In our previous post we discussed Network Cameras for Home Security, but what if it’s dark, or you’re asleep and someone is creeping up to your house?
If I was camping in the woods, I’d rig up some fishing line and my cooking gear into a trip wire alarm. For home security this doesn’t translate well, who really wants fishing line running around their yard and pots and pans in their yard?
A simple and economic answer an electronic tripwire, A driveway alarm.
If you aren’t familiar with a driveway alarm, it’s a tiny box that causes a remote chime to sound when something breaks it’s beam.
Benefits to these driveway alarms:
- inexpensive
- Works up to 200 feet away
- Wireless installation
- Wireless infrared alert system
- Weather resistant design
- Receiver chimes when sensor is crossed
One caveat to remember, if you want to use multiples, get units from different vendors. Otherwise you’ll end up with a single sound for all your regions, triggering all chimes (same frequencies) and will leave you unsure if the alert originated from the front of your property, the sides or or to the rear of your property. This can be mitigated if the units have multiple frequencies and multiple alert chimes.
In direct sunlight these are unpredictable. Also make sure to put them high enough that dogs, cats or woodland creatures don’t set them off and avoid aiming these units towards vegetation that can be moved by wind.
For an economic electronic tripwire, find yourself some driveway alarms, but make sure to read the reviews from other buyers to ensure that it will provide the quality you need and serve your purposes!
How about a little audio to go along with it:
http://www.prepper-resources.com/outdoor-surveillance-with-condenser-microphones/
check out Dakota alerts. basically a murs radio that tells you there is movement. i also read about a diy solar powered motion sensor. the guy took a cheep motion sensor and wired in a red led in place of the buzzer. wired in two solar cells from a solar yard light. he put them around with the led pointed at the house( he also used a black painted straw as a light shield ) my thinking is that the Dakota alerts would alert you to a general area and the leds would pinpoint the threat.
We have the Bunker Hill unit featured on this page. The only drawback is it burns through batteries quickly, especially in cold weather.
Batteries: They do have a power adapter port, and you can also use rechargeables. My biggest concern with them is long-term durability. How is it?