Chamberlain RWA-300R Wireless Alert System
by THE REPORTER
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Our Price: $159.00 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $74.99 (click here) Category: Tools See more product details |
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Chamberlain RWA-300R Wireless Alert System
Customer Review: "The Reporter" Wireless Alert System
Summary: 5 Stars
The Reporter is everything it promissed to be. I have the sensor set up inside my 24 X 24 garage to monitor two windows and the entrance door. After a recent theft (through an unlocked window) I wanted something to make me feel less vulnerable to another break in. The Reporter reliably transmits 50' from inside my garage to the receiver in the house. When I forget to disable the transmitter when going out to the garage, my wife reminds me I need to shut it off, so I know it's working properly.
I would like to make two suggestions to the manufacturer. #1 - Consider adding an accessory relay output to the sensor that is similar to that which is on the receiver. (This could be used to turn on lights/alarm to ward off theives if I am not at home to hear the receiver alarm) I know this could be done from the receiver but that doesn't keep in line with this being a wireless system if you have to run wires from the receiver back out to where the sensor is located. #2 - An option of having an AC power supply hooked up to the sensor with the batteries as back up. This would insure that a constant power supply is available, extending the life of the batteries as a back up and would also provide the power necessary if suggestion #1 was added.
Overall 5 out of 5 stars because it performs in my application as advertised, it is well made and the price is reasonable.
Customer Review: Works intermittently, no false alarms, very basic
Summary: 4 Stars
Pros: No false alarms so far, relay contacts for external device, AC power for receiver with battery back-up
Cons: Basic no frills, no volume adjustment, hideous sound, limited sensitivity adjustment, works sometimes, doesn't work sometimes
Advice: I installed it 3-ft high on a tree right next to the driveway. Set sensor dip switches for short (15-ft) range and low sensitivity, both opposite the default settings, to reduce false alarms. This worked for a few days, then had to be set back to default settings (30-ft and high sensitivity) to work at all! At this height and sensitivity, it detects people, cars, deer and elk within 15 ft, does not detect dogs, cats, rabbits, or coyotes. Oddly, it does not detect an adult on a bicycle 5-ft away! There appears to be a delay in response, and a bicycle close to the sensor goes by too quickly to be sensed.
I hooked an indoor light to the relay contacts (requires some wiring) now a would-be intruder will see a light come on briefly.
The small rain shield keeps out vertical rain but in NM rain and snow blow sideways. Time will tell how it holds up to the weather, it has already gotten water in it and doesn't work when its wet. The sensor is about 700-ft from the house with a fairly clear view, receiver is in window facing diveway, marginal signal, transmitter antenna has to be positioned just right.
Customer Review: The Chamberlain RWA-300R system has been 100% Reliable!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have had this system for several years, and have just ordered two additional motion sensors - which prompted this review. I highly recommend this product.
First of all, the range is fantastic compared to other wireless systems that I've tried. Although my yard isn't that large, it has no problem transmitting 100 feet into any location of the house. It is rated for 1,000 feet!
The sensor unit has had no problems through several years of weather. The battery life is great (I replace them annually just to be safe - 4AA).
Another nice aspect of the sensor is that the angle of motion sensing seems to allow for pets to go unnoticed underneath the device - so long as you mount it high enough off the ground. Mine are at ~5 feet.
The base unit buzzer is distinct and can be heard easily. I do wish that it had a volume adjustment, but the built-in volume setting seems right to be able to hear from from most locations within the average size home. There are a set of relay contacts which can be used to integrate with an external device (light, 2nd buzzer, etc..). This requires your own ingenuity to implement, but it is a simple enough project if you want it.
Bottom line - It's a great product. If you're looking for a reliable wireless motion detector that will alert you inside, this is the one.
Customer Review: read before you buy!
Summary: 3 Stars
I had tried 2 other cheaper sensors before buying this one. Here are a few things I wish I had known before buying it:
1. The sound to alert you when the sensor is tripped is very quiet, you would be lucky to hear it with the TV on. It does have a place for you to hook in another devise such as a door bell to make a louder sound. I hooked up the door bell just fine but of course this meant spending the money for a bell and wiring it myself.
2. The 900' range on this must have been tested on the beach. The item struggled to be successful at a little over 100' with no obstacles between the sensor and the base unit except for the wall of my house.
3. The customer service that Chamberlain provided over the phone was excellent. The did help me to get the sensor to work for my purposes but as far as it working to the advertised specifications even they would admit that 900' was a stretch.
Thus far it has produced no false alarms like cheaper ones and after finally adjusting the sensor it has tripped for every vehicle and even for some stray dogs that were trying to dig under the gate! It takes some time to get it right but for me it was worth it to have a reliable driveway sensor.
Customer Review: Worked Great, then got intermittent
Summary: 4 Stars
Got this unit from "catchacall.com" online. Paid a whole lot more, about $100. Man, I loved it at first. Work 100% of the time. We live in the country and I have it on a long lane. About 800-1000' from sensor to reciever. I was skeptical, but it worked awesome in Aug and Sept. This is mostly a line of sight install. Sensor about 3.5 feet off the ground. Reciever sits almost 9 feet in the air on top of our kitchen cabinets so I could get the reciever antenna as high as possible. Like I said, it was 100% for Aug and Sept, but now it's Oct and temps are cooling to the 40's in Central Illinois. This week (mid Oct) it became intermittent. New battery did not help. Not sure what's wrong. I'm sending it back to the manufacture for repair/replace. I love it if it worked like it did in the warm months?? I hope it can continue to work well. I must add that when I got this item and opened the box, it LOOKED very cheap and flimsy. ALso, the instruction manual was a photo copy?? I handle the unit very tenderly since it looks like the reciever could fall apart in my hands! Maybe it did? Who knows? - DK, Tremont, IL (outside of Peoria, IL) email if you have questions: 60745@myswa.com