Tips for you, Muss

K

Kentucky Fisherman

New member
Hey, Muss, I built a system around that Advent wireless speaker about 8-9 months ago, and it definitely will do the trick. I haven't called in anything with it yet, but I'm just a beginner and actually have only been out with it a couple of times.

The main drawback with this Advent rig is that when loaded with batteries (about 6-8 C cells) the amp/speaker has gotta weigh 5-6 pounds and it's kind of bulky to boot. So be prepared to rig up some kind of bag or backpack for it. On the plus side, the amp/speaker is built like a tank, it's already water resistant (at least from rain), it's easy to camo with either netting or camo tape, and it's omnidirectional.

Steve is right that the transmitter has no provision for batteries, so that's the only tricky part. It's set up to run off a DC transformer, which comes with the set. What I did was go to Radio Shack and buy a battery holder that holds 4 AA batteries, which produced the right voltage for the transmitter. Then all you need is a plug that fits where the DC transformer normally goes. Be warned that there are about 10 million sizes of these tiny plugs, so take the transformer with you and insist that the sales guy mic (as in measure) it. Wire the plug to your battery holder, load 'er up with AA cells and plug it into the transmitter, that's all there is to it. Of course you'll also need a patch cord from the transmitter to whatever you play your sounds from: cassette, CD, whatever.

I've encountered a bit more hiss and pop from this unit than I'd like, but the range, flexibility and volume are incredible. Let me know if you have any trouble getting that power supply rigged for the transmitter.
 
Kentucky Fisherman, No I am not Muss, but thanks for the info on powering the transmitter. I just might have to get one of these. BTW, what are the dimensions for the Amp/Speaker unit?

Thanks again

Larry
 
Kentucky Fisherman--Any idea on what kind of range the Advent transmitter has in the setup you made; in other words, how far from me and the transmitter can the speaker unit be? That sure sounds like a nifty setup, though it might be a little battery-hungry. Maybe rechargeables would be the way to go for those 8 C cells...

Thanks,

Jim
 
Hey thanks Kentucky Fisherman!
I was down at a Radio Shack yesterday, telling the guy there about that Advent setup. He argued with me until he about popped a vein in his forehead! He was CERTAIN that a setup like that would not work. Oh well.....I will just have to bring it in to him and push play! I think after Xmas I will see about getting that speaker and get the rig set up. How far have you transmitted (transmitter to speaker)? I wonder if extreme distances have anything to do with the background hiss/pop you hear? I guess we should keep in mind that it is a radio wave, and the hissing/popping is inevitable sometimes.

Well good luck to you, and thanks again.
Muss
 
Hi folks. This is directed towards Muss and Kentucky Fisherman, but if anyone else has any helpful input to offer, please chime in.

Muss--I did some research around the web on the Advent wireless speaker unit. They claim a usable range of 300 feet in ideal conditions. I would think then that even in "non-ideal" conditions, i.e. hunting, that you'd still get satisfactory distance out of it. I also found a couple vendors that are selling the unit (transmitter and speaker) for about $79.00, and one place for $87.99 shipped.

Kentucky Fisherman--you said you had not used your Advent setup much, and that the hiss and pop is annoying (by the way, the info. I read about that system said that the frequency is adjustable on both components. Have you messed with that option in trying to reduce the background noise? Also, could you be getting some interference maybe from other 900 mhz sources? Anyway, I digress...) What I would like to ask you, or anyone else who would care to comment, is what would you rather have/use, either that Advent wireless system as you have it, or the do-it-yourself non-wireless setup from the Radio Shack components? I want to get an electronic caller, but have a limited budget, and want to make my first choice/purchase the right one and only one.

Thanks for your help, guys!
 
Sorry I haven't been back to this post in a few weeks, guys.

As for the range of my Advent caller, all I can say for sure is that I've used it at a range of at least 100 yards in the field and it's done fine. I live in the East, and frankly as long as I can get the caller 30-40 yards away from me, that's usually way more than enough. I guess out West it might be nice for a caller that would work at 300 yards, but we just don't need it here in the East.

As for Crusader's query about what system to build, I'd say that if dollars are a major concern, then build yourself an inexpensive hard-wired system and put the extra bucks into tapes, camo and stuff like that. Actually, no remote system is going to exceed the quality of a wired caller; it's just that a wired caller isn't as conventient in terms of unrolling and re-rolling the wire. That's just my 2 cents worth.
 
Kentucky Fisherman:

I am going to give the wireless setup a shot, and have one of the Advent 810 transmitter/speaker systems on order. I have a question for you--in one of your posts last month, you indicated that 4 AA batteries would provide the necessary voltage for the transmitter, in lieu of AC power. How did you know that the 4 AA batteries would provide sufficient voltage and not lead to any damage or problems with the transmitter?

Thanks!
 
Crusader, I work for a telecom consulting company, so there are plenty of electronics geeks for me to bounce questions off. Included with the Advent system are AC-to-DC transformers for both the transmitter and the speaker. I just read the voltage and then discussed it with the guys at work. I don't remember what the output voltage is on the transformer, but it worked out that 4 AA cells would provide it. Good luck, and let me know if you have any more questions. In case I don't respond to a query here, you can email me at KyFishrman@aol.com (note there's no "e" in KyFishrman).
 
Hey guys.. I may be wrong. But to determine how many batteries or how big of a battery ya need first thing is do determine the necessary amount of DC voltage needed to operate the device.. Then it's just a matter of getting the proper voltage from your battery/ies.. Most AA's are @ 1.5V each..So 2 hooked up in series are 3volts..Four AA's in series is 6volts etc.,etc..Some batteries are bigger than others and voltages vary..It's usually on the battery somewhere.. Then there's the current draw in amps and I can't remember my basic electronics enough to 'splain it.. But I think it has a lot to do with how long your battery/ies last(s).. cya.. JiNC

------------------
...Molon Labe!!...
..A North Carolina Varminter...
 
Back
Top