, PRODUCTS, Remote Car Starters, RESOURCE LIBRARY Tagged With: DroneMobile, Firstech

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 23
  • 24
  • 25
  • 26
  • 27
  • …
  • 31
  • Next Page »

Recent Articles

Classic Car Audio

7 things to Consider When Improving Your Classic Car Audio

June 1, 2025 

You have worked long and hard to get your pride and joy rebuilt. The paint is buttery smooth, the engine purrs like a kitten, and the interior smells of fresh carpet and leather. … [Read More...]

DroneMobile XC Connected Dashcam Security System

Product Spotlight: DroneMobile XC Connected Dashcam Security System

May 26, 2025 

Thieves frequently target vehicles from Hyundai, Kia, Toyota, Lexus, RAM, Chevrolet, and Honda. These vehicles are often stolen for their parts or exported overseas. … [Read More...]

Compustar 2WG17 Remote Kit

Product Spotlight: Compustar 2WG17 Remote Kit

May 19, 2025 

Compustar was one of the first brands to allow consumers to choose a remote control package to accompany their remote start controller. Previously, we looked at flagship-level … [Read More...]

Factory Source Unit

To Get Better Sound, Do I Need to Replace My Factory Source Unit?

May 4, 2025 

Not all that long ago, upgrading the performance of your car audio system required that you replace the factory source unit. The industry had dozens of premium CD receivers with … [Read More...]

Testimonials

Very Friendly Staff

Very friendly staff, knowledgeable group . Needed help on my remote starter, they got me back up and running in no time . They also do amazing tint jobs!!

I recommend then to everyone!

Super great place to get lots of custom things done. Very nice, very knowledgeable and very fare prices. I recommend to everyone I know.

Will be going back for sure!

Very happy with how the tint came out. Professional and friendly. Will be going back for sure.

Subscribe to Our Website

Enter your email address to subscribe to our website and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Location

55 Woodmont Road, Milford, CT 06460

Get Directions to Speed of Sound Technologies

Connect With Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Services

  • Car Audio
  • Custom Installation
  • Driver Safety
  • Radar/Laser Detectors
  • Remote Starters
  • Truck Accessories
  • Vehicle Security
  • Window Tint

Hours

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Closed
Sunday

Copyright © 2025 Speed of Sound Technologies · Privacy Policy · Website by 1sixty8 media, inc. · Log in

 

Loading Comments...