Modifying some radios to work on the bike

[loply]

Evening folks, slightly OT but Im trying to modify some walkie talkies:

https://www.blackolives.co.uk/otherstuff/walkie_talkies01.jpg

What I need to do is use the walkie talkies whilst on my motorbike, Ill have the walkie talkie in my pocket, so I need to "extend" or rewire the speaker and microphone to be inside my helmet:

1) Connect a headphone bud to the speaker so I can wear it in my helmet
2) Rewire the transmit button to be on my handlebars
3) Connect a second microphone to the original one so I can have it in my helmet

Im sure the additional headphone bud wont be a problem, and the switch will be easy, but Im not entirely sure that just "soldering an additional microphone" to the original one will work. Anybody shed any light on this? Will it have to be the same kind of mic?

Thansk for any input
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Yamaha SZR660 Caution to the wind, the throttle pinned!

[AceRimmer]

I've just done a project similar to this. Converting an mp3 player to be part of the bike.

I took the mp3 player to bits, soldered on components which match the original and extended these with wire to a panel at the front of the bike. Plus I made a power regulator to power it from the bikes battery (no need for batteries)

As for the mic, youll probably need one similar to the original, to match the setup of the walkie talkie, but my approach has been to try different things and see how they go, but obviously dont destroy something good in the process.

[bEN_]

get the same gear they use when you take your cbt.
i remember having a small bag around my waist with the walkie talkie in, and a small ear piece in the helmet, but i couldn't talk back to the guys unless i got the walkie talkie so yeah you kinda need a 2 way tihng.

[G]

Maplins sell a kit, not too expensive, though I haven't managed to get it sorted with the walkie talkies I've got.

Comes with a handle bar push to talk switch as well.

For a mic, if you want to use it properly, try and get a throat mic, which should precent wind noise.

[loply]

How much roughly is the maplin kit?

I bought the radios for like £16 off ebay, Im quite skint, so I was hoping not to spend much at all (I could probably cobble it together for free if need be).
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Yamaha SZR660 Caution to the wind, the throttle pinned!

[G]

A bit over budget then:
https://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=27212&criteria=DS34M&doy=29m12

I got them when they were buy one get one free.

[T1z3R]

if you really wanna do it cheap the just re-use the mic thats built in by extending its wiring. it'll likely be crap quality at anything over 30mph but won't cost you anything else and will be a piece of piss to do.
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duck my sick!

[MalcolmT]

[G]

Wind noise would screw up the VOX.

If you got a throat mic, it might be worth it, but personally I'd stick with a push to talk button, that way if you cough etc then it's not going to be transmitted as well.

I haven't got the setup I have working with the radios I've got - I got some adaptor plugs (two to one) but it still doesn't work. Don't have a massive need for them these days, so haven't looked into it for a while.

[loply]

Will the mic really sound screwy at motorway speeds and stuff? Will it be discerinible at all, you reckon?

I can of course try and cover it in foam or whatever to help. Suppose Ill just have to "try it and see" really though.
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Yamaha SZR660 Caution to the wind, the throttle pinned!

[loply]

Btw, G, what is a throat mic? Will it work in windblast?
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Yamaha SZR660 Caution to the wind, the throttle pinned!

[T1z3R]

yeah it'll likely sound terrible at high speed...most standard mics do.

a throat mic sits in contact with your neck and picks up the noise that way...means its usually out of the way of wind etc so sounds much better.
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duck my sick!

[G]

As mentioned, a throat mic is in contact with your neck and picks up the vibrations from there. rather than from the air.

This means it should avoid windblast.
General opinion is that 60 and over you won't get much at all with a normal mic.


Have a look on ebay:
https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Throat-Vibration-Mic-Acoustic-Earpiece-Kenwood-Radio_W0QQitemZ5846709238QQcategoryZ48705QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Teaman]

I had the same set up as indicated by G,
the problem with it is the ear piece, it is supposed to velcro to the inside of your helmet where your ear is but always moved when i put my helmet on, (caberg j1)
ive since bought a set that fits over your ear before you put the helmet on
i bought another one for the other talkie but it was the wrong sort of plug.
the grey button you need to push to talk but you can stick it on vox but its a decent mike,, not tested it fully yet, not any point, no one will play with me, or be prepaired to listen to me singing ten green bottles for an hour
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There is no point in ranting about someone stupid because there is nothing u can do about it. There is no cure for stupid.
Someone stupid does not realise they r stupid.stupidity is indistinguishable from malice U just have to accept that some people are thick as p1gsh1t and work around them.

[Knowlsey]

https://www.adventure-motorcycling.co.uk/products/?product=92

[loply]

The radios just arrived, theyre actually really good quality for £14 off ebay, perfect English manual too, suspect they normally go for more.

Luckily, all screwed together! Looks easy to modify, I'll let you know how it goes, could be a success and a very cheap bike radio system.
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Yamaha SZR660 Caution to the wind, the throttle pinned!

[DEN MONKEY]

Ive been using a dc1040 uhf handheld radio with a throat mike to chat with my mate in his car. Has been working pretty well but when I picked up a speakez kit for pillion riding I found the mic in that out did the throat mike for clairty. Granted the throat mike works better at higher speeds but for simple cruising around town the normal one that clips onto the helmet works a treat.

You have to be careful when using the vox with a throat mike and its positioning because any contact with your jacket collar can cause it to stay on. Just turn the vox setting right down and it works beter. Since the radios only work in half duplex it means you cant recieve at the same time. You can ride around for ages and wonder why their not talking back to you.
Another handy tip if your going to use vox. Just mumble something to yourself before start talking to open a line else they only get half of what youre saying.

I think a kit that allows a button on the bars would be a good idea but not sure its worth your effort to try and bodge one up. Considering they're pretty easy to find.
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meh