playing PM dawn song with what?
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Guest
I would like to know what everyone uses to play the PMDawn Song. My bomb box will not start playing by itself onces the timer comes on and I won't get up at 4:00am to turn it on each day. sooo please help, what are are of you using? Thanks
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Mitch Booth
- Posts: 480
- Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2008 6:23 am
- Location: Akron, OH
- Martin Colony History: 2012 - 0
2013 - 1 pair, 4 eggs, 2 fledged
2014 - 0
2015 - 1 pair, 5 died during week of rain
2016 - 0
2017 - 1 pair, 4 eggs, 4 fledged
2018 - 4 pair, 19 eggs, 19 fledged
2019 - 7 pair
2020 - 17 pair
Hi there,
Well I struggled with this same problem last year. After 3 months of trail and error I finally came up with a permanent solution. Here goes:
I use a Powerhorn purchased from Radio Shack which can be used in all weather - rain or shine. I then hooked this powerhorn speaker up to my "outdoor patio" output on the back of the home theater system receiver. I burnt the Dawnsong and Daytime Chatter CD to my laptop. I then set the Dawnsong to play automatically every morning from 4:00 am to 10:00 am and then the Daytime Chatter plays from 10:00am to 9:00pm. This happens automatically everyday by going into "Scheduled Tasks" in Windows and running the two audio files burnt to the laptop. Here is the tricky part, as the output from the laptop is not strong enough to have the outdoor Powerhorn speaker play correctly. I purchased a 1/8 inch stereo jack with RCA audio cables at the other end which plug into the back of the home receiver system and the 1/8 in stereo jack plugs into the earpiece on the laptop. My laptop and home theater system will run for 3 months straight without having to tend to it at all. You will also never hear the constant chirping and vocalizations. I hope this helps.
Mitch
Well I struggled with this same problem last year. After 3 months of trail and error I finally came up with a permanent solution. Here goes:
I use a Powerhorn purchased from Radio Shack which can be used in all weather - rain or shine. I then hooked this powerhorn speaker up to my "outdoor patio" output on the back of the home theater system receiver. I burnt the Dawnsong and Daytime Chatter CD to my laptop. I then set the Dawnsong to play automatically every morning from 4:00 am to 10:00 am and then the Daytime Chatter plays from 10:00am to 9:00pm. This happens automatically everyday by going into "Scheduled Tasks" in Windows and running the two audio files burnt to the laptop. Here is the tricky part, as the output from the laptop is not strong enough to have the outdoor Powerhorn speaker play correctly. I purchased a 1/8 inch stereo jack with RCA audio cables at the other end which plug into the back of the home receiver system and the 1/8 in stereo jack plugs into the earpiece on the laptop. My laptop and home theater system will run for 3 months straight without having to tend to it at all. You will also never hear the constant chirping and vocalizations. I hope this helps.
Mitch
I downloaded the dawn song to my Ipod that I put into a alarm clock radio with a Ipod docking station. Than I plugged the radio into an old stero reciever with enough power to run my power horn, set the alarm to come on at 4 am and the Ipod to repeat the dawn song. It works great for me.
Good luck,
James
Good luck,
James
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flyin-lowe
- Posts: 3792
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
- Location: Indiana/Henry Co.
I was in the same boat as my computer was on one side of the house and it was not goig to be practical to run wires across the house and the yard. I ended up getting CD alarm clock from Wal Mart for about $20.00. I set it under the eave of my garage and inside of a trash bag to keep it somewhat protected. I set the alarm for 4AM and then the second alarm for about 5:30. I usually leave for work about 7:30 so as I leave I start it over one more time so it plays from 4 AM until about 9AM. The first one lasted 3 years and I bought another one this year. I didn' t know if it would be loud enough but many times during the day I have turned it on and it has drawn them in. Its not as loud as a power horn but that was just not going to be an option for me and it works pretty good. Plus the only time I have to mess with it is whent he power goes out and I have to re set it.
My computer is too far from my housing...I don't have a strong enough system to hook up to my iPod. So, I found a programable cd player at a local pawn shop for about $30 & have it inside my home...I ran speaker wire through one of my windows to the 2 power horns I have attached under the predator guards that are on my poles. It can be set to come on at a certain time & play the program I have set so it plays from before dawn until dark every day. I had originally put the power horns right under the houses but wasn't thinking that a predator could use the wire to access the housing so I relocated the horns.
Right now I'm not playing the dawnsong, just the daytime chatter until the SYs start coming in to our area. I would think the dawnsong right now would only confuse them since it is too soon for mating.
Good luck & hopefully we'll all get martins this year!!!
Right now I'm not playing the dawnsong, just the daytime chatter until the SYs start coming in to our area. I would think the dawnsong right now would only confuse them since it is too soon for mating.
Good luck & hopefully we'll all get martins this year!!!
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Dave S (Texas)
- Posts: 151
- Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2004 11:42 am
- Location: Round Rock, Tx
I bought a pair of $10 speakers at GoodWill. Covered them in plastic and set them on my roof, pointing straight-up. Ran the wires to my AM-FM receiver/amplifier. Used in a personal CD player set on Repeat and plugged it into my amplifier. Used a plug-in multi-timer to control the power to the amp. The timer was set to come On 1-hour before Sunrise and play for 3hrs, then come On again 1-hr before Sunset/Off 30min after. Easy/inexpensive and Worked great.
Dave
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain
Might I add that in XP, one must log in with a password to get the scheduled tasks to function.
I use a dedicated old laptop, an old powered speaker set with one side sitting in the garage (L) & the other wire running to the RadioShack outdoor loudspeaker 50 watt Model: 40-1440 (R) set atop the garage gable end. PLENTY of sound output and a hands free operation.
This fall & winter I use the same setup for calling in my Pileated Woodpeckers and conversing with Great Horned Owls, Screech & Barred.
CMF
I use a dedicated old laptop, an old powered speaker set with one side sitting in the garage (L) & the other wire running to the RadioShack outdoor loudspeaker 50 watt Model: 40-1440 (R) set atop the garage gable end. PLENTY of sound output and a hands free operation.
This fall & winter I use the same setup for calling in my Pileated Woodpeckers and conversing with Great Horned Owls, Screech & Barred.
CMF