with meth use and home invasions seemingly on the rise in my neck of the woods i have decided to invest in a driveway alert system to give me a little extra time. i was hoping for some feedback or recommendations on different systems. i need something with a range of 400’ through trees and a building. there is the chamberlain for $50 http://www.amazon.com/Chamberlain-CWA2000-Wireless-Motion-System/dp/B002ISVJL6/ref=pd_bxgy_p_img_y. then there is the dakota for $180. http://www.thehomesecuritysuperstore.com/driveway-alarms-dakota-murs-alert-base-station-kit-murs-bs-kit-p=3710. is the dakota worth over 3x the price? any others i should look at?
thanks in advance
james
I have used Cartell driveway sensors for years. They are hard wired, mine came with 1,000’ feet of wire but can be ordered in other lengths. Sensors are buried under driveway. Wiring is direct burial wire requiring no conduit. This system has been reliable with the only false signals coming from thunder storms. System can control lighting, cameras, alarms etc. I tried wireless systems and had numerous false signals due to wind.
Personally, I’d want a hard wired system so I didn’t have to deal with batteries and range limitations, but I’m not the guy digging the trench 
Out of those two, definitely spend the extra money and get the more expensive one. $50 doesn’t get you much anymore.
The Dakota system has the advantage of operating off the MURS band so you can listen on any MURS capable radio. You could snag one of these cheap Chinese handhelds and have alerts anywhere on your property…
I’ve got a couple of those radios and they work pretty darn well for the $30 they cost.
I like this one. No batteries required.
I hope you don’t have deer around. They will trigger many false alarms.
I have the Chamberlain. Can’t beat it for $50. Allows you to add a couple extra sensors with different alert tones, Additional sensors are around $30 though.
a sensor that plugs in would be nice. have power by my gate. as for the cartell system, i need something that will pick up 2-legged critters. the local bar just got broke into last night. seems to be gettin closer.