Help Please!
Has anybody had any experience of making up there own electronic caller?
I have access to fox, bird, hare sounds on various CD's, but think it would be great to download them onto a smaller MP3 player, and couple this with an amplifier(any ideas?) to be used in walkabout night fox shooting. Size , weight and ease of use are essential. I have looked on WT websight and like the look of these but the cost is a bit much for me at the moment(young family!) and I don't want to buy an inferior set up only to upgrade in a few years time?
Any help would be much appretiated!

Here's one method using Radio Shack components.

http://www.predatormastersforums.com/homemadeecaller.html

I have a caller made from the Radio Shack amp and a Radio Shack outdoor speaker. It works very well. These are worth your time to make if you don't have much $$ to spend.

Mike

Sir: I have a caller I made from one of those $15 am/fm/cassette players, 100 yards of door bell wire (that I transport on a small wire reel)and the amplified half of a pair of small radio shack speakers (2"x4") with a pair of jacks on the wire to fit the speaker and player. I also have a little stuffed snoopy toy that dangles from a stick by a rubber band next to the speaker when the set up is operational. I usually get up in a deer stand before starting to call. A variety of birds and predators will come in and I figure 15% of the time I get a shot.the volume control works, and plugging in the speaker jack cuts off the player speaker. Good hunting, or just getting outdoors for a while. ned

I use a PDA (Palm Tungsten T3) and computer speakers (self-amplified with subwoofer).

Works great.

Thanks for the info on the ecallers, can anyone give me any other informtion on reducing background noise of downloaded calls, or do i just have to put up with this? Suppose no background noise is what you get when you pay for a custom made caller? Have also had a look on various sites to download calls, but they seem a bit crackly, any suggestions on cleaning them up? Make it simple I am not a computer buff!!!
Thanks in advance.

Night

Try www.goldwave.com to clean up your sounds.I think its got a free trial for so long but its well worth paying for the full program if you do a lot of work with sounds.

Why not look at both the foxpro and Loudmouth electronic callers.They are both flashlight size and can be operated with a remote if need be.The WT caller definately has the best sound quality but to be honest I don`t think most foxes can pick up on the difference.Also I think the WT will be a bit bulky for carrying where as the other two can fit in a jacket pocket.

Both the Foxpro and Loudmouth can be reprogrammed using your own computer which is a bonus and with the exchange rate as it is they are both good value

Tim

Over the past several years I have built at least one home made Electronic Predator Caller per year. I started out using portable Cassette Players, then went to portable CD Players and finally to portable MP3 Players. I have used 2 different MP3 Players, and no they are not all created equal.

To get the sounds on the MP3 Player is not to complicated. However getting the right sounds, in the right length can be a little more involved so as not to use up all of the memory on the MP3 Player. A buddy and I bought 3 or 4 Johnny Stewart Calling CD's. Then my buddy downloaded Gold Wave Sound Editing Software, and recorded one sound loop (most of these calling sounds are a 30 to 90 second sound loop recorded over and over again to make up the entire track) to the Gold Wave Sound Editing Software. Once the single sound loop was recorded the sounds were edited to clean up any unwanted background noise, and burnt to a CD. Then it was a simple matter of downloading the CD onto the MP3 Player. In addition we have also downloaded a couple sounds from the Western Rivers Free Download section of their web site.

So far I have 16 tracks of sounds on my MP3 Player. They are as follows:

1 - Coyote Locator
2 - Coyote Pup Distress
3 - Despirate Cries / Cottontail
4 - High Pitched Cottontail
5 - Cannine Puppies
6 - Distressed Housecat
7 - Meadowlark Distress
8 - Squealing Woodpecker
9 - Fawn Bleating
10 - Rodent Distress
11 - Coyote / Grey Fox Fight
12 - Coywolf Barks / Howls
13 - Lone Howl Locator
14 - Lone Coyote Challange
15 - Coyote Greeting
16 - Jackrabbit Distress

The MP3 Player I am using is a Rio 600 MP3 Player. With these 16 tracks on it I have a little less than half of the memory used up. I am also pleased with the Battery Life of this Rio, and have been using it with the same battery for a couple weeks now.



The above photo shows the Rio MP3 Player mounted to a Radio Shack Project Enclosure (via an old Cell Phone Holder I modified to fit the Rio). Inside of the Radio Shack Project Enclosure is a Radio Shack Mini Amp (of which there are jacks to plug in the speaker and a patch cord from the MP3 Player) and the battery (a sinlge 9 volt battery). There is a volume control / on-off switch on the RS Mini Amp, but if the volume control is turned up past a certain point the volume does not increase, but the amp noise (hiss) does indeed increase. I didn't want to be opening and closing the project box all the time so I hot glued the volume control on the amp solid and wired in an extrenal on-off switch, plus an indicator light so I don't accidently leave it on when not in use to run down the battery.



All in all I like this caller. It is nice and compact, has good sound quality, and is more than loud enough. I carry in in a little insulated soft sided cooler with a shoulder strap when enroute to my stand locations. Considering I picked up the Rio 600 MP3 Player off of E-Bay at a really great price, I have under $100.00 invested in this caller. If any single part wears out or breaks I can replace it. It was a fun project, and turned out to be the best E-Caller I have ever built.

Just thought I would share this with you guys, and maybe it will help someone on a budget get into an E-Caller without to much $$$ invested.

Larry

Using the same Rio 600 MP3 Player, and basically the same components (amp, speaker, switch, etc) as in the previous photos, I made a different caller with the main components housed in an insulated coffee mug.









Either one of these callers works and operates the same. I have come to prefer the on in the previous post as it is more compact and easier to carry. Battery life seems quite good on both the Amp (single 9 volt battery) and Rio 600 MP3 Player (single "AA" battery).

Larry

Last summer i used my daughter's old boom box with a cassette tape of crow and owl fight to call crows. I had cassete player close so i could control the volume and the owl decoy out some distance. When the crows came, they ignored the owl decoy and they mobbed the brush above me, they were honing in on the noise. It was exciting in a way to have those crows so close, but i didn't even get one shot. I could have probably shot some but i just had my air rifle, should have used shotgun. Anyway, it's got to work the first time, next time no crows showed up.

Plinker

Inspired by your postings I build and e-caller with the Radio Shack parts. My source of sounds is a electronic caller from Cass Creek called the Predator. I picked it up at a local
discount store for $14. I has a variety of sounds but does not have the flexibility of the
MP3 player versions. For about $30 I have an
effective caller. I am surprised at the volume
put out by the Radio Shack amplifier.

I built a thin plywood base under which I mounted the speaker horn. I then painted it with a camo pattern and glued on some face leaves ans such. On top of this I put whatever stuff toy rabbit I can find. I glue the stuffed animal to an old Mauser magazine spring that I have screwed to my camo'd base. This allow some movement in the wind.

I then run a cable back to where I have the amp and caller in my blind. So far the coyotes are fooled by the contraption and come a-running.

I want to thank WrongTarget for his post giving the Radio Shack parts.

Hey SD I really like your selection of calls ony your MP3, is there a way you could send that line up to me

how much does that amp and speaker cost?? I see those rio's on ebay for less than $30.

I think the following is a complete parts list of what I used except for the MP3 Player and holder.

#270-1805 Project Box (6"x3"x2") - $3.79

SPC-5 Speco SPC-5 PA Speaker (Lashen Electronics bought off the net) - $10.00 (Actually the speaker in the photo is not a Speco, but rather an old PA Speaker I had laying around. However my other caller uses the Speco SPC-5 Speaker and I think it may have slightly better sound. When we bought the Speco Speakers from Lashen Electronics they have a minimum order of $25.00, so we had to buy 3 of them to meet the minimum).

#277-1008 Mini Audio Amplifier/Speaker - $11.99 (I took the amp circut board out of the original housing and mounted it in the Radio Shack Project Box.)

#275-1565 SPST Soft Feel Push on Push Off Switch - $2.59 (Since I glued the volume control - on/off switch on the amp at a set volume level I needed to add this switch to turn the amp on and off.)

#276-084 LED Indicator Light (fits 3/16" hole) - $1.99 (This was added so I didn't accidently leave the amp turned on when not in use.)

#42-2387 6 Foot Patch Cord 1/8" Stereo Plug on each end - $3.99 (I actually bought some extra plugs and made several short patch cords out of this section of cord)

#270-325 Radio Shack 9 Volt Battery connectors (pk of 5) - $1.49 (I used a new 9 V0lt Battery connector to get the extra length of wire I needed to go from the battery to the switch. Besides this new battery connector seemed to be better quality than the one that was on the amp.)

Larry

quote:

---

Originally posted by wrongtarget:
Here's one method using Radio Shack components.

http://www.predatormastersforums.com/homemadeecaller.html

---

Good idea. One of my local (Bi-Mart) discount stores sells a compact, battery powered electronic call with 4 voices for $19.95. The sporting goods manager bought one as soon as they came in and said it worked great on coyotes.

It is not set-up for remote operation, but for $20.00, what the heck. A friend of mine bought one and we are trying it out next weekend.

It would be EASY to modify this $20 caller with an external speaker & amp...hmmmm?

SD would you be interested in selling one of your ecallers

SDH, what a great set up! Do you know if it is possible to get the components sent over to the uk? as far as i am aware we don't have radio shacks over here!(but am looking into it) Just in the process of trying to get a rio on ebay, 600, 800 or cali 256 sport - what do you think? Also none or little choice on uk ebay, have to go on USA ebay, does anyone know of problems getting things sent over the water? Guise i am just a cautiuos person!! Thanks.
Have since found out that RS will not send components to UK. Is your Rio 600 32mb

I am not sure on that one at all. While I have never done it I am told you can order the Radio Shack parts online from radioshack.com . Don't know if that would be an option for you or not.

Yea the caller has been working out great. I am actually using the one put together in the little project box as it is a little more compact and easier to carry, and since it is basically all the same compontents it sounds the same.

Thanks

Larry

Nightwalker

Have you tried Maplins ?

www.maplin.co.uk

Tim

Thanks for all the help, keep the good ideas coming! Midlander, I have briefly looked at Maplins site, thanks for the advice, will look into it in more detail at a later date. Have you done a similar project? I know you suggested Foxpro or Loudmouth, just wondering what your experience on callers are? Thanks

Night

I`ve been playing around with making callers now for probably about 10 years from cassette tapes to cd`s and then onto MP`s.
Although it`s possible to make a good home made caller I think that the main drawback on them is the size and weight issues.Its ok if you`re in a vehicle but carrying an extra rucksack just didn`t appeal to me.Thats why I bought a Loudmouth digital which is the size of a flashlight.
A mate bought this from me when he saw the benefits and so I brought a Foxpro which is even smaller than the L/M and easily fits in a jacket pocket.Another bonus is that it can operate a fur decoy from about 100yds away which is perfect for sitting out in the mornings
The little callers the size of a matchbox aren`t bad either but they seem to get distorted on a high volume
The electronic callers all have their place but none work better in the heat of the moment than the palm of your hand

Thanks

Tim

Midlander, thanks for your reply, couldn't agree more about 'in the heat of the moment', alot of my foxing is done on foot, with a backpack and battery set up so I am aware of manouevability issue. I have used the WT caller and really want to experiment with other noises other than the old rabbit in distress, thats the reason for my interest in ecaller.In your DIY calls did you use power horns and mini amps, if so did you source them from maplin? I have used walkman cassette and potable speakers for many years but want a better system. Cheers Nightwalker

Night

I messed around with two mini amps from car cd systems but to be honest these were 1 too big and 2 too expensive. In this country I don`t think you actually need a hell a lot of volume you just need an undistorted sound so I wouldn`t worry too much about being any louder than say a portable cd on half power
The best device I found was a bit of kit from a Johnny Stewart cassette caller.This worked very well when placed in-line.If you do a search for Gerald Stewart game calls I`m sure they have them listed on there.
Personally like I said before I`d look at the established US manufacturers (especially with the £ being so strong)because before you know it you`ll spend nearly as much trying to make your own
I spoke to wildlife Tec a few years back but the size/weight issues put me off then together with the the need to send the unit back to the US for expensive reprogramming.With L/M F/P you just attach a patch to your sound source and record straight onto a 30 second sound loop on the microchip.Another advantage is the hard knocks these units wiil take (not the case with cd/mp3`s)

Hope this helps

Tim

Just a field report. I put together your Radioshack based caller and used a sound generator type call for the input. I have been using it in the field here in central Oregon's
high sagebrush and juniper desert. I put a stuffed toy bunny in front of a clump of sagebrush and the speaker in the sagebrush clump and run wire back about 50 feet to where I am behind another big sagebrush clump. I got the volume of the amp and the volume of the sound source balanced out so that neither is over driven. I am really please because the coyotes make a bee-line for the sound and don't pay much attention to me. I can move my rifle in position without spooking them before I pull the trigger. I was glad the speaker was away from me yesterday when a young cougar pounced on the fake bunny and was bewildered when it didn't taste yummy. I hadn't bought a new cougar tag and had to pass on him. I did keep a look out for his mama though.

I am please with the set up. Thanks again for the idea. I did get a six D-cell battery holder to make up a 9v battery pack rather than use the little and expensive 9v batteries.

Sounds like it is working. Glad you are enjoying your caller. They are really not all that difficult to put together, and the nice thing about a home made e-caller is you can alwys modify it to suit your changing needs.

I wish I could have seen the look on the young cougar's face when he attacked the fake bunny. I bet that was priceless.

Larry

Hi All,

I built my second caller this week and it works great regardsing sound and remote function. I used information from here and predatormasters.com. This new system is remote and I've used it out to 100 yards and the quality is great. I still need to camo the unit. I used the Rio 800(ebay $30) hooked up to a Nady 151LT-VR transmitter. Remote box is all RS parts and the NADY transmitter. Using the same RS amp 277-1008 as everyone else put in in a RS 270-1805 box and mounted a RS 50watt power horn ($20) on top of the project box. The NADY system costs $77 plus tax and ship (so much for the cheap caller). I also added a isolation transformer ($3) to the amp to reduce noise from the NADY. The best calls came from western-rivers.com in there free downloads section, all high quality mp3's and plenty of choices. The RIO can hold alot of calls and easy to change via computer. This was a fun project I did with my sons. Hope to try it out this weekend. Even though I got about $160 into it with the NADY, it still is a lot cheaper than the FOXPRO or Loadmouths and sounds better to me and I have more options with calls. I also have a CASS CREEK ($20) that I just plug in in place of the RIO. I have the CASS creek power extension speaker that I can hook up as a second speaker to add direction to the sound or use it in place of the main speaker. Lots of options with this setup, but I still need to add the external speaker jack for this. I tried other options for remote like two ways radios and FM frequency tranmitters (I-Rock) but they all had issues, mostly noise or battery life. I lve and hunt in the East so I really need something remote because we are hunting in small wooded areas. Anyways, I hope this helps some of you and if you have questions I'd be glad to answer them if I can.

Spike