Phil,
I have an external powered speaker I clip on my belt, center of my back.
Your right about the rats nest of wires. I’m going to put together a “demo only harness, using some form of wiring loom to keep everything neat and tidy.
Alinco HT is fine for TX side, with added bonus of L-band capability.
Robert Bankston | KE4AL Vice-President, User Services Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT)
Website: www.ke4al.wordpress.com Twitter: @KE4ALabama
On Jun 20, 2019, at 16:51, Philip Jenkins via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org wrote:
I'm considering buying another FM HT for the birds, mainly to use as a backup - for demos. (I already have a D72, which is my main unit for personal use and demos right now, and a VX7R, but the latter has seen better days.)
For those of you who have attempted to use just a D72 for a demo - with an external speaker as well as the headset/mic - this results in a rat's nest of adapters/connectors/wires. I have the adapter sold on eBay, but unfortunately it attenuates the audio signal (for digital voice recorders), instead of amplifying it for an external speaker , which is what I need. (I guess I could use a powered speaker on that output, but that's one more thing to carry - and power-up! :-) )
So I think *two* radios might work better - wiring wise - for demos. If I buy a Baofeng (or similar), I won't use it for the receive part due to the desense problems on some models (looking at the section in 2019's "Getting Started with Amateur Satellites"). I'm considering the Alinco, since it does have 1.2 Ghz, and using the D72 for receive in that set up (but that still doesn't easily solve the wiring/connector mess for an external speaker/headphones for that radio).
Are there other radios which are more "external speaker" friendly which I should consider? I'm open to almost any combination of manufacturers (except for the Baofeng types for receive, as noted above). I'm even open to buying another D72 (but probably hoarding it except for special occasions.)
In short, what are your recommendations for a second, spare, radio for the FM birds?
I'm also curious how others have wired their single HTs - or two HTs - for demos using an external speaker. So if you could explain - with or without pictures - how you accomplish this, I'd appreciate it.
Thanks
Philip N4HF _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb