Trying to Get T23 To Switch To External Speakers When Docked

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jamiphar · #1 Post by **jamiphar** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 5:59 pm

Hey all. I just got a docking station (Type 2631) for my T23 today, and I was just trying out all of the new conveniences.
I have a pair of sweet homemade speakers that I hook the laptop up to when it's at my desk, so I have that hooked up to the docking station now.
The problem is that the laptop's speakers don't turn off like they do when I have the 1/8" plug attached directly to the laptop, so the laptop speakers will play while the external speakers are also playing.

How would I change this so that it will only use the external speakers when docked?

jamiphar · #2 Post by **jamiphar** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 2:06 am

Would anybody know how to solve this problem?

#3 Post by **rkawakami** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 2:58 am

I would guess that the easiest solution would be to plug a set of headphones into the jack on the left side of the laptop. If you get one that has an inline volume control then you can dial the headphone down so you don't hear it. As far as I know, there isn't a way to automatically cutoff the laptop's speakers when you place the laptop into the port replicator/docking station.

jamiphar · #4 Post by **jamiphar** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 9:11 am

Yeah, I've been plugging in one side of an 1/8" to 1/8" wire as a temporary (hopefully) fix.

I would've thought that the audio port on the dock would be a pass-through for the T23, which it probably is, but maybe it isn't the kind of jack that disconnects the the speakers once something is plugged into it.

If the signal from the computer's amplifier routes through the dock's jack first and then to the laptop jack, I could probably put a different jack on the dock that would interrupt the signal's path to the laptop jack when something is plugged in.

Purcy · #5 Post by **Purcy** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 3:56 pm

I also have a port replicator with a audio out which I use for my big speakers and like you the laptop speakers also play. I have since started running the speakers cable up alongside the laptop and just plugging it into the headphone jack, as that will cut off the laptop speakers. I want to do a test however, and put my laptop back onto the replicator and plug those speakers back into that; if you open the Master Volume Control, there is an option "Mute PC speakers" I want to try, to see if it cuts off the laptop speakers and leaves my big speakers coming through the port replicator.

#6 Post by **rkawakami** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 4:14 pm

My guess would be that the normal way headphone jacks are designed to cut off the speakers when a plug is inserted, the Thinkpad is using the same "switch" inside the jack to disable the laptop's speakers. The Mute function that Purcy mentioned may do the trick, but then it's not an automatic solution is it?

While your description of the cable you are using, "1/8 to 1/8" implies that you do not have any actual "speakers" being used, it's probably okay to do this with the small signal drive from a laptop. Most of the time it is not recommended that you have an audio amplifier running without some kind of "load" connected.

jamiphar · #7 Post by **jamiphar** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 7:44 pm

Purcy, I don't seem to have the same option you do. Maybe I have a different driver?

rkawakami wrote:While your description of the cable you are using, "1/8 to 1/8" implies that you do not have any actual "speakers" being used, it's probably okay to do this with the small signal drive from a laptop. Most of the time it is not recommended that you have an audio amplifier running without some kind of "load" connected.

I figured that all I'm doing with the wire is "flipping the switch" mechanically, I didn't think about it not being a good idea without a load on it.

Purcy · #8 Post by **Purcy** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 8:25 pm

are you running XP? I'm speaking of right clicking the little speaker icon on your startup tray (lower right corner) that is strange the you don't have that option.

jamiphar · #9 Post by **jamiphar** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 8:46 pm

Purcy wrote:are you running XP? I'm speaking of right clicking the little speaker icon on your startup tray (lower right corner) that is strange the you don't have that option.

Yes, I'm running XP Pro. When I goes to the Master Volume window, I see controls for Master Volume, Wave, SW Synth, CD Player, Microphone, Line In, and Aux.

Purcy · #10 Post by **Purcy** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 11:15 pm

I just checked and I have Microsoft Master Volume vers 5.1 (XP serv pack 2) and I have Master Volume, Wave, CD Player, Line In, Video, PC Speaker and Synthesizer.

jamiphar · #11 Post by **jamiphar** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 12:29 am

I have version 5.1 and SP2 as well. And I have the sound properties set to show all of the controls. Do have any additional audio hardware other than what's built into the laptop?

Purcy · #12 Post by **Purcy** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 10:11 am

Hey I found something, open up your Volume Control icon and click Options, then Properties; at the bottom of that screen is "Show the following volume controls" and there are about 10 things to control sound for, one of them is PC Speakers - check that.

jamiphar · #13 Post by **jamiphar** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 10:15 am

Yeah, I know what you're talking about. But I already have all of them selected and there's not one for PC Speakers.

Andersonjoe711 · #14 Post by **Andersonjoe711** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 1:28 am

I too am looking for a solution to this problem, and my desktop has the ability to mute Pc speakers, but not on my T23.....

Dummvogel · #15 Post by **Dummvogel** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 7:05 pm

Turn down the volume of the internal speakers. Either via the integrated buttons, or when the lid is closed via the keyboard-customizer. Just set it to use eg the right CTRL and the Cursor keys for volume. I used that for years

Andersonjoe711 · #16 Post by **Andersonjoe711** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 1:31 am

why didn't I think of that?

Trying to Get T23 To Switch To External Speakers When Docked

Trying to Get T23 To Switch To External Speakers When Docked

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