Driveway alarm

[nathanmc]

Hey, just a heads up in case you go to buy new 3000's, they're not the same anymore. They've dropped to a real short range transmitter and been replaced by the 2500's, same idea but the FCC forced the change on them somehow. So don't make the mistake of buying another 3000 thinking it'll be the same (speaking from expereince)!
I got the 2500's here - Dakota Duty Cycle 2500 foot Deluxe Models

 

[Industrial Toys]

I have underground cabling down my 1000 driveway, and employ underground vehicle sensors by "Sure Action". So, it only detects large metal objects. I have however, had lighting issues in the past with such a wired system. Passive Infrared sensors often pick up everything, including critters, snow and blowing vegetation. A driveway alert system is a really nice thing to have but becomes a useless annoyance if it false alarms and you can't trust it.

 

[Scrambler82]

Can these RF Units be purchased in a different Frequency Range, i.e. 145 MHz ?

Being a semi-active HAM I can setup a small mobile unit to receive the signal.
Just thinking.

 

[truckdiagnostics]

I used one of those cost effective mule driveway alarms. Wired from the speaker to an insteon/x-10 input, then use an x-10 receiver in the house. This way I can control outside lights when we get a driveway alarm input. Works real well and gives you lots of flexibility. I can't remember when it has falsed.

 

[RedNeckGeek]

I've had the Dakota MURS IR sensors set up for three months now, and once I got the mounting squared away, have yet to get a false alarm. The unit at the front gate started off on a part of the fence that wasn't very solid, and a good wind would let it move causing a trigger. I repositioned it to a solid post and have had no further problems.

I have had "noise" come into the receiver when there's been helicopter activity across the canyon, but since there's no "Alarm zone 1" announcement it's easy to disregard. I think that would be an issue, though, if I ever tried to wire the contact closure into something like the home alarm system, as there would be no way to distinguish noise from a real alarm trigger.

 

[nathanmc]

I've had the Dakota MURS IR sensors set up for three months now, and once I got the mounting squared away, have yet to get a false alarm. The unit at the front gate started off on a part of the fence that wasn't very solid, and a good wind would let it move causing a trigger. I repositioned it to a solid post and have had no further problems.

I have had "noise" come into the receiver when there's been helicopter activity across the canyon, but since there's no "Alarm zone 1" announcement it's easy to disregard. I think that would be an issue, though, if I ever tried to wire the contact closure into something like the home alarm system, as there would be no way to distinguish noise from a real alarm trigger.

Hey, this may have changed but I am pretty sure the relay out ONLY triggers when activated by Channel 1 Sub 1, or something like that. So you should be able to still use that contact if you want and just adjust your operating channel.

 

[JRobyn]

Can these RF Units be purchased in a different Frequency Range, i.e. 145 MHz ?

Being a semi-active HAM I can setup a small mobile unit to receive the signal.
Just thinking.

Close; MURS frequencies are:

Channel Frequency Authorized bandwidth Channel Name
1 151.820 MHz 11.25 kHz N/A
2 151.880 MHz 11.25 kHz N/A
3 151.940 MHz 11.25 kHz N/A
4 154.570 MHz 20.00 kHz Blue Dot
5 154.600 MHz 20.00 kHz Green Dot

I can use a VHF scanner as a receiver.

- Jay