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Alarm monitoring for my boat moored 2km away - any ideas ? — Parallax Forums

Alarm monitoring for my boat moored 2km away - any ideas ?

Cluso99Cluso99 Posts: 18,069
edited 2010-12-18 17:14 in Propeller 1
I now have my boat near the house and we are not living on it currently. Shortly I will have to move it from outside the house to a fixed mooring where security will become an issue.

So, I need to build some alarm system where I can monitor it remotely at the house. The boat will be less than 2km (1 mile) away but there are 3 rows of houses in between so I do not have line of sight.

The alarm itself is simple enough, but I am looking at ways of remotely monitoring it. Any ideas of wireless technology for that distance?

An alternative is to connect to the internet wirelessly, but that costs $ each month (for the boat end).

Comments

  • BasilBasil Posts: 380
    edited 2010-12-08 20:46
    SMS message on prepay account? Unless you get broken into a lot I don't see you running out of credit :D
  • 10gigbill10gigbill Posts: 79
    edited 2010-12-08 20:48
    Being a ham radio person I would have a digitally encoded transmitter of a few watts
    Send an alarm. It could send an I’m OK signal once every few hours. The signal would only need to be a second or so in length. If you wanted to be real tricky it could be spread spectrum and no one would ever know. (I doubt they would ever notice a one second “blurp” either.)
  • TubularTubular Posts: 4,717
    edited 2010-12-08 22:20
    One word...... Fireworks

    :lol:

    (might also scare them enough that they jump into the sea)
  • T ChapT Chap Posts: 4,223
    edited 2010-12-08 22:28
    If you have the power to keep something running, what about the Xtend Module

    http://www.digi.com/products/wireless/long-range-multipoint/xtend-module.jsp#overview

    Ranges stated up to 40 miles.
  • Cluso99Cluso99 Posts: 18,069
    edited 2010-12-09 00:16
    I have plenty of battery power (510AH 12V AGM batteries plus the engine battery), although I now need to fit solar panels. I got by without panels before as we were either on a marine with mains, or cruising where we often had to do some motoring. However, we just sailed from the Gold Coast to Gosford (~450NM) without using the motors at all and took 55hrs.

    BTW I do have a loud PIR alarm on the boat now. I just need to be advised at home. Would also be nice to be able to get low res camera data from it. Nothing like being able to say "Hey, you in the red shirt, get off my boat".

    I run a Next-G cellular USB modem for my internet access off my laptop. However, this becomes expensive if it's a second one just for security. But I am still considering it.
  • Toby SeckshundToby Seckshund Posts: 2,027
    edited 2010-12-09 01:40
    The alarm would let you know that there was a problem, I would go for the peace of mind of having a tracker built on so that you could tell the Coastguards where it was heading.

    Failing that, pop up to the north and get a croc.
  • Cluso99Cluso99 Posts: 18,069
    edited 2010-12-09 02:18
    I could have brought one back with me when we did our cruise north in 2006. I don't see anyone stealing the boat, just the equipment and perhaps vandalism.
  • Toby SeckshundToby Seckshund Posts: 2,027
    edited 2010-12-09 02:21
    Vandalism is my worst hate. I find it more acceptable if the stuff was knicked.

    If it is damaged I feel compelled to try and fix it.
  • TonyWaiteTonyWaite Posts: 219
    edited 2010-12-09 04:12
    Hi Cluso,

    How about using standard industrial FM remote control hardware?

    For example, I've used units from this company (UK locale):www.rfsolutions.co.uk

    These units or similar are easy to embed, with 6km range.

    Regards,

    T o n y
  • Erik FriesenErik Friesen Posts: 1,071
    edited 2010-12-09 04:21
    The Xtend should work, unless there are serious obstructions. You can go with a directional antenna aimed at the horizon to boost the signal if needed. We have a 3 mile non line of site (trees) link using xtends and directionals, and it works well, as in -85 -90 dbm rssi.

    Or, you could use three or four 900mhz xbee-pro digimesh.
  • lardomlardom Posts: 1,659
    edited 2010-12-09 06:15
    Cluso, you are aware of the large crowd awaiting a solution to the problem of how to monitor their cars and homes. I'm waiting for a device where I could say "I wouldn't do that, buddy!" Oh yeah.
  • kwinnkwinn Posts: 8,697
    edited 2010-12-09 07:22
    How about putting signs like this at access points to the boat and backing it up with audible warnings like:

    "Warning...Intrusion defense will activate in 3 seconds."
    "Warning...Intrusion defense will activate in 2 seconds."
    "Warning...Intrusion defense will activate in 1 second."

    Perfect job for a propeller and it might prevent a smash and grab or give you enough time to get down there.
  • John KauffmanJohn Kauffman Posts: 653
    edited 2010-12-09 08:54
    Could you get residents in one of the intervening houses to help, perhaps xbee receiver to spinneret to their router.
  • jrjr.jrjr. Posts: 45
    edited 2010-12-09 10:17
    Ubiquiti Bullet 2HP and an OMNI would probably work.

    units are about 80.00 US, but the shipping to AU might be an additional 3K.....

    Mount on the mast & mount on the house to a CPVC 2" pipe.

    They have 5V RS232 outputs on board, if you're Linux creative.

    You're gonna need to know some reasonable knowledge about routers/linux

    Units are designed for Outdoor use, CAT5 wiring.

    I have 2 locations at 1 mile with hand wound OMNI's

    Power consumption is reasonable.

    Quickest method would be a script that the Local computer emits a ping that returns OK if all is well.
    else problem to investiagte.

    The local alarm kills the power to the unit if there is an alarm condition
    this also would tell you if the battery has died.

    Some of their more expensive units would probably support a IP Camera arrangement.

    jr
  • Cluso99Cluso99 Posts: 18,069
    edited 2010-12-09 15:46
    Quick update: Had kids on the boat last night and it is in a canal outside our house. Neighbour turned on spotlight and they fled. Just about to check but looks ok from here. I can setup a remote connection to the house from here but will be temporary. I don't have line of sight where the boat will ultimately be :(
  • RavenkallenRavenkallen Posts: 1,057
    edited 2010-12-09 15:52
    I am working on a cellphone control project that will monitor my lab when i am away. It will use a cellphone in my lab connected to a hands free headset, which is in turn connected to a electret mic. When i call the cellphone it will automatically answer the call and i can send it DTMF(via the buttons). The mic in my lab will hear that and based upon the intensity of the signal, it will know what button was pressed AND in turn, activate buzzers, lights, memos, status reports...etc....the technology works, i just have to develop on it a little more...
  • groggorygroggory Posts: 205
    edited 2010-12-10 14:00
    Ravenkallen wrote: »
    I am working on a cellphone control project that will monitor my lab when i am away. It will use a cellphone in my lab connected to a hands free headset, which is in turn connected to a electret mic. When i call the cellphone it will automatically answer the call and i can send it DTMF(via the buttons). The mic in my lab will hear that and based upon the intensity of the signal, it will know what button was pressed AND in turn, activate buzzers, lights, memos, status reports...etc....the technology works, i just have to develop on it a little more...

    Awesome use of old school DTMF. Low bandwidth, but low cost.
  • PliersPliers Posts: 280
    edited 2010-12-10 15:21
    Most of these post are about communications. Certainly a needed function.

    My thoughts are about detection before they get close.
    Audio detection.Heat detection. Wave detection.
    Perhaps a sensor net of sorts around your boat.
    Parallax has a X-band thingy that might work.

    Most likely they are not motoring up to your boat, that would be easier to detect.

    After detection, some good photos are needed to identify the problem.
    Before you snap their picture, make a noise near the camera so that they look towards the camera. Smile.

    I love sailing, but currently have no boat.
  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    edited 2010-12-11 03:27
    I think you need a "boat sitter". As I'm now knee deep in snow here I volunteer my services until May 2011:)
  • Toby SeckshundToby Seckshund Posts: 2,027
    edited 2010-12-11 04:55
    At one place I worked at the place would get broken into quite often, the CCTV only showed the top view of people with hoods, facing downwards. I put one of the cameras on the skirting boards, facing up and added a PIR to set off a short burst of white noise by another camera. Both had better pics on them ( not that anybody ever got caught ).
  • bsnutbsnut Posts: 521
    edited 2010-12-13 22:03
    I have a idea for you and is XBee extend module would be best way to handled this. What you are wanting to do on your boat, is what I'm doing on our ship, that I am lead member of.

    I will be interest in what you end up finally doing.
  • Kevin BrownKevin Brown Posts: 44
    edited 2010-12-18 12:53
    I posted my version of a similar project just the basics are working now...call and send sms but should do what you want as it sits now I posted it under PropVMS



    Kevin
    KI4SCC
  • ColeyColey Posts: 1,112
    edited 2010-12-18 14:45
    @cluso99

    I wouldn't mess about making anything, why reinvent the wheel anyway.

    I can recommend the FE300 GSM Transmiter from Inner Range, it can run as a standalone alarm panel with 8 inputs and 8 outputs. We use them here in the UK for protecting empty buildings, we just run them off car batteries, the best thing is they can send information to cell phones as an SMS or to a manned 24Hr monitoring station.

    They are an Aussie company so you should be able to source them locally too.....

    http://www.innerrange.com/products.php?id=54

    Regards,

    Coley
  • Cluso99Cluso99 Posts: 18,069
    edited 2010-12-18 17:14
    Thanks all. I have just recieved a Telit GE864-Quad GSM transceiver that uses AT commands. So initially I will sent SMS messages.
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