I am curious to know if it would be electronically possible to have the microphone from my 8900R be used as the mic for the 8900 and also a CB radio and also into a PA amplifer using an audio selector? I did a brief look at the connector and electical diagams and it looks like they all use the same wires. I am wanting to get it setup so I have one mic in my truck and select as to weather the mic is used on the HAM radio, the CB radio or into my PA system?
Modding two Mobile Radios
- Thread starter H0LLYW00D
- Start date
Tennmogger
Explorer
Your goal is a good one, but stating the goal is easier than achieving it. You must do some engineering first to determine if the chosen mike is an impedance match for the other radios, if the audio and mike lines are single wire and grounded/shielded, or are two-wire balanced to the radio, and if the mike elements are switched off (either open circuited or shorted) when the PTT switch is not pressed. Then there's the physical connection aspect. You will need cables from your combiner box to each radio (spare mike connectors are usually not too hard to find). The selector switch will need to be a multi-pole, multi-position rotary, probably, and should not be too hard to source.
If it were me, I'd take the chosen mike and interface it to the other radios with jumpers just to prove it can work, then draw out the schematic you need, collect parts, and build it. You might also want to consider an audio mixer and isolator for the receive audio from the radios, allowing you to listen to a mix of both, or select either.
That leads to another possible upgrade. Why not choose a nice headset while you are at it, and add VOX (or remote PTT switch), allowing the headset to plug into your combiner box so you can be completely hands free while offroad.
Bob
WB4ETT
If it were me, I'd take the chosen mike and interface it to the other radios with jumpers just to prove it can work, then draw out the schematic you need, collect parts, and build it. You might also want to consider an audio mixer and isolator for the receive audio from the radios, allowing you to listen to a mix of both, or select either.
That leads to another possible upgrade. Why not choose a nice headset while you are at it, and add VOX (or remote PTT switch), allowing the headset to plug into your combiner box so you can be completely hands free while offroad.
Bob
WB4ETT
I have done more research and it seem the idea is golly possible and infant there are commercial products that work as microphone switch boxes. There however is not one that does it to my specifications but I have found some basic schematics to start follow. A.so I found that you can get an amplified mic for my cobra radio so that clears up the power / non-power mic issue. I like the idea of a headset version with a vix option and if I can work that in I will.
HenryJ
Expedition Leader
I don't know if it would be of any help to you , but I have an old Firecom 3010 intercom system. You should be able to find the schematics with a quick search. If not I should have them somewhere. This box has two radio connections (9 pin DIN) and an AUX input. One aux output and six headset outputs (RJ45).
This is how we have six headsets tied into the radios on a fire service engine. This unit was removed from service and is no longer supported by our systems. We have gone to wireless headsets.
I have a whole box of headsets too.
Ouch! I just noticed you are in Canada. I'm not sure of the legalities and shipping problems that might cause
Still, if we can work it all out anything you need is yours for the shipping costs.
This is how we have six headsets tied into the radios on a fire service engine. This unit was removed from service and is no longer supported by our systems. We have gone to wireless headsets.
I have a whole box of headsets too.
Ouch! I just noticed you are in Canada. I'm not sure of the legalities and shipping problems that might cause
Still, if we can work it all out anything you need is yours for the shipping costs.