BASU eAlarm Plus 130dB Emergency Alarm

A small yet very loud (130db) tripwire alarm, great for camping in dangerous areas, such as those with bears and other animals. By setting up a safe perimeter, or attached to gear to warn against camp thieves, it’s also useful against humans,.

I purchased the eAlarm Plus a while ago to use it in everyday situations.

I’ll attach it with my helmet to my bike as I enter a store. Or to my bag, when I’m at the airport and must pay attention to something for a couple of minutes. Things like that. And it’s very effective to ensure a bit of peace of mind in the urban environment. 

About a year ago, I bought a second unit to use for camping. Only once I had something stolen while camping here, my beloved Kammok Python UL tree straps. Now I‘m always looking for ways to keep my stuff safe, or as safe as possible.

This is easier when I’m with my tent (a Snugpack Ionosphere), because everything can stay inside. A gear sling mini-hammock also keeps the equipment organized and slightly safer, underneath the hammock and inside the tarp.

When I’m wild camping, bushcrafting, or doing bug-out/get-home dry runs, I might end up having to set camp in less safe areas and spots as well.

Depending on the place and situation, I‘ll set up a safe perimeter.

Before the eAlarm Plus, I’d improvise a tripwire alarm with fishing line and a can or other noise-making object. Fortunately I never had a problem (the Python was stolen in a different circumstance).

But oftentimes I’d wake up in the middle of the night with my makeshift alarm activated by wind or a falling branch. This sucks really.

The eAlarm, being much louder, can be placed at a distance and still be heard.

It may not make much of a splash in the noisy city environment, where ambient noise can reach 70db or more.

But in the country or the wilderness, even the weakest and most subdued sounds can be heard quite well and from afar, depending on the weather and other conditions.

I’ve measured it with my smartphone and it read 133db. It’s loud, but I’m not sure if is really 130db. Maybe very close it is, but it’s small and some of that sound will lose power with distance for sure.

Still, in the middle of nowhere, I could place it a good 100 yards away or more, and it would still wake me up. It would certainly be audible in an emergency.

I take advantage of that, and usually place it at the opposite side of my camp in the safe perimeter. That way, if someone or some animal invades the perimeter and activate the alarm, it will draw their attention to where the noise is coming from, at least for a few moments. That could buy me some time to look around or take action. 

The eAlarm Plus is slightly bigger than a keychain.

It’s comprised of two parts, the alarm body, and the activating pin. Once they get separated, the gizmo will sound off. The noise is distressing.

It won’t go off easily, so takes a real pull to activate the alarm, which is good. But this requires careful setup, or it won’t go off. A too flexible line, or a sloppy wired perimeter or anchoring won’t activate it.

It’s very simple and easy to use, and this configuration allows for a variety of ways to set up. It‘s not water nor weather-proof though. I won’t use it as tripwire alarm when weather is bad or there’s too much humidity in the camp and vegetation. 

It also has some QC issues. I had my first one replaced under warranty. That unit, and the second one, are still working fine. I’m careful with stuff, but “it happens” and the eAlarm Plus won’t take much abuse. But then, it’s not expensive. 

Background

This is the first time I've used a real alarm (though compact) for camping purposes. Before using the eAlarm Plus, I’d improvise some concoction to enhance camping and gear safety, when that was necessary for some reason. The eAlarm is not perfect, but it’s also not expensive nor complex, and if set up and used carefully, it can serve well its purpose.