Question: The sound volume from the PC Speaker is low. Can the computer sound system and external speakers be used?

Background

"The Mill"  is written in QBasic, which is a DOS programming language that does not support the Sound System that drives the external speakers. The audio output from the PC Speaker  of some late model computers has poor quality and a low volume.  Newer computers have  the sound system integrated into the motherboard, and instead of a PC Speaker, there is a small piezo-electric device mounted on the motherboard.  Very few computers provide a means for sending the PC Speaker signal to the Sound System so that the external speakers can be used.   One user has reported that his Compaq computer, which has an integrated sound system, also has a patch for sending the PC Speaker signal to the sound system.

In the case of the Compaq computer, the patch for sending the PC Speaker signal to the sound system must be "turned on" and the PC Speaker volume control set as described below.  The patch works for both the Windows DOS Mode and the true DOS (MS-DOS) Mode.

This problem is growing because of the increasing number of users who have late model computers.  More information is needed, and the Author would appreciate receiving e-mail comments from users concerning this problem.  Where appropriate, the information will be placed on this page.  Please let me know the make and model of our computer and whether your computer's software provides a patch to send the PC Speaker signal to the Sound Board. Thank you very much.

If you have this problem, try this:

Open the Volume Control by double clicking on the yellow speaker icon (or perhaps a slider icon) located on the lower right hand corner of the computer screen. Select Options. Then select Properties, and a window will list all of the volume controls that can be enabled. If the PC Speaker is listed, check it. The Mixer Panel will then contain a volume control for the PC Speaker. Set it to mid scale.

If the above doesn't work, try this: Click on My Computer, then the C drive, and then the Windows folder. Locate the SNDVOL32.EXE icon. Click on the icon and a Mixer Panel will appear. Select Properties. If the PC Speaker is listed, do as described above.  If it works, you
may wish to place on the desktop a shortcut to the SNDVOL32.EXE file.

Other solutions:

If you find it difficult to use "The Mill" because of the above described PC Speaker  problem, there is another solution that would meet the requirements of most users.  Many Mill users make use of the serial port output and a simple driver to key a telegraph sounder. A diagram of the driver is  included in the program.   The same simple driver will operate a reed keying relay,  which can be used to key a code practice oscillator.  The oscillator's tone and volume would be set to suit the user.  The program's CW dialogue files would still provide all of the keying characteristics of the dialogue operators, but all of the operators would have the same CW tone.  When the serial port is being used, the simulated sounder can not be used.   When using this solution, American Morse users would have to use a telegraph sounder, which is best in any case.

One user reported that he had a sensitive relay that worked satisfactorily from the serial port output without a driver. He must have used a small diode connected between the serial port output  and the relay so that only the positive going signals were applied to the relay.

If you can find in your computer's documentation, or you can find by inspection of the computer's otherboard, some terminals or leads which you allow access to the PC Speaker signal, you can tap off this signal and send it to an amplified speaker.  Some users, including the author, have done this on older computers to get  much improved audio performance compared to the PC Speakers.  This solution is especially good when using the simulated sounder, as the volume can be turned up to a more realistic sound level.

---

END
Date last modified: 30 May 05

Press your Browser's BACK key to return...