Pro-96 & 106 Headphone Jack

[pratzert]

I have read that you can use EITHER a mono or stereo headphone plug ( 1/8" ) in the jack of the Pro-96.

I wanted to know whiat the jack actually is capable of pushing out ?

Is it Stereo... or is it Mono ? Is it Stereo or Mono for the Pro-106 ?

I also have read some posts about wrapping a wire tie or paper clip around the BNC ant. connector and the plug going into the headphone jack to bypass the headphone volume limiter.

Will that trick work on the Pro-106 ? ( Without damaging it ?)

Thanks for the help.

Tim

[KC5EIB]

All public service coms are MONO. While you can use STEREO headsets, there is no difference between the left and right speakers in the headset.
Have not checked on the headphone volume reduction resistor bypass yet.

[ahrensfoxfd]

Originally Posted by pratzert

I have read that you can use EITHER a mono or stereo headphone plug ( 1/8" ) in the jack of the Pro-96.

I wanted to know whiat the jack actually is capable of pushing out ?

Is it Stereo... or is it Mono ? Is it Stereo or Mono for the Pro-106 ?

I also have read some posts about wrapping a wire tie or paper clip around the BNC ant. connector and the plug going into the headphone jack to bypass the headphone volume limiter.

Will that trick work on the Pro-106 ? ( Without damaging it ?)

Thanks for the help.

Tim

I have been using this for years. paperclips are to thick,Any small piece of wire wrapped around the BNC base and the pin jack will work. I have had no problems with any radios i have tried with this! I found out about this trck 20+ years ago by mistake, and have used it eversince. George

[pratzert]

Originally Posted by ahrensfoxfd

I have been using this for years. paperclips are to thick,Any small piece of wire wrapped around the BNC base and the pin jack will work. I have had no problems with any radios i have tried with this! I found out about this trck 20+ years ago by mistake, and have used it eversince. George

I agree that the paper clip is pretty think to do this with.

I also read a suggestion that you use a bread wrapper twistie thingy. Or some sort of other wire tie, perhaps for trash bags.

Make sure you strip off any plastic or paper on it first to be sure you get a good connection.

I'll gunna have to try it.....

Tim

[pratzert]

Originally Posted by KC5EIB

All public service coms are MONO. While you can use STEREO headsets, there is no difference between the left and right speakers in the headset.
Have not checked on the headphone volume reduction resistor bypass yet.

Good Point !

It might save some money to just buy mono phones as they are usually cheaper.

Tim

[pratzert]

Originally Posted by KC5EIB

All public service coms are MONO. While you can use STEREO headsets, there is no difference between the left and right speakers in the headset.
Have not checked on the headphone volume reduction resistor bypass yet.

While I have not had anyone actually confirm if the headphone jack is Stereo or Mono... I have read in a few posts here and other places that some feel that the plug is Stereo.

So..... if all public service coms are in Mono..... why did Radio Shack/GRE make the headphone jack Stereo ?

I could see it if it could pick up commercial FM Radio and you could use it to listen to music, but you can't.

Anyone have any idea ?

Thanks, Tim

[mikey60]

Originally Posted by pratzert

While I have not had anyone actually confirm if the headphone jack is Stereo or Mono... I have read in a few posts here and other places that some feel that the plug is Stereo.

So..... if all public service coms are in Mono..... why did Radio Shack/GRE make the headphone jack Stereo ?

I could see it if it could pick up commercial FM Radio and you could use it to listen to music, but you can't.

Anyone have any idea ?

Thanks, Tim

It's very easy to get stereo headphones and earpieces. You can get them at just about any store (in most cases even the corner store). Getting Mono earpieces are a bit more difficult. Generally only the specialty stores like Radio Shack still have them.

Now, if you get a stereo headset, and plug it into a mono plug, what happens? With a little playing you can get it to work, but it's not the best scenario. With the stereo plug in the scanner, this issue is eliminated.

From what I've seen, there appears to be circuitry in the radio to detect if a mono headset is plugged into the scanner, and will adjust the configuration to work with that as well.

Mike

[pratzert]

Originally Posted by mikey60

It's very easy to get stereo headphones and earpieces. You can get them at just about any store (in most cases even the corner store). Getting Mono earpieces are a bit more difficult. Generally only the specialty stores like Radio Shack still have them.

Now, if you get a stereo headset, and plug it into a mono plug, what happens? With a little playing you can get it to work, but it's not the best scenario. With the stereo plug in the scanner, this issue is eliminated.

From what I've seen, there appears to be circuitry in the radio to detect if a mono headset is plugged into the scanner, and will adjust the configuration to work with that as well.

Mike

Mike,

Thanks for that info.

So... it seems that it is not a true Stereo "sound" from the headphone jack. Just equal mono sound coming from two sides.

They sort of "split" the Mono signal into two parts/sides and push it through the Stereo headphone jack.

I assume that is why people say if you use a "Mono" plug or single earbud, the volume is less since you are only getting 1/2 of the power ?

I also guess that is why I've read you shoul dget a 1/8" plug Stereo to Mono Adapter if you are using an single earbud to get the full power being pushed out of the jack.

Do I understand this correctly ?

But why then.... if you use a MONO plug in the jack, won't it still get the full power? Is that the circuitry inside that is controlling it and cuts the power output in half ?

Thanks, Tim

[MPSCS]

I use Radio Shack's Cat # 20-210 Communications Headset @ $17.99, they work greate!

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2103642

[pratzert]

Originally Posted by SIG-INT

I use Radio Shack's Cat # 20-210 Communications Headset @ $17.99, they work greate!

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2103642

Those do look like nice headphones... great for shutting out the world and listening to the scanner.

I've got one of those DVD player thing-a-ma-bobs in my vehicle with an auxiliary input ( Stereo ) and am going to hook up my scanner to that input to really be able to listen while driving with the window down.

Tim

[Ktombus]

Tim,

The wire from BNC to heasphone jack works fine. I am useing it on my 106.

It works on all scanners that I have put it on.

Ktombus

[pratzert]

Originally Posted by Ktombus

Tim,

The wire from BNC to heasphone jack works fine. I am useing it on my 106.

It works on all scanners that I have put it on.

Ktombus

ktombus,

Thanks..... I'll try that trick. It's certainly easy enough to do.

Tim

[hoser147]

I used a fine hobby wire on mine, just made a noose and wrapped it a couple of times around the base of the BNC, works great and really isn't noticeable. Just a word of caution on attempting this some scanners it cannot be done, I believe there is a thread where someone did it to a 396 and shorted some internal circuit. Good Scannin Hoser

[pratzert]

Originally Posted by hoser147

I used a fine hobby wire on mine, just made a noose and wrapped it a couple of times around the base of the BNC, works great and really isn't noticeable. Just a word of caution on attempting this some scanners it cannot be done, I believe there is a thread where someone did it to a 396 and shorted some internal circuit. Good Scannin Hoser

Hoser,

Thanks for that tip too..... good idea.

Tim

[Scott_PHX_APP]

Kind of off the direct topic, but related to what others have mentioned.
As far as the wire trick from the headphone to BNC goes, I have a PRO-95 that I did that on for years and got tired of futzing with it when connecting headsets, etc. Since I didn't really want to "Short" the internal resistor, I just put a CAP across from ground to the earphone jack sleeve. I don't remember the value, but it was something like 22uF or larger. It provides the AC path but doesn't affect any DC characteristics of the circuit. I understand that there really isn't any DC you need to worry about, but hey, it was an easy fix to get the job done. The nice part about it is you don't need to worry about soldering to SMD parts, just the board and the BNC ground lug.
Later...

[lancemoreland]

I want a high quality earbud (read one ear) that will work.

[jrrob8]

try one of these, it is the best kinda semi-professional and will normally stay in your ear. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...STRK:MERFB:IID audio is very good and doesn't make your ear hurt after a while, tube is soft, and price is very good.

[kb8rvp]

I picked up a single ear phone http://www.scannermaster.com/Shadow_.../27-571155.htm and had to pickup a stero-mono adapter to make it work and I really like it for the Pro-106.

Mike

[garikfox]

Let's think a little more simple.

I myself have mine set like this, male stereo jack cable into 2 x RCA (Red,White)

Then into your computer speakers. Works great !

Make sure the Volume on the 106 is set at 1/3 volume level, Then use the computer speaker(s) volume, I've found this to sound best !