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Pump up the volume!

 
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JD
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Joined: Dec 28, 2003
Posts: 8
Location: Derby

PostPosted: Wed Dec 31, 2003 1:18 am    Post subject: Pump up the volume! Reply with quote

Anyone got any ideas how to increase the volume of instructions in TT2? My iPAQ 5550 is on max volume (as is TT).

I used to have TT1 and seem to recall there being two versions of the .wav files, one being louder than the other. Even with the car radio on at normal volume I struggle to hear the instructions from TT.

thanks

Jon

PS No I'm not deaf.....I said NO I'M NOT DEAF :D
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Dave
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Joined: Sep 10, 2003
Posts: 6460
Location: UK

PostPosted: Wed Dec 31, 2003 8:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

There were, but from what I recall it was a download on TomTom's website.

You can make the WAV files louder, if you dock the PPC in the cradle, explorer via ActiveSync and copy the WAV files to a backup area on your hard disk (just in case you screw them up) Laughing

Make another copy of these to a temp directory and open them up in Sound Recorded (comes in START | PROGRAMS | ACCESSORIES | ENTERTAINMENT on the PC.

Play the WAV to make sure it's working, and there's an increase volumne option on the menu. If you do this a few times, you can increase the loudness, however you may find that it starts to distort more.

The other alternative is to buy a powered speaker / mount which you can play audio through when you are in-car, or use a tape converter or FM modulator to get it coming through the car stereo.
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JD
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Joined: Dec 28, 2003
Posts: 8
Location: Derby

PostPosted: Wed Dec 31, 2003 2:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

mmmm....there is more than one way to skin a cat...or that is what I thought. I found a copy of the old voices from TT1, backed up the new voices from the iPAC, copied the old ones on (there are the same number of voices on each system) and thought I would be fixed. Wrong!

With exactly the same voice files on my old iPAQ 3850 and the new 5550, the difference is astonishing. The old one is much louder than the new. Volume is set to max on both systems, I've tried them each with and without jackets and the new one is just too quiet.

I've edited the files using XP's own sound recorder to try to increase the volume but this is pretty ineffective as the sound distorts too much. Thanks for the idea though Dave.

I guess there is no way to increase the system volume other than using the iPAC Settings?

Whilst I would not want to take any pressure off TomTom to deliver louder voices (the old louder ones are a miniscule improvement on the new ones) perhaps the pressure is on HP and their lousy volume on the iPAC 5550.

Back to plan b, c, d or wherever I'm up to, get an amplified holder!

If anyone wants the louder voices by the way (they are great on the 3850) you can email me at

daveyj66"get rid of this bit"@hotmail.com (i'm trying to avoid spam)

Or I could email them to a moderator for download on the site?

Regards

J
Evil or Very Mad
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Darren
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Joined: 11/07/2002 14:36:40
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Location: Hampshire, UK

PostPosted: Wed Dec 31, 2003 2:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It's more HP's fault than TomTom's. TTN2 has the loudest and clearest voice of any software I have tested. The trouble is that since the 3xxx series the speaker output has been decreasing Sad The 54xx & 55xx were the worst with a msierably low output but my 2210 whilst Ok is not as loud as my 3630 was.

Your best option is an amplified mount such as the Seidio or some external battery powered speakers such as the Creative ones.
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DavidW
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Joined: 17/05/2003 02:26:21
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Location: Bedfordshire, UK

PostPosted: Wed Dec 31, 2003 8:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

There are more sophisticated ways of making WAV files louder; I recently processed a set used in CheckPOInt for another forum member using Adobe Audition, which is a fairly expensive audio package that's worthy of at least a semi-professional tag. It is used for a fair amount of professional work, too.

Simple sound editing packages will just allow you to increase the overall amplitude. More sophisticated packages allow you to amplify without causing clipping - in essence you squash the dynamic range of the voice.


I've got the "Jane" voice on my iPAQ 3970 based setup. Looking at a couple of the WAV files in Audition, they're already pretty well optimised; I tried the Hard Limiting filter on them, and it didn't make much difference to how they sounded on the PC.

The alternate voices are on the TomTom web site here. The louder version of the original voice is on the Navigator 2 CD - at least it was on mine, though whether it's been removed in later pressings, I don't know.


I believe it was Darren that said he was experimenting with some of the QuBiT products. I wait with interest to see how these turn out; though my 3970 is louder than a 5550 or equivalent, I may upgrade in the future, and I'm interested in this sort of product anyway for improving the usability of the navigation system when my car stereo is on.



David
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BrianA
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Joined: Nov 22, 2003
Posts: 91
Location: Washington, UK

PostPosted: Thu Jan 01, 2004 5:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

FWIW, using TTN2 on my XDA II the volume is quite loud enough. (The XDAII appears to have a bigger speaker than the original XDA).
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(was a happy PDA user until TT stopped updating the software)
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JD
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Joined: Dec 28, 2003
Posts: 8
Location: Derby

PostPosted: Thu Jan 01, 2004 9:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

OK I found the louder voices they are on the TT2 CD, I just never looked!

BUT they are still too quiet! I am not deaf but this 5550 speaker is just rubbish for Sat Nav with TT2. I'm now investigating powered speakered mounts and wiring to the car Hi-Fi system! I'm looking at those already suggested and doing some searching but if anyone has any personal recommendations feel free to advise me.

Thanks all

Jonathan

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Tissy
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Joined: Dec 27, 2003
Posts: 7

PostPosted: Sun Jan 04, 2004 1:00 am    Post subject: Poor Speaker Reply with quote

I have the same iPaq and have bought an FM transmitter. If you are not aware of what this is, its a very small box with a lead that plugs into your iPaq audio socket. Using select switch, you choose one of 7 frequencies. You then tune your car stereo to this selected frequency and whatever the iPaq anounces is given over your car stereo system. Very effective and relatively cheap.

I bought mine on eBay, brand new for £20. Here is a link to what i am talking about.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3068715143&category=48451

Certainly a good option in my book and of course it is transferable from vehicle to vehicle as it doesn't have to be hard-wired in.

Cheers and good luck,

Steve
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DavidW
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 04, 2004 2:24 am    Post subject: Re: Poor Speaker Reply with quote

Tissy wrote:
I have the same iPaq and have bought an FM transmitter

We've discussed those before in a thread that's now apparently disappeared from the forums. The conclusion is that they are not legal to use in the UK; they're treated as an unlicensed radio transmitter, and it is not possible to license them either.

Take a look at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3115345.stm for more details.



David
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Tissy
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Joined: Dec 27, 2003
Posts: 7

PostPosted: Tue Jan 06, 2004 1:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well i never, thanks for pointing that out. Such a small and simple device....better not get caught using it then Confused
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JD
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Joined: Dec 28, 2003
Posts: 8
Location: Derby

PostPosted: Mon Feb 02, 2004 11:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Just to bring this thread up-to-date. I bought an Arkon powered mount with a built in speaker......Utter rubbish, I can't stress highly enough that it is useless, no louder than the dismal speaker on the 5550, please do not waste your money. My search goes on! Evil or Very Mad Evil or Very Mad Evil or Very Mad

PS I'm not deaf, honest!
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Tissy
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Joined: Dec 27, 2003
Posts: 7

PostPosted: Mon Feb 02, 2004 11:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Can't remember if i asked, what make of car stereo do you have??

I've now completed my fitting and very pleased i am too.

Steve
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squarebanana
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Joined: Feb 23, 2004
Posts: 7

PostPosted: Sat Mar 06, 2004 9:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

one of the mates has an ipaq 5000 series with bluetooth fitted he also has a bluetooth car kit for his p800 ericcson his ipaq connects to that when he uses the routefinder in tomtom2 dont nkow what happens to the phone though if it goes off, ill have to ask him, although he did say it was worth getting a headset for the phone, so the carkit could just be used with the ipaq, i personally have an xda1 and the speaker is quite loud enough to hear,
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SteveGill
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Joined: Feb 28, 2004
Posts: 4
Location: Scotland

PostPosted: Sat Mar 06, 2004 11:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

JD wrote:
Just to bring this thread up-to-date. I bought an Arkon powered mount with a built in speaker......Utter rubbish, I can't stress highly enough that it is useless, no louder than the dismal speaker on the 5550, please do not waste your money. My search goes on! Evil or Very Mad Evil or Very Mad Evil or Very Mad

PS I'm not deaf, honest!


I had this same problem and tried the audio lead the other way round - and it worked!! Sound was a *lot* clearer.
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hmalan
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Joined: Mar 10, 2004
Posts: 70
Location: Doncaster, South Yorkshire

PostPosted: Thu Mar 11, 2004 12:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

With regard to the FM modulator my kids were complaining about the in car DVD player not being loud enough and I also saw these wireless modulators on e bay. Contacted the company who were out of stock so I visited a local car hifi specialist who advised me that he did not stock the wireless versions as these were illegal but could sell me a wired version. This requires a 12 volt power supply, a wire connection to whatever you want to amplify the sound from and connecting into your car aerial lead. It works excellent and would not require to much work to connect up the pocket PC though unlike the wireless version would not be movable between differant vehicles

Hope this helps

Alan Thumbs Up
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