drive way alerts, again

[heehaw]

have geese..and they are good..but they don't tend to stay where i tell them..they like the pond for some reason?
i mailed the dakota alert back to the company last friday..will wait to see what they say..it sure didn't last or work anywhere near as well as they advertise..if i do it again, i will go with the one with a 10 year warranty..
heehaw

 

[Mosey]

I have it narrowed down to 2 wireless systems. One is the Innotek Driveway Guardian. Cabela's has it for $180. I called Innotek (800) 826-5527 and asked them who else sells it and they told me Home Depot, Menards and Meijers. I went to all three places in Greenwood, IN and none of them sell it. I'd rather buy things in stores, but it looks like the only way to get this is to order it. It says it uses a "magnetic field sensor to detect any passing vehicle", so it's not just a motion sensor. What worries me is that is says it uses a “water-resistant transmitter”, rather than a waterproof one. This thing is going to have to hold up outside in the hard rains and sometimes in deep snow.

The other is the Dakota system that uses a rubber hose sensor. It costs $159. As far as I know the only way to get it is to order it from their web site. I like the sound of some of it’s features, such as a “weatherproof outside transmitter”, rather than a weather resistant transmitter. But, their web site has a lot of typos in it, which makes me wonder if the quality of their product is as sloppy as their web site. Plus, you’ve already tried one of their other models and it didn’t work like it said it would.

Based earlier posts on this board, the only ones that have a solid reputation are the $500+ ones, and I can't justify spending that much. If one of these will do what it says it will, then either will meet my needs. I just need to decide whether I want a rubber hose laying across my driveway all the time, which I would have to move every time I mow the grass, or the cross shaped sensor at the edge of the driveway which I could probably hide under a bush and never have to worry about.

 

[heehaw]

i do not recommend the dakota equipment; their idea of weather proof is a 6x6 pvc box, with a rubber o ring around the lid; i used a rubber strap to fasten the thing to a fence post, never used the pvc mounts on the box, when i brought it in, to send it off, last week, both mounts fell off when i touched them..i'd say the pve box is not rated to handle being out in the sun..thats what usually causes pvc to get brittle like that.
heehaw

 

[JoeR]

Danny,

Many companies have stopped using the term "waterproof." This means it is absolutely resistant to water. Of course, someone would submerge it in 30 feet of water and prove that it is not "waterproof." Therefore, they have shifted to "water resistant" which indicates that at some point, it will not stop water. You just have to ask what its tolerances are when it comes to the elements...

One example is watches. Years ago, they used to sell "waterproof" watches. Now you get water resistant to 100 feet or whatever...


Good luck on your search.

Joe

 

[Anonymous Poster]

The first thing you need to explain is what are you trying to accomplish. There are a few ways to detect passage down a lane, magnetic, PIR, or hose.
If you're only concerned about vehicles driven by fools who won't see a hose, you can go with a magnetic annomoly detection system. The problems with that system are multiple, especially in areas where snow accumulates. The second problem is the major manufacturer of MAD systems went under a few years back, and the parts & pieces of the business have been scooped up by a lot of halfassed manufacturers.
Your second major problem is you desire to go with a wireless device. Depending on the distance you need to cover, and the requirement for dependability, wireless radio equipment alone will run close to a hundred bucks.
I'd suggest you look at model MRX-300 and MRX-220 Crow PIR& Microwave detection equipment equipment, and put some wire in the ground to accomodate the detectors.
These detectors will not only sense vehicles, they will also alarm when somebody walks past them.
Their web site is www.crowelec.com
Or you can just keep buying systems that don't do the job.

 

[heehaw]

the alert i have is a PIR type, the wireless part of it works fine, its the detection part that does not work..the way i know this is, the sensor has a led that will blink when something passes in front of it..well, the led doesn't blink as often as it should..but the wireless part worked everytime the sensor did.
i want to know when someone walks down my drive way too, and the other types don't do that. there is a lot of equipment out there, and in the same price range as the dakota alert..hopefully they work better.
heehaw

 

[GlueGuy]

I'm on the fence about this whole thing too. We'd like a detector to let us know when someone is coming up the drive, but don't want every deer, bobcat, coyote, couger, etc. to set it off. The driveway is gravel, so I think the buried detectors and/or compression hose are out. I think the only way to go is some sort of IR detector, and live with some false positives and false negatives. A bigger concern is the real range of one of these things. Where we'd put it is only a couple hundred feet from the house, but it's not exactly "line of site". I hate to buy something that doesn't work.

 

[MDNY]

We will be needing a driveway alert of some kind as well, BUT, the wife wants one that tells her is someperson or some car is coming up the drive.

I tried explaining that a person could walk across the lawn and you wouldn't know it, so why not get one that just tells us about cars. Can't get her to agree yet.

 

[heehaw]

just another note about the dakota alert brand of driveway alert; i received a letter from the company last friday, they want $75 to repair the alert, well, i learned my lesson..i will pay the shipping charges to get the unit back..but will never deal with this company again. the unit never did work properly, and then to want more than half the cost of the unit to repair it..got me once, not again.
heehaw

 

[Mosey]

Heehaw, Sorry to hear that you got ripped off. But, if it's any consolation, they lost me as a customer too! They must not be aware of how fast they can get a bad reputation on the "information highway".

I’m still planning on giving the Innotek Driveway Guardian a try. I’ve made the decision, but now I’m to the part where I have to actually part with money, and my frugal nature makes that hard when it’s something I can’t actually touch. I don’t think I’ll ever be comfortable with catalog or internet shopping. But, I’ve checked all the stores in the area and no one sells it, so if I want one I’ll have to order it from Cabela’s.