music input

hydroguy2 · Post by **hydroguy2** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 11:19 pm

I was planning on using a Sig200S intercom, in order to have a music input port. I haven't purchased my intercom yet and have access to a Sig SPA-400N intercom. It's new and a good intercom for an RV, but no music input.

So my question is....be gentle, I'm an electrical moron....since the SPA-400 is a 4 place intercom, could I use one of the pax mic input wires as a music in?

Post by **bullojm1** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 7:11 am

Brian-

I am not a 100% expert on aircraft electronics systems (YET!), but I don't think it will be a simple hookup. Aircraft headsets have an impedance between 150 and 300 ohm, whereas most audio input sources (CD player, ipod, etc..) have a output impedance of 8 ohms.

What this is equal to is plugging in some modern piece of audio equipment into the Phono input to your stereo. The volume is always screwed up because the impedances don't match up.

Now, maybe your radio has some external inputs. I think the ICOM A210 has 3-4 auxiliary inputs that you could use for audio.

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 8:21 am

Yeah, like Mike said, it won't work Brian...you'll either need the intercom with music input, or use aux audio inputs on the A210 if you have one.

FWIW...I got my Flightcom 403 off of Ebay for $110, and it's a stereo intercom with digital clearance recorder (won't be using that feature tho)...could look there for a deal!

hydroguy2 · Post by **hydroguy2** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 9:09 am

Thanks guys. I figured if it was possible someone else would have already done it.

I have a Icom 200 and don't see any music inputs. I watch Ebay daily looking for stuff, but never know if it's what I need or want. I have personal experience with the Sig intercoms in a high noise airplane, so was leaning that direction. I'll have to check out the flightcom403.

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 9:30 am

Hmmm...I thought the 200 had the same inputs as the 210...same connector is used. I'd have to find the pdf install instructions for the 200 to see, unless you know for sure?

Post by **bullojm1** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 9:59 am

Looks like your in luck. According to the ICOM installation manual:

http://www.rv8.ch/files/Icom%20IC-A200% ... ctions.pdf

The IC-A200 has three aux inputs just like the 210 does.

hydroguy2 · Post by **hydroguy2** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 10:24 am

and once again I thank you. I was looking at the Icom website for wiring instructions and it doesn't show the pin out. I guess I should have brave the cold(neg 10*F this morning) and made a trip to the shop to grab the actual manual.

Some day I'll learn

.....maybe

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 10:54 am

Nah...no reason to be

...I'da done the same thing if it was 10 degrees! Though we were close at 19 this morning...

hydroguy2 · Post by **hydroguy2** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 11:10 am

oops, I had to edit my post above. It was MINUS 10*F....it's March for gods sake!!!!!!!!

airguy · Post by **airguy** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 11:15 am

hydroguy2 wrote:oops, I had to edit my post above. It was MINUS 10*F....it's March for gods sake!!!!!!!!

*THREAD DRIFT ALERT*

Yeah, -10 degrees, so tell me again how this global warming thing is supposed to work?

Speed3Guy · Post by **Speed3Guy** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 4:27 pm

Talk about thread drift--while reading the replies, I forgot which thread I was reading! The reply that was here has now moved to the A210 thread.

svanarts · Post by **svanarts** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 11:44 pm

hydroguy2 wrote:Thanks guys. I figured if it was possible someone else would have already done it.

I have a Icom 200 and don't see any music inputs. I watch Ebay daily looking for stuff, but never know if it's what I need or want. I have personal experience with the Sig intercoms in a high noise airplane, so was leaning that direction. I'll have to check out the flightcom403.

You can match the impedances of the the outputs to the inputs, that's not the show stopper. I don't know what the audio quality would be. Google impedance matching or ask the question on the Aeroelectric list. We have to have an electronics guru on here somewhere. It's been years since I've done any electrical engineering. Hard to beleve I actually have a degree in it.