Wireless driveway alarms - Not motion based

[JethroB]

Does anyone have experience or advice on a driveway alarm system that is NOT motion sensor based? I did not find any recent threads on the subject. My drive entrance is about 150 feet from the house with a clear line of sight. No power is available at the entrance. I have been looking at a Mighty Mule model for about $65 on Amazon. It has a metal detector/sensor that is buried next to the driveway. Thanks.

Mighty Mule Wireless Driveway Alarm (FM231)

 

[Xfaxman]

Check Dakota Alert. This is the one that we have had for almost two years. No false alarms with the hose: DCRH-4 Dakota Alert

This looks like a good system: Solar Powered Break Beam Dakota Alert

 

[project_X]

We have a mighty mule, about 250 feet from the house and it works very well.

 

[bcp]

Have both Mighty Mule and Dakota Alert. MM alert sound is mild. DA sound is a choice, and is adjustable to much louder. DA can have relays attached to turn on other things like lights or outside bell or horn.

Both have had false alarms, maybe 1 or 2 a year.

Bruce

 

[mikester]

I have the mule and recently added an IR motion sensor alarm. Currently the Mule is catching vehicles about 80% of the time and seems to be more weather dependant now. Oddly it works better when there is some ground moisture and stopped working altogether in the hot dry spell we had this summer. It still gets a lot of false positives from passing commercial trucks, farm equipment, and school buses. The sensor is about 50 feet from the road shoulder.

The IR sensor so far gets false triggers by deer and falling leaves.

The Mule sensor and receiver are about 300 feet apart. The IR sensor and receiver are over 1,000 feet apart.

Currently I get more false positives due to road traffic from the mule. It also misses vehicles entering my driveway. The IR sensor so far has detected vehicles more reliably. Ive only had the IR sensor about a month now and it supposedly uses a solar cell to recharge the built in batteries. The mule batteries are AA and are good for 3-4 months.

 

[KennyG]

I tried a couple of motion sensors and they did not work well. I now have the Mighty Mule and it has been working very well for several years.

 

[tomplum]

The Dakota Alert that senses metal rather than motion was generally a good choice. We did have issues after a couple of years, got frustrated with no help from them and just ordered the new model. That one was a total bust as it didn't have the features of the old one IE add an alarm light or a do a vehicle count as an example. And a PITA to change the chime. So I took a chance and bought a new 100$ transmitter for the old one and it has been fine ever since. Dunno if they still make the 2500 series or not.

 

[JethroB]

Thanks everyone for the responses. Being frugal (cheap) I just ordered the Mighty Mule. The low volume of the alert sound I have seen in other reviews does concern me.

 

[Doofy]

Thanks everyone for the responses. Being frugal (cheap) I just ordered the Mighty Mule. The low volume of the alert sound I have seen in other reviews does concern me.

Our Mighty Mule has good volume. We also have a motion sensor for double coverage. Our motion sensors point all 4 directions and have distinctive beeps so we immediately know which one was triggered. No false alarms. If one beeps then something or someone set it off.

 

[skipmarcy]

Another one here using the MM, for about 10 years now. Is about 250' from our metal sided/roofed house and works very well. Only 2 or 3 false alarms a year (sunspots maybe ?). Batteries last amazingly long in ours, as much as 2 years at times. We think the alarm is plenty loud enough in our 1700 sf house.