[amsat-bb] 2nd/backup FM HT recommendations

[Don KB2YSI]

Not all recorders pass audio, the one I have off ebay does not, so I
have to split audio before it if I'm using it.

The biggest issue I have with an external recorder is the rats nest.
The main reason that I'm still using dual radios, with the D74a being
the receiver. With a built in recorder, it is 1 less cable, and about
4 points of failure removed from the setup. My FM setup has 1 audio
cable coming from the RX radio and coax going to the TX radio.   If I
had a shorter headphone cable it would be great, but the ones that I
have been using require a TRRS splitter which the shortest I have
found is 6", so the cable is still longer than needed.

...

Back to the original topic, the 2nd radio. For the cost of most HT's
either used or new that have a good/decent receiver, you can nearly
get a "duplex" mobile radio and at the same time get those extra watts
needed for the weekend FM pass demo's.  I am have been thinking about
selling my D72, which I use as a TX radio, and go this route.

On Fri, Jun 21, 2019 at 1:23 PM Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) via
AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb at amsat.org> wrote:
>
> Philip,
>
> I used an adapter from Fry's Electronics for a long time, with
> a 2.5mm stereo plug on one end and a 3.5mm stereo jack on the
> other:
>
> https://www.frys.com/product/601036
>
> It stuck out of the side of the TH-D72 over an inch, and
> with a cable I think it put extra stress on the radio's speaker
> jack. I found the right-angle plug with the short pigtail, and
> I can run the pigtail under the strap from the SC-55 soft case
> that goes over the top of the radio (or under both of those
> straps, across the top and on one side) to lessen the stress on
> the radio's speaker jack.
>
> Be careful with the selection of adapters for the TH-D72's speaker
> jack. Some have enough metal and plastic around the plug, where
> those adapters won't stay plugged into the speaker jack. The one
> I listed from the Fry's Electronics web site above was the best
> of the few I originally tried with my TH-D72, and stuck with
> until I found the Amazon adapter with short pigtail and right-angle
> plug I referenced previously.
>
> With an extension cable, I can have my speaker about 15 feet away
> from me, but usually am somewhere between 5 and 10 feet from it
> when I do demonstrations. Even at 10 feet or so away, I can get
> audio feedback if I transmit with the speaker firing at me, but
> 5 to 10 feet is usually far enough where I can avoid the feedback.
> An amplified speaker may be what you need to get a little more
> volume, without running into the feedback issues. Places like
> Fry's Electronics should have a selection of those speakers, as
> would online sources.
>
> Good luck, and 73!
>
>
>
>
>
> Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK
> http://www.wd9ewk.net/
> Twitter: @WD9EWK or http://twitter.com/WD9EWK
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Fri, Jun 21, 2019 at 12:23 PM Philip Jenkins <n4hf.philip at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> >
> > Patrick, the former is pretty much what I've been doing at demos. A fairly
> > large unpowered Radio Shack speaker with a long cord, plugged directly into
> > the D72's output jack. I then point the speaker away from me and stand
> > several feet away and use the D72's internal mike, full duplex
> >
> > .This has worked well for the audience being able to hear.  No feedback
> > problems reported yet. I would like to be able to hear better though, hence
> > the point of my post. ;-) I think I've only made a couple of Q's for this
> > reason.
> >
> > I'll check out the Amazon link. I think Fry's Electronics may have
> > something similar. (I need a good reason to go to Atlanta anyway <grin>;
> > Ham Radio Outlet is only about 5 miles away from Fry's). I'll look for a
> > Bluetooth speaker like you described too.
> >
> > <snip>
> >
> >
> >>
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-- 
73,
Don KB2YSI
https://www.hamqth.com/kb2ysi