Info and Personal Experiences on Home Made E-Callers?

[PASlugger]

Has anyone here build their own E-caller.  Looking for as much information as I can find before deciding to build or buy a caller.  Below are some links from my initial research.  Any personal experiences, or additional designs would be appreciated.

Thanks

Related Links on this topic:

Scroll down the thread to see pics and a brief description:
http://www.nodakoutdoors.com/members/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=3662

Parts list for the above caller:
http://forum.wr.ca/view_topic.php?id=901&tp=22346&offset=0

http://southwestadventures.tripod.com/predatoralbum/id7.html

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

Variation based on the last link:
http://www.arkansaselkhunter.com/E-Caller.htm

[denver*c]

PA,
  I couldn't....wouldn't spend the money they wanted for  a fancy new e-caller....so here is what I done. Borrowed (stole) my teenage daughter's Walkman c.d. player, bought a 9volt amp at Radio Shack (about the size of a pack of cig's) and found a small speaker used years ago for one of those funny car horns that used to play various tunes, (later bought an outdoor speaker at Radio Shack)
  When I hooked it up and used a purchased c.d. with 4 different sounds I couldn't believe how realistic it sounded. Later while at a large outdoor store a friend told me that I needed a new caller like the one on display. So I played it in the store then took him outside and played my homemade caller.......NO difference in sound quality!!! my total cost $26.00....... Store bought cost $236.00!!     Now that I have called for awhile I would like to get the Foxpro that Randy Anderson uses in all the videos, just for the handy remote control, but I think I would rather use the money towards and new .223 rifle.......good luck email me if you would like pictures.     denver*c

[MI VHNTR]

I've had several different tape callers (about 4 of them) and a FoxPro. They were all very good units. I wore a couple of the tape units out and have long since sold my FoxPro. I made my own MP3 based caller and haven't looked back. It's got a very good remote and does the same job, but for much less money. It's very easy to add/delete sounds and I can make each sound as long/short as I want it. The ability to mix sounds is another bonus. It works just as well as the more expensive stuff out there.  It called in a nice double a few days ago.  :grin:           MI VHNTR

[Steve Ruchala]

MIVHNTR, can you tellus how you did it?  pictures would be great.

[MI VHNTR]

Steve, the Predator Masters website has all of the directions to make the caller, including pictures. They show how to make a wired unit. It's also quite simple to make a wireless unit. Here's how to do it. You can use an MP3 player, cassette player or cd player for your sound source. I used an Azden WLX Pro wireless mic for the remote unit. A simple stereo to stereo patch cord connects the sound source to the Azden transmitter. I just plug the speaker into the Azden receiver and the setup is complete. The Azden also acts as an amplifier for the sound, so the amplifier is not necessary if the Azden is used.  You can see that it's not all that complicated. If you want/need more info, I'd be glad to help. MI VHNTR

[Flash]

I carried a boom box out in the field for a few years and got tired of the batteries(8 D cell) falling out the back and the short battery life from playing Johnny Stewart cassettes. I was thinking of purchasing a CD player and going that route since the cassette players are obsolete but that takes alot of power to run the CD motor. I purchased a digital Johnny Stewart caller with microchip cartridges and WOW, the sounds are great and I used it all day and still had battery(4 AA cell) life left. Don't get me wrong, I am a di-it -yourselfer too but with certain things, I'd rather but the quality and be done with it. The unit is weather proff and compact and sure does bring in them crows.

[PASlugger]

Thanks for the replies so far.  I'm still going to go down the path of building a variant of the DIY caller on the predator masters web site.  I already had the MP3 player, so the remainder of the items will not be too costly.  I'm still "shopping" for a camcorder wireless mic.  I would like those units to run off of 9V batteries, so I can incorporate 9V RC Toy car rechargable batteries.  Seems to me this would be the best way to go as far was power.  I looked at the Azden WLX Pro, but not 9V, still looking for NADY 351, or Azden WMS pro ... either runs on 9V batteries and seems to test well out to 90-100 yards.

Keep the info coming.  If anyone out there has built an E-caller, especially with wireless capabilities, I would love to hear about your setup and cost.

PASlugger.

[MI VHNTR]

PASlugger, the Azden WLX Pro uses 9V power.  The WLX Pro box contains the WM Pro (transmitter) and the WR Pro (the receiver). I use one in my caller. They run approximately $135 new, plus shipping. The Radio Shack horn speakers are around $20, except when they are on sale for $15. Hopefully, this will clarify the 9V question for you. I had pretty much the same questions when I was looking for the 9 V setups. The cables run $5.00 or so, depending on length.  MI VHNTR

[PASlugger]

MI VHNTR,

thanks for clarifying the power on the Azden Wlx Pro ... I looked on Amazon here:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00006JPD5/qid=1099351609/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_3_etk-photo/002-3779147-4280864?v=glance&s=electronics&n=502394

... and the item description indicated "Both units use 1 AA battery", This time I opened the Azden PDF also at the link above to see that 9V are what is required.  Thanks again.  I've read some reviews that the units themselves are built fairly cheap, I have never seen them.  I guess if they work and are clear, the case should not be much of a concern.  As long as I get 50-75 yards out of the signal with clear sound, I will be happy ... no matter what wireless system I choose.  I like the Nady 351 a little better from what I've seen, but harder to find a deal on them.

[MI VHNTR]

PASlugger, the cases on the Azden are smaller than a pack of unfiltered cigarettes. They are made out of a black plastic and have been durable so far. They are also very light. Someone on the Predator Masters site did a direct comparison between the Azden and the Nady 351 and wrote a good review on it.  It's under the Electronics Forum. I run my speaker out to 50-75 yards pretty easily. The sounds are nice and clear too.  MI VHNTR

[barber]

I bought a caller made by Doggin Coyotes, and it was great. I sold it to get a Fox Pro, The Fox Pro is great,  but the home made caller was comparable, and half the  price.