I'm sure this has been in a prior thread, but I would like to know what people are doing to boost the volume level of announcements on their laptops. I have to really listen for mine, even with the volume maxed out.

Anybody using an FM transmitter to run it through the car stereo?

What other solutions do you know of?

Thanks!

Two solutions i have used:

1- When driving alone, connect the laptop audio output to car stereo linein using an audio cable. This is very effective (if your car stereo does not have linein audio, you may use a fm transmitter).

2- Connect a single ear headphone to your laptop and put it on your head. This solution is very usefull when driving with a family that want to listen to car audio or dvd player. This allow the driver to ear the driving instructions only without bothering the whole family. I have used this solution many time for long trip travelling... And by using S&T Keys 2009, some function like "mouse remote" may help controling the voice instructions if you cannot have your laptop near enough to control the <spacebar> key...

3- Using an external pair of mini speakers connected to your laptop can help also because generally laptop audio is very weak level. But this is not my favorite solution because you will have speakers somewhere on the floor? Using car audio which is already there is louder and better...

Thanks so much for the good info... I have been doing some research... One option is a software amplifier program... They do exist... The one I have seen is shareware and $20 if you keep it... I have been looking for a freeware version... I like the line-in option for the radio. I have a 1996 Honda Accord... I will have to research to see if it has a line-in somewhere... Thank you for your help...

A really cheap way if your car radio has a cassette slot is a Car Cassette Adapter. I can't vouch for the effectiveness, however.

Great suggestion! And, great minds think alike... I was just at K-Mart looking at this... And, even though it is really old technology, they still have two models... Best price was $10... I will keep this in the mix of options... Thanks!

Old guys use old technology.

Naw, even young guys use old technology.

2 + 2 still equals 4 last time I looked and everyone's still using it.

It's just that us old guys have learned that just because it's new doesn't mean it's better and just because it's old doesn't mean it's no longer useful.

...ken...

I was having this problem on an Asus netbook, could not hear any of the announcement from mobile pc, streets or delorme all using microsoft speech. I first updated the bios and then updated the drivers for realtech audio and it is working much better. I do not have to keep the volume at its highest point.

don

Thank you for all your wonderful help. And, if anyone found offense regarding "old technology", I apologize. Remembering that particular gizmo just made me feel a bit nostalgic... 'cause I was way past my own youth when it first came out... See, I was around for 78's & 45's.

was meant to be self-deprecating humor, lame as it was.

Hey guys, I'm pretty sure everyone got the kidding around part. We're pretty easy going around here and most of us old phartes get it.

...ken...

I have found the cassette adapter at Family Dollar for just $5. I am also considering this USB FM transmitter. As I am interested in using the voice navigation instructions generated by S&T 2008 (as opposed to music sourced from the CD player), I am wondering if it will find the voice instructions to transmit them. Does all sound come from the same sound card in the laptop?

Thanks, again; you guys are great source of info!

I don't think it will do what you want unless you play the CD on your laptop, rather than the in-dash car stereo. That is because the audio will be coming through from your el-cheapo cassette adapter and the car radio will think it is a cassette or, if you go the expensive FM route, the car radio will think it is another station on the FM band that you have tuned into. It won't be able to switch from the CD as the audio source to the cassette or FM because the car radio won't be smart enough to detect the driving direction.

BUT if you play your CD on your laptop S&T 2010 will give the driving directions priority and mute the CD music while the directions are read to you. At least, this is what I believe based on what I have read about 2010.

What I am planning to do is to play music from my hard disk (copied from CDs) through Windows Media Player. I can't explain why I haven't done this yet.

Yeah, either should work just fine.

The cassette adapter will be plugging into the headphone/speaker jack so it will catch everything that would otherwise go out the speakers. So it will be fine.

The USB Rocket thingy should also work fine. Regardless whether it's grabbing everything produced by the sound chip or everything going out the speakers, in your laptop that amounts to exactly the same thing (yes, only one sound chip in it).

If you have any concerns about $8.99 out the window check their return policy. You should probably do that anyway, just in case you get something defective.

...ken...

I should mention my experience with the cassette adapter thing. I had one once. Used it for about ten minutes and threw it away. In order for the cassette deck to be able to position it properly it had empty wheels in it. Because there was no tape on them to tension or dampen them they rattled enough to be a real annoyance.

If I recall correctly it also had two cords: One to connect to the sound source and one for power.

The USB thing might power itself off the USB port (check and be sure) which would mean one less cord to get yourself tangled up in.

...ken...