I’ve been watching videos of guys on ham radio operating (especially some of the guys on the 3.916 nets), and I’ve been wondering how to hook a “regular” microphone through a mixer to my radio. I watched a video by Bob Heil that did a good job of explaining how to do it (LINK). Then I watched a video of why you would want to do it (LINK). I had all of the parts to build a solution in my junk bin!
The first thing I learned was something I basically already knew; I needed to isolate the mixer from the radio using an isolation transformer. I prefer this method so that there are not any ground loops. Back when Radio Shack was alive I purchased two of them to use as a digital interface for my 10m rig. I since upgraded to a SignLink to do that work so the DIY interface went into my parts bin.
I started my research by looking at some available interface schematics on the web. There were several designs that used chokes, but I decided that I didn’t want to do that. I drew up a schematic in my engineering notebook with a circuit board and box idea. The circuit is quite simple. The 600:600 transformer connects one side to the input jack that comes from the mixer. The other side of the transformer connects to a potentiometer and two resistors. Then the output is fed through another audio jack to the radio. Another momentary switch is used as the PTT. Look at the picture of this switch! It’s from another man’s junk bin. Free and awesome looking.
I designed a box to house it in using Tinkercad.com and used my 3D printer to create the box and switch case. Wiring it up was easy. I tested it out on a net the other night before it was put in the box, and audio reports came back good. It works. I don’t have another receiver to listen to it, so I cannot give any info as to how my actual sound “sounds”, but I know that the interface works!
Getting the audio and the PTT to the radio was a different story. Like the SignaLink and other interfaces, there is usually a modular plug that breaks out into a radio’s specific plug so I tried to make my interface similar. I broke the rules just a little
with the PTT switch since I wired it straight to the radio. There’s no picture of the plug to the radio. If you’ve seen one you’ve almost seen them all. What sets my kit apart is this switch. Good night! I love how it looks. I’m pretty sure that is an aircraft switch. I threw most of the crap that I inherited from a guy, but these switches looked too cool to toss. I have more, and I’ll probably do this again for something else!
I’ll leave you with an image of the inside of the box, and an image of the schematic. This was a fun build, and I look forward to using it on the air. The Santa net on 3.916MHz starts tomorrow, so I know the kids and I will be using it. Some upgrades in the future will be a mixer that actually has the right EQ as mentioned in the videos. My main goal was the get where I could actually use my Shure SM-58 and the mixer. Now I can look to upgrade. Perhaps I’ll own a Heil in the future!!!
