AutoHybrid - Low-Cost Telephone Hybrid / Coupler
- Full Duplex Hybrid
- Auto-Answer / Disconnect
- Passive Design - No Power Required!
- XLR Send /Receive
- Remote Control Terminals
- Tough Aluminium Design
AutoHybrid gives you simultaneous send and receive audio through analog telephone lines. Not just another half duplex auto-coupler, this is a full duplex AutoHybrid.
Yes, you can send and receive audio at the same time. The dual transformer hybrid is capable of 20 dB nominal trans-hybrid loss. In other words, your transmit signal will appear mixed with the receive signal, but at a level 20 dB lower than it was sent into the phone line.
The "Auto" feature is very simple. When the "Auto" switch is selected, AutoHybrid will answer on the first ring. The phone line will remain off-hook, until either the Drop button is depressed, or until the phone company releases the line. Keep in mind that some business PBX telephone systems do not provide this release signal.
This is a simple, passive, auto-answer/disconnect telephone line interface. While this may be our smallest hybrid yet, it contains all the features you need for many simple applications. AutoHybrid is perfect for monitoring remote locations, IFB feeds, and many simple studio, conferencing, and PA telephone interface applications.
This small desktop unit easily converts to a rack-mount unit using the optional RA4 Rack Panel. The RA4 holds four AutoHybrids in a 1U rack space.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Inputs: | Audio: XLR (female), 800 ohms, mono balanced. 500 mV RMS (+4dBV max). 9dB insertion loss Off-hook control: Screw-terminal (+5VDC monentary) Release control: Screw-terminal (+5VDC monentary) |
| Outputs: | Audio: XLR (male), 600 ohms, mono balanced. 200 mV RMS (-15dBm nominal) On-hook LED signal: Pulled to ground when on hook Level: 3.5mm, 200 ohms, stereo unbalanced. –6 dBu maximum. |
| Controls / indicators: | Off-hook LED Auto-answer switch |
| Phone connections: | Phone line: RJ11C Aux phone: RJ11C |
| Isolation: | 1500 VAC |
| Ringer: | 0.8B REN |
| Frequency response: | Telephone side: 200Hz - 3,600Hz |
| Size: | 10.5 x 13 x 4cm (4" x 5" x 1.5") |
| Weight: | 340g (12oz) |
| Options available: | The RA4 holds four AutoHybrids in a 1U rack space (includes 3 blanking covers). |
FAQ's
- Can AutoHybrid really send and receive audio at the same time?
- Yes, but remember that any audio that you send into AutoHybrid will come back mixed with the caller audio. The amount of separation or Trans-Hybrid Loss will vary depending on the phone line. In general, you will find that on most phone calls, your send audio will not be louder than the caller audio.
- How can I adjust the signal level to and from the phone line?
- AutoHybrid is a passive device and therefore does not provide any amplification or increase in send or receive volume. You will need to adjust levels on your mixer or preamplifier.
- How does AutoHybrid know when to disconnect if the caller hangs up?
- AutoHybrid waits for the phone company to send a disconnect signal. This is usually a brief drop of line current. This may take several seconds, depending on the type of equipment at the phone company.
- Will AutoHybrid only auto-disconnect when it is in auto-answer mode?
- AutoHybrid will disconnect whenever it looses line current or receives a disconnect signal, even if it is not in auto-answer mode.
- My modem and fax machine release the phone line immediately when they are done with a call. Why does AutoHybrid take so long?
- Your fax machine and modem send data back an forth using a carrier signal while running. As soon as they loose the carrier signal, they disconnect the call. In professional audio applications, we cannot simply disconnect if there is a lack of audio.
- I always have to manually push the Drop button to end a call. Why won't AutoHybrid hang up on its own?
- It may be that your phone line is actually just an analog phone port on a large PBX business phone system. Many large buildings provide simulated analog phone lines to consolidate and save money. This proprietary phone port may not provide the necessary disconnect signal.
- AutoHybrid will not seize the phone line when I press the call button nor will it answer an incoming call. When I connect my office phone to the same phone line it works fine. What am I doing wrong?
- AutoHybrid needs an analog telephone line to operate. You cannot connect AutoHybrid to a multi-line PBX telephone jack. If you are using AutoHybrid in an office that has a multi-line phone system, you will need to use a simulated analog line provided by your PBX. This is the same type of line that you use for your fax machine or modem.
- I have AutoHybrid connected to the inputs and outputs of my mixer and I am getting a lot of feedback/noise. What is the problem?
- When connecting AutoHybrid to a mixer, you may need to make a few adjustments. Make sure the XLR input on your mixer is a line level input, not mic level, and that phantom power is disabled. You should connect the Caller output of AutoHybrid to a line level input on your mixer. Next, be sure that you are sending a mix-minus signal to the Send jack of the AutoHybrid. Mix-minus is a mixer output that does not contain the Caller audio signal.
- I am sending audio into AutoHybrid from a line level output on my mixer. The person at the other end of the call says the audio quality is poor. What could be the problem?
- Make sure you are not overdriving the Send input. If the level of audio you are sending is too high, AutoHybrid will clip the audio signal so as to not exceed Telecom regulations. You will need to decrease the level of audio sent into AutoHybrid until the audio is no longer clipping.
- I connected my microphone to the Send jack on AutoHybrid but I am not getting any audio into the phone line. I know I have the mic connected correctly because the Send input is the same type of jack that my microphone connects to on my mixer. Why can't the person on the other end of the call hear me?
- The XLR Send jack is not a microphone input. It is a line level input and requires an amplified signal to be sent into the phone line. You will need to use a mixer or mic pre-amp between your microphone and the AutoHybrid input.
- Does AutoHybrid work with Vonage IP telephony?
- Yes, however customers have reported one glitch in the Vonage system. If the AutoHybrid is set to auto-answer or if the call is manually answered on the first ring there will be a considerable amount of noise on the call. This can be avoided by initiating the call from your location or manually answering after the second ring. If auto-answer is an integral part of your application you may contact Vonage directly to downgrade to a previous version of their firmware. This information is valid as of January 23, 2006. We have no direct connection with Vonage and therefore will not know when this particular problem is resolved.
- Can I connect a microphone directly to the AutoHybrid?
- No. The XLR input on AutoHybrid is a line level input. To use a micrphone you must first connect it to a mic pre-amp or mixer.
- AutoHybrid auto-answers just fine but will not auto-disconnect. To disconnect a call we have to manually press the Drop button. Is this normal?
- Auto-Hybrid will automatically disconnect after a call has been dropped if it is provided with a CPC disconnect signal. This signal is a momentary loss of line current provided by the phone company. If you are connecting to an analog line provided by your PBX system, make sure your PBX is set up to deliver this disconnect signal.
- We have several AutoHybrid units and they work great for sending and receiving audio but have trouble auto-answering calls. The OH light will flash but it won’t answer. What’s wrong?
- It sounds like your phone lines have an unusually high amount of ring voltage. If ring voltage is too high the OH LED will flash, but the line will not be seized. In fact, the line is seized so quickly that it does not have enough time to energize it's own loop current sustaining circuitry. This is referred to as failed ring trip. Contact our customer support department for a solution to this problem.
- Will AutoHybrid work on a “dry line”?
- No. AutoHybrid requires talk battery voltage provided by the phone line to operate.
- AutoHybrid auto-answers just fine but will not auto-disconnect. To disconnect a call we have to manually press the Drop button. Is this normal?
- Auto-Hybrid will automatically disconnect after a call has been dropped if it is provided with a CPC disconnect signal. This signal is a momentary loss of line current provided by the phone company. If you are connecting to an analog line provided by your PBX system, make sure your PBX is set up to deliver this disconnect signal.
- We have several AutoHybrid units and they work great for sending and receiving audio but have trouble auto-answering calls. The OH light will flash but it won’t answer. What’s wrong?
- It sounds like your phone lines have an unusually high amount of ring voltage. If ring voltage is too high the OH LED will flash, but the line will not be seized. In fact, the line is seized so quickly that it does not have enough time to energize it's own loop current sustaining circuitry. This is referred to as failed ring trip. Contact our customer support department for a solution to this problem.
- Will AutoHybrid work on a “dry line”?
- No. AutoHybrid requires talk battery voltage provided by the phone line to operate.
