Enclosed are:-
One amplifier in plastic box with microSD card, power cable and speaker wire.
One speaker with 5m of cable soldered on and double shrink tubed for weathering.
One speaker mount with screw
You will need to supply a mains programmable timer and a normal plug top with USB outlet as shown in the left of the three pictures below.
We recommend that you fit the speaker inside the box and as close to the opening slot as you can, so the sound carries out of the slot attracting the swifts to enter through the slot. Something like this above which may be a slightly different box from yours.
First attach the speaker mount to the right position with the screw provided and then drill a 5 or 6mm hole into the side of the box as close to the mount as possible – to stop the swifts from pecking at the cable. Then feed the 5m cable through the hole and you can, if you wish, use telephone cable clips to hold the cable to the box sides for neatness. Push the speaker onto its mount.
Plug in the timer, USB plug top and cable into the mains socket. With a 3mm blade screw driver, screw the speaker cable ends into the connector blocks coming from the amplifier, making sure the screws are tight and will not work loose.
Switch it on (the timer should have an override switch on the side) and you will hear the swift sounds. The sounds play in a loop so will be continuous except there may be a short delay between each sound. If nothing is heard then look into the end of the amplifier’s little plastic box. There is a small red light that flashes when it is playing. If the red light is on continuously then the microSD card is missing or loose and it cannot play.
We suggest you set the programmer to come on at 6am and off around 10 and then on again about 6.30pm and off again around 9.30pm so giving calling sounds at early dawn and early evening. Feel free to adjust these timings to suit.
What is NOT included are the plug top with USB socket which people often have as phone chargers.
We have set the amplifier for repeat sounds and for maximum volume which is enhanced if the speaker is mounted inside the box. We have these systems inside church towers 70 foot above the ground and we can clearly hear the sounds above the traffic from ground level.
Very occasionally we have found you may need to increase the volume in which case you do long presses (about 2 secs) on the V+ button shown here.
When running there is a red LED which will flash. If the LED light is constant then either the microSD card is loose or is not in place. Push it to get it to spring out and then push again for it to stay in place.
Here you can see how we mount the speaker inside a standard Zeist Swift box close to the entry slot and then use telephone cable clips on the outside of the box. The speaker wire joint is now double shrink insulated against the weather.