Part 1 of E-caller Testing: Remote Ranges

I apologize to everybody for the time it has taken me to get this testing completed and hope that it is still a useful tool for consumers looking to purchase a manufactured e-caller. I want everybody who reads this to know that I am in no way supported by or representing any of the e-callers tested. This is a totally unbiased test created to help inform consumers what manufacturer’s have to offer in e-callers. After quite a while of purchasing calls, waiting for new calls to arrive and updates to the calls I purchased, I am ready to begin divulging the results of my tests. The callers tested are: FoxPro 416B, Minaska Bandit, Wildlife Technologies KAS-2020-GDR, FoxPro FX3, and Western Rivers Predation. I would like to test other callers on the market but since this project was paid for out of pocket, this was all I could come up with. If for any reason there is a manufacturer who would like me to run their caller through the same tests, please contact me and I would be more than happy to do so. This is the first portion of several that I will post with results of the testing. The next portion that I will post will be loudness (dB) of the callers. At the end of each section of testing, I will post any findings and answers to questions that people have asked me since I initially posted on the testing. If my answers or the links to websites that I have are not correct for any reason, please let me know and I will correct them and investigate further.

This portion of testing and this post will simply cover remote range testing. I will at this point post the written portion and later load the photos of testing areas and the remotes so everybody can see. The listing of callers is in alphabetical order to keep it simple and fair. Tests were performed in a few different areas to get a good representation of what to expect from the callers. I know hunters have a variety of terrains and environments that they hunt, so I tried to represent a few of them with my testing. Please note; the longest clear line of sight I could find without having to travel 100 miles was 1 mile long in the Fairbanks vicinity. For all general purposes, this is sufficient for hunters and long enough distance for all but one of the callers. Initial testing was on a 1 mile straight section of road with a hill towards one end of it. Callers were positioned on top of the hill and elevated 36” off the ground. This section of road had several overhead power-lines and around 10 houses 40-50 yards off the road. I did not test the callers if any traffic was on the road between the remote and caller. Each caller had to transmit and operate the caller (on/off) 5 times in order to pass each distance. Distances were measured by odometer, GPS, and with a Bushnell ProRange finder. All callers and remotes received brand new batteries or fully charged batteries before each portion of testing. Here is the list of the remotes and the batteries used in each.

FoxPro 416B (Linx System remote) – 9 volt
FoxPro FX3 (Linx System remote) - 9 volt
Minaska Bandit (Linx System remote) – 9 volt
Western Rivers Predation – (No manufacturer listed on remote) -3 volt watch style battery number CR2032
Wildlife Technologies (Midland GXT 200)– 4 AAA batteries




Straight Line of Sight with Overhead Lines and Houses Along Road

Caller Range
FoxPro 416B 530 yards
FoxPro FX3 530 yards
Minaska Bandit 412 yards
Predation 352 yards
WT Beyond the 1 mile road tested


The next portion of testing was through what I would call “thick stuff”. This included willows and small trees densely packed. Line of sight through this stuff was 10-15 yards tops. Each caller was hung in a tree at the same elevations appr. 40” above the ground. Again, each caller had to transmit and operate the caller (on/off) 5 times in order to get a yardage approval on it.

Thick Stuff; Line of sight to caller 10-15 yards

Caller Range
FoxPro 416B 628 yards
FoxPro FX3 628 yards
Minaska Bandit 246 yards
Predation 657 yards
WT 3256 yards (1.85 mile)


The third and final portion of testing was on another 1 mile straight section of road without any houses or overhead lines around. Callers were again lifted 36” above the ground during testing. This is what would classify as the true “line of sight” test. Here are the results.

Caller Range
FoxPro 416B 982 yards
FoxPro FX3 982 yards
Minaska Bandit 541 yards
Predation 801 yards
WT Beyond the 1 mile road tested

So, there you have it. Those are the results of testing the remotes in various areas. If there is another type of environment that people are interested in me testing, let me know and I will try to accommodate that and get results.

That concludes the results section of testing. At this point I will try and answer the questions that were brought about during testing from people.


Question: Several people asked me at different times what the legality of these remotes is.
Answer: The use of e-caller remotes falls under FCC regulations Title 47 Section 15 (Radio Frequency Devices).

http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_04/47cfr15_04.html

The Wildlife Technologies caller uses a FRS radio as a remote and application for FCC licensing is under Title 47 Section 95 ( 95.191 thought 95.194). Please see the below websites for information on FRS radio regulations

http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_00/47cfr95_00.html


Here are all of the companies tested FCC Applications with pertinent information. This is all public information. You can click on Details or any other item under these applications.


FoxPro
https://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/oet/cf/eas/reports/GenericSearchResult.cfm?RequestTimeout=500

Western Rivers
https://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/oet/cf/eas/reports/GenericSearchResult.cfm?RequestTimeout=500

Minaska
New and updated information on FCC certification
https://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/oet/cf/ea...c_id='TSNMOXLR'


Wildlife Technologies
https://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/oet/cf/eas/reports/GenericSearchResult.cfm?RequestTimeout=500


Question: Do all of the remotes have playlists on them and a “lanyard loop?
Answer: FoxPro 416B, FoxPro FX3, Minaska Bandit all have playlists on remotes. Western Rivers Predation and Wildlife Technologies remotes do not come with playlists on them. FoxPro 416B, FoxPro FX3 and Minaska Bandit all have lanyard loops on them. Western Rivers Predation and Wildlife Technologies remotes do not have lanyard loops.

Question: Do all of the remotes have glow in the dark keypads?
Answer: FoxPro 416B, FoxPro FX3 and Minaska Bandit have glow in the dark keypads.


Thank you for everyone’s patience on the testing and I hope that this has helped some people to become informed of the remotes and their capabilities. I will be adding new sections this week with the loudness portion of testing and then I will have another section either this weekend of early next week with dimensions/weights and other various bits of information.

Thanks for doing this snowcamoman! This is greatly appreciated by everybody. This will also be a useful tool for someone looking to purchase their first e-caller.

Most Excellent.

Kinda looks like the power lines will affect your remote ranges.

Yes sir, those power lines seemed to mess with those remotes. I'm working to fix those links above.

snow

Awesome work. I'm sure that took a LOT of time. Looks like a fair and complete test. I do have a question/test if you have time to run it (if you haven't already).

Could you figure out a test for "non-line of site" for the remotes. Possibly put the units behind a small ridge or hill and then test the yardage effectiveness? Just curious, but thanks for all the hard work.
Doc

Thanks. Interesting info.

Looks like all the ranges were achieved with the caller elevated off the ground.

How about one more test.

Electronic caller on the ground and hunter/operater on his butt on the ground operating controls. Call it the "AP" method.

AP

AP,
I'm heading out on wednesday evening to test "loudness" dB's. I'll run the AP method through and post results.
CoyoteDoc,
There is lots of mining activity where I'll be heading on Wednesday too. I'll set the callers behind the tailing piles and let you know what ranges I get. Is there a particular height of hill you're looking for? Most of the tailing piles are 10-20 foot high?

I noticed the links above to the FCC websites for the companies is not working. Try this one and then under applicant name, type

FoxPro to find FoxPro's applications
Wildlife Technologies for WT's applications
Argusteam Enterprise for Western Rivers Remote applications

https://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/oet/cf/eas/reports/GenericSearch.cfm

If that doesn't work try

http://www.fcc.gov/oet/fccid/

and then click on the link at the bottom that says "Equipment Authorization Search"

That will take you to the page where you can type in the applicants name to find information.

snowcamoman,
Sounds like you are doing a great job!

One question I have sir is the responsiveness of the volume? How fast does the volume go up or down? I think that to be fair it would need to be the whole range of the callers volume? Just a thought. I use callers this way on stand.

Thank you for all you time and hard work regarding this test.

Interesting that the power lines and such degrade the signal and transmittting though brush doesn't effect as much.
Also all did way beyond where I'm setting the call from me unless I'm calling GRIZZ.

LEN

Cougarbait,
I noticed during testing that at the further ranges, there is a delay in signal transmission. I could run each caller through a silent to full volume if you want and give you a time for each. The FoxPro's, Bandit, and Predation all have a continuous volume adjustment you could say. I mean that you hold the button and the volume increases as it is held. I believe the FoxPro's have 100 steps in theirs and I'm not sure what the Predation and Bandit have. The Wildlife Technologies caller has preset volumes that you push buttons 1-6 to change. Number 1 being the quietest and 6 the loudest. So the time to go from the quietest to fullest volume on the WT would be as fast as you could push the two buttons. I'll time the others at say 10 yards through the full volume for each. If you need something different let me know and I'll try it out for you.

Len,
I was surprised at how the power lines effected the range too. And these weren't what I would classify as "Major" powerlines. I'll get a photo of the area posted soon along with all other testing area photos and remote photos.

Excellent testing snow. I appreciate all the work you are doing to provide some accurate and unbiased field tests. I will be watching this closely.

I am impressed that the Predation was going 400yds past the posted range capability.

Very Nice Snow.
I'd like to take the thread, remove the replies, leaving your posts only and place it out front in the tech section or even the Review Section....when your finished.

Good stuff, Snowman. Thank you very much. Looking forward to all of it!

Snow,

Thank you for the reply. I didn't know the WT had the presets on the volume. I could imangine that the longer ranges would cause a dely. I think that the closer range is fine. Most hunting situtions are going to be between 30 and 80 yards. Not the 400+ that it seems as most are doing. I'm all ready impressed with the data that you have given sir.

Thank you for your ear. I look forward to the rest of your results!

I have all the callers and have never got lucky enough to get that kind of range with any of them including my favorite, FoxPro. I guess different areas give different results.

SteveM

I hear ya on that, my 416 wont work at 30 yards if there is so much as a twig between the remote and the caller. Now that I bring that up I am going to call them tomarrow.

That is interesting information on your 416 Furhunter and SteveM. I was even able to use the FX3's remote to operate the 416B at the same distances. As you can see though, various variables effect the ranges like the powerlines, houses etc. I'll continue to try some remote areas this winter where there is nothing around for miles and miles except white snow and trees. This will be the "Remote Range at -30 below testing."
Cougerbait,
I'll run the timed volume testing at say 50 yards and report my findings. It's super windy here this evening and I'm hoping it dies down for tomorrow's loudness dB testing. If not, I'll have to wait on the loudness testing. I'll run the AP test, CoyoteDoc test and the timed volumes if the wind continues to howl tomorrow. I'll get a huge photo post this weekend with all sorts of detailed photos of the remotes, areas used to test and other stuff.
RiverRunner,
Feel free to do with this information as you see fit. It's for everybody to see and use as a tool when deciding on what caller will work best for them.

snow
10 feet should be plenty. I was just mostly wondering about the back side of a ridge or hill. Not necessarily the very bottom, but just over the top. Thanks