Outdoor speakers/phone jack connection...

[crazylev]

How about this for a nutty idea:

I've been wanting to hook up a couple of cheap portable speakers on the outside of the coach and trying to figure out how until I came up with this idea: Use the telephone jack that is mounted on the streetside.

Huh? you say. I am hoping that there are four wires, instead of two, that go from the outside phone hook-up to the inside jack that is under the dinette in my '04 Bambi. I was thinking that I could go from the line out from my Sony AM/FM/CD/Ipod to the jack under the dinette. Of course one end from the stereo would either be RCA or 1/8" mini jack and the other end a spliced phone plug-jack-thing to plug into that jack under the dinette.

You audiophiles are going to tell me that the gauge of the wire is not ideal, but then again, this is to get just a little background music at the campsite.

In addtion, I'd need to have about a 10-12 foot line from the streetside phone jack to run on the ground under the trailer to get to the curbside and speakers.

I have not use or never really see a time that I would use a standard telephone hook-up, so that is not an issue.

Make a simular conection for the jack on the outside to go to the remote speakers, and you have Django Reinhart playing!

Can anyone confirm the four or two wire set-up in their coach? If there are only two wires, my only other option is mono instead of stereo.

Jonathan

[thenewkid64]

How about this

Wireless outdoor speaker system

Then you are not limited to the wire that connects to the coach 2 speakers make it capable of stereo, one speaker would be mono.

[Tin Hut]

Home Depot sells wireless outdoor speakers that are impressive. A member of our North Texas units has a pair and the range is extraordinary. They're sturdy and weatherproof. The one's he has are green and domed & rechargable.

[74Argosy24MH]

Not even an audiophile thing, the gauge of the wire isn't heavy enough for speakers.

John

[uwe]

Note to self: Run speaker wire to the curbside belly pan during restoration of 1963 Overlander.....

[74Argosy24MH]

Run a bunch of spares everywhere, different gauges. Never have enough and makes repair easy.

John

[ALANSD]

Reminds me of the time I pre-wired stereo speaker while my new home was nbeing framed out. Did a real neat job only I accidently ran the right speaker connection to some rooms and the left to to others. Made for very interesting sound.

[crazylev]

AlanSD.

I too roughed in wire for my stereo as I had all the walls open. What I did learn was do not run speaker wire along electrical conduit, ESPECIALLY if there are going to be dimmers on that run!

It would not have been bad if all my music was in the key of G minor, as that was the humming I was getting when I tested the system.

Re-wired. Speaker wire about a foot away from anything electrical.

Jonathan

[mandolindave]

Hey TH,
What if the camper next to you has wireless speakers and is listening to music that you don't like.

[Tin Hut]

I reroute my black water hose

Originally Posted by mandolindave

Hey TH,
What if the camper next to you has wireless speakers and is listening to music that you don't like.

[crazylev]

Hey Mando-Dave.

In case I camp next to you and I have those wireless speakers and you decide to use Tin Huts idea, what kind of music do you like!

Jonathan

[Janet H]

I'm with mando Dave on this one.......

I don't want to listen to my neighbors music when I'm on holiday! I camp to get away..... enjoy the peace and quiet, listen to the crickets etc.

My neighbors kids, pets and drying laundry are not welcome in my camp site (although I do like kids, pets and clean laundry) and neither is their noise.

awaiting flames....... J

[74Argosy24MH]

Originally Posted by crazylev

I too roughed in wire for my stereo as I had all the walls open. What I did learn was do not run speaker wire along electrical conduit, ESPECIALLY if there are going to be dimmers on that run!

Run a wire for any distance next to an ac wire and you have a transformer. Keep dc and ac as far apart as possible.

John

[dtbw]

Tin Hut mentioned the outdoor speakers that we use. I got turned on to these about 7 years ago when they first came out. I bought a pair for use around the pool. Worked great and the battery life was about 2 days of all day usage (overnight recharge). Then I decided to get more and discovered that Recoton (now bankrupt) had discontinued them. Started searching ebay and bought a total of 3 more. All had bad 12v sealed lead acid batteries, but it was a common size and the newer ones were more powerful and had solved the problems of earlier designs. Then earlier this summer Advent (owned by Recton at one time, but now part of Thomson), reintroduced the exact same speaker but minus the battery (Home Depot is carrying them). You have to install 8 D cells (rechargable NiMH or NiCad or disposable). I bought one more so as to have a 3 pairs. We typically carry 4 with us when camping. The transmitter, while it comes with an ac adapter, is actually a 12v unit, so I just wired it in permanently to the audio and power. As Tin Hut mentioned, the range is pretty incredible especially considering that the transmitter is inside a dual wall aluminum shell (ie the A/S). The cost of the new units that HD is carrying is about $100. You can get 8 rechargable NiMH (much better than NiCad) for a bit over $50 if you search the web.

We really enjoy the speakers as you can move the sound close to you so that you don't have to turn it up if the trailer is a distance from where you want some tunes. The sound is also pretty impressive as the current sourcing capacity of the battery(s) allows the 20w amp to produce very nice bass as well a good upper frequencies from the seperate tweater also mounted in the unit. These are water resistant (ie rain, okay, dunking not okay). If there should be someone else using this system in the vicinity, the transmitting freq can be changed to avoid conflicts (at least at the technical level)...nothing can be done for conflicts over tastes in music.

BTW, don't confuse the earlier white shelled version that Advent sold. Those had no bass and only used disposable batteries. The ones that I have discussed are a green plastic unit model # ADVW801

David

[Tin Hut]

I will say that after camping with David and his speakers I've developed a fondness for Wayne Newton's Donkashayne, and when the party really gets going he breaks out the Slim Whitman stuff.

[dtbw]

Tin Hut,
Thanks for loaning us that great Wayne Newton CD, it was what we had been lacking at our summertime rallys

david

[mandolindave]

I camp with a Bluegrass camping club. We usually go to music festivals, and
it is acceptable behavior to play live music pretty much around the clock.
Stereos are perceived to be noise and a close cousin to the generator.
But you've got me thinking....Wayne Newton Bluegrass style ?????????????

PS....I don't think even Summerkid can spell Danke Schoen. It's German
for Thanck you. In French it means Shut up Dave

[Silvertwinkie]

Originally Posted by 74Argosy24MH

Not even an audiophile thing, the gauge of the wire isn't heavy enough for speakers.

John

Second that. You'll most likely wind up cooking the wires if you do the telephone jack thing....but I like your thinking....very outside the box.

Three suggestions.

Run some wire somehow.
Open the windows and turn up the volume. I can wake the neighboorhood with ours.

Do the wireless bit.

Don't use the phone wires, as tempting as it may be.

[crazylev]

Janet and everyone.

I have to make it clear that I am not a real PITA when it comes to music in the campsite. I absolutely love outdoor sounds with out the use of artificial mechanisms as a stereo, boom-box, what have you. Most of the time, music is contained to within the wall(s) of our AS. To give you an idea of how loud (or soft) we play our out-door music, you really can't hear it much, if at all, by the time you walk to the edge of our campsite.

This is not only common sense, but also being mindful of other people around you.

I only wish others who blast (c)rap, hiphop, or other non-sense would be as polite. And quiet those kids down. Thant's what duct tape is for.

Jonathan

[summerkid]

oh yes i CAN spell danke schoen

Und Danke für die Subkultur Airstream uber alles because i don't know the dingdongest thing about stereo wiring.

Auf Wiedersehen,
SK