• Nigerian Dwarf Senior Does
  • Nigerian Dwarf Does
  • Nigerian Dwarf Bucks
  • Nigerian Dwarf Kids By Year
    • 2019 Goat Kids
    • 2018 Goat Kids
    • 2017 Goat Kids
    • 2016 Goat Kids

Better Hens & Gardens

of Bramblestone Farm

  • Home
  • Blog
  • About
    • Publication Credits
  • Contact
  • Shop
    • My Account
    • Cart

Skills for Self-Reliance, Real Foods & Sustainable Living

  • Chickens
    • Basic Care
    • Breeds
    • All About Eggs
    • Feeding
    • Health Issues
    • Housing
  • Farm
    • Farm news
    • Help
    • Structures
    • Wild Things
  • Garden
    • Ornamentals
    • Seeds & Saving Them
    • How To Grow “X”
    • Starting Plants
    • Preparation & Tools
    • Pest Control
    • Varieties To Try
  • Goats
    • Basic Care
    • Conformation
    • Doe & Kidding Care
    • Feeding
    • Herd Basics & Behavior
    • Milk & Milking
    • Supplies & Equipment
  • Honey Bees
    • Feeding
    • Getting Started
    • Hive Management
    • Honey & Wax
  • Homemade
    • Beauty Products
    • Cleaning Supplies
    • Decorations
    • Miscellaneous
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Bread
    • Breakfast
    • Desserts
    • Main Dish
    • Salads
    • Soups
    • Vegetables
  • Pantry
    • Quality Choices
    • Canning
    • Condiments & Flavorings
    • Dairy
    • Drying
    • Freezing
    • Root Cellaring

Better Hens and Gardens may earn a commission for purchases made after clicking on links on this page. Learn More

17 Comments

Driveway Monitor

Driveway Monitor Sensor

Like many farms, we have a long driveway, and depending on where you’re at in our home, it’s not always easy to tell when someone is coming up the driveway. We’ve talked for years about installing something to alert us to incoming traffic, but didn’t want to run yards of underground wiring to solve the issue. So I’m happy that we recently found and installed a solar-powered device that really seems to work well.

The device is called the Safety Technology International STI-34100 Solar Powered Wireless Driveway Monitor, and it detects when a vehicle enters or leaves the driveway via a solar-powered magnetometer sensor system (the company identifies that the sensor system is patented). What it does is detect any large metallic object (iron or steel) that passes close to the driveway sensor, and transmits a signal to the receiver (located in the house) which then chimes and flashes.Driveway Monitor Box

The device is priced around $100.00 (we ordered it through Amazon) and it can be placed as far as 1000 feet away from the receiver in the home, but it needs to be in line-of-sight. The directions suggest that the sensor be mounted on a 4 x 4 post, four to eight feet off the ground, but we just mounted it next to the driveway using the stake that was included (that puts the sensor about a foot off the ground). Then we placed the receiver inside within line-of-sight of the sensor, and plugged it in. It’s worked flawlessly so far – identifying every vehicle that has gone in or out, but ignoring animals, people, or shadows. The instructions say that additional monitors can be added for driveways that exceed the 1000 foot range limit for one monitor.

I know it seems like a small thing; but it’s really nice to know when vehicles are approaching. This was such a relatively inexpensive and easy to install solution, I thought it would be a good idea to share – no more delivery men surprising us at the door!

SaveSave

Related posts:

First 2016 Goat Show
Happy Holidays from Bramblestone Farm
Milk Production Testing Success!
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print

Filed Under: Farm, Retired Posts

About Lesa

Lesa raised Nigerian Dwarf goats, Buckeye chickens, honey bees, and produce on her small farm in northeastern Ohio. Since 2010, Lesa's writing has inspired new homesteaders on their journey to more sustainable lifestyles via this website.

« The New Goat Kids
Bramblestone Farm’s First Herdsire »

Comments

  1. Valerie says

    March 11, 2015 at 12:20 pm

    Great Post Lesa. Thanks

    Reply
  2. Barb Schanel says

    May 2, 2013 at 8:37 am

    We have a short driveway, but about a quarter mile of road preceding it that not much happens on. It turns out that our dog Guy is a great driveway monitor. He goes to the top of our yard and starts looking as soon as any car begins driving down our road!

    Reply
  3. fresheggsdaily says

    May 2, 2013 at 6:22 am

    Good post Lesa. We have one, different brand but it has been malfunctioning. We hid ours next to a tree so its not obvious to potential intruders ;0) I will check out this brand. We like advance notice when someone comes up the driveway as well.

    Reply
  4. Tammie Memmer-Prentiss says

    May 1, 2013 at 11:14 pm

    Intrigued! Will have to check into one…nice being in the back..love watching people pull into all the driveways around us…just so they don’t have to pull way back there! Lol

    Reply
  5. Doris says

    May 1, 2013 at 9:04 pm

    We don’t have a farm but we do have a very long drive…I see an alarm in my future!

    Reply
  6. Kristina says

    May 1, 2013 at 8:44 pm

    Our farm also has a long driveway so we too invested in a driveway alarm..I’m glad we did!! It’s so nice knowing when we have company, both invited and uninvited. 😉
    We got ours from Tractor Supply for slightly less than yours but we don’t have the awesome solar power feature like yours does. 🙂
    Glad your happy with your alarm, I know we are!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Oh, hi there! I’m Lesa,

and this blog is all about learning new skills around chickens, goats, gardens, honey bees, and DIY. Read more…

Read My Dairy Goat Books

  • Nigerian Dwarf Goats 201: Getting Started
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $6.99
  • Nigerian Dwarf Goats 101 Nigerian Dwarf Goats 101: Background & Basics
    Rated 4.95 out of 5
    $4.99

Visit Our Social Sites

Website Categories

The contents of this site are the property of Better Hens and Gardens. All content contained herein is copyrighted. We love it when you share, but if you do, please link back to the original post. Material included here is not intended to be, nor does it constitute, the giving of medical advice. This blogs content is for informational purposes only and Better Hens and Gardens or others associated with this site shall not be held liable for any damages incurred through the use of information provided in this blog. Better Hens and Gardens accepts products for review and other forms of paid advertising; however, although compensation received may influence the content or topics covered in this blog, it will never influence our opinion of any product. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are purely those of Better Hens and Gardens. Any product claim or other representation about a product or service should be verified by the manufacturer. Better Hens and Gardens is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
PRIVACY POLICY

Copyright © 2022 · Design by Erica Mueller Designs

Copyright © 2022 · Divine Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print
  • Pinterest