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Varmint Al's E-caller
#1135022
12/29/09 05:24 PM
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,314
tejaschaos
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Has anyone built the E-caller that Varmint Al (linked from Predator Masters http://www.predatormastersforums.com/homemadeecaller.shtml ) has posted on his website? All the parts can be bought at Radio Shack. I'd like to build one, but if anyone thinks it's not loud /durable enough, I won't waste the time. Thanks!
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Re: Varmint Al's E-caller
[Re: tejaschaos]
#1135081
12/29/09 05:49 PM
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 517
yanta61
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i've made the one with an MP3 player and it worked alright but i bought a cheap MP3 and once you turned it up you could hear alot of static.....i bet the cd or tape player would work better..... i also thought that cabelas had a loud speaker with the amp built in..... i'm not sure if it was the cheap MP3 or the speaker with amp that made all the static..
AY
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Re: Varmint Al's E-caller
[Re: yanta61]
#1135144
12/29/09 06:14 PM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,191
gogburn
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I built one. Same parts and all from Radio Shack. It worked well, there was static if turned up too loud. However, most people tend to call too loud anyway. If you turned it up just enough before the static started it was plenty loud enough to call in anything up to 1/2 mile. I used the cheapest MP3 player I could find, 256k, and it held all of the calls with plenty of room to spare. I used the 20 min. and 16 min. sequences most.
I liked to set the speaker up in a different location so the varmints were looking at it instead of me. If you do this add one of the two-minute silent sequences to the start of each call to give you time to get back and set up.
The speaker and amp are white so you will need to paint them, or do what I did and just cover them with an old camo T-shirt. I used a decoy next to the speaker.
I traded off my set-up and got the Johnny Stewart PM-4 wireless now and like it a lot better. Can't beat the price of the homemade caller and it works.
Good Hunting, Gary
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Re: Varmint Al's E-caller
[Re: ChickenWilly]
#1135286
12/29/09 07:15 PM
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 8,872
ffread
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how much did yall end up spending total?
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Re: Varmint Al's E-caller
[Re: ffread]
#1135429
12/29/09 08:12 PM
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 165
twiztedlemon
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Woodsman
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I built one and these guys are right about the static and the caling too loud. the only thing is sometimes you need to change sounds to get them to come on in and they may loose interest if the sequence doesn't keep them interested.
Last edited by twiztedlemon; 12/29/09 08:15 PM.
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Re: Varmint Al's E-caller
[Re: ffread]
#1135438
12/29/09 08:17 PM
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 517
yanta61
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i paid $20 or 25 on mp3 and $15 on mini amp and i had a loud speaker .....so like $35-$40. i think the old gray tape player/recorder ( like this one http://www.adorama.com/RZRP3503.html ) and a good cassette work the best Anthony
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Re: Varmint Al's E-caller
[Re: yanta61]
#1135508
12/29/09 08:45 PM
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,152
DoubleB20
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I built one and just use the MP3 player on my blackberry. I agree with twiztedlemon, the drawback is no remote to change the sounds, other than that..works good.
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Re: Varmint Al's E-caller
[Re: DoubleB20]
#1135566
12/29/09 09:05 PM
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 35
Psycho
Light Foot
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Light Foot
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Go to western-rivers website and download all the sounds you want, burn em to a cd, then buy a battery operated cd player. I use this alot and it works great mixed with some hand calling.
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Re: Varmint Al's E-caller
[Re: Psycho]
#1135823
12/29/09 10:38 PM
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,314
tejaschaos
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I thought about the remote control issue... What if you spliced the cord going from the MP3 player, coupled speaker wire (25' 50'???) and spliced that back into the plug that goes into the amp? Do you think you'd lose sound running it through 25' of speaker wire? Would it even push sound? That way you could keep the MP3 player with you, and change sounds from a distance. Any way that would work???
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Re: Varmint Al's E-caller
[Re: tejaschaos]
#1139485
12/31/09 05:02 AM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,453
ChickenWilly
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Finally got around to makin one tonight and im really impressed with it! I had an old lohman cd player caller that broke and the jack was bent on so I just got a new male jack to put on the old cable, the mini amp, and the small cord that goes from the ipod to the amp which came out to about $25.. It is plenty loud and sounds darn good! Here is the caller I got something for christmas that came in this redhead bag and all the stuff fits in it really well! Its ready to go and so am I !
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Re: Varmint Al's E-caller
[Re: tejaschaos]
#1139661
12/31/09 09:45 AM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,191
gogburn
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I thought about the remote control issue... What if you spliced the cord going from the MP3 player, coupled speaker wire (25' 50'???) and spliced that back into the plug that goes into the amp? Do you think you'd lose sound running it through 25' of speaker wire? Would it even push sound? That way you could keep the MP3 player with you, and change sounds from a distance. Any way that would work??? Seems like you would want your 25'-50' of cord between the amp and speaker, not between the MP3 player and amp. Keeps the volume control on the amp close and boosts the power to the speaker. ChickenWilly - nice setup.
Good Hunting, Gary
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Re: Varmint Al's E-caller
[Re: tejaschaos]
#1139738
12/31/09 01:59 PM
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,030
d.g.ruff
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I thought about the remote control issue... What if you spliced the cord going from the MP3 player, coupled speaker wire (25' 50'???) and spliced that back into the plug that goes into the amp? Do you think you'd lose sound running it through 25' of speaker wire? Would it even push sound? That way you could keep the MP3 player with you, and change sounds from a distance. Any way that would work??? That length of wire will not affect the sound at all. One time me and a co-worker hooked up a radio to a set of wires in a telephone cable, and hooked the speaker up one mile away. You could not tell any difference at all in the sound or volume. It was 24 guage wire.
Mmmm Hmmm
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Re: Varmint Al's E-caller
[Re: d.g.ruff]
#1139949
12/31/09 03:43 PM
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,314
tejaschaos
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Good to know! And gogburn, you're right... Wire between amp and speaker. Nice looking caller, ChickenWilly!
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Re: Varmint Al's E-caller
[Re: tejaschaos]
#1143070
01/02/10 02:19 AM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 118
jobarnesttu
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 118 |
Here is mine. Radio shack, Speco, Ipod and Nady!
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Re: Varmint Al's E-caller
[Re: jobarnesttu]
#1143076
01/02/10 02:27 AM
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,314
tejaschaos
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What model Nady transmitter do you use, Job? And what is Speco?
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Re: Varmint Al's E-caller
[Re: tejaschaos]
#1143103
01/02/10 02:38 AM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 118
jobarnesttu
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 118 |
Oh it is a speco speaker. Let me see if I can find the nady box. my caller is in the truck.
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Re: Varmint Al's E-caller
[Re: jobarnesttu]
#1143117
01/02/10 02:42 AM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 118
jobarnesttu
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Woodsman
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Nady 151 VR/LT. I have not used the wireless a whole lot. I was all set up one day with the call about 80 yards out and I had to move out from under the trees to get it to play. Seems to work fine with line of sight and not too much interference though. If you want to be sure that it will work I say 50 yards max. But I have not used it a whole lot. Mostly I use mine at night from the back of the truck and the remote is not necessary. I Got the NADY of off ebay.
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Re: Varmint Al's E-caller
[Re: jobarnesttu]
#1143132
01/02/10 02:46 AM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 118
jobarnesttu
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 118 |
off of ebay* The Speco speaker is better than the truck stop PA speaker I had on it before. It is plenty loud but does get static on the high end. If you want a really good wireless set up the nady is prob. not reliable enough... But if you dont want to spend the $ on a compucaller or foxpro tough choice!!!
Hope it helps.
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Re: Varmint Al's E-caller
[Re: jobarnesttu]
#1143145
01/02/10 02:50 AM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 118
jobarnesttu
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 118 |
off of ebay* The Speco speaker is better than the truck stop PA speaker I had on it before. It is plenty loud but does get static on the high end. If you want a really good wireless set up the nady is prob. not reliable enough... But if you dont want to spend the $ on a compucaller or foxpro tough choice!!!
Hope it helps.
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Re: Varmint Al's E-caller
[Re: jobarnesttu]
#1143172
01/02/10 03:04 AM
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,314
tejaschaos
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If that transmitter is good to 50 yards, I'm good with that. Is that Speco speaker better than the one at Radio Shack? What do you have tied up in your caller (minus MP3)?
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Re: Varmint Al's E-caller
[Re: tejaschaos]
#1143390
01/02/10 04:40 AM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 118
jobarnesttu
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 118 |
I never used one from radio shack because all they had was that really big thing, so I am not sure. I know that of the two PA speakers I have the speco it is the better one. I ordered that speco speaker for around $12 it is white plastic so I painted it. Didn't seem to hurt it. I bought that little amp around $10 at radio shack. The nady is the expensive part at around $100 bucks. I also added an external antenna that I had to the Nady reciever. I would try it first without it and see what you think. Less than 150 bucks including shipping of stuff. I wish I had not done it so long ago so I could remember some of this stuff.
Something really important you need a stereo to mono jack or a mono to stereo jack cant remember which one. But it doesnt work without it. I will look tomorrow and get back with ya.
Less than 150. The Speco SPC-5p (looking on google I think its gonna be more like $20 now), Radio shack Mini Amp $13, Nady 151 VR around $100, YOu also need an audio wire from mp3 to transmitter and I read that you should leave it long because it also serves as the antenna. and that stereo to mono or mono to stereo???
Sorry this is an unorganized mess of information. There was a website with detailed instructions including the NADY I will find it for ya
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Re: Varmint Al's E-caller
[Re: jobarnesttu]
#1143447
01/02/10 05:07 AM
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,314
tejaschaos
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