Porsche VTS Amateur Questions!

[nichesports]

Recently acquired a 2012 model and first Porsche that I have had fitted with this VTS system.

I just don't get it....it came with two fobs...appears both are active, as I can see the red light flashing on them both...

So do I carry one with me all the time (i.e. take with me when out in car, and take with me inside when not in car, being careful not to leave with keys)?

Then what about the second fob? I assume it is a spare, but if both have lights flashing on them, how do Cobra know which is the one I have with me, and which is just sitting in my house?

Or am I missing the point completely here!?

[sidicks]

nichesports said:

Recently acquired a 2012 model and first Porsche that I have had fitted with this VTS system.

I just don't get it....it came with two fobs...appears both are active, as I can see the red light flashing on them both...

So do I carry one with me all the time (i.e. take with me when out in car, and take with me inside when not in car, being careful not to leave with keys)?

Then what about the second fob? I assume it is a spare, but if both have lights flashing on them, how do Cobra know which is the one I have with me, and which is just sitting in my house?

Or am I missing the point completely here!?

Very simple - you take one fob with you when you drive your car anyway. As indicated, in theory you should not store the VTS card with the key, although Porsche provide a convenient leather key ring / wallet which allows you to do just that....

The other card is just a spare - both are 'active' - but again, obviously, you should not store your spare card with your spare keys!

[IREvans]

nichesports said:

Recently acquired a 2012 model and first Porsche that I have had fitted with this VTS system.

I just don't get it....it came with two fobs...appears both are active, as I can see the red light flashing on them both...

So do I carry one with me all the time (i.e. take with me when out in car, and take with me inside when not in car, being careful not to leave with keys)?

Then what about the second fob? I assume it is a spare, but if both have lights flashing on them, how do Cobra know which is the one I have with me, and which is just sitting in my house?

Or am I missing the point completely here!?

I'm fairly sure all new Porsches come with 2 VTS tracker fobs, the tracking system is fitted as part of the Porsche GB specification.

They are only active once you register and pay for the tracking service. The car will then only start when the tracker fob is inside the car. The idea is that you never leave the fob in the car.

I've never activated the service. Some insurance companies will insist that it is activated.

It doesn't matter which fob you carry with you. They both send out the same signal to the car's receiver.

[sidicks]

IREvans said:

I'm fairly sure all new Porsches come with 2 VTS tracker fobs, the tracking system is fitted as part of the Porsche GB specification.

They are only active once you register and pay for the tracking service. The car will then only start when the tracker fob is inside the car. The idea is that you never leave the fob in the car.

I've never activated the service. Some insurance companies will insist that it is activated.

It doesn't matter which fob you carry with you. They both send out the same signal to the car's receiver.

Not strictly true - the car will start but a message will be sent to the control room to track the car and contact the driver as the expectation is that the car has been stolen...

[nichesports]

Thanks guys....so keep one spare somewhere hidden away.

And when in the car as long as one of the fobs is with me it is fine.

So if car is stolen with the keys, but there is no fob in the car I will get a call...

When I leave the car, for example if I go shopping, and have fob on me, I guess it will know the car is stationary and although fob not with car this is not an issue. I think my small brain is slowly understanding how it works!

[Magic919]

As long as the car doesn't move without the fob onboard, it's fine. Store the VTS phone number in case you plan to use the Channel Tunnel. Call them just before departure.

[Zyp]

I forgot my fob once and was over 20 miles away from home before I got a phone call.

Do it too many times and you may get a slight bking from them....

[sidicks]

Zyp said:

I forgot my fob once and was over 20 miles away from home before I got a phone call.

Do it too many times and you may get a slight bking from them....

That happened to me with the courtesy car we currently have - the car was in the garage, but obviously close enough to my wallet in the house to 'see' the driver card when we started. It was only when we stopped for petrol circa 300 miles away where we had the problem....

[mark260463]

I keep mine in my wallet, thory being I never go out without my wallet. One day less than half a mile from home I got a call from the nice man at Cobra, he was not amused when I thanked him for reminding me I had gone out without my wallet and he had saved me a long round trip!

[curley]

Use one and turn the other off to conserve the battery .

To turn off hold the button for several seconds and it will stop flashing .

You only need one . The others a spare .

[N24]

Magic919 said:

As long as the car doesn't move without the fob onboard, it's fine. Store the VTS phone number in case you plan to use the Channel Tunnel. Call them just before departure.

Cobra told me VTS is only triggered by the ignition - then again I have little faith in what they say. I'll call later & mention Chunnel... Might just be easier to wait for their call if it's triggered!

[Moog72]

IREvans said:

I'm fairly sure all new Porsches come with 2 VTS tracker fobs, the tracking system is fitted as part of the Porsche GB specification.

Only certain (higher value) new Porsches - my 981 Boxster didn't / doesn't for example, it was an option

[Redbaron1973]

It does seem a pointless complication as surely the criminals that would steal to order and thus kick your door in for the keys, will know that the VTS is pretty much standard fit and will beat you up for the fob as much as they would for the keys?

[AndrewIC]

Moog72 said:

IREvans said:

I'm fairly sure all new Porsches come with 2 VTS tracker fobs, the tracking system is fitted as part of the Porsche GB specification.

Only certain (higher value) new Porsches - my 981 Boxster didn't / doesn't for example, it was an option

All new Porsche that have a base starting price of £50k or more, have VTS fitted as standard.

[N24]

Turns out one is required to call Cobra when taking the Chunnel - they place the tracker into "transport mode"...

[Ady128]

Redbaron1973 said:

It does seem a pointless complication as surely the criminals that would steal to order and thus kick your door in for the keys, will know that the VTS is pretty much standard fit and will beat you up for the fob as much as they would for the keys?

Yes, but the tracker can still be activated when you report it stolen. Oh, and the batteries run out and Cobra will ring you.

[redback911]

N24 said:

Turns out one is required to call Cobra when taking the Chunnel - they place the tracker into "transport mode"...

Just spent a long weekend at the Ring and Baden Baden. I forget to call Cobra to let them know I was travelling. No messages from them on my contact numbers during the entire trip.

Overall not really impressed with VTS, I would rather have the cheaper and newer generic version that allows online real time tracking facility. Or just not bother at all.

[Inverted]

Jumping on an old thread...

I have a 2007 GT3 RS which I would guess has VTS fitted. First three years of owning, insurance companies haven't asked for VTS to be active. Now with values rising most seem to be asking for it.

Now the reason for my post. I cant find any documentation for it. I have the 2 black fobs so from what ive read its a Cobra system. Should i be speaking to someone at Porsche to activate or ring Cobra directly?

Whats the procedure for activating?

[Alpinestars]

Inverted said:

Jumping on an old thread...

I have a 2007 GT3 RS which I would guess has VTS fitted. First three years of owning, insurance companies haven't asked for VTS to be active. Now with values rising most seem to be asking for it.

Now the reason for my post. I cant find any documentation for it. I have the 2 black fobs so from what ive read its a Cobra system. Should i be speaking to someone at Porsche to activate or ring Cobra directly?

Whats the procedure for activating?

Call Cobra with the chassis number and registration. They will take some money, run some tests to see it's still working, and activate it.

[Inverted]

Alpinestars said:

Inverted said:

Jumping on an old thread...

I have a 2007 GT3 RS which I would guess has VTS fitted. First three years of owning, insurance companies haven't asked for VTS to be active. Now with values rising most seem to be asking for it.

Now the reason for my post. I cant find any documentation for it. I have the 2 black fobs so from what ive read its a Cobra system. Should i be speaking to someone at Porsche to activate or ring Cobra directly?

Whats the procedure for activating?

Call Cobra with the chassis number and registration. They will take some money, run some tests to see it's still working, and activate it.

Sounds simple enough..... Do I have to be in the car with it running? Im sorting insurance while im 4000 miles from the car so its not easy to pop around and turn it on...