[mwh98]

Here is what I've learned.

ESCORT/PASSPORT
Customer Service Rep was a JOKER! Would not provide their name, only stating we do not sell or service those units, go back top your installer for info (I installed the unit!) Did mangahe to get a Tech on the phone who was great! Audio out plug is the standard "mono earbud jack" that one innexpensive sport radios use. Two wires, one is the audio signal, the other is 9vdc+ (I don't understand how two wires can carry both 9vdc and the audio signal, unless the audio signal was 9vdc, but the Tech as Escort clearly sepreated the two). To close, he did not know how I could get this to work. They do have a "Ground Loop Isolator" for sale on their website, made to interface with a motorcycle intercom system. When I inquired if this would work (similar situation) he said it might. Add this to my cart for $24.99. But this will not work to fix your issue to generate a "Mute" signal for the HU.

BECKER
No Tech reply, but spoke to a sales dude, who seemed to think the "mute" function (A3) was toggled when grounded, thus killing the music. He did sell me a harness that has the plastic connector, C with audio terminals 13 (red +) and 14 (black -) and the wire for the mute connection to connector A 3 for $25.00 including S&H.

The HU is enabled by holding the arrow down button for 8 seconds, change Tel to "on", wich may necessitate tuning up or down to access the Tel mode. The turn HU off. This kit will also allow for am ipod or other source with the harness.

MUTE SIGNAL GENERATOR
Audio stores sell "Low Voltage Trigger" for $10.00 to $20.00. This relay works like your amp on/anntenna turn on lead on the back of your HU. It is hooked to the + side of a speaker and when it senses vdc, it flips a relay to apply 12vdc+ to the line out. It requires very little power to trip the relay on the speaker side ( less that 1 vdc). It is used as a remote amp turn on signal ( i.e. HU is turned on, LVT senses vdc from speaker and trips relay to turn amp on). I think the same principle would work for my needs by adding another relay that takes the 12vdc+ out of the LVT and uses it to trigger the extra relay that would ground out the path and thus trigger the "mute" on the HU.

So here is the path:

SR7 to Ground Loop Isolator
GLI to Becker wire harness C (center terminal to red, outer termianl to black)
Mute wire from Becker A3 to blue wire in LVT
LVT green wire to speaker + (red wire in Becker harness above)

Should work right??

The only drawback I can see is the processing time. The LVT takes a second to sense the speaker voltage, another partial second to toggle the second relay, and the fade out of the mute. By then, I'm in good range for the radar signal to ID me. Second, since the radar detector may go off and on several times before getting a solid signal, the music will be fading in and out in an annoying fashion.

Any EEs out there????


Mark
2001 Seal Gray 986
SAn Antonio, Texas