This is topic Foxpro questions in forum Calls and Gear forum at The New Huntmastersbbs!.
To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://www.huntmastersbbs.com/cgi-bin/cgi-ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000302
Posted by Steve C (Member # 510) on November 10, 2008, 06:07 PM:
I have an FX3 I upgraded to an FX5. One of my hunting partners insists it's not loud enough. I heard you can add a gel cell and an auxiliary speaker to kick things up a notch. Have you tried any of these things? With what kind of results? Any suggestions would be appreciated.
I would like my caller to be a little bit louder and clearer. I was out yesterday and the wind didn't help much. My good ol weems did the trick.
Thanks for your help.
[ November 10, 2008, 06:08 PM: Message edited by: Steve C ]
Posted by Rich (Member # 112) on November 10, 2008, 07:06 PM:
Steve C,
I bought a 15 watt TOA speaker to use with my scorpion on windy days, and I spray painted the speaker an Olive drab color. I like the results it gives me. For extra battery power, I bought a small 12 volt sealed lead/acid battery off from the internet. I simply soldered about six feet of wire to the battery terminals, and soldered the proper jack on other end of the wires. I carry the battery in my pocket until I get to my chosen calling spot. The battery simply plugs in to charging jack of my scorpion. I had a 30 watt TOA speaker for awhile there, but it was too bulky for my taste. If you choose to use an external battery that way, be sure to take the nickle/metal hydride batterys out of your FX5 though. Now my FX5 has a 15 watt horn built in to one end of the bugger, and is plenty loud enough I think.
Posted by DAA (Member # 11) on November 11, 2008, 04:23 AM:
Using an external speaker is an option for sure. I've got a couple, don't even know the specs on them, but they are mucho loud. Had never even heard of using a different battery, until just now.
But... If you can blow your Weems louder than your FX5, you've got some hellacious set of lungs on you! Mine is louder than the loudest mouth call I've ever used.
- DAA
Posted by Rich (Member # 112) on November 11, 2008, 04:52 AM:
"But... If you can blow your Weems louder than your FX5, you've got some hellacious set of lungs on you! Mine is louder than the loudest mouth call I've ever used."
----------------------------------
I was thinking the same thing. Maybe the standard batteries in that FX3 are weak?
Posted by TheHuntedOne (Member # 623) on November 11, 2008, 06:11 AM:
FoxPro advertises the FX series callers as putting out 15 watts across two speakers.
While this is true, what they dont tell you unless you go to their site and read the owners manual, or until you get your caller and read the owners manual is that with the internal battery pack that only puts out 9.6 volts, the output is actually much much less.
If you want to obtain the peak output of the amp in an FX series caller, you need to add an external battery pack which can put out up to 15 volts and allows you get the most out of the amps.
The down side to this is that the internal speakers cannot handle the additional power so you also need to add an external speaker as well to get the increased volume out of an FX series caller without risking damage to the unit.
A higher efficency speaker may help somewhat, but it will never approach the advertsised specs until you add the external battery and the speaker.
Al
[ November 11, 2008, 08:36 AM: Message edited by: TheHuntedOne ]
Posted by Rich (Member # 112) on November 11, 2008, 06:29 AM:
Here are a few batteries that will gt the job done. http://www.batterywholesale.com/battery-store/proddetail.html?prodID=245
Posted by TheHuntedOne (Member # 623) on November 11, 2008, 06:47 AM:
Fox Pro reccomends that you do not use the external battery pack with the internal speakers if you are looking soley for increased volume. Doing so may damage the internal speakers.
Al
[ November 11, 2008, 06:56 AM: Message edited by: TheHuntedOne ]
Posted by Steve C (Member # 510) on November 11, 2008, 12:12 PM:
Does anyone have any recommendations for how to properly hook up the additional battery? How do you determine the polarity of the connection to the foxpro?
Posted by Tim Behle (Member # 209) on November 12, 2008, 05:06 AM:
Ohter than most every battery is labled +/-
You can always use nearly any decent volt meter. The red lead is positive, if it shows a negative voltage, then you know that you have the leads reversed on the battery.
Posted by TheHuntedOne (Member # 623) on November 12, 2008, 05:35 AM:
The easiest way to hook it up is to call FoxPro and order the cable that they make for this very purpose. While they dont show it on their web site, they do mention several times to posters in their forums that they have one available. It would be worth a shot.
Another easy option is to go to Radio Shack and pick up a connector that will fit the battery pack that is in you caller now. It unplugs and you can remove it. Radio Shack has a plug that mates with that connector for less than 5 bucks. ALl you have to do then is to hook it up to the battery and connect the plug. You have to remove the battery pack when using an external battery pack anyway. Take your caller to Radio Shack and tell them what you want to do and they will get you the correct connector to hook things up.
Al
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on November 12, 2008, 06:55 AM:
I think it is a fair question; exactly how is an external battery pack attached to the speaker? I don't know about Foxpro, but the Minaska has a jack for the audio. So, assuming you plug this in, where else do those obvious plus and minus wires attach?
Good hunting. LB
Posted by Rich (Member # 112) on November 12, 2008, 07:22 AM:
Leonard,
The external battery plugs in to the charging jack of the caller, which is one good reason to take those factory batteries out before you plug in the external battery. You don't really want to plug the external battery in to the speaker jack do ya? ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Posted by TheHuntedOne (Member # 623) on November 12, 2008, 09:31 AM:
Looking at the caller, you will see the charging jack. It has a post inside, the red arrow in the pic points to this
The post is the Posative Lead at least on my AR4. I ASSUME they are the same on the FX 5 but you should check with a meter.
With the battery pack out, the posative lead attaches to the terminal closed to the edge of the battery pack - again red arrows in the pic,
This is why I suggested you take it to Radio Shack and show them what you have, and they will match you up with the proper plug and show you how to wire it up.
Just head the warning in the FoxPro Manual which says "NEVER connect an external battery to the charging jack without first removing the internal batteries"
Hope that helps some
AL
[ November 12, 2008, 09:33 AM: Message edited by: TheHuntedOne ]
UBB.classicTM
6.3.0