Start, find, and control your car—all from your phone.
The DIRECTED SMARTSTART PRO DSM550 4G LTE GPS Module works with the DIRECTED SMARTSTART and DIRECTED SMARTSTART PRO apps to let you remote-start your car, lock or unlock it, and track its location.
Built for speed and reliability, DIRECTED SMARTSTART PRO uses 4G LTE and pairs perfectly with DIRECTED’s DS4/DS4+ systems. Its one-piece wiring harness makes installation quick and clean, and it's fully compatible with existing setups.
A subscription (1 to 3 years) to DIRECTED SMARTSTART Secure or GPS Premium is required. The Secure plan includes features like vehicle location tracking and movement alerts. The Premium plan adds extras like geo-fencing and alerts when entering or leaving specific areas.
The app also shows your car’s current status—whether it’s locked, running, or if a door is open.
DIRECTED
- DIRECTED SMARTSTART PRO 4G LTE GPS module for a remote start system.
- Displays location, vehicle speed & customized GPS alerts.
- Lock/arm, unlock/disarm, remote start, trunk release, panic button & 2 aux channels.
- Remote start via smartphone (iPhone(R) 4. 3 or later, Android(TM) SDK 1. 6 or later), but vehicle must already be equipped with a remote-start system.
- Not compatible with BlackBerry(R) devices.
What is DIRECTED SMARTSTART?
DIRECTED SMARTSTART is the only vehicle security and remote start system that works with your smartphone. DIRECTED SMARTSTART is brought to you by DIRECTED, the leader in vehicle security and remote start systems. With DIRECTED SMARTSTART, you can use your smartphone to pre-warm your car’s cabin in the winter, pre-cool it in the summer, lock and unlock your doors, arm and disarm your vehicle’s security system, open your trunk, and even find your car in a parking lot, all using your smartphone.
Why do I need DIRECTED SMARTSTART PRO?
DIRECTED SMARTSTART PRO is a clever solution that combines the functionality of your vehicle’s key fob with your cell phone. Now you can control your vehicle’s locks, security system, remote start system, and trunk release with your cell phone. Anyone who’s used a remote car starter before knows that range is critically important to maximizing the value of your remote starter – and range doesn’t get any better than with a DIRECTED SMARTSTART PRO. If your phone has sufficient signal and your vehicle also has sufficient signal……YOU’RE ALL SET!
Why do I need to remote start my car?
Let’s face it; your vehicle can be pretty uncomfortable in extreme weather. In fact, getting into a frozen or overheated car can be downright painful. With remote start, you can start your car from the comfort of your home to make sure it is the right temperature before you get inside. The DIRECTED SMARTSTART remote start system provides virtually unlimited range so you can rest assured your remote start system is activated no matter how far away you are from your vehicle.
What do I need to get DIRECTED SMARTSTART?
- A complete DIRECTED SMARTSTART system, or, if you already have a compatible remote start system, you need the add-on DIRECTED SMARTSTART module.
- A compatible smart phone (not included with the DIRECTED SMARTSTART system).
- DIRECTED SMARTSTART application for your smartphone
What are the benefits of upgrading my current DIRECTED SMARTSTART module to one of the new DIRECTED SMARTSTART PRO 4G LTE modules?
DIRECTED SMARTSTART PRO modules use 4G LTE technology with superior nationwide coverage, much faster response, and additional features when combined with a DIRECTED digital security or remote start system. Upgrading now ensures future compatibility with new features and eliminates the risk of coverage problems. With these new modules you can expect to use them for many years without needing to upgrade again.
If I currently have an older DIRECTED SMARTSTART module in my car, do I have to upgrade to a new DIRECTED SMARTSTART Pro 4G VSM550 module?
Yes, if you wish to continue to access your installed system with unlimited range via the DIRECTED SMARTSTART app. Earlier models are no longer able to connect due to carrier cell network shutdowns (2G, 3G etc.).
Does upgrading my SMARTSTART hardware require an upgrade of the DIRECTED SMARTSTART app?
We always recommend using the current version of the DIRECTED SMARTSTART app for the best experience and access to the latest features.
What will it cost to upgrade a new DIRECTED SMARTSTART PRO 4G module?
For current upgrade packages and offers, please select the “Special Offer” link next to your existing older DIRECTED SMARTSTART module on the mySMARTSTART web site, or via the app (click Menu/Account/Manage Account).
Will I need to switch my cellular carrier in order to upgrade my SMARTSTART module?
No. You can continue to use your existing cellular service.
My cellular service already uses a 4G LTE network. Why do I have to upgrade my DIRECTED SMARTSTART module to get better performance?
Your existing DIRECTED SMARTSTART module used an older, appropriate cellular connectivity based on when it was manufactured and the requirements for vehicle telematics hardware and features at that time. Since then, most of those older networks have been shut down by the carriers or access to them has been removed for other reasons. In order to keep your vehicle connected with DIRECTED SMARTSTART, the installed module needs to be 4G LTE currently, as is the case with DIRECTED SMARTSTART PRO.
I live in Montreal, Canada. Will the new hardware work in my area?
Absolutely. DIRECTED SMARTSTART PRO 4G LTE modules connect seamlessly across North America: in the US, Canada, and Mexico.
Will DIRECTED SMARTSTART PRO work if I’m too far away from my vehicle?
With DIRECTED SMARTSTART, there is no such thing as "too far away." DIRECTED SMARTSTART works over a cellular network or over Wi-Fi, giving you virtually unlimited range anywhere in the U.S. As long as your vehicle is in range of a cellular signal and your phone has a cellular or Wi-Fi signal, DIRECTED SMARTSTART will work.
Why do I need to pay for a service plan?
Your DIRECTED SMARTSTART is an “always-on” connected device that communicates over a cellular network. Just like a cell phone, your DIRECTED SMARTSTART requires a service plan from a cellular provider to communicate over the network.
Can I control my vehicle from more than one phone?
Yes. Users can be added by downloading the app on another smartphone and entering the Username and Password for the account. Once the app is installed on the new smartphone, you can access all cars already set up on the account. You can also add users with their own logins (email addresses) and assign vehicles specifically to them, via the mySMARTSTART web site.
Can I use DIRECTED SMARTSTART with more than one vehicle?
Yes. Multiple vehicles can be installed to your account. A separate DIRECTED system will have to be installed in each vehicle, but after that you can control any of your vehicles with any smartphone you’ve authorized.
Is DIRECTED SMARTSTART available outside the U.S.?
Currently, DIRECTED SMARTSTART PRO is available in North America (USA, Canada, Mexico) as well as many countries worldwide. For use outside North America, a specific 4G LTE module is required (DSM550i). Please consult with the DIRECTED or DIRECTED distributor in your country for details on products, pricing, and service plan options.
Can I install DIRECTED SMARTSTART myself?
DIRECTED SMARTSTART is available only through authorized retailers that offer professional installation. Professional installation is required.
What is remote start?
Remote start means being able to start your vehicle from a distance using a remote control, or in the case of DIRECTED SMARTSTART, your smartphone. This allows you to have the vehicle warmed up in cold weather or cooled down in hot weather, before you get in to drive it. This may seem like a luxury but in extreme climates it is virtually a necessity as well as a safety factor.
Is my car secure after I remote start it?
Yes. Our systems keep the vehicle locked securely while it is remote started, and it still requires a key to actually drive the car. If anyone gets in the car and tries to drive it without the key, the car just shuts off.
What if I don’t have a smartphone?
DIRECTED is continuously improving DIRECTED SMARTSTART. That means we are already working on compatibility with other smart phones. Please refer to [www.DIRECTED.com](https://www.DIRECTED.com) for the current list of compatible smart phones. We also have lots of other products that don’t require an smartphone to start your car. See DIRECTED.com for more information about DIRECTED remote start and security systems.
I did not receive an activation email. What happened?
Some internet service providers will mark our email as SPAM or JUNK. Please check these folders if you do not receive your email within a few minutes. If the activation email is not there, it is possible that the installer did not complete the activation process or the wrong email address was entered. Please bring the vehicle back to the original installer to have the process completed or the email address corrected.
I understand the DIRECTED SMARTSTART PRO GPS Module can be installed as a stand-alone system: how does that work?
Even if the VSM550 is not plugged into a compatible system that can lock or unlock your vehicle or remote start it, it will still provide numerous GPS features. We recommend however that you integrate it with one of our many compatible systems to enable the complete DIRECTED SMARTSTART feature set. Please visit [www.mySMARTSTART.com/plans/](https://www.mySMARTSTART.com/plans/) for a list of features covered by the service plan selection you choose
Will I have to buy service right away in order to use my new DIRECTED SMARTSTART PRO system?
No. We provide a 72 hour (3 day) grace period following the installation of your DIRECTED SMARTSTART system which provides you with free access to GPS and car control features (*specific vehicle features may be determined by the type of system your DIRECTED SMARTSTART PRO module is connected with).
At any time in those first 3 days, you just visit mySMARTSTART where you can opt into a free 30 day GPS trial, also at no cost. Just opt into the trial, and select the plan you want to convert to at the end of the trial. You will not be charged until a few days prior to the end of the 30 day trial plan, and you can change your selected “Next” plan or cancel that plan selection at any time prior to your card being charged.