What’s the Best Driveway Alarm and Sensor? Reviews & Buying Guide
Recent studies show that every 25 seconds, there is a chance your family could be victims of a home invasion. An indoor home security system helps but only works after intruders are inside. A driveway alarm can add an extra protection barrier. Our team tested the best driveway alarms to help you avoid any unreliable systems.
Guardline
Product Features
Chamberlain
Product Features
Hosmart
Product Features
TOP 10 DRIVEWAY ALARMS IN 2020
1. Guardline Wireless Driveway Alarm
The point of a driveway alarm is to alert you of intruders before they get in your home.
The Guardline wireless driveway alarm system is suitable for this as you may pair 16 sensors to one receiver.
There are no complicated security installs, so you don’t have to worry about messing up and leaving your home unprotected.
The alarm gives you 500 feet of detection range between the sensor and receiver.
2. Chamberlain Wireless Security System
The Chamberlain is the 2nd best wireless driveway sensor. It boasts a total coverage area of 120-degrees and claims to sense movement from 30 feet away.
According to the manufacturer, the receiver may get signal from the sensor up to a ½ mile apart but only in ideal conditions.
The sensors have adjustable sensitivity settings, which users noted helped to minimize false receiver alarms from small animals or something larger.
One downside some reviewers have pointed out is that the receiver does not tell you which sensor is going off.
3. Hosmart ¼ Mile Long Range Driveway Alarm
The Hosmart is another solar-powered driveway alarm system. The sensor unit can detect motion between 20 feet and 30 feet away.
According to the manufacturer’s claims, the receiver has a transmission range of up to ¼ mile.
Our tests, along with in-depth research of customer reviews, confirmed this to be true in good conditions. The receiver comes with one sensor but may handle up to four.
The unit plugs in via ac adapter but may also run on AAA batteries in the case of a power outage.
4. Htzsafe Solar Driveway Alarm
The Htzsafe Solar home driveway alarm system detects motion up to 50 feet away.
The receiver supports an additional 32 sensors to create a complete perimeter around your property.
You may adjust the sensor, which is on a ball joint, to avoid false alarms from small animals.
The receiver unit has a range of ¼ of a mile and provides various programmable alert tones. One downside is the receiver plugs into the wall for power supply.
5. Rodann Electronics Alarm
Rodann Electronics has one of the best driveway alarm units if you’re looking for a long transmission range.
The specs say the home driveway alarm can transmit up to 1,000 feet to the base system.
If you can’t use a solar charging option, this can be the right alternative as the sensors operate on a 9v battery.
Reviewers note the power life can be up to 2 years.
The one downside is the receiver doesn’t have a battery pack and needs a wall outlet instead. But, it can use external speakers to make it louder.
6. WJLING Motion Alarm
This home driveway alert system is the most budget-friendly unit we reviewed in terms of product prices and its best features.
Instead of the standard single base and sensor, this motion alert system comes with two sensor motors that can cover a range up to 23 feet.
The indoor receiver can communicate with the passive infrared sensor up to 328 feet apart.
The home driveway sensors are not waterproof, and they need to be covered or placed indoors.
7. Safety Technology Wireless Solar Driveway Monitor
Among the best driveway alarms we tested, this system had the most customizable receiver.
You can program personal alert messages to notify you when the driveway sensors get activated.
The unit works off two solar-charged AA batteries. The system has an easy to install driveway sensor that needs to be screwed in a wall or stakes in the ground.
For the home driveway alarm sensor, the sensing range is up to 1,000 feet. This alarm is waterproof, making it best for outdoor home security.
8. Mighty Mule Wireless Driveway Alarm
Mighty Mule’s alarms for driveways are different than others as they use electromagnetic sensors that even detect metal.
This home driveway informer is best at picking up people or vehicles, unlike other products, it won’t send false alarms from animals.
The installation process is more intensive as you have to bury the sensor wand.
The sensor detects moving objects up to 3 to 12 feet Away and transmits to the receiver up to 400 feet away. Both receiver and transmitter use AA batteries.
9. Driveway Alarm Wireless 100ft Range
If you need a lot of home driveway informer sensors, this is a good option.
This home driveway alarm system has two sensors out of the box. It’s a driveway alarm outdoor weather won’t affect as the sensors are waterproof so you can use them in the front yard.
The alarm has a range of 1,000 feet and coverage up to 24 feet. The receiving unit has a power backup option you can use with a rechargeable battery.
10. Wireless Home Security Driveway Alarm
Of all the home driveway alarm reviews we conducted, this was a budget-friendly option.
It includes two sensors with a transmission range of 328 feet. These home driveway alarms are not waterproof and best used indoors.
The sensors are the quick install variety and easily installed with a screwdriver.
Both alarm sensors operate on easily replaceable batteries. There is a time delay function of between 15 and 30 seconds.
KEY CONSIDERATIONS BEFORE BUYING
Detection Radius
The range tells you the maximum distance a sensor will cover. If a sensor covers a space of 30 feet, anything within that space will get picked up by the alarm sensor. Longer ranges of detecting moving objects or people provide you with greater flexibility when setting up your detectors.
Wireless Driveway Alarm Zones
Alarm zones help you to separate your sensors into manageable units. You have different zones around your property, with each zone having many sensors. Some receivers allow you to set a different tone for each region so that you immediately know which sensors are going off.
Sensitivity of Driveway Alarms
The best driveway alarms will enable you to change the sensitivity of the sensors. This option is important for preventing a false alarm from things like leaves or small animals and even snow and rain [1]. Many units will have high, medium, and low sensitivity choices, which are a great feature so that you can customize on each sensor depending on your property.
“Alarms are designed to be high in sensitivity but low in specificity…manufacturer is more likely to be held liable for alarm system fails…than for problems caused by false-alarm conditions.”
– Eva Turk, Group Technology Researcher [2]
Power Source
The power source will dictate where you can set up your sensor and the receiving unit. Many driveway alarm systems use solar-powered sensors. There are apparent downsides if you need the alarm for a space that doesn’t get as much sun, such as a barn, toolshed, or attic. You will find that most of the best alarms have multiple energy sources, including battery-operated and solar energy.
Driveway Sensor Warranty
When purchasing a driveway alarm security system, you will want to make sure it has a warranty and read the information on what it covers before you purchase it. These products are used outdoors and exposed to various elements, like heat and water. Many driveway alarms systems come with only a one-year warranty limited to manufacturing defects, so you better pay attention to these details.
Wireless Range
All of the security products we reviewed are some of the best wireless driveway alarms. But, you might find that different types include wired sensors. You want an alarm so that you have greater flexibility with placement. If running out of energy is a concern, you can opt for like a solar-type sensor.
Installation of Alarm System
Installing a wireless driveway alarm is pretty straightforward. The sensors screw into your desired location, including trees, fence posts, walls, etc. Your receiving unit will then plug into your bedroom or, if it is battery-powered, can be carried around with you. Some security products need to be buried or staked into the ground.
3 ADVANTAGES OF USING A DRIVEWAY ALARM
1. Protect Valuables
Driveway alarms can give you confidence that unwanted people can’t enter your property and catch you by surprise. These alarms are great to protect both the valuables inside your house as well as outside. With a wireless alarm system, you can create a perimeter around your vehicles, or even livestock if that is a concern.
“Homes with low-level security have…more burglaries than homes with high-level security.”
– Nick Tilley, Researcher at Security Journal [3]
2. Safety Alert
For some people, personal safety and the safety of your family is of the utmost concern. Driveway alarms can help by adding an extra layer of security to your current base system [4]. Unlike a security camera, which is a passive system, alarms actively inform you of any potential disturbances on your property. At the same time, sends a notification on your phone to know when someone is in your driveway.
Check our reviews of various security cameras:
3. Peace of Mind
With your valuables and your family safe from potential threats, you can sleep more comfortably. Driveway alarms informs you even at night actively. These alarms have loud chimes to make sure you wake up. You can rest easy with the peace of mind that your property stays monitored 24/7.
FAQS
THE #1 DRIVEWAY ALARM & SENSOR IS…
After thorough testing and research, we find Guardline Alarm as the best driveway alarm. It is one of the most solid smart home resources that can protect your family and valuables.
What stood out are the long-range capabilities of the sensors to transmit back to the base unit. Some users noted the signal strength held solid even through adverse weather conditions and walls.
We were also impressed with its ability to attach multiple sensors to one base. It has greater coverage to create a complete perimeter around your property.
