How to Get Excavator Notifications in Rust

How to Get Excavator Notifications in Rust

The Giant Excavator is a loot piñata for the rich and a trap for the greedy. If you’re not paying attention, you’ll either miss an easy counter or end up being the one getting countered. That’s where this neat little trick comes in—setting up an excavator alarm that pings you the second some poor sod starts it up.

Why Bother?

Because knowing when someone is using Excavator means you can:

  • Show up uninvited and steal their loot.
  • Avoid getting raided while you’re deep in your own farm sesh.
  • Flex your electricity skills like a true Rust scientist.

How It Works

Gratnak (YouTube legend—check him out here) walks through two setups:

  1. Basic Alarm – A flashing light alerts you when Excavator is active.
  2. Smart Alarm + Timer – A Rust+ notification gets sent to your phone, plus a timer tracks how long it’s been running.

What You’ll Need

  • Basic Setup: Small battery, electrical branch, RF receiver, flashing light.
  • Advanced Setup: Smart alarm, extra branches, blockers, timers, counters (if you want the full tracking experience).

The End Result

With this setup, your Rust+ app will scream at you whenever Excavator turns on. If you’re feeling extra sweaty, you can add a timer to see exactly how long it’s been running, helping you decide if it's worth rolling up with rockets or just a DB and vibes.

So, if you’re tired of missing easy counters, watch the video and get your setup sorted.