Sporty's mp3 adapter

[rk772]

Has anyone used Sporty's new cell phone/music headset adapter $99.95. I just bought this sweet Creative Audio 1GB MP3 player that's about the size of my thumb. I use Bose aviation X headsets and Sporty's says their adapter works good with all noise cancelling headsets but I was looking for anyone with first hand experience.
Thanks

 

[POKEY]

you can buy an adpater from an aviation supply store and a cord from radio shack and make your own for about $10

 

[freeflyer14]

{bracing myself for a long, multi-page, drawn out thread about music in the cockpit, professionalism, wearing hats (somehow it'll make it into this debate), captains that will care, captains that won't, pft, etc.}

 

[rk772]

Yea, it’s amazing how a simple question can spark such a debate. I’m going to listen to my music no matter what any of these Yahoos say, so maybe I can get a few direct answers without all the Hub-Bub.

 

[kmox29]

I asked the same thing about setting up a Saab cockpit and the thread went directly to someone preaching to me about professinalism. I did eventually receive some good information though.

I haven't seen the Sporty's adapter, but the other post is correct about buying a plug online and a cord from Radio Shack. The plug you need is a funky one...like a .205 or .225 plug or something. As far as stringing the two together, you'd have to ask someone else about that. Not much of an electrician myself.

 

[BossHogg]

Don't know about the Sporty's kind but I have a PS Engineering "The Muse". It's a sweet little unit. The best thing about it is most people I fly with can't even tell that I am listening to music. You gotta have some tunes when you are flying. What the heck else is there to do up there? Talk? Puuhhlease! And as far as professionalism is concerned... flip on your autopilot and go back to sleep... at least I'm awake while I fly.

 

[rk772]

I tried one of the cheap adapters. They basically took the cords you needed and spliced them together. It completely blocked the ATC communication when the MP3 player was turned on. I tried using this one in 3 types of aircraft. I even sent it back and got another one and still no luck.

The Sporty’s adapter has some type of small battery operated circuitry box that blends them together in stereo for the high-end headphones like Bose. I think it even has a feature that soft mutes your music during radio communications.

 

[rk772]

Don't know about the Sporty's kind but I have a PS Engineering "The Muse". It's a sweet little unit. The best thing about it is most people I fly with can't even tell that I am listening to music. You gotta have some tunes when you are flying. What the heck else is there to do up there? Talk? Puuhhlease! And as far as professionalism is concerned... flip on your autopilot and go back to sleep... at least I'm awake while I fly.

I was reading about that one in this months Flying. How is that soft muting feature working for ya. Is it annoying, and if so can you turn that feature off?

Also, what happens when the battery runs down? Is there some sort of bypass that allows you to still hear ATC.

 

[DrewBlows]

{bracing myself for a long, multi-page, drawn out thread about music in the cockpit, professionalism, wearing hats (somehow it'll make it into this debate), captains that will care, captains that won't, pft, etc.}

PFT sucks!

 

[bailout]

A *co-worker* of mine called MX out to replace the *missing* mic cord, and then *he* found it after they left, spliced it in to the headphone connector and we were jamming the rest of the trip.

 

[BossHogg]

I was reading about that one in this months Flying. How is that soft muting feature working for ya. Is it annoying, and if so can you turn that feature off?

Also, what happens when the battery runs down? Is there some sort of bypass that allows you to still hear ATC.

Here's the deal with the muse: (keeping in mind I have a Bose headset so it might be different with your headset) The soft mute works fine but it mutes the music whenever anybody talks ie: ATC, or somebody else talking to ATC, or the guy I happen to be flying with. I do not like the soft muting deal simply because there is so much chatter on the radio. By the way, it actually doesn't mute the music. It just lowers the volume to a really really low level (barely able to hear it). It does have a function to turn off the "soft mute" so thats how I have mine set up. As far as battery replacement... It says that it will run for at least for 40 hours on one 9volt battery. My Bose headset runs for about 60hours on one set of batteries and I replace the 9volt for the muse one time for every two headset battery changes. I don't use it during departures or arrivals just because I want to be perfectly alert for ATC. So to tell you that you will get 120 hours on one 9volt battery would be a lie. It is a simple design. There is no "on/off" switch. The muse detects the music and plays it. I basically have it connected to my headset permanently and I have not had a problem with it at all. You do not need the battery for ATC. You only need a battery to hear the music so if the battery dies the only thing that will happen is loss of music. It is quite pricey buy well worth it in my opinion. http://www.gulf-coast-avionics.com/detail.asp?id=4446 this is the best price I could find but maybe somebody knows of a better place. Safe skies my friend.

Boss

 

[328dude]

First off, I don't jam while flying so I have no idea how to hook this up, but I'll give it a go.

First, don't spend the money on Sporty's gizmo. If you want to listen to tunes in the cockpit, here's what you will need. I'm pretty sure the ERJ has a jumpseat audio panel as do the CRJ's. Go to http://www.flightcom.net/site/products/accessories.php and order the 3.5mm on one end and the mike jack on the other (part #103-0613-00) Radio Shack does not sell the MIC jacks since they are aviation specific. They do sell the Headset jack, but this will not help you.

Plug the 3.5mm into your MP3 player or portable DVD player or whatever, and plug the MIC jack into to MIC slot on the jumpseaters panel. Use the jumpseaters Comm panel to adjust volume either by the device itself, or using the Intercomm volume on the jupseaters panel. You will hear it through the speakers if you have them turned on as well as your headset if it's plugged in. However it will not shut off when you transmit, which is no big deal since it won't transmit from your PTT switch.

The cord is not stereo but works fine since most of the speakers are crap and not stereo. If you want to play it in the cabin, you will have to select PA, and hold down the MIC switch to hear it.

Again, I have never done this before and have no idea what I am talking about.

 

[cforst513]

PFT sucks!

lmao!!!

 

[BossHogg]

First off, I don't jam while flying so I have no idea how to hook this up, but I'll give it a go.

First, don't spend the money on Sporty's gizmo. If you want to listen to tunes in the cockpit, here's what you will need. I'm pretty sure the ERJ has a jumpseat audio panel as do the CRJ's. Go to http://www.flightcom.net/site/products/accessories.php and order the 3.5mm on one end and the mike jack on the other (part #103-0613-00) Radio Shack does not sell the MIC jacks since they are aviation specific. They do sell the Headset jack, but this will not help you.

Plug the 3.5mm into your MP3 player or portable DVD player or whatever, and plug the MIC jack into to MIC slot on the jumpseaters panel. Use the jumpseaters Comm panel to adjust volume either by the device itself, or using the Intercomm volume on the jupseaters panel. You will hear it through the speakers if you have them turned on as well as your headset if it's plugged in. However it will not shut off when you transmit, which is no big deal since it won't transmit from your PTT switch.

The cord is not stereo but works fine since most of the speakers are crap and not stereo. If you want to play it in the cabin, you will have to select PA, and hold down the MIC switch to hear it.

Again, I have never done this before and have no idea what I am talking about.

Dear God man! For a few extra bucks you could avoid all that.

 

[kmox29]

Dear God man! For a few extra bucks you could avoid all that.

I looked at the one 328dude was writing about. $10 Not too bad a price if you ask me since the 'Muse' was advertised well over $100.

Anyone else "heard of" anyone using this product? Does it work well in Saabs?

 

[rk772]

I looked at the one 328dude was writing about. $10 Not too bad a price if you ask me since the 'Muse' was advertised well over $100.

Anyone else "heard of" anyone using this product? Does it work well in Saabs?

I bought one a couple of years ago from a guy on this board. He made them at home and sold them through this board and by word of mouth. It worked great when I was on the SAAB. It plugged into the Jumpseat com and could be heard by both pilots. His screen name is realitycheck. Send him a PM. If you can't find him through the board, I still have his e-mail and phone #. I think I paid $20, including shipping.

I'm now looking for something for just my side of the cockpit since some people don't like music. I think I'll order the Muse. I'll give a product review after it comes in.

 

[328dude]

There's a few people out there that wire them together, but the one's they build are in stereo. Flightcom.net's are mono. I have talked to people that have tried them both and they say they really can't tell the diffrence, since the airplane is not exactly HiFi when it comes to audio.

 

[jtf]

If your really cheap you can plug in the 3rd headset, make the mic hot, and rubber band an earbud from your player to the mic on the headset. I flew with an FO who does it all the time and it actually sounded OK- much better than I thought possible.

 

[HockleyPilot]

Check out a website, of a guy I know.....www.cockpitjukebox.com

 

[blzr]

I just bring a BOOM box and tell the captain that if he doesn't like MASTER P or Snoop Dog, then tough SH!!!!!T