Customer Reviews

Deluxe Wireless Driveway Monitor

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I have spent several hundred wasted dollars and many trial-and-error hours over the past few years trying to get a reliable driveway monitor. Problems encountered in past have included short-range/unreliable wireless transmitter function, many false alarms caused by animals, wasps, wind moving tree branches, even fast moving clouds causing rapid sun heating changes, etc. Finally, got one that works satisfactorily. This specific unit (don't know about their other models which ARE different), the DesignTech "Deluxe Driveway Monitor model 33370," is excellent. Well designed, well constructed, very simple/easy/quick installation, unique patented technology (different from all other motion sensors I've tried); and most impressive, it really does what it is advertised to do. Plenty of reliable range between the transmitter and receiver, zero false alarms, and always detects cars in the driveway. Some suggestions for anyone purchasing one of these: 1) If possible, install the transmitter/motion sensing unit on the side of the driveway nearest your house so that the passing car will not tend to block the path between the receiver and transmitter. 2) Don't unfairly judge the unit by testing it inside the house; nearby indoor metal (stove, conduit in walls, overhead lights, nails, steel springs in sofa, etc.) will distort the magnetic field, and result in a negative (false) impression that it is not as sensitive as it should be. Just install it per the manufacturer's instructions, and it will detect passing vehicles as advertised. 3) The outdoor sensor is waterproof, but just to be safe I added a strip of electrical tape around the unit where the front and back join. Only negative is that replacing the batteries requires removing the case cover which is held by four screws thgat need to be carefully tightened when done. UPDATE:July 26, 2004 - Things I've learned: 1) be sure to fully tighten the case screws, otherwise unit may not be waterproof. Look into crack between front & back of case with a flashlight to be sure screws are tight enough and no water can enter. 2)don't mount sensor on a tree, even a big one. Even the slightest movement of the tree by winds can cause a false alarm. Use the mounting post provided with the unit. 3) The unit still works great, and I still recommend it. UPDATE: Feb 9, 2005 - The original batteries had to be replaced after about nine months in service. I have the unit set on the most sensitive setting, which drains the batteries the most. Next time if I only get nine months battery life, I will lower the sensitivity setting to extend battery life. When the batteries become weak, you will start getting false alarms; not a bad way to be alerted to need to change batteries. I'm still pleased, and recommend the unit. UPDATE Oct 30, 2005: Had to change batteries. Again about a 9 month lifespan. Weak batteries (.98Volts) indicated by false alarms. This time I changed sensitivity jumper from high to medium to extend battery life. Still happy with unit and highly recommend it, for those who won't mind a small hassle in changing the batteries every year or so.

After much research on these items, I decided on the magnetometer-based design (rather than motion-sensors) because it senses only moving metal. (No false alarms from pets and farm animals near our driveway.) I installed the sensor about 300 ft from the receiver inside the house. The signal was weak and unreliable until I remounted it on the top fence rail next to our driveway. The radio range is greatly improved the higher above the ground you can mount it. Also I had to reset the internal magnetometer sensitivity to high because of the distance from the sensor to the driveway. (The manual tells you how to do that.) Overall, everything is working great now.
And Amazon.com had the best price anywhere I found.

This unit is confusing. It ignores the UPS truck. It ignores small (Tacoma) sized pickups. It always picksup my larger Tundra truck or my wife's Dodge Van. Still, it is better than nothing but it is also disappointing and NOT worth the $90 price... Cheaper technology from other vendors would also prove to be as unreliable as this one!

I bought the 30074. It works great... most of the time. My 4x4 Toyota Tundra doesn't get noticed. My wife's Dodge Town and Country does. Why? Can't say. New batteries. Sensitivity set to HIGH. Mounted about 4 ft above the road and about 6 ft from the near edge. ALso tech support NEVER answers!!! grrrr Better than nothing but not perfect.

We installed this monitor at our home. It worked
for a few days then would work only sporadically. It
also false alarmed in the middle of the night. I called
their tech support who were hateful and gave advice
that did not help. I tried to return it but they would not
refund my money because I had it longer than 30 days. I did have
it for awhile before it was installed but I used it only a week.
Don't waste your money on this piece of junk.

After much research we purchased the Deluxe Driveway monitor. During the day the alarm never falsed and picked up cars coming up my driveway 80% of the time. We were happy with this because we have a very long, wide driveway. The night was another story. It would false 3-4 times a night. I don't know why. It also was not waterproof and filled up with water. I would rrcommend a ziplock bag. Finally we put it on a timer so that it would not work at night. Customer service was helpful and sent a new receiver to replace the water damaged one.

We tried to get this to work for almost 6 months and finally gave up. With fresh batteries, sensetivity set to high and receiver close to transmitter it worked only about 50% of the time.

I mounted it 6ft high and about 50 ft from the receiver, with the receiver in sight. It has only detected one vehicle in front of it in about 25 times. Sensitivity is set to high, new batteries in it. I tried pointing it right to the receiver or away, nothing helps. Its a very worthless item.

I've had this device for about 2 years. It has very poor range, and works only 50% of the time. Plastic pool included broke early in the installation process. For the relative high price (I paid over $100 2 years ago), I expected a better result. Not recommended

The DesignTech model 33370 driveway monitor is a great product. Clear and concise instructions made the installation quick and easy.

The sending unit is located 500 feet from our house at the entrance to our driveway. It has detected every vehicle using the factory supplied sensitivity settings. We have not had any false alarms.

We first mounted the sending unit on the supplied stake. To make it less visible, we remounted it on the side of a small building close to the driveway entrance. It works perfectly in either location.

I would recommend this monitor to anyone.

Vince
Missouri Ozarks