beeping from headset jacks?
 

I noticed on both of my CO flights yesterday (EWR-SEA on a 737-800 and SEA-ANC on a 757-300) that when I plugged my headphones into the seat jack there was a constant beeping kind of sound coming from the jack. If you turned up the volume loud enough it would drown it out, but since I had noise-cancelling earbuds I couldn't turn the volume up that high without it being painfully loud. I tried it with and without my airline adapter, and I didn't have anything like that happen when I used my headphones with my iPod or on my DL flight last week. Does anything know anything about this?

I heard the same through my Bose QC3's on CO 15 EWR-HNL yesterday! (767-400)

Bizarre.

On a somewhat different note....what's up with the headsets never working properly?

It seems like every other flight with entertainment I'm on, be it Y or F, the headsets don't work properly.

What gives...haha.

The beep is apparently an artifact of the Hi-8 system that they use for the tapes. It doesn't happen on any of the newer digital systems.

I've noticed that too with my Shure earbuds, I have to keep it turned down as low as possible but then the beeping is way too annoying...I gave up watching the movies.

I flew CO TPA-IAH-SMF last week, and had this problem using my Shure noise isolation headphones, but I was able to solve it. On a Delta flight a few weeks ago, I was listening to music on the AVOD screens on a 757 Transcon, and with the high-quality headphones, I couldn't turn the volume down low enough to not be too loud. So I went to Radio Shack and bought a volume control device (just $5) that I can connect to my headphones. It works like a charm and is very small and light.

So on the CO 737-900, I just turned the plane's volume all the way up to where the beeping was non-existent or barely noticeable, then turned the volume down with my new volume control. Problem solved.

-Michael

Those beeps are actually interstellar alien communications, usually only picked up via baby monitors. I recommend you have a baseball bat and several glasses of water handy.

M. Night RNE

Qc3
 

Ugh, I seem to get the beeping all the time, no matter the IFE system with my Bose QC3s. Just last week, LHR-BWI on BA, new AVOD, bad beeping :(

Steven

Hear them all the time on CO's 737-800/900 fleet. It's been a while since I've flown a 737-300 with IFE to remember if they do it also. I notice it with my Bose headphones as well as my iPod earbuds. Because a lower volume is used on the QC2's, it is more noticeable.

I hear this too. The folks at the Bose store thought I was crazy when I complained that their headphones don't offer enough attenuation as the lowest setting is often still too loud on some aircraft. I'm glad to hear I am not the only one who has this problem.

Copyright Protection
 

I once complained about the beeping and was told that it is part of the anti piracy tools to prevent someone from taking the movie and making unauthorized copied. I guess people are clamoring for a copy of Ms. Potter.;)

LC

I too tlked the Bose folks and they thought I was crazy [perhaps a corporate culture thing]. I solved it by taking one ear bud off [from my Shure's] and hte beeping actually occurs in only one side. Try it , though kinda hard to do with the Bose though without looking dorky But if you can stand having only one side on it works

My problem is that the softest setting is too loud, and at that setting I hear the beeps. Perhaps I need the attenuator referred to above. Just another thing to lose, eh? :p

Yup, on my overseas trip, I carry the 2-prong airline adapter, an inline attenuator, plus a 1/4" plug adapter (just in case I had to fly on another airline).

And since last time I can get power using a UK-plug on CO's new 772 but not a US-plug, I'll need to carry one of those too, even if I'm not going to UK or Hong Kong.

Lots of stuff to leave behind on the plane and elsewhere, that's for sure!

I dont have QC3s but on my Bose QC2 when the volume is too loud or soft I remove the headphone cord module from the headset and change the settings on it from hi to low or vice versa depending on the problem. Anyone try that?