Does your house have a long driveway, which is hard for you to keep an eye on, especially during nights? Well, you don’t have to disturb your sleep to see who’s in your driveway when you have a driveway alarm to do that job. A driveway alarm system consists of a sensor, transmitter, and receiver, so you can place the system at the start of the driveway with the receiver kept inside the house. The range of the sensor and transmission distance depends upon the system you choose. To find the most efficient driveway alarm system, you should check out consumer reports driveway alarms reviews in the section below.
Reviews Of 5 Best Driveway Alarms
1. eMACROS 1/2 Mile Long Range Solar Wireless Driveway Alarm
If you are looking for a driveway alarm, then you are less likely to find one that is better than eMACROS Long Range Solar Wireless Driveway Alarm. This device operates on solar power, so you don’t have to worry about replacing batteries or power backup because it features a rechargeable Li-ion battery, which will be charged by the solar panel incorporated into the device.
The alarm system is fully flexible, thus letting you add up to 4 sensors and unlimited receivers. As a result, you can cover the entire perimeter efficiently. The alarm system detects movement from cars, humans, and large animals. The device features 4 fun and unique chimes, so you can choose the tune that you like the most. You can match different chimes with different sensors around your premises to differentiate the motion detected by the driveway alarm.
The range of this alarm system is ½ mile, thanks to the cutting-edge technology and brilliant manufacturing techniques. The range has been tested in real-world settings with all the common obstructions. The device is made with industrial-grade PVC housing, which along with a water-resistant, rubberized seal makes the device long-lasting. Another notable feature of the device is its accuracy, so you can’t expect very few false alarms in this alarm system.
2. H HOSMART 1/2 Mile Hosmart Rechargeable Driveway Alarm
Hosmart is a reputed name in the field of outdoor alarm and alert systems with more than 30 years of experience in developing world-class products. The product in discussion will include an AC-powered or battery-operated base receiver and a sensor. The device is made with industrial-grade PVC housing, which along with a water-resistant, rubberized seal makes the device long-lasting.
You can set up this alarm system within minutes, thanks to a quick start guide. The system comes with a single sensor, but you can expand it up to 4 sensors and unlimited receivers to have complete coverage of your perimeter. You can match different chimes with different sensors around your premises to differentiate the motion detected by the driveway alarm. The range of this alarm system is ½ mile, thanks to the advanced technology and brilliant manufacturing techniques.
The range has been tested in real-world settings with all the common obstructions. It can also work smoothly in adverse weather conditions. The alarm system detects movement from cars, humans, and large animals. The device features 4 fun and unique chimes, so you can choose the tune that you like the most. Another notable feature of the device is its accuracy, so you can’t expect very few false alarms in this alarm system. The company provides a 2-year warranty on parts and a 90-day risk-free offer on the product, which shows how reliable the product is.
3. Mighty Mule Wireless Driveway Alarm (FM231)
Install this driveway alarm to get instant alerts when someone enters or leaves your driveway. The alarm system features an electromagnetic sensor that detects vehicles. There won’t be any false alarms due to children, animals, etc. You can install the sensor wand in the ground, next to the driveway. It detects the movement of a large metallic object within a 3-12 feet radius of the wand. If your driveway is damaged and makes lots of noise, then you should use an asphalt driveway sealer to repair it because, at times, a broken driveway can raise false alarms.
As the vehicle passes by the sensor, the outdoor transmitter communicates wirelessly to the internal base station at a distance of up to 400 feet. You will hear a pleasant chime as well. The alarm system is ideal for home and commercial use. When the power goes down on the indoor receiver and transmitter, you will be able to see it, courtesy of a low battery indicator. You will have to buy 2 AA batteries to get the device up and running.
4. Guardline ¼ Mile Long Range Wireless Driveway Alarm
Guardline brings to you a reliable driveway alarm, which allows you to feel safe around your home. The alarm system is weatherproof, so you can use it throughout the year. The device is sensitive to heat and motion during the day and night, so you don’t have to worry about anything. The alarm system is a plug-and-play device, which installs easily without taking the help of a technician.
The package includes a motion sensor and receiver, which have a wireless range of up to ¼-mile for comprehensive coverage of your property. The motion detector alarm system runs at 915 MHz, so if you wish to expand the alarm system, then keep in mind to buy the same frequency as the existing set. You can easily configure the motion detectors with a motion alarm sensor add-on or extra receivers.
5. HTZSAFE 1/2Mile Solar Driveway Alarm System
Have a look at this outdoor solar motion sensor that is equipped with a rechargeable battery, which charges by the top-mounted built-in solar panel even on cloudy, rainy, or snow days. In case, it snows heavily in your area, then you should buy a snow blower to clear snow from your driveway. Coming back to the driveway alarm system, then it features a charge jack at the back of the sensor that charges using the USB charging cord included in the package or the extra solar panel provided by the company.
However, you should only use it if the sensor is installed indoors or in an area with hardly any sunlight. As far as transmission range is concerned, then that is around ½-mile, which depends on the type of terrain the device is installed. This driveway alarm is ideal if you have a large perimeter or property to monitor. The device incorporates cutting-edge wireless transmission technology to avoid interference of wireless signals coming from other devices. The solar sensor can detect moving vehicles or people from a range of 25 to 70 feet.
Moreover, the unit features an improved motion detection chip and detection angle to reduce false alarms from animals, dead leaves, and weather changes. This is a plug-and-play device, so you don’t have to spend hours installing the product. Just turn on the solar sensor and plug the receiver into an outlet. The company provides a 2-year warranty on the product against all manufacturing defects. In the package, you will receive 2 solar motion sensors and a plug-in receiver with the ability to expand up to 4 sensors and unlimited receivers for complete coverage of the property.
Benefits Of Driveway Alarms
If you have a long driveway, then you should have a driveway alarm to ensure the safety of your property and vehicles. Besides letting you know who enters your driveway, here are some other benefits of having a driveway alarm:
- Prevents the entry of burglars and other intruders into your property.
- Seamless syncing with home motion sensors installed in your house, letting you have a holistic view of the security on your property.
- Helping increase the resale value of your house.
- Quick and easy installation.
- Can be used in several other places besides the driveway, such as a garage, pool area, and backyard.
How To Choose The Best Driveway Alarm?
No matter if you have a car or bike parked in your garage, you will do whatever it takes to ensure its safety at all times. While you can consider installing CCTV cameras, but you should have something special like driveway alarms installed to protect your vehicles.
Choosing the right driveway alarm can be tricky, so to help you out with the same, I have laid out some parameters, which you should keep in mind while buying the right driveway alarm.
Wireless Range
Since you will install multiple motion sensors throughout the driveway, they all rely on wireless sensors. This scenario seems viable only when the sensors that you wish to install on the driveway have a sufficient wireless range. You can easily find driveway alarms that have wireless range ratings of ½- and ¼-inch, which is enough for most users.
Number of Sensors
As mentioned above, driveway alarms rely on several wireless motion sensors, so when you install them throughout the driveway, you can ensure the safety of the whole area in terms of any kind of motion. So, the effectiveness of a driveway alarm depends on the number of sensors installed on the premises.
Sensor Coverage
Even if you have installed multiple sensors on the driveway, they won’t be effective enough if they don’t have enough power to provide a high sensor coverage. Normally, the sensor coverage ratings are between 20 and 50 feet, so make sure you have chosen the one with 50 feet rating because that will have large coverage.
Alarm Options
Every alarm system comes with an alarm unit other than sensors, so you should check the same. Check the controls and alarm functions provided by the alarm unit. Look for a unit that has multiple chimes along with sensor sensitivity settings. You will also find some alarm systems with doorbell functions for increased practicality.
Power Source
After choosing a driveway alarm with multiple sensors, the next step is to have them installed in hard-to-reach areas, but before you do so, make sure there are power sources available in proximity. Alarm systems that run on batteries or solar energy can easily be run without worrying about the power source, but those which run on AC power will require a power source nearby the installation site.
Warranty
Once you install the driveway alarm system, you would expect it to stay up and running for years to come. To ensure the same, you should check the warranty included with the driveway alarm. Usually, these devices come with a 1 or 2-year long warranty, but if you can find a product with a lifetime warranty, then that’ll be great.
Wrapping Up
Driveway alarms are very useful for those living in rural areas or on secluded properties. But, if you are living in a proper city with a decent hustle-bustle, even then you should buy a driveway alarm to ensure the safety of your property. So, if you have read consumer reports driveway alarm reviews, then pick the right product and install it on your driveway to keep your property and vehicles safe.