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

On Sat, 12 Jan 2008 11:38:10 -0500, "David" <davidd31415@yoowhoo.com>
wrote:

>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
>

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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"David" <davidd31415@yoowhoo.com> wrote in message
news:eJqdndtOYe5SbBXanZ2dnUVZ_hWdnZ2d@comcast.com...
>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
>
>

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

"Chuck" <nospam@nospam.at.all> wrote in message
news:i1vho3576r1j93jgr3d57v1mvt5hi75okf@4ax.com...
>
> 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

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

On Sat, 12 Jan 2008 11:38:10 -0500, "David" <davidd31415@yoowhoo.com>
wrote:

>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
>
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 . . .
--

"Bob Monsen" <rcmonsen@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:Sp8ij.39036$Pv2.20828@newssvr23.news.prodigy.net...
> 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?

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.