Radio Shack SPL meter broken?

[hybris]

my radioshack spl meter (analog) has suddenly started acting weird. When nothing is connected to it it measures correctly, but when I attach the output to the mic on my laptop (I've tried two different laptops), the meter maxes out, seems like it's getting some kind of feed through the cable that makes the meter go bananas..

Anyone ever experienced this or has any idea what might I have happened?

Thanks

[brucek]

the meter maxes out, seems like it's getting some kind of feed through the cable that makes the meter go bananas..

Since it's a laptop, I suspect you're using the mic-in port (which is not suitable for REW measurements), or a mic/line-in port.

Most computer mic-in ports supply a small DC voltage to operate the cheap computer mics that are available.

You usually require an external USB soundcard for REW when using a laptop.

brucek

[hybris]

brucek wrote:

Since it's a laptop, I suspect you're using the mic-in port (which is not suitable for REW measurements), or a mic/line-in port.

Most computer mic-in ports supply a small DC voltage to operate the cheap computer mics that are available.

You usually require an external USB soundcard for REW when using a laptop.

brucek

Haha - you're the best! That makes sense, the last time I used the meter I used an external USB soundcard. But I found a setting on my laptop where I could choose wether the mic input should act as a mic or line in. When I choose line in the problem goes away!

Thanks a bunch!

[wadesi]

hybris,
What model is your internal sound card? Other peopel that may have it or a similar model could look for the line in/Mic option...