Gentex helmet use with PC

[PunchOut]

So I have a Gentex SPH-5 helmet and was wondering if there was any way to use it with standard PC earphone/microphone plugs.

Has anyone on here done this?

Thanks.

[feefifofum]

Hey Punchout.

 

Audio engineer here.

 

If you aren't afraid of a little soldering, it should be possible to make this happen.

 

Your helmet likely has two mil spec patch cables? One for mic, one for headset?

 

If you're very lucky, both sides of the cable can be removed and you'll just need an adapter.

 

More likely, the cable is hard wired into the helmet and you're just working with single ends. If this is the case, you'll need to chop the ends off the cable and rewire them in to the standard 1/8" connection on your PC's sound card/motherboard.

 

If this doesn't sound too terrifying I can elaborate, but also not knowing the pin and power configuration of your helmet means I am much more likely to make a mistake. :P

 

If your helmet speaker system is expecting to receive power through the same line as signal, for example, that's going to screw the pooch and pretty much eliminate the speakers as an option without building something crazy to simulate the power supply it is expecting to see.

[Sabre-TLA]

Try this link: http://www.flightsim.com/vbfs/content.php?1985-How-ToAdapt-Aviation-Headsets-To-Computers

[feefifofum]

Nice, Sabre!

 

Should've figured someone already did this, with all the mad scientists in this community. :lol:

[Backy 51]

Some other gear you may be interested in for your project:

 

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/pspages/flightsoundx.php

 

http://www.mypilotstore.com/MyPilotStore/secp/120

[PunchOut]

thanks guys. that flight sound x seems to be exactly what im looking for

[Lobinjaevel]

I recently bought the Flight sound X-M, definietly worth it!

Remember to buy the right version tho.

 

Fantastic customer service, very service minded and can do some custom work if you need that.

 

Can highly recommend them!

http://www.flightsounds.com/products

[Weltensegler]

Mine is an HGU 55 from an F18 use but the connector from oxygenmask and boom looks more like a helicopter connector...this one big one with 3 or more rings.

I think I saw a tutorial for an adapter and amplifier to PC once but can't find it anymore.

If anyone knows where to buy one please let me know.

Thank you in advance!

 

EDIT: actually on the page you linked above...this one looks like it could be the one.

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/pspages/flightsoundxh.php

 

Expensive to be wrong but I think I give it a shot :)

Edited July 14, 2015 by Weltensegler

[todd022]

Let's see a pic of that helmet!

[flyer49]

Hey Puchout and Lobinjael, I have my Gentex SPH-4 from my Army days and would like to use it while flying my DCS Huey, but I don't want to alter or damage this priceless keepsake so please keep us (i.e. me) updated on your progress. If you find that it works, I will give it a shot...thank in advance for your continued reviews...

[CharlesEnnis]

Wow, that sure is a crazy idea!

[Mike5560]

I will definetely get into this. I have a gentex and would like to change the audio input is going to the ear speakers and flight sounds to the PC speakers.

[Weltensegler]

I might need to open a new thread for this but did anybody find a circuit plan or something to build an adapter for a military headset plug?

I need to get this (U-174/U):

http://www.flightgear.dk/pic/plug.jpg

...into my PC but analog and not via USB.

Since this is low impedance I probably need some capacitors and a battery etc.

I could swear I once found a tutorial similar to that for aviation headset to PC but I can't find it anymore.

 

Thank you in advance!

 

WELD

Edited September 16, 2015 by Weltensegler

[streakeagle]

I am not having much luck with finding the specs, but using off the shelf products requires two steps:

 

1. an impedance adapter that goes from military to general aviation. This not only changes the signal from low to high impedance, but goes from U-174/U to two standard GA plugs (mic and headset). Something like this: http://www.mypilotstore.com/mypilotstore/sep/1979

 

2. General aviation to PC adapter. This includes a powered amplifier to bridge GA to PC as well as necessary PC jacks. Something like this: http://www.mypilotstore.com/mypilotstore/sep/3334

 

Perhaps with more a bit more thorough searching, I could find the specs and/or plans needed to build a direct U-174/U to PC adapter with amplifier and no GA middle man product, but no luck so far.

[streakeagle]

The Flight Sound X-H U-174/U USB device seemed to be the best way to go for quality, but appears to be no longer available: https://www.flightsounds.com/fsx-h?quicktabs_2=1#quicktabs-2

 

However the regular GA version is on eBay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Flight-Sound-X-General-Aviation-Headset-to-PC-USB-Adapter-for-Simulator-Skype-/141226820478?hash=item20e1c6437e&vxp=mtr

 

The general consensus online is that the USB GA 2-jack adapter type is superior to plugging in to a sound card. One advantage is that communications can be isolated (think teamspeak) and sent to/from the headset while all other sound goes to the speakers. Obviously, this is of no advantage if you want/need to send all of the sound to the headset.

Edited September 17, 2015 by streakeagle

[streakeagle]

I did find a page with some decent specs :) http://www.acousticom.com/2015/aviation-headset-information-specs/

 

This includes a discussion of the problems of adapting GA to PC and a diagram for a MIC amp to work with GA. Could be a good starting point. http://www.flightsim.com/vbfs/content.php?1985-How-ToAdapt-Aviation-Headsets-To-Computers

 

It seems that PC headsets use approx 32 ohm speakers while military use 19 ohm while GA uses 300 ohm. Perhaps the 32 and 19 are close enough for a functional direct connection?

 

I see no other devices for going straight from U-174/U to PC jacks, but here are several for bridging from General Aviation to PC: http://www.aircraftspruce.com/menus/ps/head_adapters_pc.html

 

I am assuming that since they are for GA, that they need the U-174/U plug with low impedance-to- GA jacks with high impedance adapter already mentioned above.

 

But perhaps a simple Y cable from U-174/U plug to GA jacks would be enough? http://www.mypilotstore.com/mypilotstore/sep/1251

 

You could try buying a the U-174/U to GA Y-cable, then cut off the GA jacks and splice them into cables that have PC 3.5 mm jacks.

That would be the absolute cheapest option if no amplification/impedance matching is needed.

 

No splicing necessary, combine the Y-cable with a couple of these babies: http://www.flighthelmet.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=FHL&Product_Code=AVPT-3002&Category_Code=EACC

They also sell the Y-cable: http://www.flighthelmet.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=FHL&Product_Code=AVPT-00051&Category_Code=EACC

 

Of course, if that is just a conventional 1/4-inch to 1/8-inch adapter, Amazon for the win: http://www.amazon.com/Generic-Inch-Stereo-3-5Mm-Adapter/dp/B001JYTM96

Amazon has Y-cable, too: http://www.amazon.com/Helicopter-Standard-mic-phone-Adapter/dp/B003VS6XLS/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1442451345&sr=1-2-fkmr1&keywords=U-174%2Fu+to+general+aviation+1%2F4-inch

Edited September 17, 2015 by streakeagle

[Weltensegler]

Thank you very very much for your efforts! I might still need it for a mixed solution.

However I did find the source I was looking for!

Still have to read it and check if its converting the low imp correctly but thats the closest I will find I guess.

http://www.flightgear.dk/adapterpc.htm

[Weltensegler]

I did find a page with some decent specs :) http://www.acousticom.com/2015/aviation-headset-information-specs/

 

This includes a discussion of the problems of adapting GA to PC and a diagram for a MIC amp to work with GA. Could be a good starting point. http://www.flightsim.com/vbfs/content.php?1985-How-ToAdapt-Aviation-Headsets-To-Computers

 

It seems that PC headsets use approx 32 ohm speakers while military use 19 ohm while GA uses 300 ohm. Perhaps the 32 and 19 are close enough for a functional direct connection?

 

I see no other devices for going straight from U-174/U to PC jacks, but here are several for bridging from General Aviation to PC: http://www.aircraftspruce.com/menus/ps/head_adapters_pc.html

 

I am assuming that since they are for GA, that they need the U-174/U plug with low impedance-to- GA jacks with high impedance adapter already mentioned above.

 

But perhaps a simple Y cable from U-174/U plug to GA jacks would be enough? http://www.mypilotstore.com/mypilotstore/sep/1251

 

You could try buying a the U-174/U to GA Y-cable, then cut off the GA jacks and splice them into cables that have PC 3.5 mm jacks.

That would be the absolute cheapest option if no amplification/impedance matching is needed.

 

No splicing necessary, combine the Y-cable with a couple of these babies: http://www.flighthelmet.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=FHL&Product_Code=AVPT-3002&Category_Code=EACC

They also sell the Y-cable: http://www.flighthelmet.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=FHL&Product_Code=AVPT-00051&Category_Code=EACC

 

Of course, if that is just a conventional 1/4-inch to 1/8-inch adapter, Amazon for the win: http://www.amazon.com/Generic-Inch-Stereo-3-5Mm-Adapter/dp/B001JYTM96

Amazon has Y-cable, too: http://www.amazon.com/Helicopter-Standard-mic-phone-Adapter/dp/B003VS6XLS/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1442451345&sr=1-2-fkmr1&keywords=U-174%2Fu+to+general+aviation+1%2F4-inch

 

Thank you! Yes I thought about that but I read some experiences that the sound is bad or volume very low and or bad mic quality so I think I go the way with an amplifier and then just go for 3.5 jack instead of the bigger ones as used in the tutorial and general aviation solutions.

Surprised they do offer an adapter without amplifier if there are problems.

Maybe I try that first before I go the "complicated" way.

 

Still not sure how satisfied I will be with the sound quality of a flight sim in the helmet. I assume its terrible :)

[streakeagle]

In general, the feel I got from reading is that with the right setup, the sound would be pretty good. However, it is the mic that is the bad part, even if you get it electrically correct.

 

An alternative is to gut the helmet's speakers/mic and slap in commercial off-the-shelf components as best as you can while maintaining the original cables and appearance. Then the simple Y adapter will be guaranteed to work perfectly.

[Weltensegler]

:) I agree but the thought of ripping apart a HGU55 helmet...hurts

and the rigged mic boom and mic in oxygen mask...