WIRELESS MOTION ALERT

I have read several negative reviews about the Chamberlain CWA2000 Wireless Motion Alert system... many of which compared it to its predecessor. I have used the former version with success for 3 years and I was disappointed that it had been discontinued and replaced with this model and that it was not compatible with my old sensors.
Despite the negative reviews -mostly about the low volume of the base station - I decided to purchase one anyhow because the price is so attractive. I figured I would send it back if I wasn't satisfied. It works fine! The old model allowed the base station to be put on mute for one hour. That feature no longer exists - but the sound can be raised or lowered which helps compensate if someone will be working in one of my remote buildings - tripping the sensor repeatedly - which is when we would use the mute feature. Another new feature that I haven't tested yet is that this new version can handle 8 sensors, each with a unique signal [1 beep - 8 beeps]. Its predecessor could only be trained for 4.
I live in a heavily wooded & hilly location with a very long driveway and several outbuildings that need to be protected. This unit will work for 300-400+ yards dependably. The volume is adjustable and is certainly audible all over my house. The earlier units may have been "fixed" because the base station makes plenty of noise now. I suggest buying several base stations and training them all to the same codes [1 beep for driveway, 2 beeps for shed, 3 beeps for outside the garage, 4 beeps for inside the garage, etc.]. I also strongly recommend that you use lithium batteries for the sensors if they are to be used in a location where the temperature goes below 20degrees F. Alkaline batteries freeze around 15 degrees F; lithium's are good to 20 below zero F. Another trick I use is to put two sensors on my driveway just in case the first one misses. It's my "fail safe". Try these and have some patience in deciding where you will place the sensors. Don't point them towards the sun or prevailing snow storms winds. Use lithium's and expect 10+ months out of each set of AA batteries.

I was a bit skeptical about this product... mainly because of some negative reviews of other Chamberlain driveway alarms. I purchased the cwa2000 because of its increased range. I have to say that I am delighted with its operation so far. I have not had a single false alarm, nor has it ever failed to alert me when someone pulls into the drive. The sensor is approx. 350 - 400 ft. from the base station, and sends the signal perfectly through light trees. I like it so much, in fact, that I bought another unit for my parents as a Christmas gift.

It is interesting that the unit operates perfectly in terms of detection, however, the volume of the alert signal is so low, on the highest possible volume, that it renders the unit useless. The objective of an alert system is to alert, if one can't hear the alarm, the unit becomes no more than a paper weight. I have communicated with the company and have received its generic messages in return. Even after three such messages no one has taken the time to answer my original question which was "What can I do to increase the volume?" They told me that they are working on a new item but cannot give me a date for its release. The problem with that is that I couldn't care less about a new item because I purchased, in good faith, the "old" item and it is the one I want to get to operate as it should. As it stands, I wouldn't purchase the "new" item on a bet. The support from this company is totally lacking. Anyone who is dissatisfied, as I am, should write to the new CEO, he takes the helm on April 5 2010. The name and address is:

James Roberts CEO
The Chamberlain Group Inc.
845 Larch Avenue
Elmhurst, Illinois 60126 USA

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 124 reviews  3.3 out of 5 stars