Using carputer as a public address system

**stonestatue** · 12-30-2006, 09:09 PM

I am contemplating various methods of projecting my voice outside my vehicle.

I have a PA amplifier I might go with, since I know the internal amplifier is loud, but I also considered the possibility of somehow using the carputer itself.

I have a CB radio with a PA output jack. I can run a microphone cord from this jack to the mic in jack on the carputer. I can then hook the carputer up to some sort of PA amplifier.

Which of these two setups is more viable, and aesthetically pleasing?

**Jahntassa** · 12-30-2006, 10:05 PM

The PA output to the mic in on your computer would probably not be good.. It's not gonna be Mic level, it may even be amplified.

I'd see what kinda power that 'PA output' puts out first

**stonestatue** · 12-31-2006, 03:53 AM

I believe the PA output wattage from the CB is 5 watts. Can the microphone input jack handle 5 watts?

I did something similar to this in 2003. I had a Cobra 19 Plus radio with RCA jacks from the PA jack running to a 40 watt PA amplifier, powered by an inverter. It was loud enough, but the inverter caused an annoying hum.

I have had the amplifier hooked up before, and this didn't have any hum. Am I going to have any hum issues if I hook up the CB radio to the carputer?

**Jahntassa** · 12-31-2006, 11:48 AM

5 watts of power to an input that's expecting -60db of signal. Somehow I don't think that will work. Microphone inputs are expecting almost NO power in order to work. I would try using the line-in, but then i'd still be concerned that that powered output would blow something up.

If you're gonna try it, try the line-in and not the microphone.