Icom Extension Mic Ideas?

[Major_Clanger]

Hello all,

I'm trying to find a way of fitting an extension mic to my M423 without going to the unnecessary expense of a command mic. All I need is the normal PTT unit but on a longer lead.

Has anyone tried to do this using the rear command mic socket?

TIA

 

[Boathook]

I did the command mic and it was plug in and go. All the facilities of the main unit at the helm. Not cheap but works well imho.

 

[[70521]]

I fitted a command mic at the helm last winter. Takes a huge amount of stress out of sailing as I can hear what is being said, change channel and it tells me the time.

 

[Major_Clanger]

Thanks chaps... I know the command mic is a great piece of kit but I was/am trying to find a PTT alternative. It doesn't seem as if there is one so Mrs Clanger will have to wait a little longer for her new fish smoker.

 

[prv]

I mean, it's likely that two of the conductors in the plug are the analogue mic signal and two (one of which is a general signal ground) is the PTT. Whether the audio circuitry enables that input without a handshake with the commandmic I don't know, but it is in theory plausible. You'd need to find a service manual for the radio to find out which pins those are, before experimenting with the behaviour. And ultimately you end up with a "second station" that can't adjust volume or squelch or, more importantly, the channel. Having called someone on 16, do you then run downstairs to switch to a working channel?

Pete