Radio and Intercom

[takotruckin]

I need a headset style race radio/intercom setup before the Utah trip so I can hear radio talk and not hear my car coming apart. IIRC Tim has a budget setup that I would like to try to copy, anyone else have something that doesn't cost $600 from RR?

[Hoodrich]

That's the stuff that adds up very quick when you're piecing it together. Check out the classifieds on dezertrangers or glamisdunes.

Or buy a baofeng mv-5r hand held radio with the bigger antenna from Amazon and mate it up to a rugged radios Motorcycle Kit for RH-5R Radio.. That should get you by for $230.00


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[TimS]

What I have is a "portable aviation intercom" that I got from eBay for $40-50. There are many "brands" that look identical (black box). What I like about this unit is it has a high quality adjustable VOX for loud environments. I also like that I can plug in my music, cell phone, radio with separate volumes and seem less integration. Because of this, i use it alot even when it's just me. I also can make cell phone calls at interstate speeds and hear gps turn-by-turn that will dim background music automatically. I also like that it will merge all audio and output that signal to a recorder (gopro) if wanted. I still haven't hardwired the unit, but the dual 9v batteries last a very long time (2+ years)

Now, I don't like it's package as it seems impossible to hardwire, but I keep it between the seats without issue. A lot of cheap intercoms have cheap features, these aircraft intercoms are full featured.

As far as headsets, you will spend almost as much as your intercom and need good quality headsets to get a good experience. I ended up with a retired lair of aviation headsets for $25/pair and refurbished them from their rough shape with all new wirings and plugs, etc. Any "high noise environment" headset can be rewired for aircraft plugs fairly easily.

That's my story. Ask questions if needed.

[TimS]

You will be very disappointed with a cheap intercom that is expensive, but aircraft surplus has high quality intercom circuitry for far less on the dollar per quality scale.

[uh60ce]

Been using basically the same setup myself for years, both in and out of aircraft and the rail.

I don't have quite as new or fancy of an intercom box as Tim has, ( I''ve had it since 92) , but it does have multiple audio in and out capabilities . It does.have cockpit voice recorder capability (after all it is an aircraft intercom), but I still have yet to figure out a way to interface it with a cb radio other then listen only and transmit via the normal mic. Perhaps a different brand of cb radio would work better, but since I don't normally run with a group it works okay. It does work with my handheld FRS radios though. I used to have it wired via its built in DC adapter to one of the lighter plugs, but something in that part of its circuitry fried ,so I'm using battery power as well.


I almost brought it along on the mudfest trip, but in hind sight , I'm glad it stayed home .....all that mud and water would have ruined it for sure! The Mrs and I usually wear them when we take it out together, but when I'm by myself I leave the headsets out.


If you want a simple listen only setup, get some ear buds , and maybe a stereo to mono adapter plug as well and plug them into whatever radio you end up using....

[twowheeletex]

pictures of your set ups with part numbers please. I work aircraft and know the radios can take a beating. just curious what you guys have gotten your hands on.

[TimS]

Mine looks something like this. It has a radio in, music in, audio out, and four place intercom. Except it has separate volume controls for driver passenger and has an adjustable vox.

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[takotruckin]

While sirching on Ebay how does one tell what is quality and what is cheap garbage?

[TimS]

Go to amazon and read the reviews on anything you find. Pilots are very picky people when it comes to their equipment.

I will get you a model number of what I have and like.

[Boneloader]

Here's what I have used:


http://www.davidclark.com/IntercomSys/dccom200.htm

It can run on 9v batteries or hardwired as an option. It has a jack to plug sound into if you want. Just make sure you use the right headsets--there is a difference in the david clark models, IIRC.

T

[baja5]

So i just picked up an intercom that looks identical to the one Tims posted. Have any of you guys interfaced these to work with the handheld Rugged or Baofeng radios? I am just starting to piece together a radio set up and could use some help, thanks.

[uh60ce]

A lot of how you're going to be able to the interface with radios will depend upon the audio in and out connections on the radio and the intercom . I've so far only been able to get the audio in to work, no luck with audio output to the radio so far, but a handheld mic isn't that big of an issue for me.

[TimS]

I had researched this for a friend. You can do PTT, remote mic, and remote speaker. Pinouts are online. The male plugs of the intercom go to radio.

The new BAofeng 8w radio can actually have two remote ptt buttons for two separate channels simultaneously. Pretty cool.

[takotruckin]

So if I buy a Baofeng from Amazon does it need programmed to use on the GCA? Is it something I can do myself or do I need to send it to someone?

Still trying to decide if I have time/funds for the headset/radio setup.

[no1clyde]

tako I am sure you can do it, you are not challenged like some of us (me). It takes Tim about 12 seconds to set my Baofeng on what ever channel we will be using.

Ed