Autocom hiss?

space · 03-18-2006, 05:39 PM

I'm using an Active 7 Smart system. It has a constant, quiet hiss. I can't hear it when I'm rolling down the highway, but it's still a minor nuisance, especially given that the Autocom gear ain't cheap. Anyone else experience this? My worry is that I may have screwed it up by running loud music through the unit. When I first got it I didn't know how much the music is amplified, so I plugged my iPod in at a normal volume level and momentarily blasted the hell out of the speakers. (It's not the speakers themselves, though -- I hear the hiss both with Autocom's speakers and with earphones.)

You thoughts?

space · 03-18-2006, 06:11 PM

Also, here's a pic of the adapter cable I hacked together so I can plug headphones into the Autocom. Yeah, I know Autocom sells a similar adapter, but it's $50! Riiiight. $5 in parts from Radioshack and some leftover phone line, and it works like a charm. (Except for that damn hiss, but I hear that regardless of whether I'm using my adapter.)

rick danger · 03-18-2006, 07:06 PM

Audio cables have shielded wires. The braided ground that goes over the outside. Did you compromise this with your homemade dealy? I did that once with a cable for my home theater sub woofer and got a bad hiss. Had to get the proper shielded cable and all was well. Ok I just noticed you say you get the hiss even without the homemade thing, but it still sounds like a ground problem. Are all the connections clean and dry? No cuts or damage.

dlearl476 · 03-18-2006, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rick danger

Audio cables have shielded wires. The braided ground that goes over the outside. Did you compromise this with your homemade dealy?

Probably. There is possibly a "gain structure" issue as well. Try changing the output/input levels of the separate gear and see if it goes away. Sounds like you've got the playback (iPod) level to low and the Autocom level turned up too loud to compensate. Also, sometimes the reason those "Special" adapters are so much is that they aren't simple wires. Might have some level matching transformers in there that you're now operating without.

Bender · 03-18-2006, 08:39 PM

Mine hisses too, brand new, straight outa the box.

beezil · 03-18-2006, 09:08 PM

I also have a slight hiss. Doesn't bother me. It's a lot worse when I plug my Ipod in without a GLI.

NOTE:

I do use an electric ave. amp, for volume control, and a lineout device for the ipod (not sure of the name?); rather than using the headphone jack.

space · 03-18-2006, 09:18 PM

Thanks for the responses. I hear the hiss even when I've got nothing at all plugged into the autocom (not even a mic) and I'm using their speakers. I didn't take apart any of the Autocom cables, so all the shielding there should be intact. Sounds like I might just have to live with it.

monkeyman · 03-18-2006, 09:25 PM

I looked into making an adaptor cable like yours. I was told that the ground for each ear is not shared inside the unit - IIRC I stuck an ohmmeter across them and they were not the same. You've obviously connected the the two grounds (inside your jack) and made them shared, whould could be Bad. Have you damaged your unit? Dunno. Is that the cause of your hiss? Dunno. But, I spent the 50 bucks and no hiss.

Just_Sean · 03-18-2006, 09:31 PM

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2062214

Threeflys · 03-19-2006, 08:36 AM

Any audio system must be grounded extremly well, barring that I have a very slight hiss that I hear on my AutoCom when I have nothing plugged into it. I don't really hear it when I'm playing music.
Chris

Bender · 03-19-2006, 10:19 AM

I wired mine directly to the aux fusebox which is straight to the battery. My autocom hisses the minute I plug it in, engine running or not. The Ipod easily overcomes the hiss so it isn't really an issue for me. No alternator whine at all.

space · 03-19-2006, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bender

I wired mine directly to the aux fusebox which is straight to the battery. My autocom hisses the minute I plug it in, engine running or not. The Ipod easily overcomes the hiss so it isn't really an issue for me. No alternator whine at all.

I'm hearing the hiss when I'm just connected to an auto battery sitting in my room, so no power noise issues. Odd that some people experience hiss and others don't.

markgsnw · 03-19-2006, 05:09 PM

how much hiss? I mean, it's a motorcycle intercom, not an MC602
.
.
.

space · 03-19-2006, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markgsnw

how much hiss? I mean, it's an motorcycle intercom, not this a MC602

OK, OK, point well taken. I'll stop my griping.

Hmm ... but now you've got me wondering if I can fit one of those MC602 units in my topcase. You know, to go with the 24-bit DAT player and Etymotic earphones.

markgsnw · 03-20-2006, 07:48 AM

I want to see how you're going to power it

03-18-2006, 05:39 PM	#1
space ^OP a.k.a. Jake Joined: Jan 2006 Location: Pasadena, CA Oddometer: 2,464	Autocom hiss? I'm using an Active 7 Smart system. It has a constant, quiet hiss. I can't hear it when I'm rolling down the highway, but it's still a minor nuisance, especially given that the Autocom gear ain't cheap. Anyone else experience this? My worry is that I may have screwed it up by running loud music through the unit. When I first got it I didn't know how much the music is amplified, so I plugged my iPod in at a normal volume level and momentarily blasted the hell out of the speakers. (It's not the speakers themselves, though -- I hear the hiss both with Autocom's speakers and with earphones.) You thoughts?

03-18-2006, 07:06 PM	#3
rick danger Off the wagon Joined: Dec 2005 Location: Oneonta, NY Oddometer: 4,868	Audio cables have shielded wires. The braided ground that goes over the outside. Did you compromise this with your homemade dealy? I did that once with a cable for my home theater sub woofer and got a bad hiss. Had to get the proper shielded cable and all was well. Ok I just noticed you say you get the hiss even without the homemade thing, but it still sounds like a ground problem. Are all the connections clean and dry? No cuts or damage. __________________ '08Husky TE 610 '07 R12GSA '07 KTM 950sm '92 GOLD WING '77 HUSKY 390 CR '72 Honda xl 250 '71 Honda sl 125 '79 HUSKY390cr '75 Can Am 250 MX-2 '70 Honda CT 70 '05 R12GS.....R.I.P. (rest in pieces) rick danger screwed with this post 03-18-2006 at 07:15 PM

03-18-2006, 08:39 PM	#5
Bender I can pass this guy. Joined: Feb 2005 Location: Cypress, Texas. Oddometer: 27,116	Mine hisses too, brand new, straight outa the box. __________________ Bender™ Searching for the lost Xanadu. The generation that would change the world is still looking for the car keys.

03-19-2006, 10:19 AM	#11
Bender I can pass this guy. Joined: Feb 2005 Location: Cypress, Texas. Oddometer: 27,116	I wired mine directly to the aux fusebox which is straight to the battery. My autocom hisses the minute I plug it in, engine running or not. The Ipod easily overcomes the hiss so it isn't really an issue for me. No alternator whine at all. __________________ Bender™ Searching for the lost Xanadu. The generation that would change the world is still looking for the car keys.

03-19-2006, 05:09 PM	#13
markgsnw WTF? Joined: Jan 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon US Oddometer: 3,471	how much hiss? I mean, it's a motorcycle intercom, not an MC602 . . . __________________ http://vasaphoto.wordpress.com/ 2011 Moto Guzzi Norge 8V GT markgsnw screwed with this post 03-20-2006 at 07:49 AM

03-18-2006, 06:11 PM	#2
space ^OP a.k.a. Jake Joined: Jan 2006 Location: Pasadena, CA Oddometer: 2,464	Also, here's a pic of the adapter cable I hacked together so I can plug headphones into the Autocom. Yeah, I know Autocom sells a similar adapter, but it's $50! Riiiight. $5 in parts from Radioshack and some leftover phone line, and it works like a charm. (Except for that damn hiss, but I hear that regardless of whether I'm using my adapter.)

03-18-2006, 09:08 PM	#6
beezil what would Jack Bauer do? Joined: Apr 2005 Location: Ohio Oddometer: 38	I also have a slight hiss. Doesn't bother me. It's a lot worse when I plug my Ipod in without a GLI. NOTE: I do use an electric ave. amp, for volume control, and a lineout device for the ipod (not sure of the name?); rather than using the headphone jack.

03-18-2006, 09:18 PM	#7
space ^OP a.k.a. Jake Joined: Jan 2006 Location: Pasadena, CA Oddometer: 2,464	Thanks for the responses. I hear the hiss even when I've got nothing at all plugged into the autocom (not even a mic) and I'm using their speakers. I didn't take apart any of the Autocom cables, so all the shielding there should be intact. Sounds like I might just have to live with it.

03-18-2006, 09:25 PM	#8
monkeyman Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2004 Location: Lafayette, CO Oddometer: 374	I looked into making an adaptor cable like yours. I was told that the ground for each ear is not shared inside the unit - IIRC I stuck an ohmmeter across them and they were not the same. You've obviously connected the the two grounds (inside your jack) and made them shared, whould could be Bad. Have you damaged your unit? Dunno. Is that the cause of your hiss? Dunno. But, I spent the 50 bucks and no hiss.

03-18-2006, 09:31 PM	#9
Just_Sean herewegoagain Joined: May 2005 Location: NOT Brooklyn Oddometer: 14,505	http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2062214

03-19-2006, 08:36 AM	#10
Threeflys Eternal newbie Joined: Oct 2004 Location: San Diego,CA Oddometer: 102	Any audio system must be grounded extremly well, barring that I have a very slight hiss that I hear on my AutoCom when I have nothing plugged into it. I don't really hear it when I'm playing music. Chris

03-20-2006, 07:48 AM	#15
markgsnw WTF? Joined: Jan 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon US Oddometer: 3,471	I want to see how you're going to power it __________________ http://vasaphoto.wordpress.com/ 2011 Moto Guzzi Norge 8V GT

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