amplifiers & power horns
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- BronzeLounger
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amplifiers & power horns
My hubby wants to play "The Dawn Song" to attract purple martins. We want to play it for a set amount of time and we want to play it near the nesting site. So I think that if I have a power horn, wiring, amplifier and a computer box for the music track, I ought to be okay. Now my question - what size amplifier plays what size power horn? If I get a 40 watt amplifier, what size of a power horn will that handle? Or reverse it and if I would get a 100 watt power horn, what size amplifier would I need? I know nothing about sound systems.......can you tell?
Thanks for any help offered!
Thanks for any help offered!
Skitterbug
A cup of coffee shared with a friend is happiness tasted and time well spent.
A cup of coffee shared with a friend is happiness tasted and time well spent.
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- PlatinumLounger
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Re: amplifiers & power horns
Skitter,Skitterbug wrote:My hubby wants to play "The Dawn Song" to attract purple martins. We want to play it for a set amount of time and we want to play it near the nesting site. So I think that if I have a power horn, wiring, amplifier and a computer box for the music track, I ought to be okay. Now my question - what size amplifier plays what size power horn? If I get a 40 watt amplifier, what size of a power horn will that handle? Or reverse it and if I would get a 100 watt power horn, what size amplifier would I need? I know nothing about sound systems.......can you tell?
Thanks for any help offered!
That's a LOT of sound for attracting birds. If you have nearby neighbors you may attract the local police with a citation for excessive noise!
Seriously though, The wattage rating for either of them are the maximum power they can safely handle, so running a 40 watt amp into a 100 watt horn is OK but it IS going to be loud. I think the birds will go in the opposite direction instead of being attracted to it. For what you are proposing, a much smaller setup would be fine unless you have other plans for their use later on.
BOB
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- BronzeLounger
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Re: amplifiers & power horns
I did say I did not know a thing about how sound systems worked!viking33 wrote:Skitter,Skitterbug wrote:My hubby wants to play "The Dawn Song" to attract purple martins. We want to play it for a set amount of time and we want to play it near the nesting site. So I think that if I have a power horn, wiring, amplifier and a computer box for the music track, I ought to be okay. Now my question - what size amplifier plays what size power horn? If I get a 40 watt amplifier, what size of a power horn will that handle? Or reverse it and if I would get a 100 watt power horn, what size amplifier would I need? I know nothing about sound systems.......can you tell?
Thanks for any help offered!
That's a LOT of sound for attracting birds. If you have nearby neighbors you may attract the local police with a citation for excessive noise!
Seriously though, The wattage rating for either of them are the maximum power they can safely handle, so running a 40 watt amp into a 100 watt horn is OK but it IS going to be loud. I think the birds will go in the opposite direction instead of being attracted to it. For what you are proposing, a much smaller setup would be fine unless you have other plans for their use later on.
So anyway, I offered the examples above as items that could be used so I could get the ball rolling on a discussion. Now pretty tell me what size amplifier and what size power horn would work? The computer that will be generating the song may be about 100 feet from the power horn. I don't know if this makes any difference in size of the amplifier and the power horn. Keep the humor and the feedback coming! And thanks!
Skitterbug
A cup of coffee shared with a friend is happiness tasted and time well spent.
A cup of coffee shared with a friend is happiness tasted and time well spent.
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- Administrator
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Re: amplifiers & power horns
Your power horn should have a higher rating than your amplifier. If the amplifier has the higher rating then it is possible for someone to turn the volume up until it damages the power horn.
I also think that you only need something very low powered for this usage.
I also think that you only need something very low powered for this usage.
StuartR
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- SilverLounger
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Re: amplifiers & power horns
Hi Skitter
There is not much here about a sound system but some other practical advice on attracting purple martins http://purplemartin.org/main/mgt.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; maybe this will help alongside the sound. I did not realise they were of the swallow family, you learn something new everyday!
There is not much here about a sound system but some other practical advice on attracting purple martins http://purplemartin.org/main/mgt.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; maybe this will help alongside the sound. I did not realise they were of the swallow family, you learn something new everyday!
Steve
http://www.freightpro-uk.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.”
― Benjamin Franklin
http://www.freightpro-uk.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.”
― Benjamin Franklin
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- BronzeLounger
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Re: amplifiers & power horns
So a 50 watt horn would get on well with a 40 watt amplifier - if I understand you correctly? And yes, I do agree that I wouldn't want to blast the martins out of the air with the volume!StuartR wrote:Your power horn should have a higher rating than your amplifier. If the amplifier has the higher rating then it is possible for someone to turn the volume up until it damages the power horn.
I also think that you only need something very low powered for this usage.
Thank you for your reply!
Skitterbug
A cup of coffee shared with a friend is happiness tasted and time well spent.
A cup of coffee shared with a friend is happiness tasted and time well spent.
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- BronzeLounger
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Re: amplifiers & power horns
Hi Steve!steveh wrote:Hi Skitter
There is not much here about a sound system but some other practical advice on attracting purple martins http://purplemartin.org/main/mgt.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; maybe this will help alongside the sound. I did not realise they were of the swallow family, you learn something new everyday!
Actually, I've been all through the Purple Martin site and also the forum but nothing ever quite explained how to get from point A <the computer> to point B <the horn> or exactly what the watts should be for the horn and amplifier. Some people use boom boxes or stereo home systems, etc. We tried a little boom box last year but it quickly wore out! And even if we replaced it, it could not sit outside in the weather! We want something to get the sound closer to the nesting boxes.
So that's why I turned to the lounge - because I knew that I'd get help here!
Thank you for taking time to hunt down the link to the Purple Martin site!
Skitterbug
A cup of coffee shared with a friend is happiness tasted and time well spent.
A cup of coffee shared with a friend is happiness tasted and time well spent.
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- PlatinumLounger
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Re: amplifiers & power horns
So a 50 watt horn would get on well with a 40 watt amplifier - if I understand you correctly? And yes, I do agree that I wouldn't want to blast the martins out of the air with the volume!
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Sure should be OK. As mentioned, keep the volume control down low. 40 watts can be quite loud at full volume.
( I'll keep my eyes on the headlines from Ohio. "BIRDS BLOWN FROM SKY BY SONIC BOOM." )
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Sure should be OK. As mentioned, keep the volume control down low. 40 watts can be quite loud at full volume.
( I'll keep my eyes on the headlines from Ohio. "BIRDS BLOWN FROM SKY BY SONIC BOOM." )
BOB
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If I agreed with you we'd both be wrong.
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If I agreed with you we'd both be wrong.
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- PlutoniumLounger
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Re: amplifiers & power horns
Thanks Bob.viking33 wrote:"BIRDS BLOWN FROM SKY BY SONIC BOOM."
I quite like the new name.
It has much more impact than "Skitterbug"!
He who plants a seed, plants life.
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- UraniumLounger
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Re: amplifiers & power horns
Hi Skitterbug!
Why don't you consider wireless speakers designed for outdoor use? Here is one link but I'm certain that google will find many more for you. I'm sure any of those sites can tell you about how to power them and what decibel levels they can achieve.
Outdoor speakers
Why don't you consider wireless speakers designed for outdoor use? Here is one link but I'm certain that google will find many more for you. I'm sure any of those sites can tell you about how to power them and what decibel levels they can achieve.
Outdoor speakers
Bob's yer Uncle
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- BronzeLounger
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Re: amplifiers & power horns
Ha ha ha! Have you thought about your own stand up comic presentation? Just teasing, of course!viking33 wrote:So a 50 watt horn would get on well with a 40 watt amplifier - if I understand you correctly? And yes, I do agree that I wouldn't want to blast the martins out of the air with the volume!
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Sure should be OK. As mentioned, keep the volume control down low. 40 watts can be quite loud at full volume.
( I'll keep my eyes on the headlines from Ohio. "BIRDS BLOWN FROM SKY BY SONIC BOOM." )
We have the parts now. The next step is assembly and implementation. I'll definitely let the group know how this project turns out.
Skitterbug
A cup of coffee shared with a friend is happiness tasted and time well spent.
A cup of coffee shared with a friend is happiness tasted and time well spent.
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- BronzeLounger
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Re: amplifiers & power horns
Thanks Bob - for the link to an interesting concept. I won't go this direction for now since it took me quite awhile to get our current idea figured out. As mentioned in my post to Bob <viking33>, we've purchased what we think we need. Trying to figure out all this sound stuff seems a lot more complicated to me than fixing up an XP box when it has errors or broken parts...........BobH wrote:Hi Skitterbug!
Why don't you consider wireless speakers designed for outdoor use? Here is one link but I'm certain that google will find many more for you. I'm sure any of those sites can tell you about how to power them and what decibel levels they can achieve.
Outdoor speakers
To Chris: Sonic Boom, eh? I could really level the playing field with that one! I think I'll stick with Skitterbug!
Skitterbug
A cup of coffee shared with a friend is happiness tasted and time well spent.
A cup of coffee shared with a friend is happiness tasted and time well spent.
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- PlatinumLounger
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Re: amplifiers & power horns
Good luck, Skitterbug. I think you'll find the project to be easier than you expect. Shouldn't be a big deal! ( it says here in fine print. )Skitterbug wrote:Ha ha ha! Have you thought about your own stand up comic presentation? Just teasing, of course!viking33 wrote:So a 50 watt horn would get on well with a 40 watt amplifier - if I understand you correctly? And yes, I do agree that I wouldn't want to blast the martins out of the air with the volume!
__________________________________________________________
Sure should be OK. As mentioned, keep the volume control down low. 40 watts can be quite loud at full volume.
( I'll keep my eyes on the headlines from Ohio. "BIRDS BLOWN FROM SKY BY SONIC BOOM." )
We have the parts now. The next step is assembly and implementation. I'll definitely let the group know how this project turns out.
BOB
______________________________________
If I agreed with you we'd both be wrong.
______________________________________
If I agreed with you we'd both be wrong.
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- BronzeLounger
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Re: amplifiers & power horns
I have "Daytime Martin Chatter" going on right now after a lot of messing about. I thought I'd use the Win98 box that I had but for some reason, even though it would let sound come through the computer speakers, it wouldn't allow sound to come through the amplifier/power horn. So I moved along to the XP box. It worked as expected! I have the task manager set up to start the "Dawn Song" tomorrow morning. It should run for 4 hours and then the "Daytime Chatter" should start.viking33 wrote: Good luck, Skitterbug. I think you'll find the project to be easier than you expect. Shouldn't be a big deal! ( it says here in fine print. )
BTW, we don't have any close neighbors so no problems bothering anyone with the noise - which isn't as loud as I expected it to be. This is probably because of the length of wire we used in our project - over 100 feet worth!
You are correct - thanks to all the advise offered - it ended up being a fairly simple task once I understood the concept, had the "stuff" and got it all hooked up!
Now let's hope some martins get curious and decide to come check out our "apartments"! The rent is "cheep"!
Skitterbug
A cup of coffee shared with a friend is happiness tasted and time well spent.
A cup of coffee shared with a friend is happiness tasted and time well spent.
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- PlatinumLounger
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Re: amplifiers & power horns
Great! Have one on me!Skitterbug wrote:I have "Daytime Martin Chatter" going on right now after a lot of messing about. I thought I'd use the Win98 box that I had but for some reason, even though it would let sound come through the computer speakers, it wouldn't allow sound to come through the amplifier/power horn. So I moved along to the XP box. It worked as expected! I have the task manager set up to start the "Dawn Song" tomorrow morning. It should run for 4 hours and then the "Daytime Chatter" should start.viking33 wrote: Good luck, Skitterbug. I think you'll find the project to be easier than you expect. Shouldn't be a big deal! ( it says here in fine print. )
BTW, we don't have any close neighbors so no problems bothering anyone with the noise - which isn't as loud as I expected it to be. This is probably because of the length of wire we used in our project - over 100 feet worth!
You are correct - thanks to all the advise offered - it ended up being a fairly simple task once I understood the concept, had the "stuff" and got it all hooked up!
Now let's hope some martins get curious and decide to come check out our "apartments"! The rent is "cheep"!
BOB
______________________________________
If I agreed with you we'd both be wrong.
______________________________________
If I agreed with you we'd both be wrong.
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- PlatinumLounger
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Re: amplifiers & power horns
And you WILL get some pictures, right?
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- BronzeLounger
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Re: amplifiers & power horns
If they come, I certainly will!Bigaldoc wrote:And you WILL get some pictures, right?
This has been a work in progress for several years now. It seems to be very hard to attract these lovely creatures but once they establish a colony, they will make it their home - as long as the apartments are available!
Now we wait.................
Skitterbug
A cup of coffee shared with a friend is happiness tasted and time well spent.
A cup of coffee shared with a friend is happiness tasted and time well spent.
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- 5StarLounger
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Re: amplifiers & power horns
Interesting article in NYT (subscription may be required - look quickly while still free) at http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/24/techn ... technology" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; .
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- BronzeLounger
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Re: amplifiers & power horns
Bowlie!Bowlie wrote:Interesting article in NYT (subscription may be required - look quickly while still free) at http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/24/techn ... technology" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; .
It is an interesting commentary about wireless speakers. I doubt that the speakers would work for our current application but I thought about our tv sound system and how I'd like to have more speakers so the sound would be better. I think that the tv has blue tooth capabilities so wireless speakers might work. No wires would definitely be a plus! Certainly something to think about! Thanks!
Skitterbug
A cup of coffee shared with a friend is happiness tasted and time well spent.
A cup of coffee shared with a friend is happiness tasted and time well spent.
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- Cosmic Lounger
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Re: amplifiers & power horns
Would it be possible to protect a DAB radio from the elements and tune it into http://www.birdsongradio.com/