Neat letterbox monitor

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Neat letterbox monitor

neb

11294 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10018

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#230389 22-Feb-2018 02:36

Just noticed this pop up on Kickstarter, it's an M2M/NB-IoT based sensor that alerts you via SMS or email when it detects a change in an area, originally designed to tell you when snail mail has arrived but you can use it for all sorts of other something-has-changed scenarios. I plan to use it during the winter to avoid unnecessary rain-soaked trips out to the letterbox...

Goosey

3016 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 870

Subscriber

#1961965 22-Feb-2018 07:24

or you could buy a mail flag?

:-)

We have a locked mail box, so the rule of thumb is "see junk mail...given you are driving past it at least twice a day".....then go clear it.

NZ post only delivers 3 days a week now and I think we are pretty standardised on this beig Thurs,Fri,Sat.

That said, we only get 2-3 addressed mail per month. Couriers come to the door.

SumnerBoy

2079 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 306

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#1962001 22-Feb-2018 08:30

I have been looking for (or thinking of building) something like this for a while. Will definitely have a look!

kryptonjohn

2523 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 953

Lifetime subscriber

#1962007 22-Feb-2018 08:37

Goosey:

or you could buy a mail flag?

:-)

I thought those flags are for rural letterboxes when the postie collects you outbound mail - so he knows to stop rather than just drive by?

nutbugs

272 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 47

Lifetime subscriber

#1962071 22-Feb-2018 09:20

I also have been on the lookout for something like this, will definitely be checking this out.

We are rural and still get daily (weekday) delivery. We work from home so don't always pass the letterbox which is 500m away. A nice walk on a sunny day, not so much in the middle of winter!

And yes, the flag is to indicate outgoing mail is in the box.

reven

3748 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 874

Trusted

#1962072 22-Feb-2018 09:23

pretty sure insects would trigger the motion and cause a lot of false alarms.....

Dulouz

887 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 384

#1962124 22-Feb-2018 10:49

I quite enjoy my trips out to the letterbox regardless if there is mail or not.

Amanon

Apple TV

Stream your favourite shows now on Apple TV (affiliate link).

plas

456 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 59

#1962154 22-Feb-2018 11:43

Shame its SMS only.

cadman

1014 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 557
Inactive user

#1962228 22-Feb-2018 13:55

Seems to me it's a solution to a rapidly disappearing problem.

Obviously there are other potential uses, but still.

KrazyKid

1247 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 616

#1962288 22-Feb-2018 15:48

If you have Wifi at your letterbox I wonder if a basic IR sensor would work.
For those with a Philips Hub maybe something like the Philips IR sensor (its battery powered) and stringify to repurpose the signal (be it turn on a light or send an email)

Just a random thought - not sure if it is possible

hio77

'That VDSL Cat'
13036 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3896

ID Verified

Trusted

Lizard Networks

Subscriber

#1962293 22-Feb-2018 16:04

might just have to make one built for LTE Cat M1

#include <std_disclaimer>

Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

frankv

5705 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3666

Lifetime subscriber

#1962294 22-Feb-2018 16:04

plas:

Shame its SMS only.

Yup... the obvious? thing to me seems to be to use WiFi (but that's only cause I know my letterbox is iwthin WiFi range). But surely I'm not that different from most people? Those outside WiFi range could still use SMS or maybe a cellular modem or whatever.

It may be that this thing is more useful in the USA than here... over there, there's very little junk mail. Whereas I get more junk than real mail in my mailbox.

Lego

Shop now for Lego sets and other gifts (affiliate link).

Aredwood

3885 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1749

#1962556 22-Feb-2018 22:24

frankv:

It may be that this thing is more useful in the USA than here... over there, there's very little junk mail. Whereas I get more junk than real mail in my mailbox.

And some people ignore the no junk mail sign. Real-estate agents seem to be the worst for that.

neb

11294 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10018

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1963019 23-Feb-2018 15:06

plas:
Shame its SMS only.

Uhh, read the second sentence of the description:

It detects when mail has been delivered and sends you a text, email or a phone call so you know the moment your mail has arrived.

neb

11294 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10018

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1963025 23-Feb-2018 15:08

hio77:
might just have to make one built for LTE Cat M1

It's M1 and NB1 in the final version, standard 3G/4G was just the prototype.

dt

1152 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 371
Inactive user

#1963057 23-Feb-2018 16:04

Aredwood:

And some people ignore the no junk mail sign. Real-estate agents seem to be the worst for that.

There was a bylaw introduced in Auckland a number of years back that the distributor of such mail to letter boxes requesting addressed mail only would face up to a $20,000 fine.. not sure what the laws around the rest of the country are like but in Auckland you can report it to the council.