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Universal Sound Card Cable

This document describes a cable assembly that addresses issues with connecting radio receive audio to computer sound cards. It can accommodate different types of radio jacks and attenuates the audio signal to prevent overloading the computer mic input, while limiting DC current flow. Resistors are used to create voltage dividers that provide a total attenuation of around 50:1.

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Ioannis Perperis
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
46 views

Universal Sound Card Cable

This document describes a cable assembly that addresses issues with connecting radio receive audio to computer sound cards. It can accommodate different types of radio jacks and attenuates the audio signal to prevent overloading the computer mic input, while limiting DC current flow. Resistors are used to create voltage dividers that provide a total attenuation of around 50:1.

Uploaded by

Ioannis Perperis
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Universal Computer Sound Card

Attenuator Cable

This cable assembly addresses three issues frequently encountered in connecting radio receive
audio to computer sound cards when operating “sound card” software.

1) Audio must go into the mic jack of a sound card because the sound system lacks a “line-
level” input. Audio levels at the radio headphone jack, speaker jack, or mini-DIN data connector
are far higher than the mic input sensitivity of the sound card, causing the mic input to overload.

2) Radio speaker jacks are usually 2-conductor jacks while headphone jacks are often 3-
conductor “stereo” jacks. If the tip and ring of a 3-cond plug are simply wired in parallel, the ring
will often be grounded if inserted into a 2-conductor jack. The result is that all audio is shorted to
ground. This cable wiring will accommodate either two- or three-conductor jacks on the radio.

3) Although computer sound system mic inputs use 3-conductor “stereo” jacks, the input is
actually single channel (monophonic). The other contact is used to power active amplified mics,
and carries 3-5 volts DC. Most of the time (but not always) the tip carries DC while the ring
carries the audio signal. This cable will work regardless of which contact is audio.

The 10K resistors on the tip and ring input form a 10:1 voltage divider with the 1K resistor to
ground/common. The 2.2K resistors form a second approx 5:1 voltage divider wit the typical
500 ohm input impedance of the computer mic input. The two attenuators in series result in a
total attenuation of about 50:1.

The mic jack contact with DC on it sees a resistance of about 3.2K (the combination of one of
the 2.2K resistors and the 1K resistor) to ground which limits any DC current flow to a harmless
1.6 mA max

The actual cable assembly was made by cutting a 3.5mm-to-3.5mm stereo patch cord apart in
the middle, inserting the resistor network, and then covering the assembly with heat-shrinkable
tubing.

From Radio or To Computer


Sound Card Interface 10K 2.2K Mic Input Jack
Tip Tip

Ring Ring
10K 2.2K
1K

Sleeve Sleeve

Stephen H. Smith [email protected] 20 May 2012

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