DIY launcher

lking · Post by **lking** » Fri Feb 25, 2005 9:10 pm

I have the parts necessary for creating a manual launcher into a remote. Everything hooked up nicely but....

In using the 1 hole radios, (Motorola) I'm getting a constant voltage which trips the actuator as soon as the radio is turned on. I've got to be close and nothing is permanently fastened but just can't seem to get it so that the talk button pops the actuator. I've followed the plans and ordered the correct plug for the one holers according to the spec sheet.

Any suggestions???

Thanks.

Post by **Ayres** » Sat Feb 26, 2005 7:58 pm

Motorola plugs are just a slight bit longer than a standard 3/32" phone plug, so make sure you have a Motorola-style plug. Also, make sure you have the plug wired correctly. It sounds like something is hitting where the mic connects through the plug, thus putting the radio into VOX mode and tripping the actuator.

The problem with the "one-holers" is always that you have to manually separate the mic and earpiece wires.

lking · Post by **lking** » Sat Feb 26, 2005 9:06 pm

Well, went to radio shack and bought a motorola adapter plug just like the one used in the spec sheet listed here. Last one left on clearance. Wired it up and ....nothing.

Black from trigger grounded to uncased copper in jack.
White peeled back and not touching.
Green from trigger hitting red ...not a darn thing.

I have tried 2 different motorola brands now, fr 60 and 5200. I have tried the motorola plug, the 3/32 mono, and the 3/32 stereo plugs just to make sure...nothing.

Since I have all the parts, if someone has a sure fire scheme for a different radio drop me a line. I will not hesitate to go out and buy a new set of radios I mean what the he##, I only have 90 bucks wrapped up in it.

In all honesty, I have followed the schema as is to a "t". I have tested the actuator and the battery pack to ensure working capability. I haven't tested the trigger,,,not sure how? But I've gone from getting constant output to nothing at all now.

Any help is appreciated.

PA_Sportsman · Post by **PA_Sportsman** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 8:20 am

Here are the plans I used to build mine and it has been working great.

http://www.birddoginfo.homestead.com/remotepage1.html

Post by **Ayres** » Wed Mar 02, 2005 12:57 am

Honestly I don't know why you're having problems if it's connected exactly as in the diagrams. I used the same page that PA_Sportsman referenced when I learned how to make these things and put together that step-by-step photo guide.

Do you have the same brand of trigger that I had in the picture? If not, the colors may be different.

Do a little testing to find out what exactly makes the acutator fire off and you can start from there. Say, plug in everything and then check the connections to the phone plug that goes into the radio. Try reversing the red and white wires from the plug. I used a Motorola T4900 radio, so maybe in revisions Motorola has swapped the order of ear/mic on the plug rings.

It's hard to troubleshoot through the net, but if you keep fiddling with it you'll find out what the problem is. Just check each wire, step by step as a starting point.

lking · Post by **lking** » Wed Mar 02, 2005 8:19 am

Well, I have sent the trigger back and am awaiting a new one. The trigger tested faulty, everything else is working. I'll keep you posted, and thanks for the help.

lking · Post by **lking** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 7:44 am

New trigger, new results. The company sent me a new trigger and everything works fine. Took me only about 20 minutes to wire everything up. Thanks for all the help!

Post by **Ayres** » Sun Mar 13, 2005 6:14 pm

Glad you got it working! I was beginning to wonder if I had missed something when writing up the plans.

lking · Post by **lking** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 8:58 am

Works like a dream and can be used on my manual launcher as well as my mini-winger made out of PVC for marking and retrieving work. I must have zapped the trigger while playing with some wires, because the new trigger was the key. Everything works perfect.

Thanks again for such a great idea.

Post by **grant** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 12:54 pm

Got my launcher build this weekend per instructions on GDF. Worked great and It's not hard to build. After the first one, anyone should be able to build another pretty quick...

lking · Post by **lking** » Wed Mar 30, 2005 8:57 am

Just wanted to show off the launcher as well as the mini-winger. The winger is hard to see but basicall the project box velcroes to the rear leg and when the actuator extends it hits a bow release trigger which launches the dummy, bird, or whatever. It will launch about 30 yards.

bird launcher:

winger:

Post by **Ayres** » Wed Mar 30, 2005 12:56 pm

Ah! Dual-purpose! I like it!

PA_Sportsman · Post by **PA_Sportsman** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 9:30 am

Very nice!!

gundogguru · Post by **gundogguru** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 12:42 pm

A buddy of mine and I are working on 3 of them 2 for our wingers and 1 for our launcher. We both train labs also and this will make the training a whole lot easier. Thanks for the tips.

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