Ok...my new FoxPro Prairie Blaster showed up yesterday morning. So I thought I would right up a quick "first impressions" review of the unit and how it compares to my current FoxPro OCC (Open Country Call).
Here is more info on each unit if interested:
http://www.allpredatorcalls.com/prairie_blaster.htm
http://www.allpredatorcalls.com/occ.htm
So....remember...this is MY opinion and my likes and dislikes....YMMV.
Ok...so I open the box and remove the BP,remote,paper work,etc. The first thing kinda reminded me of what my wife said the first time we hooked up..."WOW...that thing is HUGE!!"
Yep...its a biggy. The fit and finis is nice. A more "commercial" / finished look vs the OCC. The OCC has that...American made in the garage look.
The way the decoy wire connects to the unit is nicer as well. The wire is also longer and stronger then the one on the OCC. But with that it does not "flop" about like the OCC decoy does. I prefer the OCC motion to the PB.
The control panel on the side of the PB is a nice touch but I never missed not having one with the OCC. Everything on the OCC is done via the remote. But I guess this would allow you to use the PB if you lost your remote of the batts in the remote went dead,etc.
Speaking of remotes...the one with the PB is very nice. It is larger and has better resolution then the one with the OCC. I have not played around with it yet but it has many more options then the OCC remote.
So...as for the sound quality and loudness of the two units....
The sound quality sounds about the same to my ears. Where the PB shines is with its shear LOUDNESS!! Wow....I thought the OCC was loud....don't get me wrong...the OCC is no slouch. I started off way back when with a FX-3 and the OCC is WAY louder then it was. This thing cranks! It is really going to be good for the wide open areas I like to hunt in.
The PB uses 8 D cell batts. where as the OCC uses 8 AA batts. I have a extra batt pack for the OCC and it is fitted in the inside so you have spares on hand all the time.
The rated batt life of the PB is 20 hours of continuous play. So I don't think it will be a issue. I bought some PowerMax 11,000ah batts for it...so it should be gtg.
On on that note. The PB does not come with batts or a charger. The OCC came with one set of rechargeable AA and a AC/DC fast charger.
It cost me over $250.00 to buy the rechargeable D batts and a good battery charger (PowerMax unit aka MaHa brand). Yes you can buy sheaper batts and charger but still count on a extra $100+ for batts and charger.
Overall I like the unit...then again I have not packed it around yet...it is heavy. And I carry a 25+ lbs backpack when I am hunting (water,knife,shooting sticks,fire starting equipment,ground cloth,snacks,etc.) so every extra pound starts being felt when you have hiked a couple of miles to a stand..
If I had to do over I think I would have just been as happy with the OCC. But hey...its just money.
I will post some updates ones I get out and actually use it.
Take care,Stan
Here is more info on each unit if interested:
http://www.allpredatorcalls.com/prairie_blaster.htm
http://www.allpredatorcalls.com/occ.htm
So....remember...this is MY opinion and my likes and dislikes....YMMV.
Ok...so I open the box and remove the BP,remote,paper work,etc. The first thing kinda reminded me of what my wife said the first time we hooked up..."WOW...that thing is HUGE!!"
Yep...its a biggy. The fit and finis is nice. A more "commercial" / finished look vs the OCC. The OCC has that...American made in the garage look.
The way the decoy wire connects to the unit is nicer as well. The wire is also longer and stronger then the one on the OCC. But with that it does not "flop" about like the OCC decoy does. I prefer the OCC motion to the PB.
The control panel on the side of the PB is a nice touch but I never missed not having one with the OCC. Everything on the OCC is done via the remote. But I guess this would allow you to use the PB if you lost your remote of the batts in the remote went dead,etc.
Speaking of remotes...the one with the PB is very nice. It is larger and has better resolution then the one with the OCC. I have not played around with it yet but it has many more options then the OCC remote.
So...as for the sound quality and loudness of the two units....
The sound quality sounds about the same to my ears. Where the PB shines is with its shear LOUDNESS!! Wow....I thought the OCC was loud....don't get me wrong...the OCC is no slouch. I started off way back when with a FX-3 and the OCC is WAY louder then it was. This thing cranks! It is really going to be good for the wide open areas I like to hunt in.
The PB uses 8 D cell batts. where as the OCC uses 8 AA batts. I have a extra batt pack for the OCC and it is fitted in the inside so you have spares on hand all the time.
The rated batt life of the PB is 20 hours of continuous play. So I don't think it will be a issue. I bought some PowerMax 11,000ah batts for it...so it should be gtg.
On on that note. The PB does not come with batts or a charger. The OCC came with one set of rechargeable AA and a AC/DC fast charger.
It cost me over $250.00 to buy the rechargeable D batts and a good battery charger (PowerMax unit aka MaHa brand). Yes you can buy sheaper batts and charger but still count on a extra $100+ for batts and charger.
Overall I like the unit...then again I have not packed it around yet...it is heavy. And I carry a 25+ lbs backpack when I am hunting (water,knife,shooting sticks,fire starting equipment,ground cloth,snacks,etc.) so every extra pound starts being felt when you have hiked a couple of miles to a stand..
If I had to do over I think I would have just been as happy with the OCC. But hey...its just money.
I will post some updates ones I get out and actually use it.
Take care,Stan
