Intruders or Visitors?!
By sizwizz on
Lately, my whole life has been wracked with paranoia!Since December of '07 when our home was burglarized, I have done nothing but think about ways to protect my home, possessions, and identity.It's been crazy!Or maybe I really meant to say, it's making ME crazy!
Not only have I found places to hide my valuables when I'm not home, I've alarmed my doors and windows, and now I have a wireless sensor to alert me to any car, person, or animal that comes down my driveway!During the day, I can see out to the end of my driveway, but at night, because we don't have street lights, it's pitch black out there!My dogs will bark when they hear something, but many times they bark at "nothing"!This makes me constantly run to the front windows to see if anyone is out there.I live in the "toolies" so when the dogs bark I get a little freaked out!
Now I have the "Driveway Informer"!It consists of a sensor/transmitter and a receiver.The sensor is a weatherproof piece that runs on a 9 volt alkaline battery, and is mounted on a post outside.The receiver is the part that goes inside the house, and will make a "ding-dong" sound when something passes by the sensor.This unit has a range of 1500 to 3000 ft.There are some dip switches that need to be set up between the two pieces, but it's not difficult to do.Also, there is an option to change the sound on the receiver, but honestly, they all sound pretty much alike.The volume can also be controlled.According to the manual, (which is a sheet of paper), the receiver has a set of 12VDC output terminals for additional buzzers, strobe lights, sirens, (sirens???), or other 12VDC devices.Huh?To each his own, I guess.
Maybe it's a false sense of security, but I feel safer knowing for sure when someone, or something is heading down my driveway.I know there are waaay less expensive wireless sensors and receivers, but sometimes you get what you pay for, and I didn't want to take any chances on my safety.
My daughter has one of these on her driveway. Her driveway is off to the side of the house. Someone could be at her front door before she could see that there was a car in the driveway. This has helped her be on the alert for someone coming to the front door. They did have some issues setting up the sensitivity, but now they have it and it works great. I still think their dog knows before the sensor goes off!
I can so relate to your "paranoia. Having been a victim of crime, my family now is always aware of the least change in our environment. I saw these online and was impressed, but still skeptical. But you've pretty well convinced me this will work on my long dark driveway. Like you, I'd rather know for certain when someone is out there.
I'm so very sorry that your house was burglarized & I don't think this is a "false sense of security" for you-if anything, I bet this gives you some peace of mind....long, dark driveways give me the heebie geebies!
I love the idea of this product, however if I ever heard the tone it puts out I am quite sure I would be freaked out. Ithik me and my local police agancy would become very good friends!
What a horrible thing to go through. This certainly sounds like a great product.
You can never be too careful these days. I think you made the wise choice. This does sound like a good system. Thanks for sharing the detailed information.
I don't think you're crazy! Sounds like a great thing to have. Glad to hear you have dogs too:0) I really surprised the people came INTO your home with dogs there.
I don't blame you at all after my house was burglarized I would want to take every precaution to make myself feel safe. I am glad that you found something that makes you feel a little safer.
This sounds like a great item to have. We have dog alarms too but many times they go off like yours and we never see anything. Our driveway is to the side of our house so we do not have a clear view of it from our front windows and have to go to the garage and look out the windows there to see if anyone is in our driveway or just walking down the street. Thank you for the info, this might be worth looking at.