"Driveway sensors"

[BobCat45]

I'm not pushing the alarm with magnetic sensor as "the only way to go", but the OP specifically asked about driveways:

In another thread here, somebody mentioned "driveway sensors" that trigger some kind of alarm if somebody pulls into your driveway. Are these prone to false alarms? Say, if a stray dog walks across it, something of that nature.

 

[silvrjeepr]

There's a ton of driveway sensors out there from cheap motion detectors to varying photo beams all the way to buried wire loops. Wire loops being the least false prone, and the hardest to deal with. You see them a lot in gated security areas. Like anything else, you usually get what you pay for. They can be handy to know is someone is pullin into your driveway though.

 

[Sierra280]

I'm in agreement with the dog people. My hound dog is a great alarm, even starts howling/barking when my girlfriend pulls into the driveway. Plus he kills the cottontails that go after my garden, free bonus.

 

[BuckRub]

last dog just died of old age but he was so smart, he would bark about 1/2 miles before I even seen vehicle. If the vehicle lived o the road he'd never bark. You drive in yard and I not tell him its OK- Hes fixing to have your leg in his mouth. I like dogs too, Burgulars dont know how many you got but they really dont want nothing to do with a dog, plus they alet everyone around, work 24/7, and they become part of the family- They love you more than any friend will.

 

[longlane]

+++Retread7 and Dakota Alert

We've been using Dakota Alert products for decades. They are the best.

If you're serious about it, go with quality. Harbor Freight's will go off due to direct sunlight, little lizards, and birds. Good only in a pinch.

No dog, not my catahoula or my walkers or the mutt can be as reliable as the dakota alert. spend the money for a li-ion battery, and you'll almost forget about it. plug the receiver into an uninterruptable power supply and you're set for power outages too.

 

[snakyjake]

This is the one I'd get...

Safety Technology International STI-34100 Solar Powered Wireless Driveway Monitor

Jake

 

[southjk]

This is the one I'd get...

Unfortunately that one can be defeated simply by walking up the driveway.

Movement of any large metallic (iron or steel) object close to the driveway sensor will transmit a signal to the receiver, causing the receiver to chime and flash. People, animals and shadows will not trigger the driveway sensor.

I want to know if someone is trying to sneak up to my house and it's unlikely they would drive up.

 

[Garycw]

Unfortunately that one can be defeated simply by walking up the driveway.



I want to know if someone is trying to sneak up to my house and it's unlikely they would drive up.

Check out the Optex wireless 2000. Believe me, I've went through 1/2 doz brands and these are hands down the best for detection and range. Everything from photoelectric beams with trans/ receiver aligned , microwaves and pir ( passive infrared). If you want to just detect a car coming up your driveway or activate a gate to exit , the buried magnetic sensor works great, but the optex will do that too.

 

[jrothWA]

For my homes, I have used the regular motion sensors,

from the hardware store. When I set the sensitivity, I used my dog (Springer Spaniel) to run through to avoid the small animals.

These sensors can be used to function as a alarm sensor and not turn on a light.

Also locate any lights as silhouette the situation but NOT illuminate yourself.

 

[hogdogs]

My dad's driveway has a "birdhouse" with a telescopic aerial antennae out of the roof... It chimes at 2 or 3 locations on the property... Main house, my dad's place and the shop building...

They have it to clear most small critters but some yotes and the deer trigger it...

Brent

 

[Yankee Traveler]

The OP asked about driveway sensors...somebody trying to sneak up on your house on foot is probably not going to use the driveway.

But, redundancy is optimum.

Magnetic sensor buried 20'-25' from the road means it will not go off if someone is using your driveway to turn around.

Other key entrance points to your property covered with motion sensor alarms with different chimes, and the perimeter of your home with motion/heat sensor activated lights. And a BFD.

 

[snakyjake]

I'd use video surveillance with software zoning and customization. Not only will you detect someone coming up your driveway/house, you'll have information you can provide to the police (license plate, vehicle details, suspects).

 

[Boomer58cal]

I have 7 motion sensors on my 40 acre property. The hardest part was finding where to set them up so they wouldn't be set off by animals. I have them set so that nothing under about a foot and a half will set them off, but where you'd have to climb over a fence to get past them. It take some time to set them up but once there set they work great.

In fact I've been able to learn the patterns of the deer on my property with them

Boomer

 

[craZivn]

I agree with Jake, cameras are cheap enough now that anyone who can afford to own property should be able to set a few up. They won't give you an alert when something crosses a beam, but they're an excellent complement to a motion-sensor alarm.

Ivan

 

[Garycw]

I'd use video surveillance with software zoning and customization. Not only will you detect someone coming up your driveway/house, you'll have information you can provide to the police (license plate, vehicle details, suspects).

In addition to the Optex sensors we've installed the everfocus two TB 16 ch dvr.and ups. To view when home. It can also set up video motion grids that when activated speeds up the recording on that channel as well as sending email with video clip. From that point you can rewind remotely from pc and smart phone or burn onto disc with integrated burner. Cameras are 900 line res. day/night cameras. If you install yourself you can keep it under $5k