Outdoor Adventure USA

My 857D is on its way

I also got a Tunematic for the Little Tarheel and I think I should be pretty good! I'm now thinking on locations to mount it in my jeep, I've thought a couple of good spots, but still haven't decided yet.

I'm wondering if there exists a switch so I can use the mic of my 8800 with the 857D, this way I have one mic for the two radios. There has to be some sort of switch where I can direct it to one radio or the other, it doesn't seem too complicated but I've looked around and asked and such thing doesn't seem to exist. Any thoughts?

Roger

Looking further I've found this RJ12 switch that might be useful for the purpose:

http://www.amazon.com/CableWholesales-W ... B000I96BVA

Roger

You could built your own, and take up little space . . . maybe.

Maybe something like this: http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.p ... d=MFJ-1263 and the manual is here: http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Downloads ... ompany=mfj . . . maybe.

Great idea Dennis, build my own. I think I'll get the RJ12 switch box, dismantle it and build it into my jeep.

KK6GFF wrote:My 857D is on its way

I'm wondering if there exists a switch so I can use the mic of my 8800 with the 857D, this way I have one mic for the two radios. There has to be some sort of switch where I can direct it to one radio or the other, it doesn't seem too complicated but I've looked around and asked and such thing doesn't seem to exist. Any thoughts?

Roger

Get the upgrade DTMF mic for the FT857D (Yaesu part#MH-59A8J), and forget about the FT8800R mic. The upgrade mic has control for virtually all of the advanced functions of the FT857D, including a scrolling dial for running up and down the band for contacts - very useful when using the FT857D for HF.Most functions you can't access with the FT8800 mic, and you'll miss this quickly if you have to reach over to the head unit to adjust stuff while awkwardly leaning over in the Jeep.

Having 2 mics might seem a bit cumbersome, but it also allows you to work both radios at the same time, an avoid transmitting on the wrong radio by accident - something that can happen often on the trail...

IMHO, keep 2 mics, and buy the upgrade DTMF mic for the FT857D

That's a great point Larry, I went to HRO and got the mic. It has a different connection. Is that an ethernet one? I want to get an extension for it.

Thanks!
Roger

I believe the connector is an modular 8-pin RJ45.

While it appears to be the same cable as a CAT-5 ethernet cable, I suggest (from experience) you find a dedicated Yaesu modular mic extension cable, which several amateur radio accessory manufacturers offer on line. An Ethernet cables use a different grade of wire, and will need to use an adapter to attach the male to male ends. These adapters create line noise due to poor design / quality - clicking, hum, etc...

One example (not a sales endorsement):
RJ45 8-PIN EXTENSION MIC CABLE

Thanks Larry!