[Ham-Mac] Griffin iMic

[Dick Kriss, AA5VU]

Bill and others, 

Heads up to Kenwood TS-570 users on the iMic. I use the Griffin iMic for
sound out of the G4 only.  It was totally useless for sound into the G4 due
to a gross impedance mismatch with the audio output from my Kenwood TS-570.

I don't know about other Kenwood rigs; however,  the fine print in the
TS-570 user manual says Pin 3 ANO (from the ACC2 port) has an output
impedance of 4.7 ohm and God only knows the input impedance of the Griffin
iMic.  Griffin's tech staff talks in music audio standards and were not
prepared to address data.  The bottom line is the iMic acted like a signal
attenuator and little on no audio made it from the TS-570 to the G4.  Yes, I
know the iMic is an A-to-D converter but it acted like an attenuator due to
the impedance mismatch.  I finally just ran a standard stereo jumper from
the SignaLink SL-1+ interface box to the G4 sound input and it works FB.
Sorry to hear the new Mini does not have sound input . BTW, I still have the
iMic in line and use it for the transmit side. It works great with the
SignaLink SL-1's auto PTT feature. The iMic uses the USB port and this lets
me retain the internal Mac speaker for standard system beeps and Mac stuff.
If you plug something into the G4's sound output jack it mutes the internal
speaker. I tried running external powered speakers via a Y-connector but
found the Mac system beeps to be QRM generators.  The iMic solved all kinds
of issues on the transmit side. I wish it would work on the input side.

Heads up if you have a Kenwood rig before spending money on an iMic.

73 de Dick, AA5VU


On 3/1/05 2:10 PM, "William Mahaffey" <w6eet at cox.net> wrote:

> http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/imic/
> 
> The mini has sound out but no sound in.
> The above should give you what you want,
> although I have never used it.
> 
> Any additional questions just ask, directly if you wish.
> 
> Have fun,
> Bill Mahaffey w6eet