HP-2: Uniden external speakers

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stantorres

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Not happy with the quality and volume of the audio on my HP-2 in a mobile environment. Considering adding a BC20 or BC15 external speaker. I believe these are not amplified speakers.

Will I notice a difference in the audio? I am thinking that if the HP2 outputs 2 watts of audio, then it doesn't matter if that same 2 watts emits from the built in speaker, or an external speaker. 2 watts is 2 watts right?

Which brings me to an amplified speaker, any suggestions? I heard mfj has a good one?
 

Robertolson

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No..... got to use the uniden amplified speaker, as the homepatrols use the portable speaker output ...... I ran a homepatrol in my bigrig with the uniden amplified speaker and it worked fine.

It will sound a little on the tinny sound side..... but plenty loud.
Now a 536 or XT's with a uniden Bc 20 speaker will have more bass and sound much better.

Good luck
 
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W5RGP

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Thanks Robertolson , I did not know uniden had an amplified speaker. Found the bc23a and have it ordered. Thanks for the tip!

Bc23a is all I use on all my bcd536’s and sds200
I also have one mounted in my truck just to plug in a 436 or or my sds100 when I’m using either up front too



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Ensnared

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Not happy with the quality and volume of the audio on my HP-2 in a mobile environment. Considering adding a BC20 or BC15 external speaker. I believe these are not amplified speakers.

Will I notice a difference in the audio? I am thinking that if the HP2 outputs 2 watts of audio, then it doesn't matter if that same 2 watts emits from the built in speaker, or an external speaker. 2 watts is 2 watts right?

Which brings me to an amplified speaker, any suggestions? I heard mfj has a good one?

So does Uniden, but you need to buy the one that is amplified. I own the following model and it works great, even in a cheap Toyota interior:
https://www.provantage.com/uniden-america-bc23a~7UNID0AE.htm
 

SkyPager

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Some manufacturers have added volume limiting to the earphone jack. If that is how you are feeding the external speaker, try running a piece of wire from the earphone plug (the large ground portion) to the outer antenna jack. (Probably the only ground point available as most bodies are plastic) This will bypass the limiting resistor and increase the volume.
 

FeedForward

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...for a little while. The resistor is there for a reason and that is to protect the audio amplifier in the radio. "insert Forest Gump's favorite saying".
FeedForward
 

iMONITOR

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Some manufacturers have added volume limiting to the earphone jack. If that is how you are feeding the external speaker, try running a piece of wire from the earphone plug (the large ground portion) to the outer antenna jack. (Probably the only ground point available as most bodies are plastic) This will bypass the limiting resistor and increase the volume.

Careful! That was true with old-school scanners, I used to offer that tip all the time. Some years ago someone warned me that no longer applies to many of the newer scanners and you can actually do damage by doing so!
 

iMONITOR

Silent Key
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Not happy with the quality and volume of the audio on my HP-2 in a mobile environment. Considering adding a BC20 or BC15 external speaker. I believe these are not amplified speakers.

Will I notice a difference in the audio? I am thinking that if the HP2 outputs 2 watts of audio, then it doesn't matter if that same 2 watts emits from the built in speaker, or an external speaker. 2 watts is 2 watts right?

Which brings me to an amplified speaker, any suggestions? I heard mfj has a good one?

I really like the Uniden BC15 speakers but your HP-2 likely does not have enough audio output to properly drive the BC15. The BC15 is better suited for scanners like the BCT15X, BCD996** series, and PRO-96, PRO-197, WS1065 type scanners. They work great for those!
 

N4VKF

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I am setting up a station with 4 base scanners. Whistler 1065, bcd536, bct15x, and a bcd996p2. In my apartment i don't believe it will be a noisy environment. Due to the cost of 4 external speakers I was thinking of using the BC7 speaker. Comments and suggestions welcome.
 

TailGator911

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I ask again, which of the Uniden speakers (if any) have a red audio indicator light? I saw this mentioned somewhere and I wasn't sure what speaker they were referring to - thanks!

JD
kf4anc
 

mule1075

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I ask again, which of the Uniden speakers (if any) have a red audio indicator light? I saw this mentioned somewhere and I wasn't sure what speaker they were referring to - thanks!

JD
kf4anc
I will bet it is not a audio indicator light. The speaker auto powers off after 25 seconds of no audio. The red light is coming on when the speaker powers back up with a transmission.
 

TailGator911

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Ok, gotcha, thanks, mule! So the speaker goes off and on and clips the audio of the transmissions? I have to agree with another poster, what a goofy design for a scanner speaker!
 

TxScanner

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Ive got bc20 with box that iI’m not using anymore with my new scanner, if interested PM me


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Silent Key
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I will bet it is not a audio indicator light. The speaker auto powers off after 25 seconds of no audio. The red light is coming on when the speaker powers back up with a transmission.

What was the purpose of doing that to begin with?
 

Ubbe

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What was the purpose of doing that to begin with?
Uniden have now moved that function to software for the SDS200. Many scanners cuts the power to the loudspeaker amplifier when not in use or have a mute function in that amplifier. Some scanners only mute the low level audio, perhaps before it reaches the volume control, and those scanners often have a background hum and noise from the speaker that are annoying in a quiet room, like a bedroom at night.

/Ubbe
 
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