| Q. |
Is The Hornet a deer whistle? |
| A. |
No. The Hornet should not be compared with air activated
deer whistles. In the lab and field testing we performed on deer
whistles from 1995 to 1998, we found that air activated deer
whistles require a minimum of a 48 M.P.H. Direct air flow to
produce any measurable sound level. In our opinion, air activated
deer whistles have little to no effect on deterring deer/vehicle
accidents. |
| Q. |
What is The Hornet? |
| A. |
The Hornet is a small electrically powered sonic generator which
produces a high powered directional sonic wave. This wave can be
tracked at 1600 feet and has demonstrated the ability to alert
deer and most other animals of an approaching vehicle with
sufficient time and distance to avoid deer/vehicle accidents. |
| Q. |
What is Wave Variance Tuning? |
| A. |
Wave Variance Tuning combines reverberation and reflection of
the signal. The sound wave begins to reverberate as it travels
through the barrel of The Hornet. The reverberating wave is then
reflected off the road surface, creating a virtual sonic echo
effect and allowing the sound wave to carry a much longer
distance. |
| Q. |
Is The Hornet ultra-sonic? |
| A. |
The Hornet operates at a fixed frequency of a 5,000 Hz. square
wave pattern and uses Sonic Systems' exclusive Wave Variance
tuning, which takes a secondary frequency to the 18,000 to 21,000
Hz. range, well within the normal human's hearing. |
| Q. |
Can people hear The Hornet? |
| A. |
Most animals, including people, hear within the same frequency
ranges, although some animals can hear tones several thousand
hertz higher. For most people, The Hornet's output falls within
the upper end of their range of hearing and is clearly audible.
However, some people, primarily older people, have a narrower
hearing range and may not be able to hear The Hornet. |
| Q. |
When should I use my Hornet? |
| A. |
Always use The Hornet when driving in high-risk areas. Remember
that deer are most active from dusk until dawn. Always drive with
your headlights on in high-risk areas, stay alert and pay
attention to the roadside. Be prepared to act quickly at the first
sign of an animal. Blow your horn and NEVER swerve into oncoming
traffic or attempt to dodge an animal by driving off the road
surface. |
| Q. |
If I install The Hornet on my vehicle,
will I never hit a deer? |
| A. |
The Hornet is not a magical device, although it is a highly
effective deterrent against deer/vehicle collisions. We estimate,
using The Hornet along with driver awareness, will reduce your
risk of a deer/vehicle accident by more than 70%.
The Hornet was tested on deer accident-prone police and
emergency vehicles over a 3-year period with more than 6 million
proven accident-free miles before it was brought to market. |
| Q. |
Will I hear the sonic wave in my
vehicle? |
| A. |
You will not hear The Hornet while you are driving or riding.
However, you may hear The Hornet when your vehicle is stopped or
you enter an enclosed parking structure such as a parking garage.
The wave is very directional and will reflect back from any solid
object. |
| Q. |
Can The Hornet be installed on a
motorcycle? |
| A. |
Yes. There is a special motorcycle wiring harness available for
The Hornet. It consists of a wiring harness with the new weather-tight
connector, control switch and inline fuse. |
| Q. |
Will The Hornet annoy pets? |
| A. |
Like you, pets will be able to hear The Hornet. We recommend you
turn your Hornet off while you are operating your vehicle in a
confined residential area, campground, etc. Most animals,
particularly non-domesticated animals, may react in some fashion
to The Hornet. |
| Q. |
Will The Hornet bother my cat or dog
in the car? |
| A. |
No. Just as you cannot hear The Hornet while you are
driving, neither will your animals. The Hornet's directional sonic
wave is focused ahead of your vehicle. |
| Q. |
Can I turn The Hornet on and off? |
| A. |
Yes. The Hornet comes with a toggle switch and switch
plate to be mounted either underneath your dashboard or in the
dash itself. We recommend using the switch so that you may turn
The Hornet on when needed and off if you are in a residential
area, parking garage, etc. |
| Q. |
Why must The Hornet be pointed at the
road surface? |
| A. |
The Hornet uses the surface of the road as a reflective plane. |
| Q. |
Will The Hornet scare the deer away? |
| A. |
The Hornet will alert the animal of your approaching vehicle
with sufficient time to avoid a costly collision. Deer are a
highly skittish animal and will normally react to The Hornet by
stopping, looking and listening to determine if they are being
threatened. |
| Q. |
Is The Hornet hard to install? |
| A. |
No. If you are familiar with and can use normal hand
tools, you can install The Hornet in 15 minutes or less. If you
are capable of mounting driving lights or installing a radio, you
can easily install The Hornet. |
| Q. |
Where do I mount The Hornet? |
| A. |
The Hornet may be mounted anywhere under the front side of the
vehicle where it has an unobstructed, clear view of the road
surface. Ideal locations include under the bumper, behind an open
pattern grill, on a cross-member, on the radiator shroud, etc. |
| Q. |
Can I mount The Hornet inside the
car? |
| A. |
No. The Hornet is a small sonic generator that produces a
very focused wave that must be projected directly ahead of the
vehicle for maximum effectiveness. Therefore, it must be mounted
outside the vehicle with a clear, unobstructed view of the road
surface, facing forward and pointed at a 45-degree angle to the
road surface. |
| Q. |
If I do not wish to install The Hornet
myself, where can I take it for installation? |
| A. |
Any car dealership, mechanical garage, or company that installs
radios, CB's, fog lights, etc. can install The Hornet within a few
minutes. |
| Q. |
Will the weather affect The Hornet? |
| A. |
No. The Hornet is water-resistant and is not affected by
normal high and low temperature conditions. However, The Hornet is
not completely waterproof. If it is submerged in water, the driver
circuitry can be damaged. In addition, The Hornet should be
protected from any direct water flow, such as a high-powered water
jet that may be found in a car wash. |
| Q. |
When I have my car washed, will it affect
The Hornet? |
| A. |
No. However, care should be taken to protect The Hornet
from any direct water spray into the output barrel using a plastic
bag or other simple cover. |
| Q. |
Can The Hornet be left on all the time? |
| A. |
Yes. However, we recommend using The Hornet primarily in
high-risk areas and while driving at night. |
| Q. |
What is the effective range of The Hornet? |
| A. |
Models V-120 and V-120C have a wave carrying length of 1,700
feet and an effective range of 800 feet. This means that deer will
be aware of your oncoming vehicle 800 feet away and, under ideal
conditions, will be aware of your vehicle from as far as 1,700
feet away. |
| Q. |
What is the life expectancy of The Hornet? |
| A. |
The Hornet has proven to be an extremely reliable electronic
device. The oldest Hornets have now been in use for five years
without failure. |
| Q. |
What is the warranty of The Hornet? |
| A. |
The Hornet comes with a 90-day limited warranty and a lifetime
service policy. If The Hornet fails during the warranty period,
the Company will replace it at no cost to you. If The Hornet fails
to operate after the warranty period, the Company will repair or
replace The Hornet as necessary for a small service charge plus
shipping and handling. |
| Q. |
Is The Hornet effective on all animals,
such as moose, cows, kangaroo, etc.? |
| A. |
Not necessarily. The Hornet is very effective with deer due to
the fact that deer have extremely keen hearing and are very
skittish animals. Deer will hear The Hornet's sonic wave up to
1,700 feet away, allowing them more than ample time to assess
where the sound is coming from, determine that there is possible
danger, and move away from the road surface. |
| Q. |
Can I use The Hornet to keep deer out of my
yard? |
| A. |
No. The Hornet is effective on a moving vehicle due to
the fact that it is an unfamiliar sound to the animal and is not
constant. If The Hornet is used in a fixed location, it will be
effective for a short period of time until the animal becomes
accustomed to the sonic wave. |
| Q. |
Will The Hornet affect my
vehicle's electrical system? |
| A. |
No. The Hornet uses less than 10mA of electrical power,
which is less than the dome light in your vehicle. |
| Q. |
How do I know if The Hornet is working? |
| A. |
Most people will be able to hear the sonic wave when The Hornet
is turned on and the vehicle is stopped (with the window rolled
down) or parked. |
| Q. |
How does the new V-Series differ from the older S-Series? |
| A. |
The new Hornet V Models utilize the latest and most reliable
electronic technology and do not require grounding to the vehicle
chassis. The V Models also come with a 4’ pigtail and a 3.5mm
plug which connects to a new wiring harness which is complete with
an inline fuse and does not require drilling a hole in the firewall
for the control switch. |
| Q. |
What is the difference between the models of the V-120 and the
V-135 interstate? |
| A. |
The V-120 and V-120C are 120 dB units with a wave carrying length
of approximately 1,700 feet. The V-120C Model has the same specifications
as the V-120 except it is triple chrome plated which makes it
ideal for motorcycles and certain applications where chrome would
be wanted.
The V-135 Interstate is a 135 dB unit with a wave carrying
length of approximately 2,200 feet. Because of its power and
range, the V-135 is designed to be used on interstate highways
and rural high-risk areas.
|
We welcome all questions and comments. If you have a question
or a comment that has not been answered in the following Q&A,
please contact Mr. Otto Jackson, the inventor of The Hornet Deer
Avoidance System, by e-mail at 
