Wireless intercom or something - thoughts?

Hi All,

We live out in the boonies and the front gate to the property is about a quarter mile away. When we get deliveries, UPS, FedEx etc, they leave stuff at the front gate. In the good old days, this was not a problem but recently miscreants have been dogging along about 10-minutes behind the UPS trucks and picking stuff up.

Sooooo, I am thinking of some form of door-bell or intercom that the UPS guy can press a button and alert us of a drop. However, distance to power is the issue. I can set up a small solar battery charger for the "button" end. I have seen some 1000ft+ driveway alert systems, but they run to many hundreds of bucks and out of the question.

Any thoughts on [B]low-cost[/B] options? So far I have...

1:
Have a FRS radio in a theft-proof box. The problem there is the Press-To-Talk (PTT) buttons are not that easy to manipulate unless holding the radio in your hand to curl a finger around the recessed button.

2:
Have a button and a bell in the house and a loooong length of speaker cable from the front gate to the house. :)

Thoughts?

Thanks

Maybe call your local invisible dog fence installer and have them run the wire. A quarter mile run won't take them more than an hour? The wire self propelled wire installation gadget they use is slicker than snot. Toss a spool of wire on the thing... fire it up... and away you go. Rocks... roots... not a problem. Only issue I'm aware of is you need to use wire with a fairly stout insulation to avoid nicks in your line. The dog fence wire is two wire if I remember right.

You might be able to rent a unit? I messed around with a blade on my weed wacker for about a minute before realizing it was a rediculous attempt. Then I looked at building a hitch mounted sort of mini rollover plow for my garden tractor figuring I could flip up the sod... lay the wire and flip the sod back over on it. Then I came to my senses and called the dog fence guy and paid him to do it.

For your gate I'd think hard wired would be a better way to go?

I have a similar situation, except my entry gate is only about 700' from the house and one cannot see the house from the gate for the trees. I have to keep the gate shut to keep the critters in.

UPS, FedEX usually leave stuff just to the inside of the gate and put a delivery notice on the gate. A certain bovine friend of mine is known to mess with the packages though.

Last week, I had a delivery from FedEX that required a signature. The FedEx gal called the number provided and the wife went down to get the package.

I have considered putting a locked UPS/FedEX drop box down at the gate. Should work for most packages; however we do get big stuff occasionally.

There are wireless solar charged entry gate intercom’s available, but I don't think they work over long distances. See --> [url]http://www.gateopenersunlimited.com/GTO_F4100MBC_Wireless_Intercom_System_Entry_Gate_Intercom_w_Keypad.html[/url]

How about a sign that reads "All UPS/FEDEx Deliveries, please call "555 123-4567".

Bob, thanks for the thoughts, but where you live, "rocks" are obviously different to the black volcanic snot that we have around here. The smallest size encountered is about 1/2-ton per :)

I originally wanted to run the 220v mains power cables underground so no power poles visible. After 7 feet of trench the local people declared it a bust. Overhead wires would be the only way and that would mean digging holes for poles with a 300-hp hole digger as the power people finally did.

The speaker cable comment (#2:) was meant as a tongue in cheek issue.

It is wireless or nothing at the moment.

The claimed 500ft range for that link you provided, is very optimistic on those driveway alert/intercoms etc. I have one here that I installed with two sender units and one receiver when we first moved in. Completely useless over about 150 ft max. Also $270 does not fall into what I call "low cost." :)

Google "long range outdoor wireless intercom"

or ---> [url]http://www.linkedin.com/company/intercomsonline.com/murs-multi-mile-long-range-wireless-outdoor-intercom-487651/product[/url]

Not cheap though....

That multi-mile range thing would do nicely, but for about 10 packages a year it is a lot to have sitting there. Our gate is also locked to keep critters out and in. :) Critters like Coyote hunters etc.

Usually there is a phone number on the package but UPS and FedEx both leave stuff without calling whether a signature is required or not.

I too have messed with the idea of a locked box but like you Kelly, wondered about the size.

A passive version I just thought about was a flip-card like thing on the gate that says "UPS/FedEx guy. Please flip this sign over." When flipped it would show a red panel towards the house. If I hold my head just right and lean waaaay left on one foot, I can just see the corner of the gate. :) I'd also have the same wording under the flip-card it so to a passing miscreant it would still show the words. But then that might confuse the drivers when the second one would not flip over. :D

I might pull an FRS apart and solder in parallel a remote PTT switch with a big red button.

I got it...!!

Build a catapult and have the delivery drivers launch your goods over the gate... :surprise2:
Laminate a weight chart to the fence and give them settings that will land your goods on or near your front porch at your predetermined weight to launch settings... :surprise2:

Then again...
Might need to give it more thought...?

[QUOTE=RWOLFEJR;4926]Might need to give it more thought...?[/QUOTE]

What? You mean like a calibrated parachute attached for a soft landing? The house is uphill of the gate so it should not have to fall far??? :)