Hidden Wireless Driveway Alarm

March 21, 2008 12:06 AM

How can I secretly and wirelessly be informed of cars pulling into my driveway?

I need some solution that will allow me to know if a car pulls into my driveway. The detection unit should be very small, preferably hidden in the grass angled up or something similar because there is no cover for at least 15 feet either side of the driveway - not even a mailbox (it's across the street). So the unit would have to be small, or if it's long-range then I could hide it in a bush next to the driveway (and then it could be large).

It also needs to be wireless, a reasonable distance (definitely not line-of-sight).

The receiver needs only to make a sound of some kind when a car is detected. I will be inside with the receiver, and the detector outside, and when a car pulls in I want to be informed.

Oh, also, the detector should probably be battery powered, but please let me know of any that require regular power too. It can be managed, but battery power would be nice.

It would be great if it's cheap too, but I know they are usually expensive so I'm ready to spend as much as it costs.

Thanks!
-Ricket

posted by Ricket to technology (13 comments total)

I'm thinking a webcam and some motion detection software would probably be your easiest option.
posted by flabdablet at 12:44 AM on March 21

SmartHome carried the Reporter Wireless Driveway Alert System for $70. Might be able to find it cheaper using froogle or amazon.

Wireless with over a 1000ft range. Sensor unit lasts about 2 years on 4 AA batteries.
posted by lockle at 1:04 AM on March 21

I did a quick search. It looks like the Dakota Alert WPA-3000 ($259 here and here) meets your criteria. The detection unit is completely hidden, since it is buried underground near the driveway. An underground cord runs from the buried detector to a small weatherproof transmitter that can be hidden up to 50' from the detector (ideally a couple of feet off the ground). The transmitter has a range of 3000 feet, is powered by a 9V battery, and has a 6 mo. battery life. The receiver has a programmable alert sound and supports up to four transmitters (additional vehicle sensors or passive infrared motion detectors).
posted by RichardP at 1:05 AM on March 21

Am I allowed to ask what it's for? I'm just deathly curious. I've only ever heard of people wanting this in the States. Is it a cultural thing? Sorry if it's rude to ask.
posted by taff at 3:44 AM on March 21

taff:

to know when someone drives into your driveway

not rocket science here!

I have a CCTV set up outside my home to view my drive, so that I can see if guests have arrived without going outside. at other friends homes in the past, which had driveways that were several hundred feet long, it was always nice to be alerted to the fact that a car was coming up the drive
posted by Salvatorparadise at 5:27 AM on March 21

Might be easier/cheaper to rig up one of those optical break things that I've seen in garage doors that stop the automatic door if there is something in the way. Mount it in a couple of those phony rocks that people use to hide speakers in.
posted by gjc at 6:40 AM on March 21

I was at a gas station over the weekend in Landover, MD that has one of those rubber covered ropes that is attached to a bell that rings once when a car passes over it. I think it is probably done on a compression system. Incredibly, I looked it up and found this low tech wonder, called Driveway Hose.
posted by parmanparman at 6:54 AM on March 21

The RatShack version appears a bit less conspicuous, and you can get it without having to have it shipped to you.

Am I allowed to ask what it's for? There could be many reasons, such as extra time to turn off the TV and get out one's homework when a parent arrives home etc.
posted by caddis at 8:08 AM on March 21

You don't have any cover, but you could provide it pretty easily and inconspicuously (if your driveway is fairly long). It is not uncommon for people to put reflectors on posts at the entrance to their driveway. You could perhaps put in some reflectors and use the posts to mount your monitoring system.
posted by Doohickie at 8:21 AM on March 21

or those ubiquitous solar powered path lights
posted by caddis at 8:29 AM on March 21

Dog
posted by Rafaelloello at 1:15 PM on March 21

I use EvoCam with a sensor, and have a sexy British woman's voice say "Someone is approaching the castle, master" whenever it detects movement. Works for me.

But I would suggest looking in those gadget catalogs that always end up in your mailbox for wireless alert options such as those mentioned above.
posted by terrapin at 9:49 AM on March 22

I have the Reporter linked by lockle. The angle it covers is pretty defined, so I don't know how well it would handle being low down to the ground and aimed up rather than horizontally. Mine is mounted to a fence about 3' high and also picks up on pedestrians and dogs. I think one on the ground would be more susceptible to non-car interruptions (if that matters to you). As for the actual trigger and warning, it's very dependable. In fact, I know if there are two warning buzzes that a car has pulled in to do a k-turn, but if there's only one, the car has continued up into the driveway. I don't like the buzzer sound itself--it's effective but I'm planning to drop in my own ring tone, so to speak.
posted by cocoagirl at 11:37 AM on March 24