Foxpro FX3 User manual

TOPIC
PAGE
Using the FOXPRO
®
FX3 Digital Game Call
1
Quick Operating Guide
2
About the FX3 Speakers
3
Batteries and Charging
4
Auxiliary Jack Function
5
Using External Audio Source
6
Using External Power Source
6
Using the Remote Control
8
Reprogramming Sounds
9
Online Programming Support Center
9
Downloading the FOXPRO
®
Programming Utility
9
Programming Your FOXPRO
®
FX3
10
Printing a Sound List
12
Maximizing Remote Control Range
12

Important Information
FOXPRO
®
’s goal is to provide our customers with the highest quality products
in the industry. We take great pride in manufacturing our products in the USA.
Please do not hesitate to contact us for assistance, comments or questions.
FOXPRO
®
Inc.
14 Fox Hollow Drive
Lewistown, PA 17044
[phone]
Fax: [phone]
Hours of Operation
Monday – Friday
8AM – 5PM EST
Contact Us
Customer Service: [phone]
Toll Free Orders Only: 866-463-6977
General Inquiry E-mail: [e-mail]
Stay up to date with the latest sounds by visiting our online sound library.
Watch for new products and upgrades from FOXPRO
®
. Visit us online:
www.goFOXPRO.com
This manual, the animal sounds stored in your caller, and animal sounds
purchased from FOXPRO
®
Inc. for installation in your caller are protected
by copyright.
Copyright ©
©©
© ℗
℗℗
℗ 2009 by FOXPRO
®
Inc.

Using the FOXPRO
®
FX3 Digital Game Call
Congratulations on the purchase of your FOXPRO
®
FX3 digital wildlife caller!
You have chosen a highly advanced product with reliability, ease-of-use, and
features that are second to none. The FX3 is the product of an engineering
effort that spanned several years. Please take this time to read and understand
the information in this instruction booklet. This will ensure that you receive the
maximum benefit from your new FOXPRO
®
FX3.
Features
1. Rugged injection molded ABS housing
2. On/Off switch-manual volume control
3. Rear Speaker Slide Switch
4. Front Speaker Slide Switch
5. Low Battery Indicator LED
6. Sound Up/Down Keys
7. Reflex Horn Speaker
8. Rear Cone Speaker
9. Charger Jack
10. Ext Speaker Jack
11. Auxiliary Jack
12. Ext Audio Jack

QUICK OPERATING GUIDE
Since the FX3 is shipped from the factory with no batteries installed, the first
step is to install 8 “AA” batteries. These may be alkaline or rechargeable
types. We strongly recommend high capacity NiMH rechargeable batteries over
alkaline types for maximum performance, particularly when using loud volume
levels.
Installing Batteries in the FX3
1. To install batteries, remove the battery door. The battery door is
located on the side of the caller, and is held in place with a knurled
thumbscrew.
2. Orient the batteries as per the directions shown in each cavity within
the holder.
NOTE: The battery polarity alternates.
3. Replace the battery door after the batteries are installed.
Installing Batteries in the TX5-LR
The TX5-LR transmitter operates from a 9V battery. Please use a high quality
alkaline battery.
1. Remove the battery compartment cover located on the rear of the
transmitter.
2. Connect the 9V battery to the connector plug, and orient the battery in
the transmitter.
3. Replace the battery compartment cover.
Playing Sounds Manually
1. Make sure that at least 1 of the speaker selector slide switches is set to
the right, or “ON” position.

2. Click the On/Off/Volume switch to the on position. Please note that this
switch is also the volume control when the unit is operated without the
remote control. The further clockwise you turn the knob, the louder the
unit will play. At this point, the LCD display on the FX3 will be flashing
“- -“.
3. Press the up or down arrow keypad button on the FX3 to select a
sound number. Once selected, release the button, and the sound will
play. To select a different sound, simply press the up or down arrow
buttons again to your desired sound. Please note that by pressing and
holding either the up or down keys the numbers will ramp slowly at first,
and then increase to a faster ramp speed.
Playing Sounds with the TX5-LR Remote Control
1. Turn on the TX5-LR transmitter by pushing any of its keys. Choose the
sound number to be played by using the transmitter sound up or down
buttons.
2. When the chosen number is shown in the transmitter display, push the
“SEND” button.
NOTE: Although the FX3 enters remote mode un-muted, no sound will be
heard because volume is preset to minimum.
3. To adjust the volume, press and hold the “VOLUME UP” key on the
transmitter. Release the key when the volume reaches a suitable level.
If no sound is heard you may have inadvertently pushed the “MUTE”
button. Note that the mute function is latching. That is, the first button
push will mute or pause the sound and the next will allow the sound to
play. The “MUTE” will cause the sound to pause in addition to muting it.
Use the “AUX” button to activate a device such as a decoy or camera
connected to the FX3 “AUX” connector. Remember to turn the volume
control to “OFF” when you are finished using the caller. “MUTE” is not
“OFF.” Some battery drain continues in “MUTE” mode.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
This caller incorporates 2 different types of loudspeakers. The front speaker is
a high efficiency horn with maximum sensitivity in the frequency range
necessary to reproduce small animal distress sounds. Distress sounds of
rabbits, small rodents, birds, canines, and many others are best reproduced by
using the front horn only with the rear cone speaker turned off. This will also
ensure maximum battery life as playing both speakers requires almost twice as
much battery power.
The rear cone speaker is best suited to sounds that have significant lower
frequency content. These sounds would include bear growls, mountain lion
roars, certain owl hoots and some other large mammal sounds. The rear
speaker, however, is not as efficient as the front horn. Because of this, it will

not play as loud as the horn. Understand that not all calling sounds will benefit
greatly from playing both speakers at once. If you elect to do this, remember
that battery life will be reduced.
BATTERIES AND CHARGING
Your FX3 operates on 8 “AA” batteries. For optimal performance and run times,
we recommend high capacity 2000 mAh NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride)
rechargeable cells rather than alkaline types.
NOTE: Remove batteries from battery holder when caller will not be used for
prolonged periods to help prevent deep discharge.
When you ask your FX3 caller to play at extremely loud volume levels, the
current demand on the batteries is much more than alkaline cells can deliver.
Consequently, the run time of these batteries can be very short. The Zinc
Carbon so-called “Heavy Duty” cells are expressly NOT recommended at all.
The performance of your FX3 will be much better with high capacity NiMH
batteries.
Installing Batteries
1. Remove the battery door which is located on the side of the caller. The
battery holder is located beneath this door. Be careful to observe
battery polarity! Note that the cell polarity alternates. Batteries may be
damaged if installed backwards. Double-check polarity before
reinstalling the battery door. NiMH batteries should be charged before
first use.
CAUTION: Never attempt to charge batteries that are not intended to be
recharged! This includes both Zinc Carbon and alkaline cells. The resulting
damage can be serious, and will not be covered by the warranty.
For maximum charge efficiency, we recommend charging your FX3 in
temperatures ranging from 40°F to 85°F (5°C to 30°C).
To charge the batteries, connect the FOXPRO
®
FX Series charger to the FX3
charge jack. Be aware that the green LED may or may not extinguish when the
batteries are fully charged. Your FOXPRO
®
unit incorporates circuitry to
terminate charge current if high battery temperatures are detected. Battery
temperatures increase at the end of the charge cycle. If the temperature edges
towards a dangerous level, the charge current will be interrupted and the green
LED will extinguish. If excessive temperature is not detected, the green LED
will not be extinguished. It is quite possible for the batteries to be fully charged

without their temperature rising to the dangerous level. For this reason, the
LED should not be considered as a “full charge” indicator as it may or may not
extinguish when the batteries are fully charged. The batteries are fully charged
any time their temperature rises substantially above ambient. How long this
takes depends on how much charge has been taken from the batteries and
how much time has passed since the last charge. If the green LED goes out,
the batteries are definitely charged. If the green LED is on and the batteries are
cool, they are still charging. If the green LED is on and the batteries are very
warm, they are fully charged and you should terminate the charge by
unplugging the charger. You should not permit the charge to continue for
more than 12 hours under any circumstances. The batteries need to be
recharged when the “Low Battery” LED is blinking while the FX3 is in use. If this
warning is ignored, the FX3 will abruptly shut off and display “LO” on the LCD
display. Battery run time is directly related to how loud you operate the FX3.
Using both speakers at the same time rather than only the most appropriate
one will have a negative impact on run time. With one speaker playing, expect
6 to 15 hours of run time, depending on the loudness setting. With both
speakers playing, expect 3 to 10 hours. Remember that very loud volumes are
rarely needed, as animals hear much better than we do.
“AUX” JACK FUNCTION
The FX3 is equipped with an auxiliary jack labeled “AUX”. The purpose of this
jack is to allow for the connection of certain external devices, such as the
FOXPRO
®
Jack-in-the-Box Decoy, and to be able to turn these on and off with
the TX5-LR remote control transmitter. However, there are some strict electrical
limits involved with this jack. If these limits are exceeded, damage to your FX3
will result. This damage is not covered by the warranty.
The electrically inclined will want to know that the jack is connected to the drain
of an internal Field Effect Transistor with a maximum current rating of 2
Amperes. The “tip” polarity of the 3.5mm jack is positive, while the sleeve is
negative. If the external device is connected with the polarity reversed, an
internal protection diode within the FET will conduct, causing the device to stay
on constantly. The maximum voltage applied to this jack must never exceed 15
volts. Typical uses for this jack would be to control the FOXPRO
®
Jack-in-the-
Box Decoy, or to start and stop a video recorder. Instructions on connecting
various devices to the “AUX” jack are beyond the scope of this manual. You are
urged to seek help from a knowledgeable professional before connecting any
unapproved device to this jack. Remember that damage to your FX3 caused by
improper use of the “AUX” jack is not covered by the warranty, nor will
FOXPRO
®
be liable for damage to any device connected to this jack. Typical
uses for this jack would be to control the FOXPRO
®
Jack-in-the-Box Decoy, or
to start and stop a video recorder.

USING THE EXT AUDIO JACK
This 3.5mm jack allows for the connection of an external playback device such
as a cassette player, CD player, MP3 player or other similar products. Connect
a 3.5mm patch cable (available from FOXPRO
®
) from the headphone or
speaker jack of the external player to the “EXT AUDIO” jack on the FX3. This
will disable the internal sounds and cause the FX3 to blink “- -“. Turn the
volume control of the external player to a moderate level, and then control the
volume from the FX3 volume control or from the TX5-LR transmitter. With the
remote control, you can adjust the volume and mute the sound. You may need
to experiment with the volume setting on the external player to ensure that
enough drive is obtained without excessive distortion. Once the patch cable is
removed from the FX3, any of the internal sounds may be selected by using the
sound up or down buttons.
USING EXTERNAL POWER SOURCES
Caution! Never connect anything other than a FOXPRO
®
approved
charger to the charge jack without first removing the internal batteries!
Doing so will surely cause damage to the FX3 as well as to the batteries. This
damage is not covered by the warranty.
The design of the FX3 permits the use of certain external power sources, so
long as some precautions are observed. The 8-cell internal battery pack will
serve about 98 percent of the users about 98 percent of the time. This makes
for a caller that is compact and lightweight, highly portable, and has very good
battery life. However, we recognized that there may be times when extended
run-times and additional loudness are more important than light weight and
absolute portability. You can have the best of both worlds with the FX3!
By connecting a large external 12-volt battery to the charge jack, you can
operate the FX3 and obtain run-times measured in days rather than hours. The
internal NiMH battery pack supplies 9.6 volts to the power amplifier, while an
external battery can supply up to 15 volts. This additional voltage will offer an
increase in power output to the speakers, equating to additional loudness. But
there is a double-edged sword involved here. By giving the user the ability to
get more power from the amplifier, there is also a much greater chance of
causing damage to the built-in speakers. For this reason, we recommend using
one of our large external speakers, such as the SP108, if you really need to,
say, call crows from the next county. Not only are these speakers more
efficient, they will have no problem dealing with the extra power.
NOTE: If you must use extreme volume without the external speaker, use only

the front horn. The rear cone speaker is somewhat more delicate than the front
horn. Please be careful with the volume control, and remember these cautions
when using an external battery:
1. NEVER connect an external battery to the charge jack without first
removing the internal batteries.
2. NEVER connect a battery or power supply capable of delivering more
than 15 volts to the charge jack.
3. NEVER charge the external battery while it is connected to the FX3.
4. ALWAYS use a 5 amp (max) fuse in the positive battery lead.
5. ALWAYS act responsibly with the volume control to prevent speaker
damage.
6. For maximum possible loudness, use one of our optional external
speakers, such as the SP108.