HP-1 External Speaker?

[rwier]

When travelling cross country in a loud truck, this radio cries out for an external speaker. The specs show the following info:

Line Out Jack - 2.5 mm (Stereo Type) - 600 ohm for Audio Output

With this info, and if the price was not a factor, what brand/model external speaker would you select?

Thanks Much,

Rob

 

[garys]

From the impedence of 600 ohms and the 2.5mm size, I think that is designed as a headphone jack, not a speaker jack. Which means you'll probably want to get something amplified. Radio Shack makes, or at least made one for scanners which is pretty good. You'll also need a 2.5mm to 3.5mm adapter for that speaker.

 

[kruser]

From the impedence of 600 ohms and the 2.5mm size, I think that is designed as a headphone jack, not a speaker jack. Which means you'll probably want to get something amplified. Radio Shack makes, or at least made one for scanners which is pretty good. You'll also need a 2.5mm to 3.5mm adapter for that speaker.

The HP-1 also has a standard 1/8th inch headphone jack at 32 ohms.
It is not enough to drive a decent speaker though but an amplified model should work from this jack and you would not need an adapter.

The line out is 2.5mm though and I'm not sure if the units volume controls alter the line out level but surely they do alter the headphone output.

 

[phask]

From the impedence of 600 ohms and the 2.5mm size, I think that is designed as a headphone jack, not a speaker jack. Which means you'll probably want to get something amplified. Radio Shack makes, or at least made one for scanners which is pretty good. You'll also need a 2.5mm to 3.5mm adapter for that speaker.

I believe someone tried one and it didn't work either.

I've got one somewhere - eventually going to try it.

 

[rwier]

From the impedence of 600 ohms and the 2.5mm size, I think that is designed as a headphone jack, not a speaker jack. Which means you'll probably want to get something amplified. Radio Shack makes, or at least made one for scanners which is pretty good. You'll also need a 2.5mm to 3.5mm adapter for that speaker.

Thanks Gary,

The specs also have:

Phone Jack - 3.5 mm (Stereo Type) - 32 ohm (Stereo headphone) - 64 ohm (Earphone)

for a separate small plug hole.

Rob

 

[SOFA_KING]

Thanks Gary,

The specs also have:

Phone Jack - 3.5 mm (Stereo Type) - 32 ohm (Stereo headphone) - 64 ohm (Earphone)

for a separate small plug hole.

Rob

The circuit is designed to work for stereo headphones (series connection from tip to ring) or mono headphones when the ring is shorted to the sleeve on the mono plug. Using a mono two-conductor plug should work fine...in fact you need a two-conductor plug to complete the series circuit when used with an external speaker.

 

[rwier]

The circuit is designed to work for stereo headphones (series connection from tip to ring) or mono headphones when the ring is shorted to the sleeve on the mono plug. Using a mono two-conductor plug should work fine...in fact you need a two-conductor plug to complete the series circuit when used with an external speaker.

Your expertise concerning scanners and electronics is obvious, and I thank you for sharing it here. However, I am electronically disabled, and was looking for an answer similar to:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Go to Fry's electronics and get the #3d7-00653 speaker and the #a-297 plug. In my opinion, that's the best there is for your application."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In other words, if I were buying it for you, you could select the best that is available at any price. This is to be used in a late model Dodge pickup truck, negative ground.

Thanks,

Rob

 

[garys]

Your expertise concerning scanners and electronics is obvious, and I thank you for sharing it here. However, I am electronically disabled, and was looking for an answer similar to:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Go to Fry's electronics and get the #3d7-00653 speaker and the #a-297 plug. In my opinion, that's the best there is for your application."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In other words, if I were buying it for you, you could select the best that is available at any price. This is to be used in a late model Dodge pickup truck, negative ground.

Thanks,

Rob

This is a nice speaker, although it's listed as out of stock at Radio Shack on line. Check your local store, they probably have them.

RadioShack® Amplified Communication Speaker - RadioShack.com

 

[kruser]

I just tested both output jacks on my HP.

The 1/8th inch headphone jack works fine with a pair of cheap amplified computer speakers. The HP's volume control does alter the volume of the speakers as it should.

Using the same speakers, I plugged a 2.5mm to 3.5mm stereo adapter into the HP's Line Out jack. It is setup correctly in that the audio is at a fixed level and is NOT altered by the HP's volume control.

So to use the Line Out jack you will need an amplidied speaker with a volume or input level control otherwise you will be blasting at full levels.

The RadioShack amplified speaker should work fine from the headphone out jack. An 1/8 inch stereo plug to 1/8th inch mono jack may be needed but unsure on that.
Here is the link to the radioshack speaker model 21-130: RadioShack® Amplified Communication Speaker - RadioShack.com

Hope this helps

 

[kruser]

I just tested plugging a typical amplified speaker into the HP headphone jack with a mono 1/8th inch plug and it does short the audio.
So some type of adapter would be needed such as this 1/8" Stereo Plug to 1/8" Mono Plug Adapter - RadioShack.com

I'm not sure though if this adapter lifts the ring terminal so it does not short to the sleeve internally.

Maybe someone knows?

So in addition to the speaker that garys and I mentioned, you would also need this adapter if the internal wiring of the adapter is correct. I don't seem to have that adapter so I cannot test.

 

[rwier]

I just tested both output jacks on my HP.
....................................................................................

The RadioShack amplified speaker should work fine from the headphone out jack. An 1/8 inch stereo plug to 1/8th inch mono jack may be needed but unsure on that.
Here is the link to the radioshack speaker model 21-130: RadioShack® Amplified Communication Speaker - RadioShack.com

Hope this helps

Printed your link and am heading out to RS (i think they are open today)!

Thanks,
Rob

 

[kruser]

Printed your link and am heading out to RS (i think they are open today)!

Thanks,
Rob

I hope you caught my other message about the stereo to mono adapter!

 

[SOFA_KING]

Your expertise concerning scanners and electronics is obvious, and I thank you for sharing it here. However, I am electronically disabled, and was looking for an answer similar to:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Go to Fry's electronics and get the #3d7-00653 speaker and the #a-297 plug. In my opinion, that's the best there is for your application."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In other words, if I were buying it for you, you could select the best that is available at any price. This is to be used in a late model Dodge pickup truck, negative ground.

Thanks,

Rob

In that case, I would bid on a Motorola amplified motorcycle speaker (the black metal one with the silver grill) for a few bucks and get a real "honkin" speaker at a great price. I have the Radio Shack apmlified speaker and it sucks. Not near loud enough for my quiet mini-van, much less a TRUCK. But since you are not a tech guy, and can't solder the connections you would need to make, I'm sorry I can't help you. But I did answer an important question about what plug to use and why. It may save you on getting the wrong plug or adaptor.

Good luck (in a nice way...not a smart@$$ way).

 

[kruser]

The bad thing I see about all this is this will likely cause a bunch of broken jacks inside the HP1 itself.

A slightly better solution would be to use a right angle 1/8th inch stereo adapter first and then plug into that. That may add a little flexibility to the whole mess but at the same time, it will add even more weight to the fragile little jacks.
Radio Shack sells the right angle adapters also. 1/8" Right-Angle Adapter - RadioShack.com
I guess the best for external speakers would be to search for a pre-wired stereo plug molded into a right angle. Then put your female socket of choice on the other end of the wire.

No idea what to do with the GPS plug though. Hopefully people will use caution when using external devices with large protruding plugs sticking out the sides of their brand new HP1's!

 

[kruser]

In that case, I would bid on a Motorola amplified motorcycle speaker (the black metal one with the silver grill) for a few bucks and get a real "honkin" speaker at a great price. I have the Radio Shack apmlified speaker and it sucks. Not near loud enough for my quiet mini-van, much less a TRUCK. But since you are not tech guy, and can't solder the connections you would need to make, I'm sorry I can't help you. But I did answer an important question about what plug to use and why.

Good luck (in a nice way...not a smart@$$ way).

I agree fully on the Motorola amplified speakers. That is actually what I used for my 2nd test although it was not the Motorcycle version.
I'd imagine the inside amp circuit is the same though.

 

[kruser]

The circuit is designed to work for stereo headphones (series connection from tip to ring) or mono headphones when the ring is shorted to the sleeve on the mono plug. Using a mono two-conductor plug should work fine...in fact you need a two-conductor plug to complete the series circuit when used with an external speaker.

I think both the ring and the tip are wired hot inside the HP1. If you plug a speaker in with a mono plug, it shorts the audio to ground through the now shorted ring.

 

[garys]

In that case, I would bid on a Motorola amplified motorcycle speaker (the black metal one with the silver grill) for a few bucks and get a real "honkin" speaker at a great price. I have the Radio Shack apmlified speaker and it sucks. Not near loud enough for my quiet mini-van, much less a TRUCK. But since you are not a tech guy, and can't solder the connections you would need to make, I'm sorry I can't help you. But I did answer an important question about what plug to use and why. It may save you on getting the wrong plug or adaptor.

Good luck (in a nice way...not a smart@$$ way).

Motorola amplified speakers are nice, but the last time I looked at prices, even on Ebay, they weren't cheap. Nor are the later Micor style speakers which if memory serves me, need the green wire grounded because that is the squelch control that opens the audio. It's been about 10 years since I looked at a schematic of one, so don't hold me to that.

I found the RS speaker to work well in my wife's Toyota Highlander attached to a BC396XT, but in deference to her I now use an ear piece so she can enjoy Abba while I ignore them!

 

[Billknn]

My local RS is closing out the amplified mobile speakers for $6.97 - they have been discontinued. They were like $30 - $40. I bought several.

 

[SOFA_KING]

Motorola amplified speakers are nice, but the last time I looked at prices, even on Ebay, they weren't cheap. Nor are the later Micor style speakers which if memory serves me, need the green wire grounded because that is the squelch control that opens the audio. It's been about 10 years since I looked at a schematic of one, so don't hold me to that.

I found the RS speaker to work well in my wife's Toyota Highlander attached to a BC396XT, but in deference to her I now use an ear piece so she can enjoy Abba while I ignore them!

10-04. Glad it worked out for you.

 

[SOFA_KING]

I think both the ring and the tip are wired hot inside the HP1. If you plug a speaker in with a mono plug, it shorts the audio to ground through the now shorted ring.

Yes, exactly. I got my Moto for like $5 at a ham fest. So many people are tired of taking that old (and really good) stuff around that they are willing to dump it in the dumpster. It was real easy to wire the amp to 12V. Just red and black if I remember right. And I also noticed it has a noise gate in it that must turn off the amp while idle. No noise comes out unless there is something meaningful to be heard. I love those things!