Inexpensive transmitter and receiver?

I need an inexpensive receiver to hook up to a high intensity speaker (I'm thinking a smoke alarm speaker). I'm going to place it in another device (dvd player maybe) and mail it to myself in an attempt to figure out what unit in my apartment building is stealing my packages (the common area is locked and this has happened a few times now, once within hours of drop off).

Can anyone recommend a receiver that will run for a week or so without draining its batteries?

I'm thinking about just picking up an inexpensive R/C toy and pulling the receiver out of that but I need at least a few rooms worth of range and I am unsure how much power the receiver itself requires. Anyone know?

Thanks,

Dave

Reply to
David
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Interesting, Dave.

You could also plant a transmitter into the device and use crude direction finding techniques to locate it. It could be powered by the DVD power supply, or by its own battery.

To increase battery life, key the transmitter with a timer so it is on only a few minutes each hour. Battery should last a long time.

Chuck

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Reply to
Chuck

They sell direction finders for finding lost model airplanes. The transmitter is very light, and they are cheap. search the web for 'rc airplane locator'.

The other possibility would be to put an airhorn in the package, triggered to go off when it is opened. That would wake up the entire building. If you rigged it properly, s/he wouldn't be able to quiet it for a few minutes. Maybe the painfully loud noise would be enough punishment to make them stop.

However, suppose you figure out who is doing it. What then? The cops won't take your word for it and arrest the creep. You can't break into their apartment. You could confront them, but that might lead to violence. Instead, why not use general delivery?

Regards, Bob Monsen

Reply to
Bob Monsen

Hi Chuck,

I wouldn't know exactly how to proceed with the direction finding- I'm hoping for a rather simple solution. Plus there's no gurantee that they'll be plugging the DVD player in.

I like the timer idea if a typical receiver would drain its batteries in less than a week but otherwise I would like the option to turn on the buzzer at any time.

I suppose I could pulse the transmitter once a minute and then latch the buzzer on after a signal is received but my goal is to keep everything as simple as possible. The less I need to order the better, since my orders are being stolen in the first place, LOL.

Dave

Reply to
David

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Suggestion: A battery operated baby monitor; mail the transmitter switched on with extra battery/batteries hooked up for longer life. The receiver could be mains powered and left on all the time in your apartment until you hear the package being opened. I bought one recently for $20 and presently use it to transmit a house alarm across the street to a neighbours when I'm not home.

Reply to
terryS

Bob, I love the air-horn idea. Won't be quite as simple to set up, but I love the idea.

I don't expect the police to arrest the person based on my word but I plan to call to file a report on the previous mail loses the day the package goes missing. At that point I will tell the officer what I did and if s/he isn't interested in pursuing it further, that's their choice. I expect they would be willing to knock on the creep's door. The creep would be confused and flustered and if the police are excellent at intimidating- if they asked what the noise was and if they could come in and take a look around, they'd be busted. A few years ago when I had a problem with a neighbor the police were happy to go knocking on doors, I don't see why they would respond differently in this case. I believe it is the same neighbor but I would like to be certain before throwing accusations around.

Reply to
David

Or just a cmos long delay counter and timer to sound the alarm after a predetermined time.

Awhile back I looked into using a timer counter to check the time between maintenance intervals on some equipment - using a large cap to keep it happy when it was unplugged. Ultra low current drain - months on a few AA batteries - and maybe a separate alarm battery?

You have another option - put the transmitter in the DVD player and have it send out a chirp when the DVD is plugged in, or taken from the box - assuming the thief will use the player himself . . .

Reply to
default

How about some really serious red dye?

John

Reply to
John Larkin

There are a lot of good and creative ideas but I want a solution that will:

- not destroy someone else's property - function "on demand," regardless of if the dvd player has been plugged in or removed from the box - will clearly identify which apartment unit the dvd player is in

I always like hearing more ideas but aside from battery life and transmitter range, what are the downsides to the r/c buzzer idea? I will ensure the transmitter range is sufficient but the battery life is the one variable I have to investigate more.

David

Reply to
David

will:

That puts my plastic explosive idea to rest I guess.

Reply to
Vince Morgan

Why not just run a webcam from your door to see wh is doing it and then you have proof to go to the police

I recently bought a web cam ( labtech) for about ^gbp and it has a motion detector that runs a video recording only when movement is detected OR it can be set to record everything over a set period of time

It is quite small and , above eye level it would not be noticed

I admit you would have to have some sort of extension lead but I would have thought that woudld be easy to do

Reply to
Sparkfish1

HOW ABOUT AN old mobile phone ? coupled to your speaker alarm

Reply to
Sparkfish1

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Why do the responses to your post mention "the police" instead of postal inspectors? Postal insprctors have the power to make arrests, you know. Someone has stolen your mail (a federal offense), and you should contact the post office immediately if not sooner, as the saying goes.

Reply to
gearhead

As a backup idea...

in case the other ideas fail, wrap the DVD player in very bright, noticeable gift wrap paper and check the trash after it's been stolen. It should be mixed in with the culprit's trash. It's not legal proof, and if the guy's bright he'll put it in someone else's trash, but it'll help *you* zero in on the perp.

The mail service may take exception to posting anything dodgy through it (like active radio transmitters or chemical dye bombs) so, have you considered faking a box that has gone through the mail and putting it there yourself, maybe re-using an old box with stamps etc on it. Would be cheaper too!

The police probably won't accept any evidence except video surveillance.

--
Nemo
Reply to
Nemo

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