+1 for Dakota. We have the Dakota alert Murs system with magnetic probe. Very reliable and was able to modify to hook up to a larger battery since we have a high trafic area due to our business being located in the same place as our home.
Driveway alarm
- Thread starter OUGENO
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Well I must have gotten some lemons. 2 sensors had to be sent back for repair and today I am sending them again.
George2615
Super Member
I have dogs. Anything that walks or pulls into the driveway they hear and bark. Mine are good for about 200' if your drive is longer you may need one of the electronic devices previously posted.
Pirate
Gold Member
I have mine off a smaller riding mower type battery with a solar panel. works great.
tractchores
Veteran Member
We have a driveway gate, which is the best solution and pair it with a camera / call box. On the photo beam models (or a garage door opener safety beam) there can be some reliability issue. I have one of these on the driveway gate pillars as well and it triggers a LOT, heavy rain - fog - leaves etc. I did find that using no-fog spray on the lenses helps if you have big temperature fluctuations where the lenses would get fogged up.
RedNeckGeek
Super Member
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Another +1. I just installed two MURS Dakota IR detectors, one 1300' from the house, over a hill and behind trees, the other only 75' away. The base station sits on the kitchen counter inside a stucco house. No problems getting alarm messages from either sensor.
Only issue was with the far sensor. I mounted it on a loose section of fence, and it was triggering when the wind caused the fence to move. Relocated it to a steady post and no more false alarms. Now I suppose I should fix the fence!
Another endorsement for the MURS. I am using two ground loop sensors/transmitters (MAPS), and receivers at both our house and the in-laws. The farthest sensor/transmitter is about 1/2 mile away through thick woods and some terrain obstructions. It worked ok with the rubber duckie antenna at our house, but was marginal/intermittent at the in-laws. I hooked up a directional beam antenna mounted on a regular 10ft TV antenna mast at that one and now it works beautifully. Antenna was from Centerfire VHF Yagi / Beams | Centerfire Antenna - about $50 plus another $$50 for cable/adapter/mast/mount. Specifically tuned for MURS frequencies. I mounted the transmitter inside the existing gate operator control box and powered it with the gate operator 12vdc (automotive) battery with solar recharging. Just connected with two small alligator clips to the existing battery terminals per Dakota's recommendation. I DID need to slightly adjust (reduce) the sensor sensitivity on both. They would trigger on thunderstorms and heavy groundwater/rain flow over the sensor.
- Jay
- Jay
Does anyone know if the MURS are licensed for use here in Canada? I see Absolute Automation - Canadian Distributor of Alarm and Automation Products - selling them on their Canadian site, but I'm not sure if they're actually licensed for use in Canada.
kco
Veteran Member
I assumed they were, but your question led me to investigate and it looks like they are not officially approved.
MURS frequency - update deferred for usage in Canada (garmin Astro)
The government has been dithering about it for years and will do so a while longer.
Unless you're in a congested area I wouldn't worry about it. I have a Dakota Alert MURS passive infrared alarm that works well but has got traffic from other radios a few times in the last five years or so.
MURS frequency - update deferred for usage in Canada (garmin Astro)
The government has been dithering about it for years and will do so a while longer.
Unless you're in a congested area I wouldn't worry about it. I have a Dakota Alert MURS passive infrared alarm that works well but has got traffic from other radios a few times in the last five years or so.
kco
Veteran Member
You are probably right, but it happens so infrequently that I haven't bothered. Also, if I did switch I wonder if the same might occasionally happen there. The radio traffic has never lasted long. We live a couple of miles from the closest through road and I think it is just messages of trucks passing through to work sites.
The most traffic we got was a few years ago when an outfit was logging up past us. We would hear short conversations early in the morning, probably just setting details to start the day.
MinnesotaEric
Super Member
I have labradors. I may not know what they bark at, but they always bark at legitimate stuff.
And since they are labradors, they will love intruders to death, rather than bite, so no lawsuits and no alpha dog problems.
Xfaxman
Super Star Member
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My driveway alarm is half Lab, half Irish Wolfhound and very happy to see anyone drive in, but he always barks when they drive up the driveway. :thumbsup:
DennisArrow
Platinum Member
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I have been using the Dakota Alert 3000 series units, 5 now, for maybe 7 or 8 years. I pretty well have it figured out so that I seldom get falses. I have 2 areas that I need longer range to be able to transmit and recieve too. So, it's time to invest in a MURS system to get the range I need. With that in mind I have a simple question or two for you folks who have these units.
Again, I need 2 sensors/transmitters. Currently we have a receiver down at the barn for my wife to be able to hear the alarms especially when she is down there alone for hours at a time working with her critters. We also have a reciever at the house that alerts us when there day or night. I plan on getting a Dakota Alert MURS Wireless Motion Detection Kit, Base Station Radio for one of the sensors and receivers let's say at the house.
Now for the barn.........do I get another Base Station Radio or a Dakota Alert MURS Wireless Motion Detection Kit with a handheld radio for the barn???????
I understand, I think that the base station gets perhaps a bit better range that the handheld radio; but the handheld can be used on the tractor or out in the pastures.............HOW OFTEN DO I REALLY NEED THAT?????...................Anyway, the question for you guys is the handheld radio at least an equal in what it does to the base station or what do you see are the pluses and minus factors???????????.................Thanks for your help.....God bless...........Dennis
Again, I need 2 sensors/transmitters. Currently we have a receiver down at the barn for my wife to be able to hear the alarms especially when she is down there alone for hours at a time working with her critters. We also have a reciever at the house that alerts us when there day or night. I plan on getting a Dakota Alert MURS Wireless Motion Detection Kit, Base Station Radio for one of the sensors and receivers let's say at the house.
Now for the barn.........do I get another Base Station Radio or a Dakota Alert MURS Wireless Motion Detection Kit with a handheld radio for the barn???????
I understand, I think that the base station gets perhaps a bit better range that the handheld radio; but the handheld can be used on the tractor or out in the pastures.............HOW OFTEN DO I REALLY NEED THAT?????...................Anyway, the question for you guys is the handheld radio at least an equal in what it does to the base station or what do you see are the pluses and minus factors???????????.................Thanks for your help.....God bless...........Dennis
kco
Veteran Member
Dennis, I have a base station and a hand held receiver to go with my MURS passive infrared sensor. We got the handheld radio so we could hear alarms if we are in other parts of the house. I also have taken the handheld with me when I have been expecting a visitor or delivery and I will be working in the bush. But I don't think I have actually ever got an alarm while out in the bush. I'm sure it would work fine but I'm usually running the tractor or saw when I'm out there.
I don't notice any difference in the handheld and base station for receiving ability, but I have not tested it extensively. Another nice thing about having the handheld is that I can take it with me to walk by the sensor and test that it is working fine(as opposed to having someone listen at the base station in the house).
Rather than for security, we installed our system because we would sometimes miss neighbours who came to visit.
I don't notice any difference in the handheld and base station for receiving ability, but I have not tested it extensively. Another nice thing about having the handheld is that I can take it with me to walk by the sensor and test that it is working fine(as opposed to having someone listen at the base station in the house).
Rather than for security, we installed our system because we would sometimes miss neighbours who came to visit.
DennisArrow
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It didn't dawn on me that all the MURS base station and hand held units are is a radio reciever...........Finding a "radio" that gets those freqs will work.............thanks there Jay.............KCO yes that is a good use to be able to test the units and direction they are set to...........Right now I put my house telephone on speaker to put by my reciever unit and then call that house phone on my cell phone and I keep them on until I am through testing all of my transmitters...............Lets me hear the units but is a kinda pain to do............Good stuff THANKS.....now just gotta count my coins to get the base unit with alarm and the hand held with alarm..........
That will give me a total of 7 alarms set around the place....5 of the 3000 system and 2 of the MURs....more than enough to eliminate any false alarms in the middle of the night.......IT is definitely somebody that should not be there..........thanks guys...........God bless........Dennis
That will give me a total of 7 alarms set around the place....5 of the 3000 system and 2 of the MURs....more than enough to eliminate any false alarms in the middle of the night.......IT is definitely somebody that should not be there..........thanks guys...........God bless........Dennis
I don't remember if I've posted on here or not, but be advised that you can get WAY better range out of the MURS transmitters with a more substantial antenna. I used this one; VHF Yagi / Beams | Centerfire Antenna Got the MURS-frequency-specific model. I'm getting over a 1/2 mile through thick woods and rugged terrain with no problem.
- Jay
- Jay
Awesome, although I'm finding I'm getting a mile and a half out of mine out of the box. I'll need to try one of these and see how far it can really go!
