Originally Posted by Seannon
Didn't want to be accused of threadjacking, so here goes... what about Bluetooth... one thing that SO many people do is haev their PHONES with them... most now have bluetooth built in... Debian Linux now has, (and I believe it is either easily available, or can be made to wok with other flavors of Linux... ) now the nice thing about this? you get the phone within 30 feet or so, open the phone, go to the application on the phone, and click unlock etc... the phone would have to be paired with the car before it would work etc, and then it would be a menu option for unlocking the door then additional modules for starting the car etc... kinda like get close to the car, and you get logged in, open the phone, and go to the car program, click start, then unlock and turn the alarm off etc... then you don't have to worry about changing the door handles, or undoing the locks... I personally would rather be able to start the car remotely a min or two before I get to it because I live in Texas... and it is hot here man!!! Oh, about the only thing I see as this needing is something that can run Linux as an embedded device and a usb bluetooth adapter... and of course a phone that has bluetooth, and perhaps runs java apps OR if it is just for the way that you described, that you are needing just to be able to log on to the car... a simple headset will work... just has to be able to pair with the car... but most headsets do not have changing pairing codes and would be easier to "Bluejack" the car that way...
This is a PM I got yesterday. This is by no means threadjacking so anyone and everyone, bring your ideas to the table.
That being said, I've done bluetooth remote start/unlock and they realyl aren't all they are cracked up to be. Toshiba did a kit for all of about a month for this. A demo unit it made it to my shop, was buggy as can be and had a laptop connected to it about every day to update something that the last update messed with or to fix missing functionality. Bluetooth on a good day has a range of about 30-40 feet line of sight. The problem with using it is the protocal you'd use to make it work. The toshiba unit made the phone think it was a headset and you "dialed" your car to start or unlock. Problem with this is some phones don't send the DTMF tones through the headset until after you initiate a call so no go there. Needless to say, it's been 5 years since Iv'e worked with it and I've never seen another company make one so you know it's probably not gonna be back anytime soon.