Kes Posted March 1, 2013 Report Share Posted March 1, 2013 Hi All. Since I'm retired and need to make the most of my cash, I refuse to buy one of the best expensive callers but am thinking of trying to make my own - any pointers to sites where info on trying this sort of thing might be available? I saw a prog on the Beeb where a woman made a mobile phone charger from a kit and apparently there are many 'nerd' clubs where lay people can get help with electronic design and circuit boards - any advice appreciated. P.S. I have 'manual' callers but none seem very successful whereas the digital callers work a treat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimLondon Posted March 1, 2013 Report Share Posted March 1, 2013 I have heard people using there phone,obviously it depends on what phone you have. I'm sure someone on here will know more about it than me,but it does sound a cheap way of getting an electronic caller. P.S. I use a manual caller and it works a treat ( and I'm a novice) ATB Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodentermite Posted March 1, 2013 Report Share Posted March 1, 2013 phone or mp3 player should work with decent speakers. im looking to start doing this so would be interested in what people have to say about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Essex Keeper Posted March 1, 2013 Report Share Posted March 1, 2013 Suck on the palm of my hand or use the iPhone the phone is not as good tho Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy198712 Posted March 1, 2013 Report Share Posted March 1, 2013 I've loaded some on the phone before but the hand has worked better so it seems?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mad1 Posted March 1, 2013 Report Share Posted March 1, 2013 I have a input on my car stereo that can play direct from my iPhone so it might be worth trying to play some through there when lamping from my truck ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CZ550Kevlar Posted March 2, 2013 Report Share Posted March 2, 2013 Cd case and a bit of polystyrene Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuartph Posted March 2, 2013 Report Share Posted March 2, 2013 I remember using polystyrene on the window of a pick up to attract mr fox, worked rather well from what I can remember Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artschool Posted March 2, 2013 Report Share Posted March 2, 2013 I came across a great solution the other day. you can buy battery powered Bluetooth speakers off ebay for £15 then all you need is a Bluetooth phone to play the calls from. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alendil Posted March 2, 2013 Report Share Posted March 2, 2013 I came across a great solution the other day. you can buy battery powered Bluetooth speakers off ebay for £15 then all you need is a Bluetooth phone to play the calls from. that is good idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artschool Posted March 2, 2013 Report Share Posted March 2, 2013 that is good idea. http://www.ebay.co.u...=item27c9333507 this is the speaker that i have in my ensuite to listen to music in the mornings, its cheap so if it gets water damaged its no big deal. not sure on the operating range but its pretty loud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ste 2712 Posted March 4, 2013 Report Share Posted March 4, 2013 hi kes, I made my own prob cost around £20 all in but its great quality and really loud!! i bought a power horn( amazon i think) and a hobby box (from maplin) and made a simple amplifier board fit in the box along with a cheap mp3 player i got a sony walkman mp3 for £8. i have downloaded the foxpro calls and loads of others and made 1 hour loops with 2min calling then 2 min silence etc. you could use it with crow calls etc for birdwatching if you follow .. or just put the radio on through it in the hide if your getting bored !! if you need any instructions give us a shout or if you like you can borrow it for a few weeks see what you think? i dont need it im off to florida for three weeks on wednesday bass pro here i come........ atb steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kes Posted March 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2013 Ste that looks just the ticket. Thanks for the offer of a loan whilst you are away - I'll PM you with my phone number and sort out a convenient time to pop round and borrow it. If it works as well as it seems to, I will have to pick your brains and make my own up. Thanks again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Bolt94 Posted March 4, 2013 Report Share Posted March 4, 2013 Old MP3 such as an iPod and a veho 360 speaker, seems to work ok but I do like the bluetooth idea above. Only downside is that some phones don't allow you to play "music" through your bluetooth headset Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ste 2712 Posted March 4, 2013 Report Share Posted March 4, 2013 Ste that looks just the ticket. Thanks for the offer of a loan whilst you are away - I'll PM you with my phone number and sort out a convenient time to pop round and borrow it. If it works as well as it seems to, I will have to pick your brains and make my own up. Thanks again no probs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ste 2712 Posted March 4, 2013 Report Share Posted March 4, 2013 (edited) Old MP3 such as an iPod and a veho 360 speaker, seems to work ok but I do like the bluetooth idea above. Only downside is that some phones don't allow you to play "music" through your bluetooth headset i did look into this but decided to go the powerhorn route as all decent callers use them and altough super volume isnt always needed it is handy if your shooting over lots of land to be able to crank the volume up!not sure if i would use my phone either as with a cheapo mp3 you can set the caller up on say a 20 min sequence on repeat and watch it from a distance! i wouldnt be doin that with my iphone Edited March 4, 2013 by ste 2712 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodo123 Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 Y not go old school, find a old portable CD player? 2nd hand shop etc? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ste 2712 Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 (edited) Y not go old school, find a old portable CD player? 2nd hand shop etc? That's the beauty of it the options are endless from cheap homemade hand call's to foxpro's! i made the caller above just because i fancied the challange of seeing what i could make for cheap that i wasnt bothered about if it got broke.dont get me wrong the call i made aint no foxpro i think there call is 20/25 watt mine is only 15 watt but its plenty loud enough, also if i want more volume i just buy a 30watt power horn for £20/25 job done. also i can put any call i want on it in a few seconds! the only thing missing is a remote which is possible but bumps the price up and in my opinion just not worth it! and this cost me around 1/8th what a foxpro would! I mean if someone said to me i could have my build or a foxpro free of charge i would go foxpro, but that aint gonna happen and for 1/8th the price there is no contest if your spending hard earned cash!! steve Edited March 5, 2013 by ste 2712 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul223 Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 Ste, would very much appreciate a how to build thread, I'm sure other PW members would too, any chance of doing one please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Bolt94 Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 (edited) That's the beauty of it the options are endless from cheap homemade hand call's to foxpro's! i made the caller above just because i fancied the challange of seeing what i could make for cheap that i wasnt bothered about if it got broke. dont get me wrong the call i made aint no foxpro i think there call is 20/25 watt mine is only 15 watt but its plenty loud enough, also if i want more volume i just buy a 30watt power horn for £20/25 job done. also i can put any call i want on it in a few seconds! the only thing missing is a remote which is possible but bumps the price up and in my opinion just not worth it! and this cost me around 1/8th what a foxpro would! I mean if someone said to me i could have my build or a foxpro free of charge i would go foxpro, but that aint gonna happen and for 1/8th the price there is no contest if your spending hard earned cash!! steve I have some electronics background and I don't think it would be very difficult to add in a remote control to your system above using something like the following: http://www.rapidonli...itter-kit-80508 http://www.rapidonli...eiver-kit-74259 Range on this receiver isn't great but you could easily pick up an IR remote some TV remotes might even give you a good range. the above gives 15m which isn't all that terrible. You could also use the RC Servo from a RC Car and with the use of a latching thyristor or the likes make it work that way with a few minor modifications. Edited March 5, 2013 by T-Bolt94 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 15m isn't terrible but its not much use to put the caller in a spot to stop foxy coming up behind you and sussing you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Bolt94 Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 Yea exactly I will do a bit more digging and see if I can find a good range one maybe 50m+ they do exist could turn the above into as close to a FoxPro as your going to get for that money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 then you need something you can operate in the dark with simple change of calls etc etc I'd get a fox pro oh hold on I already have Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Bolt94 Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 Nothing beats the real thing, mate of mine has one...some yoke!! But you can get receivers with 15,30 + Channels with a genie microcontroller I could easily program one to have as many calls as I had channels. Might make a nice wee summer project if I have the time actually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ste 2712 Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 then you need something you can operate in the dark with simple change of calls etc etc I'd get a fox pro oh hold on I already have fox pros are great no doubt!! ( have a friend with one) but the only differance between them and most other callers is the remote. i can live without one if it means me saving all that extra money and to be fair once the fox gets close enough to realise it aint a real dying animal its night night anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.