Mighty Mule Wireless Driveway Alarm, Motion Alarms for Cars with Long Range Base Station, Weatherproof Driveway Alert, Ignores Animals and People (FM231)

This is replacing a much older version of the same model. The older version had a snap on electrical connection between the computer module and the mass detecting rod at the end of the wire by the driveway. When trying to replace the batteries the snap on connection breaks and you are either forced to try to solder it back on or replace it. This newer version has a much better USB connection, which does not break when replacing the batteries. Great! The wire leading to the driveway is noticably shorter than the original but you can get a length of cable with USB connections to extend it.

I’m an old hermit living in a very rural section of Colorado and I hate surprises. My driveway is almost a half mile long and some of it is hidden by trees. I tried this magnetic type driveway alert because there are so many deer and elk that the infrared detectors were always going off.I’ve used one for over two years now and have been very happy with it. Occasionally it will stop working, but usually all that is required is a new set of batteries. Some reviews have said that theirs stopped working altogether . Mine did that once, where new batteries didn’t remedy the problem. I gave it some thought and reasoned that the detector and transmitter are running on only 3 volts from the two AA batteries, and it doesn’t take much resistance in the form of corrosion to stop that trickle of electrons. So I thoroughly cleaned the batteries and the compartment contacts, and inspected for other signs of corrosion. I also flipped all the dip switches back and forth a few times in case their internal contacts were slightly corroded from being out in the weather, covered as they are. If you try this, be sure to put the switches back exactly as they were, so they match the receiver’s setting. All this, and using quality batteries, seems to keep mine up and running.I put my sensor under a rock by the driveway and ran the cable up a tree, where I cable tied the transmitter. The literature says it will signal the base station from up to 400 feet. My transmitter is right at 800 feet from the base and works reliably. It is line of sight, the transmitter is up high, and there is likely no other interference.I just recently bought another Mighty Mule driveway alert as redundancy and as a back up, should the old one finally die. I’ve stationed that transmitter at 1100 feet down the drive (and up in a tree), and it seems to be working just fine.Snow doesn’t seem to bother it, and the critters don’t set it off. I can remember only one false alarm, at about two in the morning. After I settled down, I remembered hearing on the news that way north of here was getting a beautiful Aurora light show. Maybe that had something to do with it, maybe not.The base unit has a power light and a “visitor” light that shows when a vehicle was detected. It’s kind of useless to me since I drive by the detector on the way out and the way in. When I get home it’s, of course, always on because I’ve tripped it with my own car. A counter would be more handy to determine if another vehicle had come up the drive while I was gone. A minor complaint, but room for improvement. Other than that, it’s a great product so far.Addendum: it’s 2023 and both are still working well. Good product.

Never be surprised by unwanted guests.

Love the alarm to tell us some one is coming down the drive way. Super product!!!

I have been using this for about 3 weeks now and very happy with it. It was a replacement for an older Infrared alarm that stopped working. I have had 2 of the infrared alarms over the years and they never did work very well. They would alarm several times a day from birds, small animals, deer, even nearby branches blowing in the wind. Sometimes, vehicles coming down the drive would not be detected. So far the Mighty Mule has detected every vehicle that has gone past it and not one false alarm. Now if you need an alarm to notify you when a person enters your driveway then this may not work for you as it senses the change in the magnetic field as a vehicle passes. I live out in the country and the closest neighbor is over 1/4 mile away. If there is another drive way next to yours you may need to experiment with different locations to find one that works. My driveway is over 200 Ft. long so that makes the distance from the transmitter to the receiver over 200 FT. So far that has not been a problem. I did mount the receiver close to a window because we have metal siding that blocks all kinds of wireless signals. So if you live in a mobile home that is something to consider. Also there is some labor involved in installing it. The instructions say to bury the sensor 12 inches deep and as close to the driveway as possible. I only went down about 8 inches and mounted the transmitter about 6 Ft. back from the driveway. I also ran the cable in 3/4 pvc pipe to protect it. If you have moles as we do here this will save you a problem later on and pvc pipe is very cheep and available at any hardware store or home center. I purchased a 10 ft. length for less than $2.00. I would suggest that you dig a hole deep enough to position the sensor pipe without trying to hammer it in the ground. You may damage the cable. I used a 3/4 “sweep L” that is also available in the electrical section of any home center to make the bend from the horizontal to the vertical pipe. I know this sounds like a lot of trouble but it really isn’t. If you have a shovel that is all you need. A posthole digger is nice but not necessary. The cable is rated for direct burial so you don’t need to glue the pvc pipe. I would highly recommend this unit to anyone who needs to know when someone is coming down your driveway.