Well you peaked my interest in this a number of years ago, and the 
recent threads on microphones with  extra buttons got me thinking about 
it again.  Better late then never.

73, Steve KW3A

On 5/11/2013 10:14 PM, Colin McDonald wrote:
> good work Steve.
> a long time coming, but you did it lol.
>
> 73
> Colin, V A6BKX
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Steve Forst" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Saturday, May 11, 2013 5:44 PM
> Subject: Building a PF key box for Kenwood
>
>
>> After putting this off for a number of years, I finally decided to build
>> a box to give me more PF keys for the 590.  Turns out I had all I needed
>> right here.   It's not completely complete yet, since I have to drill
>> holes for switches, but it has  been  wired up temporary and seems to
>> work.
>>
>> Main component is an old MFJ TNC to radio interface.    The KAM is long
>> gone and I clipped the 13 pin DIN off it some time ago, but it has an 8
>> pin round mic jack on the front and  8 wire mic cable  with plug coming
>> in the rear.
>>
>> Also had the needed switches and other odds and ends  laying around.
>> One thing I learned is that the 590 will let you change the UP/DOWN
>> buttons into additional PF keys,  so I will wind up with 6 pf keys on
>> the box and the original 2 on the radio.
>>
>> Anyone using a microphone with UP/DOWN buttons can reassign them as PF
>> keys if you don't need the UP/DOWN function.
>>
>> Also added an RCA jack for PTT, and a 1/8 jack for mic input, since the
>> mics I use  all the time have  1/8 plugs.   Maybe later I'll add  a mic
>> input for  a condenser mic, using the 8 vdc found  on pin 5 of the  8
>> pin cable.
>>
>>
>> 73, Steve KW3A
>
>
>