Anyone use SmartThings door-window switch in mailbox - You got mail!

[Don2222]

Hello
Samsung SmartThings is a free download from Google Play or the iPhone iStore. It works with very may appliances and devices! I got a Visonic Sage Zigbee door/widow switch Model MCT-340 E (2.4GHZ)that uses a 3v RS-2032 button battery included and stuck it in the mailbox.

SAGE BY HUGHES (VISONIC) ZIGBEE HA1.2, 2.4GHZ Window/Door Sensor MCT-340 E | eBay

It is compatible with any Zigbee system, such as SmartThings or Hubitat. Zigbee standards Wide Gap performance able to be installed in tough situations where magnet gap is over 1". Easy installation using high-strength 3M mounting tape (included).

www.ebay.com

However most any Zwave or Zigbee door / window magnetic contact with 2 sided self stick tape will work.

Then set a popup message to inform me when the mail is here.

Also it saves a nice history of the time, date & temperature in the log file of when the temperature changes or the switch opens & closes. The one caveat is the popup message text cannot be customized but you know what it is.

it does work very well.

Total cost $10-20 depends on the switch.
Has anyone else ever tried this?

Pic 1 - SmartThings smartphone application Icon
Pic 2 - Device - Door / Window switch setup
Pic 3&4 - Door / Window switch specifications
Pic 5 - Switch installed in mailbox
Pic 6 - Popup message seen on phone
Pic 7 - History log file

 

[kborndale]

I just open my mailbox and look inside to see if anything is in it.

 

[JRHAWK9]

I just open my mailbox and look inside to see if anything is in it.

That works if your mail box is near the house. I can see this being for those who have a long driveway.

 

[mellow]

They usually leave the door open on my mailbox which would never trigger the sensor.

I would look into Informed Delivery so you can see what should be delivered that day.

Also, if the mailbox is that far away, how would this talk to the receiver?

 

[semipro]

I would look into Informed Delivery so you can see what should be delivered that day.

"Should" being the key term here. Informed Delivery where we live tends to provide more questions than answers, like "I wonder where that letter ended up?"

 

[johneh]

I have had a smart mailbox for almost 45 years. If I get mail, the flag is if not, no flag
No batteries to replace no fuss no muss

 

[Don2222]

That does not work in our town. If we have outgoing mail we must put the flag up so the mailman does not waste time putting the incoming mail down to retrieve the outgoing mail first! Also we cannot see the flag position very well. :-(

 

[Whitenuckler]

I have a community mail box slot. I make sure to check it every weekend. I also leave a sharpy in there
as the last person who owned this house decided to save money and not have his mail forwarded.
I hate when they do that. You get the other person's mail for the rest of your life (or until you move)

 

[Don2222]

I have a community mail box slot. I make sure to check it every weekend. I also leave a sharpy in there
as the last person who owned this house decided to save money and not have his mail forwarded.
I hate when they do that. You get the other person's mail for the rest of your life (or until you move)

Can you tell the post office to hold the mail and put his name on the form?

 

[Whitenuckler]

Can you tell the post office to hold the mail and put his name on the form?

Actually I never asked Canada Post what I could do. I don't think I can do much. What I do is when I see a letter for him I just cross out the address (which is mine) and put it back in the mail slot on the community box. Works slick, and the number of letters has gone way down.
I was Mr Nice Guy for awhile and hand delivered mail right to his house as it was on my walking route anyway. I soon got tired of that, and switched to my new method. At one time he was getting more mail than me!

 

[wallyrobinett]

I’ve set up a SmartThings door/window sensor in my mailbox, and it works great for mail alerts. The key was using a weatherproof housing and ensuring the hub’s signal reached the box—sometimes a Zigbee repeater helps. Once configured, I get instant notifications when the mailbox is opened, which is handy for avoiding wasted trips.

 

[Fred B. NJ]

I have a rural mail box located several blocks from my house. The USPS has a service called Informed Delivery. I get an email early in the morning telling me if mail is coming that day. And a picture of the item so I can see if it's something worth driving up to get or just junk. It's a free service. It won't tell the time it's delivered but most deliveries are at around the same time everyday.

 

[Whitenuckler]

I have a rural mail box located several blocks from my house. The USPS has a service called Informed Delivery. I get an email early in the morning telling me if mail is coming that day. And a picture of the item so I can see if it's something worth driving up to get or just junk. It's a free service. It won't tell the time it's delivered but most deliveries are at around the same time everyday.

That's a great service to have. Here, I have a Canada Post community mailbox. I only check it on Saturday. The problem is I have to be careful if I order something and they ship Canada Post. They put it in another bigger holding slot (if it won't fit my slot).Then they put the key in my slot and I have no idea.

 

[bogieb]

That wouldn't work for me since some mail delivery drivers open every mailbox whether the flag is up or not. And, if I get mail from something I'm expecting, I get an email or text shortly after delivery anyway.

Half the time I can hear the mail truck and tell if it stopped (and for how long), or not. I still go out to check since I need to take a break from sitting at my computer and that gives me an excuse to move, even if for just a short distance (the work safety and health people tell me I need to get up every 40-60 minutes anyway).

 

[Whitenuckler]

That wouldn't work for me since some mail delivery drivers open every mailbox whether the flag is up or not. And, if I get mail from something I'm expecting, I get an email or text shortly after delivery anyway.

Half the time I can hear the mail truck and tell if it stopped (and for how long), or not. I still go out to check since I need to take a break from sitting at my computer and that gives me an excuse to move, even if for just a short distance (the work safety and health people tell me I need to get up every 40-60 minutes anyway).

It's nice to have these routines and healthy habits. I could check my mail everyday as I walk down there everyday, but I don't get much mail anymore. 90% of my bills are electronic. I order from Amazon all the time, but they deliver by dedicated courier.
Getting up from sitting is required every 20 minutes if you can to flex your legs. I have found out the veins in our legs are of a very poor design. We don't have a heart down there to pump the blood back up. Only by moving your leg does the blood come back up. All the years of driving to jobs, sitting in planes, and working behind a desk have taken their toll.

 

[Fred B. NJ]

And the last job I had which lasted 24 years was in retail. I was on my feet 8 hours everyday, on a concrete floor. My legs are shot now because of it. So being retired I spend a lot of my day sitting.

 

[johneh]

And the last job I had which lasted 24 years was in retail. I was on my feet 8 hours everyday, on a concrete floor. My legs are shot now because of it. So being retired I spend a lot of my day sitting.

I also spent 40 years standing and working on concrete floors, 10 hours a day. Now, just walking is a chore
Being in a trade is hard on the body . Now, in my old age, I am paying for it

 

[mr meener]

And the last job I had which lasted 24 years was in retail. I was on my feet 8 hours everyday, on a concrete floor. My legs are shot now because of it. So being retired I spend a lot of my day sitting.

try carrying thousands of 80lb packs of shingles up two story house. 100's of tons of lumber. thousands of sheets of plywood up ladders. wish I could have just stayed on the ground

 

[Fred B. NJ]

try carrying thousands of 80lb packs of shingles up two story house. 100's of tons of lumber. thousands of sheets of plywood up ladders. wish I could have just stayed on the ground

I've done some of that before my retail job. That's hard work. Although, my retail job was for a local hardware store. Loading 80lb bags of water softener salt and 200 lb filled propane tanks was an everyday occurrence. Not to mention the plywood and sheet rock. At 74 I could never do any of that now. My Cardiologist wouldn't recommend it.

 

[Don2222]

That wouldn't work for me since some mail delivery drivers open every mailbox whether the flag is up or not. And, if I get mail from something I'm expecting, I get an email or text shortly after delivery anyway.

Half the time I can hear the mail truck and tell if it stopped (and for how long), or not. I still go out to check since I need to take a break from sitting at my computer and that gives me an excuse to move, even if for just a short distance (the work safety and health people tell me I need to get up every 40-60 minutes anyway).

Hi BB
I almost forgot that you do need the smart things hub to work with the switch. I have the generator 2 hub and there are higher generation s out. They are getting harder to get since Samsung through their wisdom now builds the hub into their appliances so it talks to their cloud server and you have to open up an account over the internet to pair their devices! I am sad about that but you can still find a good used hub on eBay or Amazon.

 

[kborndale]

try carrying thousands of 80lb packs of shingles up two story house. 100's of tons of lumber. thousands of sheets of plywood up ladders. wish I could have just stayed on the ground

That's why I install floors, keeps me off the roof. But there is nothing easy about kicking in carpet and installing wood and vinyl floors. Just don't need ladders!

 

[Fred B. NJ]

That's why I install floors, keeps me off the roof. But there is nothing easy about kicking in carpet and installing wood and vinyl floors. Just don't need ladders!

Often wonder how you guys manage with the knees. My knees are shot. I can get down to do things but the hard part is getting up. No longer have any leg strength.

 

[Whitenuckler]

Often wonder how you guys manage with the knees. My knees are shot. I can get down to do things but the hard part is getting up. No longer have any leg strength.

It's funny, my knees are not good. ACL on the right, and scoped on the left. However, they don't bother me as long as I don't play football or frizbee. I have to have very controlled movements. I think all the walking I do helps. I go at least once for 30 minutes. If I go to the beach that's all extra. When you get older, part of that is the loss of muscle. You need to do as much as possible to build up muscle. Can you get a double knee replacement? If your knees are shot that might be better.

 

[Fred B. NJ]

It's funny, my knees are not good. ACL on the right, and scoped on the left. However, they don't bother me as long as I don't play football or frizbee. I have to have very controlled movements. I think all the walking I do helps. I go at least once for 30 minutes. If I go to the beach that's all extra. When you get older, part of that is the loss of muscle. You need to do as much as possible to build up muscle. Can you get a double knee replacement? If your knees are shot that might be better.

My EX wife got both done at the same time.

 

[mr meener]

I've done some of that before my retail job. That's hard work. Although, my retail job was for a local hardware store. Loading 80lb bags of water softener salt and 200 lb filled propane tanks was an everyday occurrence. Not to mention the plywood and sheet rock. At 74 I could never do any of that now. My Cardiologist wouldn't recommend it.

Yes lol