Wireless Driveway Alarms: What Is It and Why It’s Important!

Checking your premises and protecting your property 24/7 is no easy task. Most especially so if you are home alone. Just imagine, you are relaxing in your home when suddenly, a strange car appears in your driveway late at night. Well, that can be a frightening scenario that most of us wouldn’t want to experience. So, what can we do to avoid this kind of situation? The answer: wireless driveway alarms.

What Is A Wireless Driveway Alarm?

Wireless driveway alarms serve as your first line of defense in your home security system. It consists of two main parts: a sensor and a receiver. You set up your sensor near your driveway, and then you set up the receiver in your house where you can easily see and hear it. When the driveway alarm sensor is triggered, the receiver gets the code wirelessly. Driveway alarm systems can be used as a standalone or as part of a larger security system. For multi-system set-up, a pattern of lights or beeps is triggered by the receiver code, letting you know which driveway alarm has been triggered. This provides reassurance and peace of mind for people who live in homes with long driveways.

There is only one downside to these wireless driveway alarms. They are prone to false alarms. Animals like squirrels or larger animals can trigger the sensors accidentally, making you nervous and jumpy for no reason at all.

Things to Know When Shopping For Wireless Driveway Alarms

If you want to install a wireless driveway alarm system in your home, there are two things you need to know:

1. the type of sensors you need, and
2. where you will be installing your sensors

Some driveway alarm systems can support multiple types of sensors.  Meaning, motion sensors for your doors, windows, garage door, and water leak can all be installed and supported by a single wireless driveway alarm system. Not all driveway alarm systems have this capability though. So before buying your alarm system, ask about all the features of the product first.

Where you will be installing your driveway alarm system depends on the type of sensor technology you need. For example, some sensors are designed to detect heat while other sensors are built to detect motion. For sensors that are built to detect motion, it is not advisable that this type of sensor is installed near a tree in a windy location because the waving tree branches can trigger false alarms. A passive infrared (PIR) sensor may give you fewer false positives. 

Features and Add-Ons to Look For When Shopping for a Wireless Driveway Alarms 

Another thing you need to do before purchasing a driveway alarm system for your home is to know the features that make for a great wireless driveway alarm system.

1. Expandability

Many driveway alarm systems sold in the market today can be expanded to integrate a number of sensors and receivers. Checking how many of each type of unit you are allowed to add in your system should be your first priority before purchasing your very own driveway alarm system. It is always wise to ask the store manager about the system’s features before buying the product.

2. Power Options

Knowing the power options of your driveway alarm system is very important. What type of battery do you need to power your sensors? Can you use rechargeable batteries or only single-use batteries? If it’s rechargeable, how long does a single full charge battery last? These are just some of the questions you need to know before purchasing your driveway alarm system unit. Also, check if any of the sensors offer alternative power options like solar.

3. Weatherproofing

Weatherproofing is one of the most important features of a driveway alarm system that you need to know. Since your system will be located and installed outdoors, it will be subjected to wind, rain, snow, dust, and extreme temperature change. So checking the weatherproofing capabilities of the unit you want to buy is a must.

4. Different Operation Modes

To keep your wireless driveway alarm system from continuously beeping most especially if you are working in your driveway, you should read the unit’s manual for the different audio modes of the system, such as alert, alarm, and mute.

5. Status Check

A system that does not have status check capabilities is not a good driveway alarm system unit. It will be impossible to know whether your connection is still working or the signal has been lost if you can’t check the status remotely. Status check will also help you know if the batteries of your systems are running low. You can also easily monitor the health of your system’s sensor and receiver by using status check.

6. Range

The range of your driveway alarm system will depend on how large your property is. The size of your property will be your basis on what type of driveway alarm system you will need and it will also help you determine how many zones you will have to set up. Figure out where you will set up sensors and receivers, and then measure the longest distance to figure out how many yards you need. Many systems can accommodate up to half a mile.

5 Wireless Driveway Alarms to Checkout

The following are five of the best alarm systems in the market today based on customer reception and we suggest you start your search with these.

• The Guardline Wireless Driveway Alarm
• The Chamberlain Wireless Driveway Alarm
• The Dakota Alert Beam Sensor
• The Rodann Electronics Wireless Driveway Alarm System
• The Safety Technology Wireless Driveway Alarm

Final Word

Wireless driveway alarms are the perfect tool if you are looking for a way to monitor your driveway and the outside of your house. Even when you are away from home, you can still keep an eye on your property with these systems. Do take your time when looking at alarm systems though. There are a lot of available options out there so make sure you find a system that fits your specific home security needs and suits your budget.

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