Audio Feed Problem

BlueMoon2 · #1 (**permalink**) 02-05-2013, 2:50 PM

Hello Everyone,

I am having an audio problem with my Charlottesville/Albemarle Fire/EMS Scanner Feed. I have heard on my scanner to much background noise and it's generally too noisy. Now I've gotten a complaint about it from a scanner listener. Here's my setup:

A BC796D Scanner with a Radioshack 800 Mhz handheld antenna on it. This connects via an audio cord to my Dell Inspiron 5100 laptop computer. I have it connected into my "mic" input port. I do not have a line in port. The Audio card is a Sigmatel Audio card and has all the latest Firmware that it can get. The computer is running Windows XP Professional with the N4JMP(?) radioreference provided software.

I'm wondering what if anything I'm doing wrong. When I switch out the audio cord for a Ground Loop Isolator audio cord, it somehow is picking up a local FM radio station. I don't get it. Where is the problem? Do I need a filter somewhere? HELP!

mdulrich · #2 (**permalink**) 02-05-2013, 3:57 PM

Try turning down the level on the mic input. It does sound like you might have the level turned up too high, there does seem to be some distortion. That will at least lower the level of the constant sound that is coming over your feed. If you need you can turn the volume up on the scanner to compensate for the reduced level. Tune to a constant source of audio (like your NOAA weather channel as you adjust your levels and listen to your feed.

Also one of these meters will make things much easier. Audio Level Meter

Mike

BlueMoon2 · #3 (**permalink**) 02-05-2013, 4:26 PM

Okay I took your advice and turned down both the mic input and the scanner audio to at least decrease how loud the background sound is. Now I can't figure out what the background sound is or how to get rid of it. Maybe get a new cable? For those of you that might be wondering, it is a stereo-to-stereo cable for both ends of the connection (from scanner to mic input). I would like for the feed listener to have audio coming out of both of their speakers rather than just one. Should I have a Mono (scanner end) to stereo (mic input end) audio cable instead?