Flextone Echo HD

R

Rescue35

New member
Picked one up on sale for $150 at Bass Pro yesterday. I took it out of the box and (I thought) charging. Big selling point for me (other than price) was the fact that it comes with Ni-Mh batteries and charger. The remote resides and charges in the main unit. The unit also has two speakers.

Instructions are OK, it appears there will be some finagling to switch between calls. There are 77 calls included in 15 categories.

1 year warranty.

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Benchmade pocket knife is there for scale.

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Correction on battery type, they are Ni-Mh (caller) and Li-Ion (remote).

So I took it out today to test it out. The batteries hadn't charged any because I did not get the charge cord pushed past the rubber plug. The remote would not come on at all because when I installed it I did not get it fully seated. Of course I didn't find this out until getting back inside. This prevented me from checking the 300 yd claim on remote distance.

I turned the unit on and played a few sounds. They seem to be quality sounds. I switched between speakers and tried different volume levels. It was loud enough to echo the fox barks through the hills or quite enough to sound like a real mouse in the bushes.

It is louder than the real thing and somewhat louder than hand calls. I think it is perfect (volume wise) for the areas I hunt. On some sounds on low volume there was a continuous high pitched squeal that I could hear while holding the unit but not when several yards away.

Ditch the carry strap. The shiny metal clips when attached to the metal rings on the caller rattle uncontrollably with the unit over your shoulder. In fact the metal rings on the caller will need to be taped up or removed to prevent rattling also.

Calls are organized alphabetical by category (in bold). To select a call you scroll through the category and select it, then scroll through the calls to find the one you want. The remote works just like the call mounted functions.

Bear
Bear 4 Month Distress
Bear Adult Distress

Bird
Blue Jay
Bobwhite Quail
Catbird
Magpie
Pileated Woodpecker
Red Winged Blackbird Distress
Ringneck Young Male Distress
Starling Distress

Bobcat
Bobcat Adult Female in Heat
Bobcat Baby Distress
Bobcat Female Distress
Bobcat Young Distress

Cougar
Cougar Female Call
Cougar Male Call

Coyote
Coyote Adult Distress
Coyote Adult Female Howl
Coyote Barks
Coyote Beta Male Howls
Coyote Female Challenge
Coyote Hunting Whines
Coyote Male Aggressive
Coyote Male Communicative
Coyote Male Rally Howl
Coyote Pup 3 Week Distress
Coyote Pup Distress
Coyote Pup Scream
Coyote Pup Single Howl
Coyote Pup Submissive
Coyote Pups Whining
Coyote Young Group Howl

Crow
Crow Adult Distress
Crow Alarms
Crow Baby Distress
Crow Young Distress
Crows Mobbing

Fox
Gray Fax Adult Female Distress
Gray Fox Barks
Gray Fox Distress
Red Fox Adult Distress
Red Fox Baby Distress

Hog
Javelina Adult Distress
Javelina Young Distress
Pig Adult Distress
Pig Baby Distress

Mouse
Deer Mouse Squeak
Vole Mouse Squeak

Owl
Barred Owl Call
Barred Owl Distress
Great Horned Owl Call
Owl Hoot
Owl Scream

Prairie Dog
Prairie Dog Distress

Rabbit
Baby Cottontail
Cottontail Distress
European Hare Distress
Fleming Hare Baby Distress
Fleming Hare Adult Distress
Jackrabbit Distress
Juvenile Cottontail Distress
Juvenile Jackrabbit Distress
Pigmy Cottontail Distress
Snowshoe Hare Distress
Young Jackrabbit

Racoon
Aggressive Raccoon
Raccoon Babies Fighting
Raccoon Babies and Adult Fighting
Raccoon Baby Distress
Raccoon Distress
Raccoon Twitter

Squirrel
Black Squirrel Distress
Fox Squirrel Distress
Red Squirrel Distress
Squirrel Bark and Whine

Wolf
Wolf Male Howl
Wolf Pup Distress
 
Thanks,

No external jack but the front and rear speakers are selectable. Either one or both. Also there is no way to add more sounds.

The Ni-Mh batteries are AA cell (8) and come with the caller.

The high pitched squeal reported earlier is intermittent and a slight tap to the case shuts it up.

Also, there are fold down legs on the bottom of the caller to get it off the ground about 2".

This one will be handy enough for a while.
 
Gander Mtn and Bass Pro seem to have some special models, less sounds but the unit is camo'd. Can't tell any other differences.
 
Originally Posted By: MapesIsnt the echo supposed to have 100 sounds preloaded?

The model that Midway has does (but is only ~ $50 cheaper than an Alpha Dog they have on sale).

This model does not have the Turkey, Deer, and Elk sounds. I wouldn't consider it a great buy but it is a decent entry level e-caller.

Last night I was just going through all the sounds and getting used to the remote operation in the dark. I ended up calling in a Grey fox from inside the house.
 
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It was on the hill in the back which drove my dog nuts. I was wondering what went wrong with the caller when I moved on from the mouse calls to the owl calls and I was hearing fox barks.

ETA:I tried to see how far the remote will work today and from 75-100 yards it worked good even with trees, slight rises etc between the caller and remote. I moved out to 150-175 yards and would have to find the right spot to get the caller to respond. I did not test it in an open area with line of sight to the caller.

It is nice and loud though. Cranked all the way up I had no problem telling what sound was playing 175 yards out. Plus I had all of the neighbors dogs going nuts!
 
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So they add the camo and take sounds off the caller?Or is something else different?
I wouldnt be very happy about that but I didnt buy one, I almost did.Either way 75 sounds is still alot of sounds.
 
Does anyone know if the AA batteries easily replaceable(in the field)?
How long does a charge last?
I looked at one of these tonight and think I may have to go back after it tomorrow!
 
I just got mine in (it has 100 sounds and is a Tan color) This little thing is excellent for the money. Awsome quality sounds and easy to work/read remote. Yes the batteries are easily field replacable.
 
Originally Posted By: trickrickDoes anyone know if the AA batteries easily replaceable(in the field)?
How long does a charge last?
I looked at one of these tonight and think I may have to go back after it tomorrow!

I haven't had the chance to use mine for long. Later this week I'll try my best to run it dry. The batteries are easily replaced using a coin as a screw driver. Or you could recharge it using an inverter in your vehicle.
 
Got one friday myself, plan to test it on some crows later this week, I'll let you know what they say @ it
 
I bought one today. Put it on charge and will have to wait until next Saturday to use it.....
Played with it just a bit, but need to let it charge fully before I put it through its paces.
I may even sneak out and fire up the neighborhood dogs tomorrow night.
I'm anxious to see wat everyone thinks of their units.
Being a photographer as well, I have 8 or 9 sets of 4 AA batteries and ALWAYS carry back up batteries
 
Originally Posted By: trickrickDoes anyone know if the AA batteries easily replaceable(in the field)?
How long does a charge last?
I looked at one of these tonight and think I may have to go back after it tomorrow!
Easy as taking the old tray out & puting the new battery tray in, radio shack carries extra 8pk trays for about $2
 


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