jpoje Posted March 9, 2012 Posted March 9, 2012 I was thinking of adding motion sensors outside, one near my gate and one near my boat. Would I be able to somehow use an i/o linc with my existing door bell, so that the motion sensor could trigger the door bell? Or is there something similar to a door bell that is insteon compatible, so that the motion sensor could trigger the bell sound inside the house? Also, I've read the motions rf range is 150 feet, but some people reviewing them say only about 30 feet. Anyone have experience using the motions outside and their reliability? Thanks for any and all suggestions.
LeeG Posted March 9, 2012 Posted March 9, 2012 The RF ranges are for clear line of sight to the Dual Band receiver. You will need to test the Motion Sensor in the required location to see if it can communicate with the closest Dual Band device. Placing a Dual Band device outside in a weather proof enclosure could help. Note the Insteon Motion Sensors are not weather proof. Another more expensive alternative is the Dakota Alert wireless devices. I am using two transmitters that are 200' away on the outside, transmitting to a Dakota Alert receiver in the house. The Dakota Alert receiver supports 4 different RF devices (channels) which I have connected to an EZIO6I to send Insteon signals.
LeeG Posted March 9, 2012 Posted March 9, 2012 Forgot to answer the door bell question. An I/O Linc Relay can be used to turn On the door bell. The I/O Linc Relay has a time setting that establishes how many seconds the Relay stays energized. I think X10 has a chime module that could be activated. The Dakota Alert receiver has built in chimes unique for each channel.
jpoje Posted March 9, 2012 Author Posted March 9, 2012 Just came from Smarthome website reading on Dakota. Would this item (EZSnsRF) be easier to use with the Dakota motion sensors than the EZI06I?
LeeG Posted March 9, 2012 Posted March 9, 2012 The EZSnsRF receives Dakota Alert RF directly sending Insteon On/Off messages in response. The EZIO6I can be used if the Dakota Alert receiver is used to receive the RF signal. I like the Dakota Alert receiver because it has the chimes built in. I started using the Dakota Alert equipment to achieve the RF range I needed. Later when I decided to integrate the Dakota Alert signals into the Insteon did I add the EZIO6I driven by the c-form relays built into the Dakota Alert receiver.
jpoje Posted March 9, 2012 Author Posted March 9, 2012 I will do a little more reading on Dakota as it looks like the best way to go. Thanks for the help.
LeeG Posted March 9, 2012 Posted March 9, 2012 I've used Dakota Alert for years, monitoring mail delivery, driveway access, high water level at the dock, and have been very satisfied. I have an EZSnsRF but have not done any comparisons regarding relative range, etc. The native Dakota Alert transmitters to the Dakota Alert receiver have operated flawlessly for several years. A new battery in the transmitters about once a year is all that is necessary. I also use the small pager when I am expecting a delivery. Lets me move around the property and still know when something comes down the drive.
jpoje Posted March 10, 2012 Author Posted March 10, 2012 Did some reading on the EZSnsRF. Would this device possibly allow me to use my current RF driveway device (mighty mule driveway probe/has 4 DIP switches) and integrate it into the ISY? I thought I could start with this device and then work on purchasing the Dakota devices. What device are you using to monitor the mailbox? Thanks again for all your helpful information.
LeeG Posted March 10, 2012 Posted March 10, 2012 I doubt the Mighty Mule works with the Dakota Alert equipment or the EZSnsRF. The advertised range is less than Dakota Alert and the Dakota Alert uses a 10 bit switch code. The EZSnsRF is designed specifically for Dakota Alert equipment. If the Might Mule receiver has a c-form relay it could be connected to an I/O Linc Sensor to generate an Insteon command. I use a buried magnetic sensor that detects the mail carrier vehicle. I tried various devices (not Dakota Alert) that mounted on the mailbox itself but none had the needed range. The magnetic sensor has a sensitivity adjustment which I lowered so it takes a vehicle pulling up to the mailbox to trip the alarm. Was not sure how it would work in the beginning but since the mailbox attached devices were not reliable I did not have much to lose. After dropping the sensitivity to prevent cars driving by from tripping the sensor it has worked very well for several years. I use a similar magnetic sensor for the driveway alarm. Tried various motion based devices but they all false tripped from deer that roam the area.
jpoje Posted March 11, 2012 Author Posted March 11, 2012 What brand magnetic sensor are you using for driveway and mailbox? I thought I read ezsnsrf was compatible with other rf devices but they only specify dakota products, thats why I thought it may possibly work with MM. It doesnt have contacts so iolinc wouldnt work either. Thanks again for all the suggestions.
Brian H Posted March 11, 2012 Posted March 11, 2012 I believe it is any Dakota Series 3000 Transmitters for the EZSnsRF. Included in their line of series 3000 devices.
LeeG Posted March 11, 2012 Posted March 11, 2012 I use Dakota Alert WPT-3000 sensors at the mailbox and the driveway. The sensors use to come with different buried cable lengths as they cannot be spliced. The mailbox cable is 50’ longer (from memory) as it is located further away. I positioned both sensor transmitters a little closer to the house to avoid having to send signals through a heavily wooded section of property. Both transmitters are a good 200’ from the house. It looks like some of the security distributors are selling Dakota Alert packages. There is a WPA-3000 package which includes one wireless magnetic probe and the wireless receiver. Don't remember packages being available back when I got my equipment. It may be less expensive to get a package rather than buy the individual pieces as I did. I suggest asking Simplehomenet the question about the EZSnsRF supporting other than Dakota Alert. I always thought it was limited to Dakota Alert equipment specifically but I could be wrong.
Brian H Posted March 11, 2012 Posted March 11, 2012 Since each manufacturer usually uses a different RF frequency and data encoding. I would doubt anything but e Dakota 3000 series device will work with it. I know the Simplehomenet sensors tab seems to say many RF devices but the exact page for the unit specifies Dakota 3000.
jpoje Posted March 11, 2012 Author Posted March 11, 2012 Thank you for all the detailed information. So, I think I will start out with the Dakota 3000 series buried magnetic probe and receiver kit to replace the MMule probe I currently have burried along my driveway and one Dakata outdoor wireless motion device to mount on my boat to protect electronics (and hopefully dog won't be able to set it off). Both of these Dakota items will work with the one receiver and chime a different chime when triggered. I will then just need to decide which way to incorporate these two items into the ISY99 either with the EZSnsRF or the EZIO6I. In either case, I will still be able to add two add'l wireless Dakota items to the one Dakota receiver/chime and to whichever simplenet device I choose.
LeeG Posted March 11, 2012 Posted March 11, 2012 Once you have the 3000 receiver I would go with the EZIO6I as it is less expensive than the EZSnsRF and it eliminates any range question. Of course if more than 4 Dakota Alert transmitters will be used and sharing channels is not appropriate the EZSnsRF could be the better choice. Hope you have as much success with your Dakota Alert equipment as I have.
jpoje Posted March 11, 2012 Author Posted March 11, 2012 I think the pool equipment will be the next project and I'll be back for more suggestions and advice. Thanks again for all the help I really appreciate it.
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