wire or paperclip trick

[frank125]

hello does anyone have pictures on how to wrap the wire or paperclip around for better sound on the 500. not sure where to wrap the wire. thanks

 

[N8IAA]

Have you tried the Audio Boost feature of your scanner? It works on digital/analog trunked systems, as well as, conventional frequencies. You probably won't need an extenal speaker when programmed that way. Works great for me
HTH,
Larry

 

[RoninJoliet]

Bend a small piece of thin wire around the base of the antenna connector and plug in a external speaker with the other end of the wire under the plug touching the top of the external speaker plug hole, makes the scanner very loud.....

 

[IowaGuy1603]

sorry wrong subject

 

[KK4HG]

Bend a small piece of thin wire around the base of the antenna connector and plug in a external speaker with the other end of the wire under the plug touching the top of the external speaker plug hole, makes the scanner very loud.....

Not that it doesn't work but how does that work?? Sounds (pun inteneded) very strange.

 

[RickS31]

As you may or may not know, when you plug in headphones to these radios you disconnect the internal speaker and a resistor is placed in the audio circuit to the headphones. This resistor is to drop the level of the audio to a safe level for headphones so you don't blow your ears when you plug them in.

In fact, this resistor, to make the circuit simpler, is in the ground side of the internal audio to the ring or ground side of the headphone jack (the metal part of the jack with the nut on it you see at the top of the radio). By connecting a wire or paperclip from the antenna barrel (internal ground) and the ring of the audio jack you effectively short this dropping resistor, restoring full audio level to the headphone jack. This makes it great for powering up a regular external speaker sometimes sounding better and louder than the small internal speaker.

 

[KK4HG]

As you may or may not know, when you plug in headphones to these radios you disconnect the internal speaker and a resistor is placed in the audio circuit to the headphones. This resistor is to drop the level of the audio to a safe level for headphones so you don't blow your ears when you plug them in.

In fact, this resistor, to make the circuit simpler, is in the ground side of the internal audio to the ring or ground side of the headphone jack (the metal part of the jack with the nut on it you see at the top of the radio). By connecting a wire or paperclip from the antenna barrel (internal ground) and the ring of the audio jack you effectively short this dropping resistor, restoring full audio level to the headphone jack. This makes it great for powering up a regular external speaker sometimes sounding better and louder than the small internal speaker.

Aha! It's good to learn something new each day. Thanks!

 

[WAScanMan]

As you may or may not know, when you plug in headphones to these radios you disconnect the internal speaker and a resistor is placed in the audio circuit to the headphones. This resistor is to drop the level of the audio to a safe level for headphones so you don't blow your ears when you plug them in.

In fact, this resistor, to make the circuit simpler, is in the ground side of the internal audio to the ring or ground side of the headphone jack (the metal part of the jack with the nut on it you see at the top of the radio). By connecting a wire or paperclip from the antenna barrel (internal ground) and the ring of the audio jack you effectively short this dropping resistor, restoring full audio level to the headphone jack. This makes it great for powering up a regular external speaker sometimes sounding better and louder than the small internal speaker.

Thank you! I was hoping someone would post a technical explanation.

 

[Bob_61]

Thank you! I was hoping someone would post a technical explanation.

If you feel comfortable going inside your scanner you can jump a wire from the ear phone to the ground of your radio. That is what I did to my PRO-164 and BC200XLT...