~* [NEW] XBOX Communicator Alternative, Appendage, & Splitter Guide *~
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Xbox Communicator Altenative, Appendage, & Splitter Guide
What do you do when one person on the couch has an xbox live account, and the other person doesn't? It's kind of stupid for the person with the kit to be yapping away to people online, when the other person can't hear what everyone else is saying...
What if the other person doesn't even have an xbox at home, and only plays it over at your house? What are you supposed to do? Buy TWO xbox live accounts, just so your friend can listen in while he happens to be over at your house? Doesn't that seem a little silly?
It doesn't need to be.
After using microsoft's headset for a while, I realized it wasn't designed very well. It kinda "sticks out" behind your head, just enough to become annoying when you want to lean your head back against the couch. I'm sure microsoft is working hard to produce "keep you on the edge of your seat" games... but apparently we just aren't there yet. Once I realized that my cel phone ear jack thing worked just as well (if not better) than MS's equipment, I realized you could just split the connection to two sets, and give your cheap-o friend the default MS headset.
http://publicskool.com/split/assembled.jpg
A quick trip to Radio Shack got me all the parts i needed, and here's what I ended up with. The thing to note is that the communicator (and just about any cel phone extension earpiece thing) uses a smaller 3/32" (2.5mm) jack... not the regular 1/8" sony-walkman-sized jack.
http://publicskool.com/split/adaptor_parts.jpg
i wasn't able to find a 3/32" splitter (i'm sure they're out there, though), so i got a 3/32" male to double 1/8" female splitter (on the left), and two 1/8" male to 3/32" female extenders (on the right, in silver).
http://publicskool.com/split/y_adaptor.jpg
TADAA!!
Originally, I had intended to have this thing sticking out of the controller, but that would just be lame, so I got an extension cord for it (again, 3/32" to 3/32"). I did have to trim down the male tip in order to fit in the recessed xbox part...
http://publicskool.com/split/trim_to_fit.jpg
Just make sure you have a good "click-in" seating for this connection, and you're all set.
Of course, when either of you talks, it shows up as whoever has the thing physically attached to their controller... (not "guest of billybob" or whatever). In theory, I suppose you could go "splitter crazy" and jack it out to 4 people, but I imagine signal strength would diminish without some sort of amp in the equation.
Happy gaming! See you online.
Part Costs (along with Radio Shack part #s) Below:
3/32" to 1/8" # 2740397 - $2.99
3/32" to 1/8" # 2740397 - $2.99
3/32" male to 2x 1/8" (splitter) #2740945 - $4.99
6' extension cord 3/32" to 3/32" #4302003 - $6.59
Cel phone ear piece thing - $9.99 (already had one)
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TOTAL: $27.55
Credit goes to some dude named Rich for making this guide on his website.. I found it while searching around some foreign media sites. I'm personally gonna give a try when I can spare some extra cash.. :)
Ignore if this has been posted already..
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