broken transmitter, help!

[KevGem1]

Just been out with my young female peri/saker, **** it the fan lost tranmission in the middle of a flight (crow flight). Luckily enough got her back to the lure check system found a problem with transmitter (previously checked for signal before leaving-everything was ok). Im getting an intermitant signal when i move the arial wire around, sorry i should of said it is an eskan track 216 system from ben long couple of years old, had no problems before. Openly admit don't know much about telemetary systems and open to suggestions wether i should have transmitter repaired and the whole system serviced or would i be better off buying a different transmitter. I have heard people using different transmitters with different recievers never understood why but some advice would be appreciated. Cheers KEV

[Saker-Clive]

KevGem1, is the earial screwed up tightly/ sometimes they un-screw and become loose. It may be as simple as that:yawinkle:


not knowing much about the Eskan Track I don't know the workings of it; does it have a screw on lid? if so, that might be loose.............................

hope this helps.

[Wightwings]

you can get arial replacements sometimes the actual antenna develops a break inside and need replacing.

give Ben a ring i am sure he would advise although 216 is not a permissable frequancy ( in fact not are really i believe)

if all else fails you shoul dbe able to use any tranny make on the same frequancy

[KevGem1]

hi their (now need to replace) coz like the soft sod that i am i tryed to fix it and it is now in the bin. so why i am in the position of having to replace it is their any transmitters available on 216 frequency that would be better suited to the type of flying i would be doing with it. ie (crow,rook etc ) i have got a spare transmitter but i fly a fhh and use that one for her i have had no complaints about this system and has seemd to have worked well for the hawk and the falcon but i just thought why i have to replace one is their a better transmitter that would give me a better performance and i could use the one that ive got for the fhh and use the new and better transmitter for the falcon. by the way to replace the transmitter it will cost £135.00 including p+p.so can any of the telemetry experts give me some advice (please) cheers KEV.

[GriffMJ]

Hi KevGem

I have a Ben Long 216 transmitter and I get an intermittent signal as well....its brand new and never been used? When tail mounted it is not reliable... luckily I was able to purchase a Luxy 6v.... so I use that with the BL as a "sort of" back up.

[OutFlying]

put the "BL" one on your cat.........

[KevGem1]

Oh do we have a smart arse in our midst. I dont own a cat and have no intentions of owning one my intention is to use the telemetry for my birds and being that this is a falconry forum i would of thought it would have been self explanatory. if you cant give helpful advice please dont bother. Any constructive advice would be appreciated Thanks KEV.

[OutFlying]

Get a sense of humour, my reply was to MJ - who was willing to suggest he would use a faulty transmitter as a back up. A faulty transmitter is only fit for a cat and not a falcon.
If I'm wrong then point me in the right direction.............................. Would you use a faulty transmitter as a back up - answer no you'd throw it in the bin.

Any make of transmitter on 216mhz will work fine with your receiver as long as it the required channel of 216 - i.e, channel 3 is 216.225mhz.

Yours JIM.

[KevGem1]

sorry outflying,misunderstood i thought you were saying ben long telemetry systems where no good and thanks for the advice about the transmitter,i hope you will accept my verbal handshake as a way of an apology.cheers KEV

[OutFlying]

No problem Kev, (no smilies to indicate first reply was tongue in cheek).
Do you know the frequency range of your receiver, never used an eskan track so can't help there.

Find out what channels it can received, there are many better transmitters on the market than BL. Try falconry electronics for a new transmitter, they stock merlin transmitters which have a good reputation for reliability. One suitable for a falcon - its takes 1/3 cr battery lasts for 30 days constant use.

Hope this helps Jim.

[KevGem1]

hi jim,thanks for the advice but as i said before i know very little about telemetry systems and it says nothing on the system about freq , all that i know it has 16 channels, i got 2 transmitters with it, one with a number 2 on it and one with number 4 on it and its 216 freq.is there anyone on the forum who can enlighten me about the info i need? cheers KEV

[OutFlying]

Kev,
One thing to learn is the exact frequency of the transmitter, if you ever lose your falcon and want the help of others to help with their receivers - they will need to know the exact frequency as different manufacturers use different channel numbers.

Channel 1 on a marshall set is 216.205mhz but on a luksander would be channel 2.

Just knowing 216mhz isn't a great help when the **** hits the fan. Phone Ben Long and ask him what frequencies channel 2 and channel 4 are on.

Yours Jim.

[KevGem1]

thanks for that jim, i will give ben a ring tomorrow cheers KEV

[GriffMJ]

Jim.,,, there is life in that transmitter but not as we know it!!

[KevGem1]

thanks for the advice just received my new transmitter from falconry electronics tx12 see how i go on with this one cheers KEV