[We have now consolidated everything on attraction calls on this page]
Technology advances apace. We have discovered an even better idea for playing attraction calls, the Cheng Sheng 12V Stereo Power Audio Amplifier, with the player and amplifier combined in one box. So it is neater and slightly cheaper than the last idea, but the performance is the same.
Contributed by Dick
As with the original Box of Swifts, all of the electronics is in a single box. All it needs is a 12 volt power supply, and a speaker cable to connect a 1.5 inch car tweeter. The only soldering needed is to attach the tweeter to the speaker cable. Calls, in MP3 format, can be held on an SD card or a USB memory stick.
Playing times can be controlled with a digital timer switch which can survive power cuts without needing resetting.
The Cheng Sheng player amp can run off a 12 volt car battery, it consumes between ~0.3 amps and ~0.5 amps, depending on the sound volume (0.5 amps hurts your ears). Useful options are a 12 volt timer and solar panel for battery recharging.
These configurations are easy to put together yourself. You can order the player/amp singly, the speakers in pairs (which could be useful), but cheap power adapters only seem to come 5 at a time.
Although the Cheng Sheng player amp works out of the box, just switch the power on and it starts playing, it does not come with any instructions to explain what the buttons mean, so we have written some here (File>Download for pdf) [these were updated on 2/7/2013].
Websites for the components are: [Note prices and availability may have changed since posting this, so it is worth Googling for alternatives]
Rodney Monteith has brought our attention to the Kinter MA-800 as an alternative to the Cheng Sheng.
Timer Switches
We have tried quite a few 240 volt timer switches. We prefer a digital timer because it can survive loss of power without losing the current time or program settings. However, the majority of them are quite difficult to use because of their arcane user interfaces. Cheaper ones frequently break down and lose their settings, or don't work at all after having them for a short period. Our current favoured timer is the Time Guard TG77 7 day timer. It is simple to program, is reliable, it has an on/off light and is available at a good price from John Lewis in the UK, see here.
Websites for Swift calls in MP3 format are:
Netherlands Swift Protection downloadable calls recorded by Rosanne van Oudheusden. This site has been reorganised, the recommended track numbers now are 1, 10, 13 and 14 (or 14a or 15a)
Set of selected Swift calls.zip uploaded by Rick Wortelboer to the files section of SMSWW; requires login to SMSWW. These are some of the same tracks as the previous link, with quiet periods inserted.
Swift Conservation well tried calls on CD and supplied in MP3 format.
Jacobi Jayne good quality calls on CD - need converting to MP3. Expensive.
It is also worth Googling for Swift calls, we found these:
Latvian swift calls we have not tried these, but they sound OK
More Dutch calls these sound OK too.
12 volt battery driven systems
If mains power is not available, then a 12 volt battery can be used as described on this post
Tools for manipulating sound files
For online format conversion try http://media.io/ to convert audio files.
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ is also a good program for performing manipulations on sound files
Excellent, I have just ordered the amp + power supply. (Upgraded to 5A)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121035121888?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/170859166327?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
Thanks John, This source seems to be cheaper with free postage.
DeleteDick
Got my amp and power supply today :-)
ReplyDeleteEverything works like it should.
And thanks for the manual, it was very usefull.
Now I will start to build the nest box.
John.
What is the best power supply adapter to run off the mains for the cheng sheng amp. Have ordered the amp. just not sure on best adapter to use.
ReplyDeleteboxes made and will go up next week. just waiting for all the electronic components to come.
ReplyDeleteWell done Steve, how about popping us a photo.
ReplyDeleteDick
bought 3 boxes + nest forms from mr stimpson,now up and painted. (room for more).
ReplyDeletecheng sheng player up and running with timer, speakers placed inside boxes, sounds fantastic.traced cables through loft and down into spare room/study. thank you for your information,on this set up.
brian murray.
Hi Brian, sounds familiar ! i got my boxes & concaves from mr Stimpson, all painted up, this will be my 4th year, started with 2 boxes and external speaker from old cd player, now up to 7 boxes, this year with cameras and 1,3,5 &7 have the tweeter speakers from the cheng sheng amp & varied swift calls, your name sounds familiar as well ?
Deletehow did you get on last year ?
hi Andy,my first year 2013 had a few bangers but none entered my boxes.hoping for a better 2014.myself and a work colleague approached our management at work and they paid for and installed 6 double boxes and speakers for us.(hats off to them) so all ready for the swifts this year.sounds like you have a fantastic set up Andy..great name BTW.
DeleteThanks for letting us know Brian
ReplyDeleteDick
I have 2 Zeist boxes free to a good home anyone interested, Grantham area.
ReplyDeleteDavid Makin
hi,just a question on cd calls i cant seem to find a answer to.if i am lucky enough to attract this wonderful bird,to one of my boxes,when is the time to turn the sound off. ie when when one occupies a box, or leave sound on for others to follow. hope you can help,three boxes with speakers inside the two outside boxes.
ReplyDeletemany thanks.
Hi Brian, Thanks for your question. As far as we know, there are no negative effects of playing the calls too much. Speakers in the box do not seem to bother resident Swifts. So having attracted one pair, until we learn otherwise, one might as well continue playing the calls to attract more.
DeleteDick
My first 4 room swift box is finally up on the wall :-)
ReplyDeleteThe sound system is working as it's supposed to do as well. Has connected it to a timer. Starts every morning at 07:00 - 10:00 then again at 16:00 - 20:00. Now I will have to wait until late may, first then is the swift returning to my town.
Here are the link to the box buildt.
Deletehttp://s643.photobucket.com/user/Italjohn/library/Swift%20box?sort=3&page=1
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi guys.
ReplyDeleteHere is the link to my swift box.
What do you think of it?
Many thanks to Dick for posting it in his blog.
http://actionforswifts.blogspot.no/2013/05/gable-end-nestbox-in-norway.html
quero comprar um mais não sei o endereço.. o email é janz-alves@hotmail. moro em fortaleza-ceara - centro
ReplyDeleteHi, got my set up ready for May 2014, if anyone has used the Nederlands swift calls, where they successful ? and if so which tracks did you us ?
ReplyDeletei'm going with tracks 1, 5 & 6. the single swift calls seem too distorted at volume,
Andy
Hi there. I have used the Nederlands swift calls, and they seems to work like they supposed to. I don't remember which tracks. You can see my box here: http://actionforswifts.blogspot.no/2013/05/gable-end-nestbox-in-norway.html
DeleteHi John, thats a great set up, good luck for this year, please let us know how you get on, Andy
DeleteHi Dick
ReplyDeleteI am in the process of costing up some Swift boxes for my local primary school. Apologies if I missed it above, but could you suggest a decent speaker cable, that is both weatherproof and isn't too expensive. Also, should the speaker be fitted inside the box or beneath it? I've seen both mentioned online.
Cheers
Martin
Hi Martin,
DeleteI usually buy it 100 metres at a time. Maplins used to do a good deal. More recently I found some relatively inexpensive cable in a local Cambridge store, Mackays. You don't need anything heavy duty for driving tweeters.
Dick
Thanks so much for posting a lot of this awesome content Looking forward to checking out more.
ReplyDeleteHome CCTV camera & Ford falcon DVD player
It would be useful if there was a printable version
ReplyDeleteHi
ReplyDeleteJust put up a Cheng Sheng amplifier which is working successfully but the instruction link on the webpage is just a blank page. Is there a way of getting the instructions so we can work out how to play specific tracks from the machine. Thanks Patti and Richard
Hi Patti and Richard,
DeleteThe link works for me - try:
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B3YAfjezSBIiYzdFSzRwUHktTlk
If you get stuck, email actionforswifts@gmail.com
Dick
Dear Dick, Apologies for the tardy response. Your link worked and we're 'up and running'. Lots of 'fly pasts' but no takers as yet - all digits crossed! Just to say also, there are now 6 swift nest boxes put up at the church in Stowmarket you came to advise us on. Many thanks, all best, Richard and Patti.
DeleteLatest news from ny swift box. 2 swifts has fly around my house all summer. Sometimes there has been up to 6 swifts. I have never seen any swifts enter the box, until this morning at 10:30. I was sitting on my porch as the 2 usual swifts starts to circle my hous, so I went out on my lawn, and could see one of them entered the top flute. I stood there to watch for a few minutes, but the swift did not come out. but as this is wery lat in the season, I don't think they have breed in the box. I will open the box later this year and have a closer look inside. I will also buy some cameras from ebay, and install as well. Get back to you when I have more news.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this Italjohn,
DeleteIt sounds promising!
Dick
Hello people - some great info here and am having a go at this but am worried a little about disturbing close neighbours as the amplifier can go quite loud and the mp3s are obviously highly repetitive. Any tips to minimise potential complaints? Presumably restricting use strictly to sunny mornings May-Jul would be a good start? Many thanks for your time...
ReplyDeleteSome people like the calls, most people don't notice. For those few who get irritated you can usually find times of day and sound volumes that keeps them on board. The link you commented on is now superseded - we have put everything here:
Deletehttp://actionforswifts.blogspot.co.uk/p/attraction-call-systems-for-swifts.html
Dick