Driveway System Alert- Home Alarm Systems- Vehicle Notification System
Driveway Alert - Home Alarms Systems
What are driveway alert, home alarms systems and do I need one? The question I can answer only by giving an example of why I felt the need to install a wired driveway vehicle alert system in my driveway many years ago in 1998.
This driveway alert system is still functioning today and has never had to be replaced or maintained. The system was not installed for protection rather it was used as a means of providing members of the household awareness that a vehicle such as a car, motorcycle, tractor,bicycle or lawnmower had just entered the driveway from the main road.
For many years we lived in a populated area where the driveway length was not more than 3 car lengths long and with a quick view from the window we were able to see a car that had recently pulled into the driveway especially if the curtains were open.
Well this all changed when we purchased a house with a 265 ft long driveway and the house was situated so that unless you saw someone drive into the driveway they could actually pull in and sit close to the house undetected until they decided to knock at the door.
This became an uneasy feeling when one spring evening shortly after we started to settle in for the night to watch some TV. The storm door was unlocked with no curtains when all of a sudden in the dark of the night appeared a man. A solicitor and my first thought was what is this guy doing late at night at my back door, who is he and what does he want. At first the hair stood up on the back of my neck.
My next thought was how long was this guy outside and how long has he been in my driveway. His car was parked outside close to the house where we never heard him drive up or saw the headlights. Right then and there I decided this isn't going to happen again not on my watch of providing security for my family and began my search for a driveway alert alarm system.
Winland Electronics
Wired Driveway Alert With Probe
The driveway alarm system I prefer is the Winland Vehicle alert system. Reason being that the probe with cable comes in various lengths and can be spliced with more cable if extra length is needed to reach the point in the driveway where the alarm needs to be activated. The cable and probe is buried about 6-8 inches in the ground.
This can be done easily by laying out the cables path and using a shovel to make a small trench for the cable to fit into. This conceals the cable and the probe near the driveway so anyone entering doesn't even notice that they have been detected as entering the driveway.
When a vehicle or even a bicycle enters the driveway a short beep can be heard at the main console located in the house.
The length of the beep and be adjusted for short or long. What the beep does is it alerts anyone in the house that there are visitors are approaching the house by means of the driveway and either expect a knock at the door or greet them in the driveway before they come to the house.
At first some will be amazed that you are aware that they have arrived with such a long driveway before reaching the residence.
Wireless Driveway Alert
There are also wireless versions of the driveway alert systems but I am not much of a fan of this type for the simple reason of false signals. Lightning and other motions in the darkness seem to set these off.
From pasts experiences that relatives of mine have had with the wireless systems instead of using the wired probe system have found the shadows from the moonlight and trees or small animals will have a tendency to set the alarm off and generally this happens in the middle of the night although dogs during the day and sunlight shadows have been known to trigger the alarm.
With better technology these types of devices will surely be the pick of the future. If I was to recommend a wireless device I would have to say the Mighty Mule wireless driveway alert system or the Dakota wireless driveway alarm.
Driveway Alarm Is It For You
Considering if a driveway alert driveway alarm system is for you can be answered by just asking yourself the questions, am I bothered by visitors approaching my residents or business without notice.
Do visitors knock at my door after travelling down my long driveway without knowing exactly how long they actually have been on my property. Would I feel more comfortable knowing that if a vehicle enters my property line through the driveway while me or my family is home would I like to have a sense that we know there is someone approaching the abode.
If you can answer yes to any of these questions then probably a driveway vehicle alert system is for you.
