Picture it. Maryland. 1984 2025.
A cranky old Veteran and his wife are sitting in their backyard. Crickets are chirping. The sun has set.
It is quiet. It is cool. It is dark.
It is peace.
*wwwwhhhhrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr*
Nothing gets the blood pumping on a midsummer night like the unexpected gifts of this live-action Orwellian nightmare. Hence, we have started to explore drone detection and deterrents.
The Rise of Backyard Drone Spying
Once just a hobby for tech enthusiasts, drones are now as invasive as lantern flies. They are affordable, relatively quiet, and equipped with high-definition cameras. While most pilots follow the rules, a growing number use drones for peeking over fences, looking through windows, or snooping on private property. And then there are the various reports of suspicious drone fleets plaguing the East Coast over the past few months.
If you’ve noticed suspicious buzzing overhead or feel like someone’s watching from above, you’re not alone.
The good news? You don’t need a military radar station to protect your privacy. For under $500, you can detect and deter most intrusive drones — legally and effectively. For this week, we are going to focus on detection.
- Drone Detection Apps
- DroneWatcher and similar apps detect many commercial drones via radio frequency.
- Cost: Free–$50.
- DroneWatcher FREE Download
- Directional Outdoor Microphone
- Picks up the high-pitched whine of rotors before they’re visible.
- Cost: $100–$250.
- RF Scanner or SDR (Software Defined Radio)
- Devices like the RTL-SDR dongle can “see” common drone control frequencies.
- Cost: $40–$150.
- Drone Detection & Tracker
- Thermal Monocular (Night Detection)
- Finds the heat signature of motors/batteries in the dark.
- Cost: $300–$500.
- Thermal Monocular
- Finds the heat signature of motors/batteries in the dark.
- Sky-Facing Security Cameras
- Motion-activated cameras aimed upward capture visual evidence.
- Cost: $35–$100.
- We install security cameras! Call us for a quote today!
301-662-7275
- Upward-Aimed Floodlights
- Lights that trigger on motion and illuminate low-flying drones.
- Cost: $30–$60.
- Floodlight with Knuckle Adjustment
- Lights that trigger on motion and illuminate low-flying drones.
- Parabolic Microphone
- Amplifies distant sounds, including drone propellers.
- Cost: $50–$100.
- Binoculars or Spotting Scope
- Confirms aerial activity from a distance.
- Cost: $50–$200.
- Binoculars with Low Light Vision
- Neighborhood Watch
- Share sightings via Facebook or Nextdoor.
- Cost: Free.
- Track times, flight paths, and conditions for patterns.
- Cost: Free.
- Drone Activity Log
- Track times, flight paths, and conditions for patterns.
- Cost: Free.
Next week we will take a look at how to deter drones by blocking their view of anything interesting at your homebase. Note: shooting down drones or jamming signals is illegal in the state of Maryland. Our strategies are all passive defense to comply state and local laws, as well as ensure the safety of our customers.
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Drone Detection Tool Price Range
