Remote boat monitoring in 2021

[capn_billl]

Originally Posted by Dave852

I use this, not sure of your location but I pay $10 per for an unlimited T-Mobile SIM card. Motion activated sends me a text if someone comes aboard.

https://m.reolink.com/us/product/reo...SABEgJnqvD_BwE

OOOH, the price has come down. What hot spot do you use?

Do you have one with an external antenna that can be cabin top mounnted?

[Dave852]

Originally Posted by capn_billl

OOOH, the price has come down. What hot spot do you use?



Do you have one with an external antenna that can be cabin top mounnted?

No hot spot, the camera has a SIM card so connection is directly to the cell towers

[coastalbrandon]

Originally Posted by sailjumanji

I am interested in motion sensor, but reports are too easy to set off false alarms. What sensor are you using?

I definitely recommend laser sensors for use on outdoor decks. Motion sensors can work ok when they're pointed straight down, but when they have a view of the horizon there can be all kinds of false alarms.

For indoors, IR motion sensors are triggered based on the movement of heat, which can be problematic in small spaces that have vents from HVAC systems (when the hot or cold air comes out of a vent it can be false-detected by a motion sensor). I don't see many problems with motion sensors inside of larger cruisers, it's more of a problem in 30-42' sailboat cabins.

[sailjumanji]

Originally Posted by coastalbrandon

I definitely recommend laser sensors for use on outdoor decks. Motion sensors can work ok when they're pointed straight down, but when they have a view of the horizon there can be all kinds of false alarms.



For indoors, IR motion sensors are triggered based on the movement of heat, which can be problematic in small spaces that have vents from HVAC systems (when the hot or cold air comes out of a vent it can be false-detected by a motion sensor). I don't see many problems with motion sensors inside of larger cruisers, it's more of a problem in 30-42' sailboat cabins.

Am thinking of trying one on the underside of a Catamaran hard top, outside. Would point down. Wireless and IR. If it doesn't work, then go to laser. Lasers require holes in the boat, and wires routed.

[coastalbrandon]

Originally Posted by sailjumanji

Am thinking of trying one on the underside of a Catamaran hard top, outside. Would point down. Wireless and IR. If it doesn't work, then go to laser. Lasers require holes in the boat, and wires routed.

That will work great! Holes in boats don’t go well together, haha. Pointing straight down is definitely the key. We have quite a few wireless motion sensors on hard top cats (Leopard, FP, etc) with no issues.

[mlydon]

I recently installed the Siren unit - last year my boat broke loose in a big storm - I recovered it, but NOTHING compares to not knowing where it was......

The siren system can send email and text alerts for broken geofence, sensor trips like high water or alarms, and has a couple of relays you can use to switch equipment on remotely.

He app shows me exactly where the boat is as well. The comms service works out to about $15 a month - WELL worth the expense in my opinion.

Matt