Needed: buzzer/alarm to reach next door

[comforter]

Daughter has ALS and lives next door. She has little finger strength and very little voice. I need something with a big button (like the around neck emergency buttons) that she could easily push and it would announce to me that my assistance is needed. I don't want a button, where you pay a monthy fee, and it goes first to an emergency system. Just something that could reach me.... probabably 1/8 mile away.... less than 1/2 mi. I don't know if a walkie talkie would work or not. Buttons might not be easily enough pushed... Certainly there is something out there..... Any suggestions?

[Lara]

comforter,
I left you a couple sites with info. over here...
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/showthread.php?t=15973

[crytears]

You know those tape lights that kids tap to turn one on....would that type button work? Think they had a clap on version...Tap ON! Tap OFF!
Is very big, easy to see and push....only trick is, hooking it up to a transmitter that will reach you.
My husband is an electronics engineer....has his degree's in Biomedical engineering. He builds 911 systems for Motorola for many years.
Let me know what you've found...if all else fails...we may pursude him to build something like that...but he's soooo stressed, has very little time.
His help would be only if all else fails. I can't promise his help.
You know the garage door openers little button devices might work.
Thats what's used in prisons & jails to alert as weapons are not allowed.
They wear them on their belt...just push the button...big guns comes to rescue!

If your daughter can push an easy button like that....your next step will be in finding a transmitter and receiver that will work long range.
The garage door transmitter can be made into a smaller "necklace type" device.
Those 2 way radio sounds good....the trick will be is to hook up her end to an easy button instead of the button on the radio itself.
Can change it to send out an audio allert buzz/signal to you rather than audio from your daughter...but you can voice back to her some ways....just need an engineer who'll do this for you.
Perhaps call local college, ask any biomedical student to R&D it for you! free of charge of course!
Blessings, cheryl

[frogga]

what about environmental controls? I am from the UK so am not sure if they have the same thing in the US (or whether it is free!) but Possum allows you to page someone, operate TV/Video open curtains, windows, doors, adjust heating, operate anything that can be plugged in, erm use a hands free phone (hey, that's a thought - I have a hands free phone with hands free dialing - could she ring that? even if she couldn't talk you'd be able to see on caller ID if she'd phoned?).

Good Luck finding something

Frogga xxxxxxxx

[dllfo]

Big 5 sporting goods and many, many other places have sales on small "Handy Talkies" or "Walkie-Talkie" units. Model GMRS862CH by Audiovox is what I have. We have had these for a few years and have used them for a baby monitor. VERY GOOD reception. NO license required. They range from $29-$40 on sale.

They have VOX. You can plug mine in to a "drop in charger" and leave it on 24/7. It is straight FM, like a phone, easy to understand and the range is easily a mile. They claim up to 10 miles. I think that would be between you and the space station. :)

WITH VOX, NO HAND STRENGTH IS NEEDED. Just talk.

They also use either AA or AAA batteries. Your daughter could clip this on her belt or put it in a shirt pocket and it would be like you and her in the same room. The transmit button is easy to push.

Be aware, there is Low and High Power settings. Lo power monitoring lasts a LONG time on ours.

Downside: you will hear every word she says when on VOX. AND anyone at your house can hear too, unless you wear an ear plug type speaker.

Additionally, for privacy, there is another feature we hams refer to as PL. I think Motorola calls it PLL for "Private Line". You can set each radio on the same PL and won't hear anyone else, even if they are on "channel 1 with you". It has more features you could use but I won't bore you with them. If you have any questions about this item, feel free to PM me....

[gamgam]

What about any of the baby monitors out there? I know there are all types and certainly there should be something that would meet her needs. I certainly hope you find something suitable.