HP-2: Home Patrol II external speaker

[Grondoline]

Does anyone know if a Uniden BC23A EXTERNAL SPEAKER will work with the Home Patrol II? I have plugged every speaker in my vast collection into the headphone jack and there all vey low or no volume.

 

[hiegtx]

Does anyone know if a Uniden BC23A EXTERNAL SPEAKER will work with the Home Patrol II? I have plugged every speaker in my vast collection into the headphone jack and there all vey low or no volume.

It should. It's an amplified speaker. The audio output at the headphone jacks on Uniden scanners is very low. Sufficient to drive a headphone, but not enough to generate usable volume for an unamplified speaker.

 

[doctordialtone]

Does anyone know if a Uniden BC23A EXTERNAL SPEAKER will work with the Home Patrol II? I have plugged every speaker in my vast collection into the headphone jack and there all vey low or no volume.

I recommend you use Powered speakers

Apparently those speakers should work 👍

 

[RandyKuff]

That speaker has an auto shutoff after 25 seconds of no audio....
You could loose part of the transmission while it turns back on...

This thread (Post #10) shows how to modify it to hold it on if so desired...

Modifying The Uniden BC23A (Auto Power Off)

With so many Uniden owners using amplified external speakers, I have wondered if anybody here has modified the Uniden BC23A amplified external speaker? I love the speaker, but I don't care for the Auto Power Off function. I sometimes miss a little bit of audio while the speaker "wakes up"...

forums.radioreference.com

 

[fxdscon]

I have plugged every speaker in my vast collection into the headphone jack and there all vey low or no volume.

-
Did those speakers have a mono or stereo plug that goes into the headphone jack? If mono, it will short out half of the amplifier output.

 

[eg153wftx]

I have dealt with the same issue and just gave up. I have had thoughts to open up my HP2 and solder a 3.5 mm female jack directly to the internal speaker that would extend out of the housing that I could plug an external speaker to. (My unit is out of warranty BTW). not a rocket scientist so do not know if this would work so I have not tried.

 

[rja1]

I have the HP-2 in the car. Headphone jack out feeds the BC23A amplified speaker. PLENTY of volume from the speaker. Do yourself a favor........do the speaker mod. It's easy & no more clipped audio

 

[eg153wftx]

"Do yourself a favor........do the speaker mod. It's easy & no more clipped audio". As in the amplified speaker mod or going directly to HP speaker?

 

[RandyKuff]

He's talking about modifying the BC23A so the audio amp stays on and use it with the HP2...

Also, If your looking to use this in your house, you will need a 12V 2A power adapter to run it...

Example power adapter... This adapter comes with a termination for the speaker wires...

https://www.amazon.com/Adapter-100-240V-Transformer-Charger-Security/dp/B091XSVV1Y/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1PGJ1MNFI54LV&keywords=12v+2a+power+adapter&qid=1645368269&sprefix=12v+2a%2Caps%2C265&sr=8-5

 

[N2NHL]

I have a Home Patrol I and like the HP2, the internal speaker is quite anemic. I've tried a few different solutions (modifying an existing Astatic external speaker to include a 10-watt amp, bluetooth adapter to stream the line output). Nothing sounded satisfying. The BC23A with the above referenced 12v AC adaptor along with the auto-off modification worked very well. The sound is wonderful with digital broadcast, but it's the analog broadcasts that needed help. There is a richer, more full-range sound on this speaker than I expected - not tinny or overly "bassy."

This has prompted me to order a second BC23A set up, as this has worlked out well. Thanks to everyone for all of the information!

 

[tomas21]

Does anyone have a reference to the 10K ohm resistor they used and curious what was used to protect the leads on both sides when it is soldered to the board in those pics provided?

 

[RandyKuff]

To bad no Radio Shack around anymore...

It's a standard 1/4 watt 5% tolerance metal film resistor from what the pict shows...
Just standard electrical sleeving or shrink tubing is fine...

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=10k+1%2F4+watt+resistor&adgrpid=1331509152658513&hvadid=83219562253789&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=100473&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvtargid=kwd-83219682452843%3Aloc-190&hydadcr=2768_13539324&tag=mh0b-20&ref=pd_sl_1rfcblzx0f_e

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=shrink+tubing&crid=35L4BDL4NJJRF&sprefix=shrink%2Caps%2C307&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_6

 

[tomas21]

To bad no Radio Shack around anymore...

It's a standard 1/4 watt 5% tolerance metal film resistor from what the pict shows...
Just standard electrical sleeving or shrink tubing is fine...

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=10k+1%2F4+watt+resistor&adgrpid=1331509152658513&hvadid=83219562253789&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=100473&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvtargid=kwd-83219682452843%3Aloc-190&hydadcr=2768_13539324&tag=mh0b-20&ref=pd_sl_1rfcblzx0f_e

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=shrink+tubing&crid=35L4BDL4NJJRF&sprefix=shrink%2Caps%2C307&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_6

Thanks... and validation that it works... if you plug in just the power the red light should always stay on?

 

[RandyKuff]

Correct...

 

[RandyKuff]

if you plug in just the power the red light should always stay on?

Correct... If powered on...
I don't have that speaker... The volume control may have an intigrated on/off switch... If it does then you can turn it off when not in use...

UPDATE --- It has a power switch... From the manual...

"The volume control dial on the side of the speaker controls power as well as volume. Dial it UP to turn on the speaker and increase the volume. Dial it DOWN to decrease the volume and turn the speaker off."

 

[tomas21]

Worked... with the BC23a should there be a slight suttle hum when not connected? Forgot to test before i soldered 10K ohm resistor.

If headphone isn't plugged in or headphone plugged in with scanner off... if i BC23a on i hear a slight hum... is that normal for these amplified speakers?

 

[RandyKuff]

If your saying with the speaker powered on and the audio cable not plugged into anything... You could have a slight hum or noise...
The audio circuit is open and the cable acts like an antenna...

 

[tomas21]

Thanks.. and with the audio cable also plugged into the scanner and the scanner turned off.. the higher I raise the volume on the speaker itself the higher the slight hum gets... guess that is normal ? Trying to find the right balance turning up speaker slightly and then using scanner to increase volume from there. BTW, this is a home setup.

 

[RandyKuff]

You could try this... It might help... Maybe...

https://www.amazon.com/BESIGN-Ground-Isolator-Stereo-System/dp/B06XQYN77L/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=3QE995KFHZGQ4&keywords=ground+loop+isolator+3.5mm&qid=1663078472&sprefix=ground+loop%2Caps%2C146&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1

 

[RandyKuff]

If I were you... I would try running the speaker from a 12v battery and see if the hum is still there...
If it's not... Then whatever your powering the speaker with is more than likely causing it...