As I inch ever closer to getting my Observatory started (there's always something else that has to be done first)
My thoughts have been turning to the issue of security and I was wondering what ideas other owners have to keep out the undesirables.
My first thought has been for a solid core door and a deadlock while the ROR assembly would have some type of clamp and padlock setup.
I don't want to sound paranoid but while living rurally offers great dark skies it also offer the criminals plenty of peace and quiet to go about their evil trade, and while things can be replaced under insurance it is that inconvenience of lost time as well of waiting for months or years for replacement items.
You'll probably have an internet connection to the obs... setup a CCTV and warning stickers in addition to the IR activate lights, alarm, live connection to an outside speaker so you can talk to the burglars, plus an IR tracking 5mW red laser that follows their movement via heat sensing (they will think someone has a rifle trained on them) ...
You could get a wireless alarm with a GSM dialler, external screamer, internal screamer, and float the dialler across a 12V gel cell for power redundancy. At least you'd be called in real time if your alarm was tripped and it wouldn't be reliant on a hard phone line.
Additionally, you could set up IR video surveillance and hook it up to your web connection (dumping your recorded events to a server hidden somewhere for safety). It all helps, but won't stop someone who is determined to break in.
Hook your surveillance up to the web so that you can dial in whenever you want to check the cameras. ZomeMinder is a great, free unix software solution for video surveillance that is as robust as they come.
You'll probably have an internet connection to the obs... setup a CCTV and warning stickers in addition to the IR activate lights, alarm, live connection to an outside speaker so you can talk to the burglars, plus an IR tracking 5mW red laser that follows their movement via heat sensing (they will think someone has a rifle trained on them) ...
Not really as they aren't active at night or in the colder months and they are quite tolerant of activity within a couple of metres of the hive.
Wear light colours and you are not a threat to them.
Come swarming time you just split the hive into another hive with a new Queen and life continues on.
You'll probably have an internet connection to the obs... setup a CCTV and warning stickers in addition to the IR activate lights, alarm, live connection to an outside speaker so you can talk to the burglars, plus an IR tracking 5mW red laser that follows their movement via heat sensing (they will think someone has a rifle trained on them) ...
On a serious note.....can this be done?????
Bartman
Apart from all the suggestions, If somebody does break in ( or even a natural disaster) you might want to consider a back up of all your data that is stored on any puters in the Obs. If they take the laptop or puter from the Obs, and you have all your pics on there, you will have lost a lot of valuable imaging time!
Just a thought.......
Bartman
I had an old house alarm in my old dome, which when set off had a 120db squeeler in the obs, I can tell you, you can only spend a couple of seconds in there when that goes off, unless you are wearing double the amount of hearing protection. You can hook up an outside warning. But a couple of good dead locks, latches and padlocks should be enough to warn any intruder away, and if you go away, pack your gear up and put it into self storage, it's insured and under surveillance.
I have 2 guard dogs that go absolutely nuts if someone they dont know you and you come on the property. One of them is a"jumper" and wants to get to know you but it seems to have a bad habit of dragging one of its paws when it jumps up which has the unfortunate side effect of whacking the target in the "nuts". This then leads to the target bending over in pain/astonishment which enables the other to grab the targets throat.
An effective duo.
I also have locks and padlocks on mine, as well as nosey neighbours in case they know the intruder.
