Simple Install; Complicated Issue: Remote VHS Speaker

[Rick D]

I am sending the following to both Standard Horizon and Poly-Planar in hopes of finding a trouble-shooting lead. However, I figured I'd post it here to let you guys swing at it first:
"I have a Standard Horizon Matrix GX2200 which is an excellent unit. I did, however, wish to add an extension speaker for clarity. I purchased a Poly-Planar MB 41 speaker. I wired it according to the directions. However, the Matrix internal speaker continued to be powered up and the Poly-Planar had little volume. I re-installed the connections. No change. I reversed polarity. No change; polarity seemed to be irrelevant. The only other finding of note is that at past half volume, there is some subdued static and no additional volume with the extension speaker connected. Any advice for trouble shooting or is there a reason these units will not play well together? "

 

[justsomeguy]

The external speaker mentioned in the manual says your radio uses an amplified speaker.

http://www.defender.com/pdf/259881VHFBLA_Owners.pdf Pages 28-29.

Is your Poly-Planar amplified?

 

[Rick D]

It is not amplified; the manual has no comment regarding amplification that I found beyond availability and lists both amplified and unamplified in the accessories section. All the ones in the past I have added an external speaker to shut off the internal one. Things may have changed. Good catch though.

 

[reworb]

I would call Standard Horizon. I have the same radio and I had a problem connecting it to my chartplotter. I called their technical support and they walked me through all the steps they even remained on the phone while I ran the tests they suggested. Best telephone support, located in LA county, very little wait time if you call as soon as they open.

 

[Maine Sail]

I am sending the following to both Standard Horizon and Poly-Planar in hopes of finding a trouble-shooting lead. However, I figured I'd post it here to let you guys swing at it first:
"I have a Standard Horizon Matrix GX2200 which is an excellent unit. I did, however, wish to add an extension speaker for clarity. I purchased a Poly-Planar MB 41 speaker. I wired it according to the directions. However, the Matrix internal speaker continued to be powered up and the Poly-Planar had little volume. I re-installed the connections. No change. I reversed polarity. No change; polarity seemed to be irrelevant. The only other finding of note is that at past half volume, there is some subdued static and no additional volume with the extension speaker connected. Any advice for trouble shooting or is there a reason these units will not play well together? "

Sounds like you may have used the hailer speaker outputs and it is in listen mode..

One other note is if you have a RAM mic the speaker connection is at the mic end of that wire, not the radio end, and allows volume control of ext speaker from the RAM...

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

What impedance is the speaker and is it equivalent to that required at the audio output of the radio?

 

[Jackdaw]

What impedance is the speaker and is it equivalent to that required at the audio output of the radio?

My thoughts as well. The VHF will use the impedence on the wire to detect the speaker. Speakers range from 2 to 16 ohms, with most being 4 to 8. I would guess that the VHF would allow/detect a wide range, but that might not be true.

 

[Rick D]

Speaker Wiring

Sounds like you may have used the hailer speaker outputs and it is in listen mode..

One other note is if you have a RAM mic the speaker connection is at the mic end of that wire, not the radio end, and allows volume control of ext speaker from the RAM...

The manual has the wiring for the external speaker as white & shield. The PA is red and shield. So it should be correct... I thought the same, so I double checked it. Thanks.

PS: no RAM. I have a second VHF at the nav station.

 

[Rick D]

4 ohm

What impedance is the speaker and is it equivalent to that required at the audio output of the radio?

It's 4 ohm which is what the manual requires. Thanks.

 

[Kings Gambit]

It's 4 ohm which is what the manual requires. Thanks.

Low likelihood, but maybe it's a lemon. Return it and try another of the same or other brand. That's usually my last "desparate" hope to get something working!

 

[Rick D]

Maybe...

Low likelihood, but maybe it's a lemon. Return it and try another of the same or other brand. That's usually my last "desparate" hope to get something working!

We'll see what the manufacturers say. I sent them both an email. This should be a no-brainer but the feed wire routing is a real PITA, so replacing it is a last resort. Standard Horizon has their own speaker, also 4 ohm. Still, this should work with the Poly Planar.

 

[Rick D]

Reply From Standard Horizon

I am sending the following to both Standard Horizon and Poly-Planar in hopes of finding a trouble-shooting lead. However, I figured I'd post it here to let you guys swing at it first:
"I have a Standard Horizon Matrix GX2200 which is an excellent unit. I did, however, wish to add an extension speaker for clarity. I purchased a Poly-Planar MB 41 speaker. I wired it according to the directions. However, the Matrix internal speaker continued to be powered up and the Poly-Planar had little volume. I re-installed the connections. No change. I reversed polarity. No change; polarity seemed to be irrelevant. The only other finding of note is that at past half volume, there is some subdued static and no additional volume with the extension speaker connected. Any advice for trouble shooting or is there a reason these units will not play well together? "

Here's what SH tech support said. Not anything we haven't discussed on this thread except that the internal speaker stays on which, in my opinion, reduces the utility of the remote speaker for what I was intending:
"What is the impedance of your external speaker? If it is different then what the radio is looking for it could be part of the issue. Also are you using the white and shield wire? There is also a red and shield set of wires that are used for a pa speaker. Make sure you aren't using these. The radios internal or front facing speaker will stay on even when you use an external. It should not be affected at all by an external speaker."

 

[Benny17441]

I guess you did not test the combination before you ran the wiring. Perhaps I would not have either but it should be a lesson for all. Thetech was not very helpful. Impedance seems to be OK for both speaker and the only discernible difference seems to be that the MB41 has a maximum power handling capacity of 20W while the manufacturers unit has a maximum capacity of only 10W. My best guess is that they would not be offering an amplified speaker unit if the unamplified worked well in a remote setting. Try the speaker with another radio to determine which of the units is at fault. If it is the radio it could be a design shortcoming but if it is the speaker it is likely a bad one.

 

[Jim W.]

For what it's worth, we have a SH1200 and a Poly Planar 4" speaker and the combination works great, right from the first hook up. The internal speaker continues to work, which in our set up is great. Seems to me there are different types of Poly Planer speakers, make sure you have the one for VHF radios. Keep on trouble shooting.