Attenuating Audio Cable???

[jonnyGURU]

Trying to hook the onboard sound of one of the servers (typical 1/8th jack) to the phone system (typical 1/8th jack) so I can use Winamp looping for hold music.

I went to Radio Shack and bought a 90db attenuation "Attenuating Audio Cable."

I'm thinking I got the wrong thing because the audio is VERY quiet. Can hardly hear it at all.

I eliminated the server by hooking the cable up to my laptop and I eliminated the phone system by plugging the other end into a line-in jack. No matter what combination, the sound is very low even with everything turned up.

So did I get the wrong cable? What's this 90db attenuation?

 

[KoolAidKid]

Why is attenuation necessary in this application?

 

[KingNothing]

90db is a LOT. I'm not even sure what you would use a cable like that for.

Edit: In case you didn't know, db = decibel, which is a logarithmic scale for measuring loudness.

Wikipedia: Decibel

 

[beer]

FYI,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Path_loss
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attenuator

Attenuation kills your signal while not changing background noise on the medium - free space, for example, or cable. Just FYI, 90 dB is a factor of 1,000,000,000

 

[pulse8]

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=Attenuating+

 

[43st]

Is you sound card output at max volume in the audio control panel? A attenuating cable will only attenuate down, not up. You either need to adjust the PC volume or get a small pre-amp. I'd think you could do it in Windows though. What's the spec. on the 1/8" in to the phone system?

 

[FoBoT]

so he bought the wrong cable?

he wants something like a 10db attenuation cable?

 

[beer]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
so he bought the wrong cable?

he wants something like a 10db attenuation cable?

Why is attenuation necessary for this application in the first place? Why can't you just control the signal level from the volume control on the laptop?

 

[FoBoT]

so he needs a non-attenuating cable? like a normal piece of wire?

 

[jonnyGURU]

Attenuation is NOT neccessary... and I know what db is THANKS! It was the attenuatuion part I wasn't familiar with.

I bought the cable because it seemed like it was the only1/8th to 1/8th cable they had.

I guess the correct cable would be one with NO attenuation, right?

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: jonnyGURU

I guess the correct cable would be one with NO attenuation, right?

that is what i keep trying to pry out of them, they can't just post the plain old answer without all the dB stuff

 

[KoolAidKid]

Originally posted by: jonnyGURU
Attenuation is NOT neccessary... and I know what db is THANKS! It was the attenuatuion part I wasn't familiar with.

I bought the cable because it seemed like it was the only1/8th to 1/8th cable they had.

I guess the correct cable would be one with NO attenuation, right?

That would be my guess. As others have said, control the output level in software.

 

[beer]

Originally posted by: KoolAidKid

Originally posted by: jonnyGURU
Attenuation is NOT neccessary... and I know what db is THANKS! It was the attenuatuion part I wasn't familiar with.

I bought the cable because it seemed like it was the only1/8th to 1/8th cable they had.

I guess the correct cable would be one with NO attenuation, right?

That would be my guess. As others have said, control the output level in software.

Just get a cable that doesn't specify any attentuation at all. All cables have path loss of some sort, but it isn't really significant, nor a selling point, for normal conductors that are sold as $5 cables at radio shack. When I got my miniplug-miniplug cable, the same one you have, I bought it for ~$6 at radio shack and it didn't mention anything about attenuation on the package - obviously it happens but not more than a trivial amount.

 

[jonnyGURU]

I doubt it's the same cable. BECAUSE this one does mention the attenuation and even with the LINE OUT and LINE IN levels cranked ALL THE WAY UP, you still can't hear anything.

I guess I'll just go back and exchange the cable tonight.

 

[Eli]

What's all this attenuating BS? lol

You just need a 1/8" to 1/8" patch cord....

 

[KingNothing]

I'd still like to know what you could even use a 90db attenuating cable for.

 

[beer]

Originally posted by: jonnyGURU
I doubt it's the same cable. BECAUSE this one does mention the attenuation and even with the LINE OUT and LINE IN levels cranked ALL THE WAY UP, you still can't hear anything.

I guess I'll just go back and exchange the cable tonight.

I didn't claim they were the same cable - the cable you bought might be for some very special purpose system, I dunno. A miniplug-miniplug cord that is used for 'normal' purposes won't have an attenuation specified.

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: KingNothing
I'd still like to know what you could even use a 90db attenuating cable for.

Reduce output power without modifying the source.

Viper GTS

 

[KingNothing]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: KingNothing
I'd still like to know what you could even use a 90db attenuating cable for.

Reduce output power without modifying the source.

Viper GTS

Obviously, yes, that is what an attenuating cable does. But WHY would you want to do that?

 

[jonnyGURU]

Originally posted by: beer

I didn't claim they were the same cable...

It sounded like you were saying they were the same.

Originally posted by: beer

When I got my miniplug-miniplug cable, the same one you have....

I went back there just a few minutes ago and found the basic 1/8th to 1/8th. I get to try it tomorrow. What do you bet I'll start actually HEARING the music over the phones once it's installed.