Muting Scanner Option

[SCPD]

I am interested in getting some thoughts about muting the audio from your scanner .. and wondering how you guys do it ?

I personally wish that the Whistler had a MUTE button. Don't bother saying to turn up and down the volume, that is not the intention of this thread. :wink:

My old Uniden 780XLT has a one button mute option .. just saying.

I have a feeling a switch to mute my external speakers (ham rig and scanner) in my car will be the option in the end.

I am particular interested in products that deal with this issue.

 

[W8RMH]

Do you have a button which when pressed switches away from scanning audio to perform it's function?

On my BCD436HP I can just press the "ZIP" button (used to enter a zip code) which disconnects the audio (or I just turn it down). The Home Patrol 2 actually has a mute button (that I seem to hit accidentally more than I actually use it)

 

[JD21960]

Whistler mute options

On my WS1080 I simply press "menu" when coming up to a drive thru or need to quiet it. Then "menu" again and scan.

 

[Swipesy]

On my WS1080 I simply press "menu" when coming up to a drive thru or need to quiet it. Then "menu" again and scan.

That is what I do on my PSR 800 also. It is a pain but it is the only method I know of that quickly mutes the radio by stopping the scanning function.

 

[SCPD]

Thanks for the replies.

My 1095 is actually removed from my vehicle right now due to performance issues .. so not an issue right now. I am still working on a plan to see how to make it work in the vehicle.

 

[DJ11DLN]

Another vote for using the menu key at the drive-up or any other time I need it to be quiet quickly. It's a cumbersome workaround at best.

I too would love to see a mute key added to these radios...better yet, soft key ability so that one could assign functions (such as mute) in E-Z Scan. I don't know if the hardware and processor are capable of that but it would certainly solve a number of issues.

 

[SCPD]

I have decided .. my answer, 2 switches inline with the external speakers.

Way easier than doing anything on the scanner.

The issue .. when I am driving I do not want to have to mess with the scanner cause getting into an accident is way more expensive than any scanner mod. It is already bad that I could be faced with a $300 distracted driving fine for having my scanner in my car.

 

[Ed6698]

I also use the Menu key for a way to mute the sound. Then all you have to press Sel key to Scan again and to get back to listening.

 

[SCPD]

I also use the Menu key for a way to mute the sound. Then all you have to press Sel key to Scan again and to get back to listening.

I get it .. but that is enough to get into a car accident when mobile. If it was not that my Edacs system is going away .. I would be installing my Edacs radio in my car. Now that is a real well designed radio.

But no point now. But its ok .. I will not be listening to the P25 replacement, so only a short period of time to use the scanner in the car anyways.

 

[RadioGuy1951]

How about a 12 volt relay..?

 

[SCPD]

I need to 100% be able to control when to turn the audio on and off as needed. I am likely going to install this on Tuesday. But .. it may be a few weeks until I can use my WS-1095 in my vehicle as I am waiting for a band pass filter to fix its performance issues. Right now .. it is unusable.

The biggest concern here is a safety one so I have to be very careful what I do, and why an on scanner option is not an option. I almost never go on the highway .. and 2 seconds worth of distraction in the city can mean an accident.

 

[mancow]

A push button to break the speaker connection seems the best.

 

[CycleSycho]

:wink: Does a load have to be connected in the form of a resistor when you 'open' the speaker connection with a switch? Not having the schematic in front of me, it may be unwise to just disconnect a wire (open the connection using a switch) with a load missing. :wink:

 

[Ubbe]

Modern ICs for loudspeaker amplifiers are shortcircuit, current and temperature protected. Put a 100 ohm resistor over the terminals to stop any loud thumps when switching in the loudspeaker.

/Ubbe

 

[SCPD]

I will keep this all in mind when doing my solution.

My bandpass filter has shipped .. so hopefully I can put the WS-1095 back in my car and it will actually work.

 

[Machria]

edmscan,
from your other thread, as I understand it you do not receive anything on your scanner while mobile, so why do you need to mute it???