hey all:
ok, some good news.
I went to my favorite electronics supply store today and quickly, with some
excellent help, found precisely the materials I need to start this project.
I have never been in any store where the staff are as friendly and helpful
as they are at this one.
anyway, I picked up four momentary micro toggle switches. This means, they
are single pole, double throw, i think, spring loaded switches that close
when the toggle is pressed and then open when the lever is released.
Anyway, I got four of those. I found a mode box, similar to a hammon box,
but plastic and far cheaper, that should be about the right size. I got a
chassis mount 8 pin kenwood type connecter, the same as is found on the
front of the transceiver, a bunch of 22K and a bunch of 100K resisters. and
the best find of all, a terminal strip.
This particular terminal strip has 16 terminals, with 8 sets of two, and
each set of two are connected via a metal strip under the terminal
screws...very compact, very professional looking. That is for figuring out
the wiring scheme before i start putting the components into the box.
I'll find some old 8 conducter cable and start at it probably this evening.
It may not work out at all, or it may, I guess we'll see.
By the way, the kenwood type 8 pin microphone jacks, are exceedingly
inexpensive, around a dollar fifty or so for each side, that is, the female
and male portions.
I have seen the kenwood stamped mike connecter, the female side, sell for up
to 12 bucks on ebay, a total rip off.
Anyway, all told, for box, switches, resisters, connecter, and terminal
strip it was $25.
I had to buy the resisters in rolls of 100 so that won't be an extra cost if
I am successful and end up making a couple of these for folks on the list.
I'll keep you guys updated as to my progress or failure, what ever the case
may be.
73
Colin, V A6BKX
----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Dresser" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2008 7:55 AM
Subject: Re: building a box for function keys
> 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
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
> --
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10:01 AM
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>
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