Driveway Alarms

[Bunker Buster]

I've been doing some research and reading reviews, but I'm looking for real world experience and suggestions on reliable driveway alarms. The house is about 150 yards from the front gate. We do have wildlife that pass through, sized anywhere from roadrunners, rabbits, coyotes and deer.

As luck would have it, we are starting to have more people move into the area and there's a lot of construction traffic going on at the property next door. My wife works from home and doesn't always pay attention to anyone coming or going unless the dogs hear something. The house is only a couple years old and very well insulated, so outside sounds are greatly muffled.

A couple I've looked at are Guardline and Rodann and range from a reported 1/4 mile and 1,000 feet. What are you using or have you used that you recommend or don't recommend and why?

 

[anthonyv]

I use the Dakota Wireless Probe Alert 2500, has a buried magnetic probe for vehicles only. 2500’ range is advertised about half that is reality. I originally had a motion alert, but it went off on every deer, dog, cat or whatever walked by, drove us nuts. It looked close to bird house an had an opening for the sensor & we had multiple birds in front setting it off wanting inside to nest, lot of fun there as well.
Hope this helps.

http://dakotaalert.com/
Shop around you can find better prices.

 

[helomech]

I have a half mile distance to my gate, and nothing I have tried has even come close. Best I have found only goes a couple hundred yards. And then only if there is not to much stuff blocking it. We have lots of trees and hills, I think I am out of luck.

 

[CaveCreekRay]

I have two of the Dakota magnetic sensor driveway alerts using the MURS radio. Half mile easy, more depending on terrain. (I heard a neighbors a mile away while setting mine up..) I have the base station on my bed side table. Monitors both entrances to my property. Very reliable. A buddy in Ohio has had his running for nearly ten years with no problems.

 

[D2Cat]

My dog barks when ever someone pulls up in the driveway...even at my wife in HER car! Best alarm I have!

 

[CaveCreekRay]

Len,

My dogs now know what the alarm means and they bark when we are at home for UPS or Fed Ex. When we leave, they don't bark. When my wife and I return, the dogs are at the back door getting nose art on the glass. My wife and dogs really love that alarm.

 

[D2Cat]

Ray, you guys are talking about electronic gizzmos. I can't get a phone to save a new number for an old saved one! Or get the wiring on a Kubota engine to run with Perkins' wiring....I got to keep it simple.

Maybe I'll have to get some guineas.

 

[car compulsive]

My grandparents, who used to live in the mountains above Santa Cruz, CA 50 yrs. ago, had 5 dogs who surrounded any car coming down the lane and wouldn't let you out of the car until someone in the house called them off.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Alarm by Wolf at my place!

 

[Daren Todd]

My jack Russell is the early warning system. Our German Shepherd backs him up when someone reaches the house

 

[itsaz]

I have two Dakota Alerts. One with the wired magnetic sensor and one with the infrared beam. If they both go off, there is definitely something or somebody coming up the 600ft driveway. Dakota Alert customer service can't be beat.

 

[Tooljunkie]

This is good,i have been tossing around the driveway alarm too. Infra red would be my preference. If a bear saunters up my driveway i want to know.
Had a vehicle stop in my driveway at midnight a couple weeks ago,sat there for quite some time, like they knew the motion light would come on if they went any further. Turned on yard light and they left.

Why people think waking me up at midnight is no big deal....
Im also planning on building a piece of yard art,front end of a dodge truck with motion activated headlights. A deterrent for those that dont know what it is.

 

[vic gerbasi]

I have a driveway alarm by QUHWA i know a wierd name battery powered with receiver either battery or dc 6v works very well good for at least 200 yards it is a two piece unit with pick up at driveway gate and recr in house works very well and LOUD i think i got it at tractor supply real inexpensive

 

[Bunker Buster]

We have two German Shepherds and they do a good job keeping people in their vehicles, when they are outside with us. They are spoiled and stay in the house and seem to only hear UPS and FedEx when they come up.

 

[dandeman]

I've had the Dakota WPT-3000 wireless magnetic driveway detector and WR-3000 receiver for some years and highly recommend Dakota. https://www.dakotaalert.com/docs/WPT-3000.pdf

While wireless systems can have their range limitations, I highly recommend them to avoid introducing an additional entry path for lightning surges that can occur with a wired system. This is an even more important point if the detector is tied into other security system electronics.

Dakota's out of warranty support is excellent also.. I had the wireless transmitter fail after some years of operation. Send it back for repair and they replaced the failing board for $20.00 which included the shipping cost back to me.

If you google their address, they look to be a fairly small company out in Elk Point, South Dakota. http://www.dakotaalert.com/ I like giving my business to a small company like that as opposed to buying some cheap, outsourced knock off product.