iPod & Headset?

"John Galban" wrote in message om...
Thomas Borchert wrote in message ...

Are we talking about the Garmin 340 audio panel? That's a known problem
- and there's a work-around and a fic by Garmin. If you're interested
in the details, I'll provide them.

No. I've tried this on Softcomm and Flightcom portable intercoms
and a Flightcom 2 place panel mount. I've also tried using several
audio sources. The only luck I've had is with older devices that were
originally designed to drive a real speaker. It's really looking like
a power (output wattage) issue.

John Galban=====N4BQ (PA28-180)

I think it is an impedance match issue...

"John Galban" wrote in message
om...
Thomas Borchert wrote in message
...

Are we talking about the Garmin 340 audio panel? That's a known problem
- and there's a work-around and a fic by Garmin. If you're interested
in the details, I'll provide them.

No. I've tried this on Softcomm and Flightcom portable intercoms
and a Flightcom 2 place panel mount. I've also tried using several
audio sources. The only luck I've had is with older devices that were
originally designed to drive a real speaker. It's really looking like
a power (output wattage) issue.

John Galban=====N4BQ (PA28-180)

How about cannibalizing one of those stand alone powered speakers that are
supposed to hook onto the earphone jack of a walkman? Toss the speakers,
put on an output jack, get a small experiment enclosure from rat shack, and
let the inside goodies drive the intercom. Should be do-able for about 25
or 30 bucks.
--
Jim in NC


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John,

ok. It is an impedance mismatch. Here's what Dave Katz posted two years
ago. I did this using a photo film box, and it works real well.

If you have any
soldering skills, pick up a couple of 8/1000 ohm matching transformers
and a male/male mini-plug cable from Radio Shack. It's a minor
impedance mismatch problem. I put one together for my Cirrus and it
boosts volume by more than enough, and it's completely passive so
there's no batteries or other stuff. One of my fellow Cirrus brethren
came up with a great packaging hack--a small prescription pill bottle
is big enough to hold everything. Drill a hole in the bottom and in
the lid, tie knots for strain relief, and it's all quite tidy, if a
mite funny looking.

One transformer for each side if you want stereo. The low impedance
side
(red/white) goes to the audio device, and the high impedance side
(green/blue) goes to the intercom. You can snip off the black center
tap on the high side. I hooked the white and green leads to the
common (sleeve) connections on each side, but I don't suppose that
it matters so long as you're consistent (so you don't phase-reverse
one side.)

They were the only transformers for sale at the Radio Shack at which I
got mine. They may just be called "audio transformers" or somesuch,
but
it'll say 8 ohm/1000 ohm on the packaging.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

I've got a Garmin 340 and plug my iPod in. Works like a charm. Better than
I would have expected. Listening thru a set of Peltor ANRs (which I would
not recommend - does ANR slowly wear off?!!!)

"Thomas Borchert" wrote in message
...
John,

When
I plug one of these into the input jack of the intercomm, I have to
crank the volume on the player up to maximum and it's barely audible
over the background noise in flight.


Are we talking about the Garmin 340 audio panel? That's a known problem
- and there's a work-around and a fic by Garmin. If you're interested
in the details, I'll provide them.

Also, yes, this can be a problem.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

Thomas Borchert wrote:

Jens,

well, one solution might be to buy a headset that has a music interface
- and the ANR you always wanted.

I'm very happy with my Bose X, so on that end I'm covered. Best Headset
ever, and I've tried a lot (IMO of course).

You'll need a stereo headset with
decent sound quality anyway. Strikes me as more cost efficient than the
200-$-add-on-boxes as they come from PSE. Lightspeeds would be my first
recommendation.

Personally I don't like the Lightspeeds, and I've tried them almost all,
via former students and friends. My Bose have now "logged" over 2000 hrs
and are quite scratched and all but still work flawlessly. In my
experience they are on par qualitywise with the DCs I had before.

Even with the Koss In-Ear buds I'm using right now, the sound quality
coming from the iPod is excellent. It has very thin wires so the Bose
seals very well, I almost don't hear the engines over the music and the
volume isn't set very high.

It's just that I want to get rid of the extra cables. I don't need
auto-muting or intercom, since I'm listening to music only if I'm not
talking to ATC anyways. And since I'm flying single-pilot I don't need
(or even have) an Intercom in the plane.

There must be something plane jane out there.... :-\

Cheers,
Jens

--
I don't accept any emails right now. Usenet replys only.

Jens,

Best Headset
ever, and I've tried a lot


Well, be that as it may, but they just seem to be lacking a music
input, don't they? Which the Lightspeeds happen to have, for way less
money, don't they?

gd&r

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

Thomas Borchert wrote in message ...
Jens,

Best Headset
ever, and I've tried a lot


Well, be that as it may, but they just seem to be lacking a music
input, don't they? Which the Lightspeeds happen to have, for way less
money, don't they?

gd&r

I've got an older Lightspeed without the music input, but still a very
nice headset. My own taste - which is not something I'd force on
others - is not to have music. However, my wife likes the music, we
bought her an ANR headset from AvShop that's got a music input. It's
a good headset, a little cheaper than the Lightspeed one. Works fine,
although I prefer the Lightspeed ANR control box.

Sure, a Bose would be really nice to have. But, a Lightspeed is about
1/2 to up to 1/4 the $990 Bose cost right? And works well too.
Sounds like a worthwhile trade off to me, $500 is about 5.5 hours of
flying time after all.

Buy what you want, but don't be afraid of buying a Lightspeed or an
AvShop ANR headset. I do strongly prefer an ANR headset though.

-Malcolm Teas

Malcolm,

It's
a good headset, a little cheaper than the Lightspeed one.


AFAIK, they are actually LightSPEED QFR CrossCountries, but branded for
AvShop. Those now also have cellphone capability - at least from
LightSpeed

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

(Jens Krueger) wrote in message ...
Anybody know of a "box", which I could you use to hook my iPod to my
Headset? Earbuds plus Headset is too much cable hanging around... ;-)

Cheers,
jens

PS: I've checked out those cellphone adapters, but they are just too
expensive...


I'd also recommend a Lightspeed ANR headset. I just bought a 20 3G
and am stunned by how well it works. Comes ready to go for cell
phones, MP3 player, etc. Has a nice feature to cut off the music
whenever ATC calls (this can be disabled as well).

Sam

My Lightspeed 30G ANR headset has an input plug in the battery box for
an audio device. It automatically mutes the music when a radio
transmission (in or out) occurs, and the stereo sound is fabulous.