Newsgroups: rec.audio.tech,comp.dcom.voice-over-ip
Subject: Re: Converting cell-phone headset to computer headset
References: <[email protected]>
"logisticky@nospam_yahoo.com"  writes:

> There MUST be an available piece of hardware to do this.  I know it's
> more than converting the plug size and involves impedance matching and
> stereo-mono stuff, 

There are different hands free units with different specifications. 
I have monstly played myself with hands free units made for Nokia 
cellular phones. At those hands free units, the headphone part 
is 32 ohm spaker element similar to ones used on normal headphones. 
This can be directly wired to line/headphone out of the soundcard 
directly. Because there is only one speaker, you cna wire it 
directly to only one audio channel (left or right). 
The microphone in the hands free unit is pretty normal 
electrt capsule that can be wired directly to PC soundcard 
microphone input (signal wire to tip and ring of 3.5 mm plug, 
ground to connector ground). 

Maybe some day I have time to add some building details to 
www.epanorama.net project pages...

> but doesn't SOMEONE make a box that will let me use
> my cell-phone in-the-ear hands free headset on my laptop for skype?

I don't kknow any such box. The reason why such box does not exist 
is that there are so many different cell phone hands free units 
that use different connectors and have different technical 
specifications... Different hands free units would need different 
conversion box. 

> If there isnt it seems like a great market for one!
> Please, no options that involve soldering!

I do not have any ready to build device to recommendation. 
Biltema (http://www.biltema.fi/) sells one unit "MULTIMEDIAHUBI" 
that is designed for controlling audio volume to speakers, 
switching between headset and spakers etc.. 
Details at 
http://www.biltema.fi/osteri/osteri.cgi?sivu=skriptisivut/index_kauppa.htm&linkki=23265.htm&tuote=23265
That unit has a 2.5 mm jack which according the manual / print 
on the case would be for interfacing hands free unit... 
Good idea. THe sad fact is that it does seem to work 
with any hands-free unit or similar... I have tried 
several different models for this. 

Soldering has never been a problem for me... 
And I have made this king of interfacing from component 
when Ihav had need for it.

-- 
Tomi Engdahl (http://www.iki.fi/then/)
Take a look at my electronics web links and documents at 
http://www.epanorama.net/