Reduced radio range with FoxJack2?

[Numpty]

I've been using a FJ2 about a year on a Spitfire. In that time I've been trying to figure out whether the radio reception range is lessened by the decoy, or whether the buttons on my remote are getting fussy. Then I saw this identical review posted on another gun/shooting site, and the reviewer remarked he was having the same problem with a Wildfire2 caller. And another member of that forum remarked that he, too, was seeing the same problem.

I didn't answer the post in that other forum because first I wanted to check here and see if it already has been mentioned, and/or if FoxPro is aware of it.

I have two Spitfires, and two TX-24 remotes. I have two because the originals mysteriously disappeared, then after I'd bought a replacement, the guilty family member fessed up to borrowing it without my knowledge and brought it back. Anyway, when I first got the original, I successfully tested the transmitter as far away as 200 yards. Now, with the FJ2 attached, regardless of which combination of caller and remote I use (four different permutations), in actual field use, anything further than 50 yards gets iffy. I've always found the TX-24 button's fussy, especially when I'm wearing gloves (which essentially is all the time), and the second unit is a refurb, so I still wasn't sure the fact that the second transmitter showed the same problem exonerated the buttons.

So including the two fellows in that other forum (one of whom also remarked to the same problem in this forum), that makes four examples of the reception range being reduced. And the problem does not appear limited to the Spitfire.

I haven't been able to detect any correlation to the reception range based on changes in the caller's orientation, which leads me to doubt this is a problem with the radio transparency of the decoy module itself, which leaves me thinking it's a radio magnetic interference problem caused by the magnetic field the electric motor is creating. But that's purely a guess.

Anybody else seeing this? If so, with which caller? Has anybody at the company heard gripes about this? I do well to operate a transistor radio, so I'm speaking from pure ignorance, but is this something an external aerial might remedy? Or is this going to take a Farraday cage to fix?

[Numpty]

BTT.

I've come across two more FoxPro users (in the real world) who offered without me prompting that the decoy reduces radio reception range.


There's no one else here noticing this? I'm wondering if this couldn't be alleviated with a simple add-on aerial (and if so, how you'd do it).

[Possumal]

We haven't seen any evidence of that with our Shockwaves, CS-24's, or Fusions. Don't know if it makes a difference, but we always set up where the decoy is further away from us than the ecaller that is receiving the signal.

[Possumal]

Put some heat shrink on the first few inches of the wire. That ought to stop that problem. Or you can tape it heavy for about the same distance.

[Coyotehunter]

This brings up something that I noticed when I added the Foxjack2 to my FX3 unit. The range that the remote worked was very short. It was one of the first times I actually tried to use the FX3 and the FoxJack2 together out in the field but I estimated that the range was very short. Only about 25 yards. I had the FX3 on the ground though so that could add to the problem of the short range reception.

I've since updated to the Shockwave just in order to get the unit up on a tripod and try to extend the range of the remote since the Shockwave uses different newer remote Technology. I've not really tried to test the range of the T1000 remote on the Shockwave but I will be doing some range testing before hunting season in Oct. I still need to figure out how to program and add some new sounds and such.

I did manage to test the Shockwave on a small tripod that I bought and also on one of my Photography light Weight taller tripods which worked pretty good.

I was thinking about getting one of the FoxJack3's for the Shockwave but I may just try to stick with my Jack in the Box unit instead. But that's just one more bulky item that I will have to carry out in the field with me. I'll need a bigger backpack if I do that or will have to buy a four wheeler to carry all my equipment. And I'll need a trailer or a new truck to haul the Four Wheeler.

[Possumal]

4 Paws and Yote Yoda have thoroughly tested the Shockwave with the decoy, and have had no negative issues. Both of them do elevate their ecaller about a foot.

[RANDELLHULK]

My wildfire also has shorter remote range with the decoy on it I've got a free standing blackjack I'm gonna try since it will use cable the foxjack two cost me about 50 yrds on more distance

[Jingles]

Only problem I have noticed with my fire storm is the Fox Jack support wire seems to be getting weak and the decoy now hangs over far enough it is at times scraping the ground when it isn't sitting on my tripod and the remote buttons have to be pressed harder than when I first got it sometimes even repeatedly to get them to work. I figure it is like life we all get slower and weaker the older we get