driveway alarms rural / homestead properties: Dakota MURS MAPS Probe Sensor converted solar power

Living rural a lot of us have long driveways and can't see the end, maybe you have windows not facing your driveway (Or you are out on the property), and you need an alert system that will work very long distance to a home transmitter or handheld radio. This is a review of the Dakota alert Murs long range driveway alarm. Its only shortcomings are battery life and cost. I show how to lower one of those by converting to 12v solar power cheaply. It's also possible to use BaoFeng UV-5R radios to receive the alert most places on your property.
We saw the news of what a surprise attack can do in rural Israel. Things always getting spicy in the USA so it's always better to prepare end not need it than not have it. This alarm also works great for day to day life so you know when friends and family arrive.
dakotaalert.com/product/maps-...
audionautix.com Creative Commons Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com

[@norrinradd8952]

Several of my neighbors have these, all MURS channels are saturated with ALERTZONE alerts 24/7. Thank goodness for CTCSS.

[@HomesteadReliance]

Oh wow! Yea thankfully not too many use murs out by be, but yes I agree.

[@norrinradd8952]

@@HomesteadReliance Honestly, I'm glad it is being used by you and others. When MURS is busy we can still use CB/GMRS/Ham. Happy to see people sharing knowledge.

[@bradclem6226]

I bought this exact one the other day. I was wondering where did u bury your probe? Not on the same side as the monitor.

[@HomesteadReliance]

I believe the same side slightly under the gravel. Other side would have been better.

[@jackpinesavagemn]

My dogs alerted every time your alarm went off, ha. Mine has been working for at least 12 years now. Thanks for the tip on the Harbor Freight solar panel. Converting to an external battery and solar panel has been on my to do list for at least 12 years too. I also use a Baofeng. I did get it to talk to the base station. I'll have to rack my brain and look up my Chirp file. I think it was something to do with the CTS codes. I recently picked up one of the MURS infrared models. If it does hit the fan I'll add that to the mix.

[@HomesteadReliance]

Ha ha my dog went crazy during the editing of the video! They know that sound well. Thanks in advance if you can find the chirp settings!

[@87balexander]

Not every baofeng is unlocked to transmit outside the amateur bands. There should be a way to unlock it if you search google. Squelch tones might also be coming to play as the other commenter suggested.

[@HomesteadReliance]

@@87balexander thanks!

[@jackpinesavagemn]

@@HomesteadReliance Sorry for the delayed response. I looked at the Chirp file and under Tone Mode I specify 'Tone' and under Tone I specify '67.0'. Hope that helps!

[@HomesteadReliance]

@@jackpinesavagemn thanks so much! I'll try it out tomorrow. I also finally got starlink hooked up! No more slow internet!

[@bradclem6226]

I bought the antenna because I couldn’t get nothing past 500 yards. My electric pole is 3 ft from my house. Do u think I could mount it there? Thanks.

[@HomesteadReliance]

You may need permission from electric company to put in pole. It should work though. My antenna is only like 15’ high and 1/4 mile from sensor.

[@rjh6380]

Can you tell me the radius of detection for the probe? 5' , 10' ? Is it one direction or 360? The entrance to my drive has a Y right at the beginning and wondered if one probe would work for each drive.

[@HomesteadReliance]

The instructions state up to 14’ on either side of the probe. I think it could work for your application. I do know the closer to the probe the smaller metal it can detect. For cars I think this will work great. I can try mine out on both sides this week if I have time.

[@rjh6380]

@HomesteadReliance thanks for the reply. Ya that would be more than enough but the distance to the house might be and issue. 3/4 of a mile through heavy woods.

[@BobBob-il2ku]

Does the baofeng need a CTCSS tone set?

[@HomesteadReliance]

I don’t think I added one to make it work, but I will double check