Once you decide you have a use for a driveway alarm, the next step is choosing the right one for your application. Fortunately, choosing driveway alarms is a relatively easy as long as you know how you want to use them.
The first choice you have to make in choosing a driveway alert device is to choose between wired and wireless. As the name implies, a wired driveway monitor has a wire that runs from the outside sensing unit, all the way back to the monitor device inside.
If you're building a new house or business, this wire can often be installed without a lot of expense. But if you're installing the driveway monitor in an existing building, then the cost of burying the cable (in a conduit if you have a gopher or mole problem), fishing it into the building, and cutting a trench in your driveway can be cost prohibitive.
This is where a wireless driveway alert device is a better choice. Depending on the type of alarm you choose, you may still have a wire running from the sensor to a transmitter unit, but this is a relatively short piece of cable.
If you choose a wireless driveway monitor, you just need to ensure the unit you choose has a long enough range to reach back to your building from the area you want to monitor. You can get units that will reach up to a couple of miles away. When looking at the various wireless driveway alert systems available, keep in mind that the distance quoted by manufacturers is most likely the maximum range you would get if there were no obstructions between the outside sensor and the in-building monitor. Your actual range will likely be less so be sure to factor that in.
Once you decide between wired or wireless, then the type of monitor you need is the next choice. Do you want to be alerted by approaching vehicles, people, or both? If you just want to be notified of vehicles, then a metal-detecting probe buried in your driveway may be the best choice. You can still go wireless between the transmitter and the in-building monitor, but you will still need to bury some wire between the sensor probe and the transmitter.
The benefits of using the metal-detecting probe is that you won't experience false signals from deer or other large animals that may trip a motion detecting driveway alarm sensor. These probes will detect large metallic object such as cars, but they won't detect a passing animal or people walking on your driveway.
If you decide you want to detect people too, then the motion-sensing driveway sensors are the only way to go. The good thing is that you can place these units high enough that they won't be triggered by small animals.
The next thing to consider is the features you want. Most systems have the basics that include a relay you can use to open a gate or activate external lights, sirens, or even video cameras. But here are a few of the more unique features that may interest you:
Intercom Feature: This feature lets you listen in to the motion sensor once it is triggered. You can even talk back to whoever triggered the sensor. This is a great feature if you are using the driveway alert system to hear who is at a gate and then decide if you want to open the gate remotely.
Handheld Monitor: If you are roaming around your property and want to be notified that someone triggered the driveway monitor, you can get handheld radios that will announce this. This could be a great feature for security guards.
Spoken Alert Signal: If you have more than one driveway or coverage area, you can get systems that will give a verbal alert signal when a motion sensor is triggered. You'll hear, "Alert Zone One" or "Alert Zone Two" for up to four monitored zones.
Birdhouse Camouflage: One particular model even has a birdhouse kit that surrounds the motion sensor so people entering your driveway will be unaware that it is there.
So the driveway alarm you choose depends on whether you want to run wire or not, the distance between the sensor and the monitor, and the features you need. Once you choose a driveway alarm and have it installed, you'll experience the peace of mind knowing that you have another layer of protection for your home or business.
