ALP Bluetooth Module & ALPConnect App Review by Mirage

[Mirage]

ALP Bluetooth Module & ALPConnect App Review
by Mirage


So you've all seen the pictures and the videos, but how does it actually work? Well I spent some time with the ALP Bluetooth module and the ALPConnect app and decided to do a video review of the system. IMHO this is another huge leap forward on behalf of AL. The other guys better get to work as they are falling WAY behind!



As promised in the video here is the breakout board I'm using for the RJ45 connection between the Control Unit and the Bluetooth Unit.



This is much easier though:



Now a few things I did not cover in the video. First if you are using an iPhone you will also have GPS stored with your alerts and it will show you the MPH or KPH speed you were at when hit with the Lidar gun. Also, the settings menu also contains a Bluetooth strength menu. This can be accessed by swiping the app to the left or right.

Pros:

1. Visual, Voice, and directional notifications of the encounter.
2. PREMIUM voice alerts. Much better than other units. Very clear and pleasing alerts. (At the least the female one).
3. GPS speed and history of alerts.
4. JTK mode on the app! Super cool!
5. Audio can be redirected over Bluetooth to the stereo or to an external speaker for increased volume

IMHO the things that are not so good:

1. If you forget to connect your iPod / iPhone via Bluetooth (or if you lose connection) to the system you are NOT protected. Unlike the control unit if the Bluetooth is not connected the system is effectively OFF.
2. No pass through to the control unit for firmware upgrades and setup.ALP changes. In addition, some functionality of the control unit is lost as the ALPConnect app doesn't have all the settings like the control unit. Hopefully this will change in time.
3. The "music" portion of the alert has got to go. We don't need that! It's more important to have the Voice and a quick and/or repeating siren.
4. No Android version. Sorry I hate the "i" stuff.

What is hopefully coming soon:

1. Ability to do firmware upgrades with the Bluetooth connected.
2. Ability to change some of the sounds. (Music and Main Alert would be a good start)

All-in-All this is a great first pass and a huge step up from the parking switches and dials of the other systems. They seem antiquated after using the BT module.

More details can be found on my blog at http://www.miragetools.net


That is it for now. Let me know what you think...

Mirage

[BestRadarDetectors]

Thanks for the review. Next update will have an option to select a different alert sound if you dont like the musical one and will have several missing features that were programmable when using the Control module. Firmware updates will definitely work when connected to the Bluetooth module and there are several other additional improvements planned for the next update.

[JohnBoy]

Thanks dude! I already have this setup, and I was not aware of the quick "double tap" JTK. That is sweet!

[Mirage]

Thanks dude! I already have this setup, and I was not aware of the quick "double tap" JTK. That is sweet!

Honestly I discovered it by accident because I had been informed it was NOT in this release but I guess AL snuck it into production! Regardless I'm glad its there because my kill switch also kills the app as you would expect. I would much rather do everything from the app especially since I plan to do the STiR integration.

[JohnBoy]

Honestly I discovered it by accident because I had been informed it was NOT in this release but I guess AL snuck it into production! Regardless I'm glad its there because my kill switch also kills the app as you would expect. I would much rather do everything from the app especially since I plan to do the STiR integration.

Same here. Once all is done, this is simply one bad ass system

[max]

Nice video, very helpfull...

[dinkydi]

thx for another great review m, Alp moves onto the 21st century, wonder how long the other guys will remain in the wake, oh dont like the tom tom beats , sooner just have the gun announcement ,

[GeekSpeak411]

thx for another great review m, Alp moves onto the 21st century, wonder how long the other guys will remain in the wake, oh dont like the tom tom beats , sooner just have the gun announcement ,

Yes, I don't need any music or siren, just a nice clear voice announcement of what gun I'm being hit by would be perfect and clean. Maybe a basic alert tone mixed in between voice announcements, but that's not necessary.

Also, definitely should at LEAST have the option to work normally even if bluetooth is not connected. Maybe on the online setup page make a disclaimer that the option should only be enabled on units setup with JTK switches, but the option needs to be there.

[shanetrainST]

Yes, I don't need any music or siren, just a nice clear voice announcement of what gun I'm being hit by would be perfect and clean. Maybe a basic alert tone mixed in between voice announcements, but that's not necessary.

Also, definitely should at LEAST have the option to work normally even if bluetooth is not connected. Maybe on the online setup page make a disclaimer that the option should only be enabled on units setup with JTK switches, but the option needs to be there.

+1

Hopefully next update i wish as it would be a nice feature to have clear voices. How sweet would it be to make your own voice packs

[Mirage]

How sweet would it be to make your own voice packs

You will probably never have the option to completely customize the voices on the voice pack and here is why. Each alert is specifically coded to each gun and by releasing a list of voices they are in turn are also releasing what guns they support. Remember much of this stuff is a giant cat and mouse game and it's always better to keep the other guy guessing. When I did voices for Laser Interceptor they had to tell me which new voices were available and what position to code them for. It was a huge PITA because Cliff seldom wanted to release information ahead of time. The ALP alerts consists of 3 parts, a siren, music, and the actual voice alert. AL will probably give you the ability to select different sirens and repeatable music or remove them altogether, but to allow you to customize the voices could potentially leak information about the product. In addition, it would also require changes to the application security on the Apple side because now you will need to "upload" the voices and that too can be a huge PITA. AL may give you additional options someday like more vocal choices, but the voices they have now are the clearest in the industry and so good that I didn't even want to mess with them. They are of the highest quality and I applaud them on this fact!