PA volume problem... help!

[shagr15]

Hey guys,

So a buddy of mine and me installed a PA system in my truck yesterday but the volume coming out of the horn is very soft. Any ideas on why this could be? He thought it could possibly be the wrong gauge wire...

I have the Cobra 19DX IV cb unit, a 50 W RMS powerhorn from radio shack, to power the cb we used 18 gauge speaker wire and connected it to a 3ft. audio Y-cable. (cb turns on fine), 18 gauge hookup wire to connect the cb to the horn.

Any ideas would be great! I really want to get this working correctly, because right now you can't hear it unless your head is right by the car or bumper.

Thanks
Harrison

 

[Blee1099]

Probably cause its not amplified.

 

[shagr15]

so how would I fix that?

 

[Blacksheep Josh]

Probably cause its not amplified.

so how would I fix that?

Amplify it?

 

[shagr15]

i just talked to my buddy who has one also and his isnt amplified and works just fine, but we still can't figure out why my volume is so low.

 

[jad2411]

You can not just hook up a microphone to a speaker and expect it to work, you need an amp,
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2104031
See "you'll also need:"

 

[fordpower1989]

I had the exact same problem. It took me three cb's to get it workin right i think there was jus somethin wrong with the plug on the back of the cb like your cord wont go in far enough to get a good connection u know? i DONT have an amp and mine works awesome!

 

[shagr15]

ok... we thought that it might be the case with the plug into the back of the cb. we were both thinking of the way that headphones work and how when they are not plugged all the way in it sounds really low in volume, maybe I will try another cord and see if that will do the trick. Hopefully I can go tomorrow and check that out.

Thanks guys, keep the suggestions coming.

 

[MillerTimeX17]

you shouldnt need to amplify it unless you want it super loud. try plugging your pa jack into the external speaker port. turn the unit on and see if the pa speaker is working. if it does work, then the problem is your pa port. if it still doesnt work its probly the wiring. and also i believe that the jack for the pa is just a one channel jack. so like when you look at headphones jacks you can see the 2 black rings around it, these pa jacks will only have 1.

 

[shagr15]

i think that we had the wrong jack to plug into the back of the CB. radioshack closed 15 minutes before i got there so i will be picking up a new piece tomorrow and i believe that should be the key because we tested my horn on my buddy's system and it worked and everything else is exactly the same. hopefully that will solve my dilemma and i can enjoy the PA finally! thanks for all your help, I will let you guys know how it goes.

 

[shagr15]

well i got the plug with only one black ring around it and it didnt work. I tried to connect my buddy's plug in an that one worked. I am not sure why this is but I can't seem to find a cord that will work anywhere.

Anyone know exactly what I need to ask for. I thought that I had it but for some reason it's not working.

Again, I have the Cobra 19DX IV if that helps. I am looking for the cord to plug into the PA jack in the back of the CB unit. If you can help I'd really appreciate it.

 

[MillerTimeX17]

hmmm weird. the single channel jack worked fine on my Cobra 19DXIV with a radio shack PA. do you mean that you tried your horn on a buddys CB or you tried your buddys horn on your CB?

 

[shagr15]

I tried my horn on my buddies CB... but I actually got mine to work FINALLY!!! I was able to use the cord that I bought before... It had 2 insulation rubber pieces in it and I just had to put the 2 middle parts of wire together and then the 2 outer parts of wire together and then connect it to the horn.

Thank you everyone for your help, I appreciate you guys lending a hand.

Harrison