Lets talk about External Speakers

[BogusBlake]

When I buy my ham rig, it will be remote mounted. Ill need an external speaker if I'm going to hear it up front. I have a few basic questions and would like to discuss some options.

Are these things powered, or are they just driven by the speaker output on the radio? If they're powered, do you have to manually turn them on?
Do they have some special impedance I should match like stereo speakers?

I'm thinking of using a Pioneer 4" 2-way low profile mounted above the headliner above my head. I'd poke a pattern of holes through the liner for the sound to get through.

What are you guys using, where are they mounted, and how do you like 'em?

[goodtimes]

My 2M rig has a front firing speaker. It is almost loud enough to hear on the freeway, plenty loud anywhere else.

The aux speakers I have used in the past are driven directly off of the radio, no external power source needed.

One thing to keep in mind with the 2M and remote mounting...you will have to find a way to have easy access for adjusting volume, squelch, TX power, frequency, etc. I find myself adjusting power several times per trip. I usually start @ 75watts prior to making contact with the group (assuming we are coming from different directions), then lower it as we get closer. I typically stay at 5 watts on the trail....unless we are talking to someone out of range...then back up it goes. After leaving the trail, I again bump the power up to maintain contact. Having a remote mounted rig will make this sort of adjustment a pain in the butt.

I think I have seen a 2M rig which has a remote mounted faceplate....you mount the radio *somewhere*, then mount the faceplate on/near the dash for easy control. That might be a good option if you don't have the room up front...

[articulate]

One thing to keep in mind with the 2M and remote mounting...you will have to find a way to have easy access for adjusting volume, squelch, TX power, frequency, etc.
TX power and frequency can be adjusted with the mic handset . . . on most radios. Okay, at least the two I have. Yaesu.

Anyway, external speakers. I've got one in the Jeep and one in the truck. Both a little 1.5" or 2" cube from radio shack. Right here. (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2036240&cp=2032052&f=Taxonomy%2FRSK%2F2032052&categoryId=2032052&kwCatId=2032052&kw=external+speaker&parentPage=search)

Mounted like this. That radio is the FT7800 with remote mounted face. Radio body is mounted under the seat. More about the install here (http://www.expeditionportal.com/equipment/vehicles/feature_vehicle/part3/)
http://www.expeditionportal.com/equipment/vehicles/feature_vehicle/part3/external_speaker.jpg

[gary in ohio]

It depends on the radio, some heads have speakers, most dont. some heads the audio comes from the heads, on some it comes from the RF deck. In all cases its speaker level audio. The best speaker is a communication grade speaker. If you use a "music" speaker you will be sorry. Your going to hear every his and pop from the other station. A good (that means no radio shack stuff) speaker, as big as you can fit. I prefer one on the overhead console pointing down at my ear. An upward facing speaker echo's to much for me.

[BogusBlake]

That radio is the FT7800 with remote mounted face.

Yeah, that's the radio I'm getting, but I didn't want this to be another "what radio should I get" thread.



The best speaker is a communication grade speaker. If you use a "music" speaker you will be sorry.

What makes a speaker "communications grade"? The dynamic range?

[articulate]

Sorry. I mentioned the radio for Brian’s sake since it has a removable face that he was talking about.

Correction, too about the speaker. It’s a Radio Shack #19-318A, which isn’t available any more. A few are on ebay, though.

So what’s the problem with the radio shack speaker, Gary? It’s 8 ohms, plugs right into the radio and blasts just fine. Care to elaborate, or was that an off-the-hip generalized opinion? Obviously RS is not the place to buy your HAM radio equipment, but in this case it worked beautifully.

[spressomon]

I picked up my second small Radio Shack speaker (1-for the CB and 1-for the 2M)...mounted my 2m just under the arm rest in my LC100...totally protected...great volume...attached with the special automotive grade Velcro...been there without issue for the past 2-months of off-roading!

[vengeful]

I've also got one of the little Radio Shack cube speakers. I have it zip-tied to my Camera Mount that hangs off my passenger seat headrest posts. Sits right between the front seats, and fires forward. I can hear it perfectly, and it sounds great!

[gary in ohio]

What makes a speaker "communications grade"? The dynamic range?


The dynamic range is the key. You dont want the highs and you dont want the lows. Pick the middle. Your radio isnt a HIFI,

[gary in ohio]

So what’s the problem with the radio shack speaker, Gary? It’s 8 ohms, plugs right into the radio and blasts just fine. Care to elaborate, or was that an off-the-hip generalized opinion? Obviously RS is not the place to buy your HAM radio equipment, but in this case it worked beautifully.

I can give you a resistor that is 8 ohms and plugs into the radio, that doesnt make it a good speaker. First the little RS speaker is small, usually passes lots of highs, which is where your noises are in a comm speaker. As for off the hip comment, NO. Its years of listening to crappy little cheap speakers and then getting a good comm grade speaker. Same is true of headphone, Little ipod ear buds are not good, go with a comm grade headset. There is a difference.

NOW, I will admit that if NEVER get out of range of a repeater and you have a full 20 over S9 quieting signal you may never hear the difference but put a little noise on a signal, move up to HF, get on simplex and you will hear the difference.

I know a lot of people balk at a $50+ for a speaker vs the $10 RS ones, but spend the money, its worth it.

[Andrew Walcker]

Gary-

Introduce us to the good comm speakers, I only know my local RS:) Which brand are you running?

[PhulesAU]

It's only been 15 years since I was in your town, but if you have a major brand truck stop there. you might see if they carry Bearcat brand speakers. There are 3 sizes, they have pretty good voice quality and handle shock and dust pretty well. I have mine mounted to the main hoop of the roll cage, between the seats. easy to hear with no top and I don't have to turn the volume up too loud.

[gary in ohio]

Gary-

Introduce us to the good comm speakers, I only know my local RS:) Which brand are you running?
I like the kenwood KES-4. Its nice, big and has a heavy magnet. The smaller KES-3 and the newer KES-5 also sound good. Motorola has several nice, Again I prefer the older large speakers, many of the newer moto are smaller and dont sound as good. THe Icom SP-10, and yaesu MLS 100 are nice speakers.

Stay away from radio shack, workman speakers and most truck stop speakers

[articulate]

(Radio Shack 19-318A speakers are perfectly fine . . .)

:REOutArchery02:

[Andrew Walcker]

Thanks for your guys recommendations, but I, like articulate, have a Radio Shack cheapo that works just fine for my use. Guess I shouldn't listen to the higher end ones since even if I wanted to I couldn't spare the extra room for a larger unit.

[BogusBlake]

It's only been 15 years since I was in your town, but if you have a major brand truck stop there. you might see if they carry Bearcat brand speakers.

Yeah, the TTT. They have a decent radio shop- that's where I got all my CB stuff.

[gary in ohio]

Folks if your happy with the little tinny sounding speakers then go with it. I simply said there are better speakers out there that will enhance your listening enjoyment and ability to communicate.

[Andrew Walcker]

Folks if your happy with the little tinny sounding speakers then go with it. I simply said there are better speakers out there that will enhance your listening enjoyment and ability to communicate.

I'm not doubting that the larger speakers sound better, but what is the saying about ignorance being bliss:) In addition, I really don't know how I would put a larger speaker in due to limited space. Everything is a compromise!

[DaveInDenver]

In addition, I really don't know how I would put a larger speaker in due to limited space.
These commercial speakers aren't very big. The Yaesu is 5.5" x 4" x 2.5". Don't know how this compares to Radio Shack, but I can attest to the fact that the Kenwood, Vertex, Motorola and other business radio speakers do sound good.

[mountainpete]

Take a good look at Cleartone brand. Well made, excellent sounding and cheap - less than $20 in most cases.

Pete

[BogusBlake]

I ended up getting a Cleartone speaker, and since I started the thread, I figured I'd show my install- panel mounted through the headliner. It sounds great! I have to be careful with the volume though!

[Dmarchand]

I borrowed from some folks on another expedition related board and installed a factory speaker from the Disco II into the trim on the door post sides. I have one on each side because the interior of my truck is less than quiet.

[crawler#976]

(Radio Shack 19-318A speakers are perfectly fine . . .)

(I agree. . .)

[FJ-Ollie]

I borrowed from some folks on another expedition related board and installed a factory speaker from the Disco II into the trim on the door post sides. I have one on each side because the interior of my truck is less than quiet.

How'd you wire those and what kind of wattage do they produce? That looks like the way to go. I currently have two RS externals, one 2.5" for my CB and the middle sized 5" for my Ham Radio. I like the concealment of your set-up.

[Dmarchand]

Sorry, just saw your replay. I wired them into the standard external speaker jack. Just cut and spliced.

Not sure on the wattage but I will say, this speaker is MUCH more powerful than the radio shack speaker. I had two of those previously and could barely hear them when cruising down the highway. This one, is barely on 1/4 turned up and is plenty loud.

[ntsqd]

The two previous weren't at the same time by chance?

I use a cheezy, tiny little speaker I got years ago from JCW. Think it cost $5 or so. Didn't work in the DB so it sat until I got Patch and it works great in the cab of a truck. Now to do something about the radio in La Ballena Negra.

[viatierra]

I picked up my second small Radio Shack speaker (1-for the CB and 1-for the 2M)...mounted my 2m just under the arm rest in my LC100...totally protected...great volume...attached with the special automotive grade Velcro...been there without issue for the past 2-months of off-roading!

Bump and a question. I'm a certified dork so bare with me... why couldn't I use the same speaker for both CB & HAM radio??

[1leglance]

you could as long as you weren't listening to both at the same time :)
I use the speaker built into my cb which is low mounted and an external speaker for the ham radio which is mounted under my headrest between the support bars, that way...
low = cb
behind me = ham
easy to tell who is talking if I have both going

[PhulesAU]

Simple answer..... you could if you ran 1 at a time. both inputs would probably over power the speaker and sound like crapola ( everybody trying to talk at once) effect. I use little Uniden ESP5's they've held up in the Jeep for going on 4 years with no degradation due to weather. they are light and I strap them directly to the spreader bars on the roll cage. Topless at 70mph and you can hear just fine..... Just gotta do something about wind noise in the mike:shakin:

[viatierra]

Crapola... gotcha. Didn't think about confusing which radio a transmission was coming from either. The stock CB speaker often doesn't have the oomff I'd like. Since I'm installing an external for the HAM, I want to improve the CB situtuation too. I was thinking about istalling 2 speakers together in the headliner like Bogusblake posted. Now I want to rethink that too. I figured that quality in transmission would help sort out which radio was active, but seperating the speakers is probably a better option. Decisions. This HAM radio is making me rethink all of my gadget installations!