smokegrub Posted February 4, 2017 Posted February 4, 2017 (edited) My mailbox is located approximately 60 feet from the nearest dualband device. As you can see, the box is metal and is encased in a brick/mortar structure. I would prefer an Insteon solution that I could use with my ISY 994i to seemail notifications when mail arrives and, perhaps, sound a notification with my Buzzlinc (thanks Stu). Do you know of a way this can be done? I have researched this unsuccessfully thus far. Edited February 4, 2017 by smokegrub
Teken Posted February 4, 2017 Posted February 4, 2017 I did this for a friend not too long ago - We used the internal I/O ports of the open-close sensor and wired it to a standard magnetic contact switch. Mounted the magnet to the door and the other end affixed to the inner frame mail box housing. Ran the wire loom out the back of the mail box and mounted the open-close sensor on a mini pole to allow the best RF signaling. His mail box is about 85 feet from the nearest dual band device which is a outdoor switch.
smokegrub Posted February 4, 2017 Author Posted February 4, 2017 Thanks, Teken. For me to do something like that would entail drilling through the mortar and thus into the mailbox. I am hopeful there is an alternative, less difficult approach. I am doubtful there is but I felt there was better place to ask then here.
Teken Posted February 4, 2017 Posted February 4, 2017 Thanks, Teken. For me to do something like that would entail drilling through the mortar and thus into the mailbox. I am hopeful there is an alternative, less difficult approach. I am doubtful there is but I felt there was better place to ask then here. I didn't know the entire mail box was encased inside of the brick housing. Regardless, you could still insert a two conductor wire through a small hole around the lip of the mail box door area. I would need a side view of the mail box to see if this is possible. Could you offer an alternate view from the side (profile) to see what it is we are working with in terms of space / entry point?
TomG Posted February 4, 2017 Posted February 4, 2017 A magnetic vehicle sensor could be buried in front of the mailbox, to sense when the mail truck pulled up. That could in turn trigger an open/close sensor mounted to the rear of the mailbox enclosure. Tom
stusviews Posted February 4, 2017 Posted February 4, 2017 A magnetic vehicle sensor could be buried in front of the mailbox, to sense when the mail truck pulled up. That could in turn trigger an open/close sensor mounted to the rear of the mailbox enclosure. That'd work only for a rural mailbox where mail delivery is by truck to each mailbox
smokegrub Posted February 5, 2017 Author Posted February 5, 2017 (edited) Taken et al: There is a one brick thickness on both sides and the rear of the mailbox. What is the likelihood that an Open/Close Sensor might work? I have one at another location that communicates through a wooden door and the wall of a frame house with aluminum siding (~ 120 feet). I kept digging and a Mail Chime 1200 looks like it might work to notify but will not send email. I guess that might have to be my drop back position. At least that, if it works, would keep me from having to walk to the box when I am home. As to the magnetic sensor. Can it be used on a paved surface? Edited February 5, 2017 by smokegrub
phlash73 Posted February 5, 2017 Posted February 5, 2017 Hi. I dunno what buzzlinc is. Guess I need to search for it. I haven't been on here for a while. However, my mailbox is also metal, but NOT wrapped within brick. And it is AT LEAST 200-250 feet from my house, and I had the help of someone from this forum to give me advice. I tried searching, but couldn't find his original post. Since an Insteon sensor wouldn't reach (yes, I tried), I used the following: From this site: http://www.sti-usa.com/ search for: 34108, 34201, and 34188 And find a Smartenit ezio2x4 5010D at smarthome, or elsewhere When the mailbox is opened (FULLY), The STI receiver indoors beeps, and the "add on" relay board is wired to the Smartenit, which communicates with my ISY. Then, write a simple program to text you that the mailbox has been opened. Works about 99.9% of the time. Only time it hasn't worked is if the mailbox door isn't opened far enough to trigger the tilt sensor. (EX: mailman only opens it half way, because I only have 1 bill that day. (VERY RARE)) Not sure about your brick enclosure though. However the sensor is on the inside of the door, so bricks shouldn't matter. The 8 input receiver also gives you options for driveway sensors, etc (which I also use). Not sure if this idea helps, or not. But, If you have any questions, feel free to email me directly - for a faster reply. My same username at gmail dot com I'd post a pic of my contraption, but it's too big for this site to accept. Good luck, Gordon
stusviews Posted February 5, 2017 Posted February 5, 2017 Hi. I dunno what buzzlinc is. Guess I need to search for it. Insteon BuzzLinc
smokegrub Posted February 6, 2017 Author Posted February 6, 2017 Thanks, Gordon. I do some research into your approach.
stusviews Posted February 6, 2017 Posted February 6, 2017 There is a one brick thickness on both sides and the rear of the mailbox. Masonry, be it brick or concrete, is a hinderance to RF. Not as much as steel or iron, but more than wood or aluminum.
DennisC Posted February 6, 2017 Posted February 6, 2017 If distance is not too great, I think I would try a CAO wireless tag for this project. At first glance, the Reed KumoSensor might work. https://store.wirelesstag.net/products/reed-kumosensor Dennis
jasont Posted February 7, 2017 Posted February 7, 2017 If distance is not too great, I think I would try a CAO wireless tag for this project. That's my plan. My mailbox is "just" metal (no brick) and about 60ft from the smart closet in my house where I want to put the Tag Manager. Sensors have 700ft line-of-sight range, so I guess the mailbox can block 90% of the signal and it'd still work? We'll see. Plenty of uses elsewhere if this doesn't work out.
smokegrub Posted February 8, 2017 Author Posted February 8, 2017 (edited) I was unfamiliar with wireless tags until the foregoing posts. I researched a bit and did not find a lot of useful information. I would appreciate users of that technology to post pro's and con's here and, particularly, the application I described. Looks like it might meet my desire to monitor temperature in refrigerator/freezers and the home as well.. Edited February 8, 2017 by smokegrub
MWareman Posted February 9, 2017 Posted February 9, 2017 I use them to monitor temp and humidity in several points around my house, including in my fridge, freezer and wine chiller. I just ordered three waterproof tags for outside use (mailbox and my two yard gates). Been using them for a while now, and am very happy with them.
smokegrub Posted February 9, 2017 Author Posted February 9, 2017 I use them to monitor temp and humidity in several points around my house, including in my fridge, freezer and wine chiller. I just ordered three waterproof tags for outside use (mailbox and my two yard gates). Been using them for a while now, and am very happy with them. Thanks. They are inexpensive so I think I will give the technology a try. If it works it will potentially address a number of Insteon technology vacuums.
smokegrub Posted February 9, 2017 Author Posted February 9, 2017 I use them to monitor temp and humidity in several points around my house, including in my fridge, freezer and wine chiller. I just ordered three waterproof tags for outside use (mailbox and my two yard gates). Been using them for a while now, and am very happy with them. MWareman: What is the name/source of the waterproof tags? My searches have not indicated that CAO makes any that are waterproof.
Scottmichaelj Posted February 9, 2017 Posted February 9, 2017 (edited) MWareman: What is the name/source of the waterproof tags? My searches have not indicated that CAO makes any that are waterproof. If you go to the tags and order there's a drop down to select the tag type. Its the "weatherproof" one your after. I don't get the range they say so I didn't respond to this thread for it being a solution. YMMV Hope they work for you. I love my tags for other things temperature related. Edit: Added the URL https://store.wirelesstag.net/products/wireless-tag-pro Edited February 9, 2017 by Scottmichaelj 1
smokegrub Posted February 9, 2017 Author Posted February 9, 2017 If you go to the tags and order there's a drop down to select the tag type. Its the "weatherproof" one your after. I don't get the range they say so I didn't respond to this thread for it being a solution. YMMV Hope they work for you. I love my tags for other things temperature related. Edit: Added the URL https://store.wirelesstag.net/products/wireless-tag-pro Thanks.
smokegrub Posted February 9, 2017 Author Posted February 9, 2017 If you go to the tags and order there's a drop down to select the tag type. Its the "weatherproof" one your after. I don't get the range they say so I didn't respond to this thread for it being a solution. YMMV Hope they work for you. I love my tags for other things temperature related. Edit: Added the URL https://store.wirelesstag.net/products/wireless-tag-pro I cannot find the drop down to select the tag type.
Scottmichaelj Posted February 10, 2017 Posted February 10, 2017 I cannot find the drop down to select the tag type. ??? Its there for me. Scroll down by add cart.
MWareman Posted February 10, 2017 Posted February 10, 2017 I guess I should have said 'rain proof'... 1
nwchicago Posted February 10, 2017 Posted February 10, 2017 Hi everyone, this is a very exciting topic. I'm a bit confused however on the architecture of how this works. As I understand it, you buy the tags, which have sensors built in and the reed sensor seems to be an open/close door sensor. You also need to buy a tag manager. The Kumo manager is: https://wirelesstags.myshopify.com/products/ethernet-tag-manager My question is how do you integrate these tags into your ISY environment? It seems a closed system. Do you have to use ITTT via the portal extension for ISY? Is there a native means by which tag messages can be directly captured? Thanks. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
larryllix Posted February 10, 2017 Posted February 10, 2017 I was unfamiliar with wireless tags until the foregoing posts. I researched a bit and did not find a lot of useful information. I would appreciate users of that technology to post pro's and con's here and, particularly, the application I described. Looks like it might meet my desire to monitor temperature in refrigerator/freezers and the home as well..Search for another thread where people are raving about them. I find them fabulous for temp. Humidity. BattV. XYZ angle position not explored yet. Out of range. I can't walk that far. 1000 feet to each end of the street and I couldn't trigger loss of signal. Inside double cookie tins didn't do it either. Most reliable HA stuff I have so far. The other thread has code for kumoapps that Michael wrote and I rearranged to make easier ISY user access. Also added decimals. The prices started about $15 each and have steadily increased as features get added. Sent from a tiny keyboard. Response may be brief.
Recommended Posts