driveway sensor - ideas on how to announce?

JimS · Nov 7, 2011

I am putting in a driveway sensor and am looking for ideas on how to announce. I don't want anything too obnoxious for good SAF. One way is to hook the sensor to my alarm panel to get the information into my automation PC.

I could have it play a sound file such as a short horn "beep - beep". Seems better than playing "Someones in the drive!".

Just looking for ideas and what others have done...

Mark S. · Nov 7, 2011

I do both of the above. In my household, there is typically lots of background noise. So all announcements start with a unique attention tone first, in this case the car horn, followed by the verbal. So if you only hear the tone or only the speech, you still get the message either way.

For arriving cars - a double horn beep, followed by TTS "A car is coming up the driveway".
For departing cars - a single beep, followed by TTS "A car is leaving".

pete_c · Nov 7, 2011

I do a combo and utilize the HAI OPII and Homeseer. I have these small 12VDC RFID tags inside of the headliners adjacent to the dome lights. Its been a few years and they work well. I also utilize PIRs and driveway sensors. In the house; just related to the cars; its a couple of horn beeps also plus a TTS announcement.

tmbrown97 · Nov 8, 2011

I'm not big on voice announcements - but a nice tone, generated from your HA system, seems like the way to go.

George M · Nov 8, 2011

Mark S. said:
I do both of the above. In my household, there is typically lots of background noise. So all announcements start with a unique attention tone first, in this case the car horn, followed by the verbal. So if you only hear the tone or only the speech, you still get the message either way.

For arriving cars - a double horn beep, followed by TTS "A car is coming up the driveway".
For departing cars - a single beep, followed by TTS "A car is leaving".

How do you determine coming from going? Do you have two sensors?

Mark S. · Nov 8, 2011

George M said:
How do you determine coming from going? Do you have two sensors?

Yes, two separate Winland units spaced about 50 feet apart. But I believe that Sure Action makes a directional unit with 2 sensors - a much easier install.

LCARS · Nov 10, 2011

Might be over the top, but how about a clip from Kraftwerk's Autobahn?

driveway sensor - ideas on how to announce?

JimS

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Mark S.

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pete_c

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tmbrown97

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George M

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Mark S.

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LCARS

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