Getting intermittent alerts on your driveway alarm or not getting the full range out of it can be frustrating to say the least.
Luckily, there are steps you can take to reduce or eliminate those intermittent signals and range issues. All of the driveway alarms that we sell should work 100% of the time provided that they are used within the limitations of the driveway alarm as it relates to the area where it is installed.
Watch our quick video or read through our troubleshooting steps below so you can easily find the source of your issue and get it resolved.
Guardline Alarm Range Troubleshooting
1. You're using your driveway alarm beyond the range of the device.
Every driveway alarm states its operating range (ex. 500', 1/4 mile). As a general rule, as long as you stay under that range, your driveway alarm should work. Keep in mind, the closer you get to the end of your devices range, the greater the likelihood that your device will be affected by interference.
To resolve this, bring your sensor closer to your house, or wherever your receiver is located.
2. Physical interference between your sensor and receiver.
All driveway alarms can handle some amount of physical interference that occurs between your sensor and receiver. This type of interference can be caused by trees, hills, walls, cars and buildings, among other things.
It's important to understand that the more physical interference there is between your sensor and receiver, the shorter your maximum range will be. For example, if you have a 500' range driveway alarm but you have a heavily wooded lot between your sensor and receiver, your maximum range may only be 300' feet.
To resolve this, you will have to place your sensor and receiver in a location that has line of sight, or at least in the location with the least amount of physical interference between your sensor and receiver.
3. Local Interference at your Sensor or Receiver
Where you install your sensor and receiver can greatly affect how your system behaves. As a general rule of thumb, you want to avoid or isolate your sensor and receiver from anything that can cause interference. The main sources of interference that should be avoided are:
For Receivers:
- Wireless routers
- Metal structures
- Close proximity to other wireless devices
- Locating the router in the basement
For Sensors:
- Close proximity to utilities or high voltage
- Mounting your sensor on the far side of a tree (so that the tree is in between the sensor and receiver)
- Mounting your sensor on or near a metal pole, gate or structure
If you follow the recommendations above, you will be able to get the maximum distance that you can with minimal interference based on your driveway alarm and the local conditions where your driveway alarm is set up.
