This isn’t the cheapest solution but I’m using it and have video that shows it’s working, day and night. I just planted some rye grass in the front to prevent soil erosion until I can plant buffalo and some other native grasses in the spring. (I live in Jonestown Texas). I was a buffet for the deer and I could only scare them off when I was home and awake. The Deers ate $2k of plants when I was putting in the lawn and I wish I had this setup then.
You’ll need to be a little savvy but I’m using Netgear’s Arlo 720HD camera’s (cheaper than the new version) and the IFTTT application to connect the motion sensing of the camera’s to the particular zone I want to fire off when the motion is detected. The Arlo’s now with with IFTTT and can do cute stuff like turn a light on when motion is sense, blah blah and the Rachio also works with IFTTT and you an tell it to turn on This zone for say 1 minute.
I have a large front yard divided into 4 zones. The Cameras are weather proof and the IR works well and sees motion going across the field of view about 15-20 feet. Camera’s are wireless and have no wires to run. I just needed to put my base station in a window close to the cameras since it’s not the best at distance and going through stone an stucco with wire mess in it. I small property would work better.
Put the Arlo cameras in sprinkler zones / problem areas so you can tell IFTTT if it sees motion, to fire off zone X for 1+ minutes. I had an issue where the sprinkler was spraying the camera enough that is was setting off the motion and it made a continues loop. I fixed that buy installing them higher and not in a direct shot. Don’t point at any active areas like streets and sidewalks or you’ll have them going off at every car or person walking by. They can’t cover all your yard and only a 20 foot section but what I’ve figured out was where they were coming from and mounted the cameras in their path. I also found one minute to be sufficient to scare them away. I didn’t want a huge water bill and was glad to see the IFTTT/Rachio connection had 1 minute as an option. Plus, if you see the video’s, you’ll see that the deer hear the hissing from the heads as the zones start and with mine, by the time the water makes it to the head the time they’re running is less than 45 seconds. Love watching the deer run for their lives in the video. If I could get them to stop kicking up the grass as they take off would be a bonus but not a show stopper.
After your have your Arlo app setup and detecting motion where you want them, fire up the IFTTT app and connect it to your Rachio and Arlo’s by giving it your login and passwords for them both. You’ll create an “Applet” for each camera you have monitoring. Create a new “Applet” and add the the Arlo camera that you want setup to monitor motion. You’ll see the name of the camera. Hit Next and setup the applet to connect to your Rachio and select the zone name and how many minute’s you wanted to run it. Save and turn it on. I”m not an expert at IFTTT but it seems to not have to many other options but only IF That happens in that widget, THEN do that in this other widget.
Sorry if someone posted this as an option but I looked before contributing and didn’t see anyone suggest this route. Also, if you have question’s on the solution or want me to send you a video or pictures of the setup, let me know. OR if there is a way to post here let me know and I’ll look for a way too.
Also separate from the automated pest control using the Rachio, part of my yard is protected Havahart’s Motion Activated Sprinkler that detects me from about 100 ft away and sounds like a machine gun and even surprises me when I’m not suspecting it. I also have the more expensive Orbit’s with the option to connect other sprinklers that would activate when the orbit does but the water drains out of the added one unless you have it uphill of the orbit. The but noise it makes isn’t as loud as the Havahart.
Figured out how to add a video in the link text below. I have the free cloud storage and this link will stop working in seven day from today, 1-4-17.
System Scaring Two Deer Off - Video
-John
Such a creative and useful way to use the IFTTT integration, and I guess the $2k in lost plants was a good motivator too! I would love to see some pictures of your setup- you can upload them using this button at the top of the text box when typing your post:
