LFMc Posted June 7, 2021 Posted June 7, 2021 Hey all, I have a fairly unique situation. I have a large outdoor pond and my Koi are being attacked by a Heron. I know all the ways to dissuade it, so I am not asking for input on that. But what I specifically want to do is setup an insteon switch powered device that when turned on will play a pre-recorded file, mpg, etc. of a barking dog. I have the technology in place to trigger it via my Blue Iris cameras and it's associated ISY Node Server. I just need a player device with an aux or speaker output that I can trigger to play the dog barking sound (both turn on and back off of course). I also have some unused Android devices laying around I could use if there was a way to trigger them to play with the ISY network interface. I also know about all the dog alarms available, but that's not what I am asking about. Also I don't want a dog either, lol. Thanks for your suggestions.
Techman Posted June 7, 2021 Posted June 7, 2021 31 minutes ago, LFMc said: Hey all, I have a fairly unique situation. I have a large outdoor pond and my Koi are being attacked by a Heron. I know all the ways to dissuade it, so I am not asking for input on that. But what I specifically want to do is setup an insteon switch powered device that when turned on will play a pre-recorded file, mpg, etc. of a barking dog. I have the technology in place to trigger it via my Blue Iris cameras and it's associated ISY Node Server. I just need a player device with an aux or speaker output that I can trigger to play the dog barking sound (both turn on and back off of course). I also have some unused Android devices laying around I could use if there was a way to trigger them to play with the ISY network interface. I also know about all the dog alarms available, but that's not what I am asking about. Also I don't want a dog either, lol. Thanks for your suggestions. You could use the Insteon siren Amazon.com: Insteon 2868-222 Siren Add a Powerful Siren To Create Your Own Alert System, White (Renewed): Home Improvement A short high pitched burst should scare them away
LFMc Posted June 7, 2021 Author Posted June 7, 2021 22 minutes ago, Techman said: You could use the Insteon siren Amazon.com: Insteon 2868-222 Siren Add a Powerful Siren To Create Your Own Alert System, White (Renewed): Home Improvement A short high pitched burst should scare them away Thanks, might be interesting to try, but Herons are particularly smart. They know what a dog is and I would rather try that. Plus they will come in the middle of the night sometimes. I really don't need a siren (especially uncontrolled volume) waking up the family and the neighbors. The neighbors have a dog, so they (and I) are used to dogs barking. So I am thinking of some type of MP3 player that can be powered up remotely and repeatedly play a dog barking MP3 until I automatically shut it off. At least then I can control the volume manually. Of course this is outside and semi-exposed to heat, cold and moisture so I hope to just expose the speaker to the elements.
Techman Posted June 7, 2021 Posted June 7, 2021 You could try something like this: YourBell MP3 Door Chime, Programmable DoorBell, Painted White. Made In The USA By BCS Ideas Corporation. - - Amazon.com You could then use an outdoor waterproof speaker which this supports. 1
KSchex Posted June 8, 2021 Posted June 8, 2021 I use an Adafruit FX 16mb sound card with a 20 watt amp. The sound card can play up to 10 discrete wav. It has discrete inputs so you don't need a computer. Real simple. I use it to announce gates open, doors open and it barks when the mailbox is opened. Best of luck. 1
larryllix Posted June 8, 2021 Posted June 8, 2021 (edited) You might also try some cat urine. Get it from a neighbour that uses a litter box litter box and spread it around somewhat. Trouble with that method, if it works is the rain will wash it away each rainfall. A fine mesh of black/clear fishing line can be fairly invisible and yet scares birds from getting tangled up in it. I have zig-zagged some from my deck railings to the roof and it keeps the larger birds (robins and starlings) away but the little wrens seem to feel protected and actually seem to like it as they fly through the spaces. I have seen a small large beach area done with a mesh overhead to keep geese crap off the beach area. It works for them as they feel trapped underneath the overhead mesh. hen you lay on the beach you barely notice it unless you stare right at it. An Insteon OnOff module driving a small motor with a long arm and streamer, operating occasionally for a few turns, may help. Edited June 8, 2021 by larryllix
LFMc Posted June 8, 2021 Author Posted June 8, 2021 12 hours ago, larryllix said: You might also try some cat urine. Get it from a neighbour that uses a litter box litter box and spread it around somewhat. Trouble with that method, if it works is the rain will wash it away each rainfall. A fine mesh of black/clear fishing line can be fairly invisible and yet scares birds from getting tangled up in it. I have zig-zagged some from my deck railings to the roof and it keeps the larger birds (robins and starlings) away but the little wrens seem to feel protected and actually seem to like it as they fly through the spaces. I have seen a small large beach area done with a mesh overhead to keep geese crap off the beach area. It works for them as they feel trapped underneath the overhead mesh. hen you lay on the beach you barely notice it unless you stare right at it. An Insteon OnOff module driving a small motor with a long arm and streamer, operating occasionally for a few turns, may help. Thanks Larry. I have been in this battle for about 7 years with the Herons. Cat urine is new to me, but I have two cats that go outdoors so that smell has to be everywhere already. One of my cats will actually attack them. That heron was 6x bigger than my cat, lol, but she leaped thru the air and almost latched onto the heron. I had one heron that hated human voices, so I left a radio on talk stations 24x7, but another heron comes in and cares less. My pond is no less than 3' deep at the shallow end, so they can't wade in, but I have herons that literally jump in the deep in to grab a Koi and flap back out of the water. I have about 40% coverage with solar sails and they will land outside them and walk right under them. I can't put up a lot of netting as I have large trees around the pond that drop sticks and leaves 6 month out of the year and it would be a major job to clean them out, plus this pond is on my neighbors zero lot line side and I can' t attach anything to their house. I have an Insteon triggered inflatable ghost with flappy arms, etc. that will light up and pop up, but they just sit back and wait for a few seconds and go right in. Anyway, not to bore you, but this is why I asked for a very specific item as I know the top 20 ways to scare them off, most don't work for me or can't work. I've yet to try a fake heron, seems that might be a possibility, but it will attract male herons in the spring. It has been a constant battle with some minor victories. I refuse to buy a dog.
LFMc Posted June 8, 2021 Author Posted June 8, 2021 17 hours ago, Techman said: You could try something like this: YourBell MP3 Door Chime, Programmable DoorBell, Painted White. Made In The USA By BCS Ideas Corporation. - - Amazon.com You could then use an outdoor waterproof speaker which this supports. Good thought, I didn't think of an MP3 chime unit. mIght be worth a try with the right unit.
LFMc Posted June 8, 2021 Author Posted June 8, 2021 15 hours ago, KSchex said: I use an Adafruit FX 16mb sound card with a 20 watt amp. The sound card can play up to 10 discrete wav. It has discrete inputs so you don't need a computer. Real simple. I use it to announce gates open, doors open and it barks when the mailbox is opened. Best of luck. Thanks, this might be the right item I am looking for. I will research it and get back to you with any questions.
larryllix Posted June 9, 2021 Posted June 9, 2021 (edited) 9 hours ago, LFMc said: Thanks, this might be the right item I am looking for. I will research it and get back to you with any questions. I was looking at that for another project and it seems awesome except for an HA world to interface to it you need to break out, and individually hardwire, the digital world into 10 discreet outputs. Edited June 9, 2021 by larryllix
LFMc Posted June 9, 2021 Author Posted June 9, 2021 13 hours ago, larryllix said: I was looking at that for another project and it seems awesome except for an HA world to interface to it you need to break out, and individually hardwire, the digital world into 10 discreet outputs. Thanks again for putting me on to this item. So, let me ask you. I just need it to have a hardwired triggered input (preferably just supply power to it only) and a speaker output. I don't need a lot of volume. Looking at the specs, it seems I could hardware a trigger point to ground and then it would play a preselected sound file on startup, right? Also any idea of the speaker output wattage? or is it only a preamp? While looking at it on Amazon, they recommended this one also. It has all the ports I need built in with a built in amp of 3 watts. It looks to have everything I need including auto play on power up. Thoughts? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DK9SL6C/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B01DK9SL6C&pd_rd_w=8nhCy&pf_rd_p=91afecf5-8b2e-41e2-9f11-dc6992c6eaa1&pd_rd_wg=MF8ym&pf_rd_r=BD7D110AT8SGYWMYSA4P&pd_rd_r=03b065ca-c30a-4c13-b133-9d24ebb528d5&smid=A30QSGOJR8LMXA&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzNjRTMlZSR1hVU0REJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwODc3MTc5Mjk5TVdUVllBSkw0SyZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwOTA0MDkxMjhIRUYzNldaODFEJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfZGV0YWlsJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==
larryllix Posted June 9, 2021 Posted June 9, 2021 (edited) 1 hour ago, LFMc said: Thanks again for putting me on to this item. So, let me ask you. I just need it to have a hardwired triggered input (preferably just supply power to it only) and a speaker output. I don't need a lot of volume. Looking at the specs, it seems I could hardware a trigger point to ground and then it would play a preselected sound file on startup, right? Also any idea of the speaker output wattage? or is it only a preamp? While looking at it on Amazon, they recommended this one also. It has all the ports I need built in with a built in amp of 3 watts. It looks to have everything I need including auto play on power up. Thoughts? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DK9SL6C/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B01DK9SL6C&pd_rd_w=8nhCy&pf_rd_p=91afecf5-8b2e-41e2-9f11-dc6992c6eaa1&pd_rd_wg=MF8ym&pf_rd_r=BD7D110AT8SGYWMYSA4P&pd_rd_r=03b065ca-c30a-4c13-b133-9d24ebb528d5&smid=A30QSGOJR8LMXA&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzNjRTMlZSR1hVU0REJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwODc3MTc5Mjk5TVdUVllBSkw0SyZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwOTA0MDkxMjhIRUYzNldaODFEJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfZGV0YWlsJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ== I do not own the adafruit unit. Ask @KSchexabout that one for better information. I went through this attempting to add some sound to a RPi project. After many website advices and trial I gave up on trying to i/f any Rpi to any Alexa box via bluetooth. I conclude the Alexa speakers are purposely not allowing RPi to talk to it. Many different units at both ends and many trials of "this works" software programs never bore any fruit. However, this was quite easy and no power supply, other than the USB power was required. You can drop just about any file (.MP3 etc.) on the player and it just plays, I believe it is even easier on a Win 10 PC. The speaker is not as large as it looks from the photos. https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B087D2BPBC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 With the interfacing required from your linked PCB device, (enclosure, PSU, cables, software etc. ), I think the speaker I linked to would be much simpler and on a similar pathway of hardware and software. I haven;t actually used the speaker yet but have proven it works with RPi and an easily downloaded app that works as a driver, once I figured out how to operate the sound mixers on a RPi. Edited June 9, 2021 by larryllix 1
KSchex Posted June 9, 2021 Posted June 9, 2021 Hi all. The FX sound module that I used requires an amp and of course 5v. It has 10 contact inputs that you short to ground to play the associated .wav file. To load the sounds you plug the raw module into your computer's USB. It looks like a memory device, just copy your wave files to it. The Adafruit FX that I am using does not have an audio amp on board so an external is needed. I use this with an Arduino WIFI R2. My ISY sends HTTP POST messages to play audible associated alarms; door open, etc. Hope this helps. 1 1
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