Colin,

I've taken my MC-80 apart, and it looks like there's enough room on the base 
to the right of the gooseneck to mount four buttons in a square 
configuration.  However, that only helps for that one mic.

Steve

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Colin McDonald" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, March 03, 2008 23:10
Subject: Re: building a box for function keys


>    well, since it has to control the functions via the mike jack, it would
> have to be intigraded with the mike line at least. Basically, there would 
> be
> a jack of choice, say the RJ45, or the tradditional Round 8 pin din socket
> for the microphone itself to plug into.
> This would be mounted on the side of the small box that has four
> switches/buttons on top for the function controls. then either a short 
> lead
> out of the box with another RJ45 or 8 pin kenwood jack on it for the 
> radio's
> microphone socket, or, perhaps a patch cable going from the box to the 
> radio
> with the appropriate connecters on it.
> Depending on how flexible you wanted this particular box, the permanent 
> lead
> coming out of the box to the radio may be undesirable since you can't
> lengthen or shorten it easily.  A custom made cable with the right
> connecters on each end to go from the box to the radio would be more
> convenient, if a little harder to build...extra jacks to solder and all
> that.
> Also, this box could potentially contain a balanced XLR and or TRS socket 
> to
> connect a studio microphone for better audio on air.
> A quarter inch, or eigthth inch jack for connecting a foot switch, or PTT 
> to
> key the studio mike would also have to go on if I added the xlr/trs 
> option.
> You could still run a regular microphone wired with an 8 pin round, or 
> RJ45
> connecter on it into the box, or substitute it for a studio mike.
>
> A little like the rig blaster, but much simpler and mostly designed for 
> the
> use of the function keys.
> I have never seen a rigblaster of any model, and I am wondering if these
> function buttons couldn't somehow be added as a modification to a
> rigblaster, or if the unit is too small to accomidate extra switches or
> jacks?
> Also, I don't remember the dimensions of an MC60, or any of the other
> popular kenwood desk mikes, So I don't know how hard it would be to add
> micro switches to the bass portions of those.
> If there was just enough room, these switches could be added and the other
> components put inside the microphone's bass...but again, I don't have
> anything to experiment with.
> I know that I could probably play with an old turner plus 3 that I have 
> and
> see if the switches would fit in there just as a trial run...but I am 
> pretty
> sure that the turner plus 3 desk mike has allot more free space on the 
> bass
> between the PTT bar and the neck of the microphone, then the mc60, 60a, or
> 80's do.
>
> I'll start experimenting just as soon as I can get to my favorite 
> electronic
> parts supply store and pick up some components.
> 73
> Colin, V A6BKX
>
>
>
>