[arm-allstar] Baofeng COS without opening the radio

Fred Hillhouse fmhillhouse at comcast.net
Mon Mar 4 17:00:11 EST 2019 

Having been using APRS in some form or another for the last bunch of years, I knew about the volume setting problem. Personally I have always tapped the discriminator for audio for APRS. I have helped a few get their HT on APRS as well. The most difficult part for some has been turning the radio on and setting the volume to the same point each time.

I was looking at the BF-888 mainly because I can get them on Amazon in the $10 range and with free shipping. Although, for double the money I could get the UV-5R EX and have VHF too.

Thanks!

Best regards,
Fred N7FMH


-----Original Message-----
From: ARM-allstar [mailto:arm-allstar-bounces at hamvoip.org] On Behalf Of "Doug Crompton via ARM-allstar"
Sent: Monday, March 04, 2019 2:25 PM
To: ARM Allstar
Cc: Doug Crompton
Subject: Re: [arm-allstar] Baofeng COS without opening the radio

Fred,

 The answer is yes the 888 should work fine. It exhibits the same levels. I
am testing later today.  On the volume I would not depend on turning it off
and on and constantly having to check settings. Nail it down at the proper
point. There is no reason to turn it off and in fact turning the radio off
with Allstar running and connected somewhere can lead to a hung up system.


*73 Doug*

*WA3DSP*

*http://www.crompton.com/hamradio <http://www.crompton.com/hamradio>*

On Mon, Mar 4, 2019 at 1:55 PM "Fred Hillhouse via ARM-allstar" <
arm-allstar at hamvoip.org> wrote:

> Hi Doug,
>
> When you answered, "Yes just plug into the mic/speaker ", were you also
> saying that it will also work on a BF-888?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Best regards,
> Fred N7FMH
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ARM-allstar [mailto:arm-allstar-bounces at hamvoip.org] On Behalf Of
> "Doug Crompton via ARM-allstar"
> Sent: Monday, March 04, 2019 12:13 PM
> To: ARM Allstar
> Cc: Doug Crompton
> Subject: Re: [arm-allstar] Baofeng COS without opening the radio
>
> Fred,
>
>  Yes just plug into the mic/speaker.   You are right the volume could be an
> issue. I think the best thing would be to set it and then tape or hot glue
> the volume at a specific point.  There is no reason or need to turn it off.
> That could be accomplished if necessary through an external power switch.
> The radio should NOT be run on batteries when used as a node radio. I will
> have to do a howto on this! I am thinking use simpleusb-tune-menu selection
> 2 RX volume with rxboost off. Then set the volume on the node radio for
> 5khz peaks while transmitting to the node radio. Then lock the volume pot
> down. Users are going to have to be responsible to do this correctly.
>
>
> *73 Doug*
>
> *WA3DSP*
>
> *http://www.crompton.com/hamradio <http://www.crompton.com/hamradio>*
>
>
>
>
> On Mon, Mar 4, 2019 at 12:03 PM "Fred Hillhouse via ARM-allstar" <
> arm-allstar at hamvoip.org> wrote:
>
> > If I am understanding this correctly, Everything will just plug into the
> > MIC/SPKR ports directly. Great idea!
> > Will it also work on the BF-888s?
> >
> > Just be prepared for all of those that can't set the volume correctly or
> > consistently when it is turned on.
> >
> > Best regards,
> > Fred N7FMH
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: ARM-allstar [mailto:arm-allstar-bounces at hamvoip.org] On Behalf Of
> > "Doug Crompton via ARM-allstar"
> > Sent: Sunday, March 03, 2019 10:55 PM
> > To: ARM Allstar
> > Cc: Doug Crompton
> > Subject: Re: [arm-allstar] Baofeng COS without opening the radio
> >
> > Steve,
> >
> >  OK Thanks. We are already thinking about laying out a FOB board
> > specifically for the Baofeng's. Most of the components are already on our
> > ARA-1 board now and it would be a minimal change to make it work with the
> > Baofeng's directly.  I want to breadboard it first and we have some
> > speak/mic cables on order. I would say if all goes well we could have a
> > product out in a month. The FOB would plug into the USB and a cable would
> > plug to the FOB and the radio speaker/mic. Very easy for the user. This
> > will also make it easier to produce the yellow box nodes.
> >
> >
> > *73 Doug*
> >
> > *WA3DSP*
> >
> > *http://www.crompton.com/hamradio <http://www.crompton.com/hamradio>*
> >
> > On Sun, Mar 3, 2019 at 10:48 PM "Steve via ARM-allstar" <
> > arm-allstar at hamvoip.org> wrote:
> >
> > > Certainly Doug, that's why I put it out there. Hope it helps. I'm also
> > > still
> > > looking at having some boards for just the interface made, if enough
> > > people
> > > are interested for me to order 100 I can get them for a little under $4
> > my
> > > cost bare board with masks and silkscreen. I tweaked the layout a bit
> > > today
> > > and hand made another board with the layout mirrored from the original
> so
> > > that the interface mounts over the top of the sound FOB. I'll put info
> > and
> > > pictures up in the same folder here in a few minutes, look in the
> > > directory
> > > with "Flip" in the name. It makes for a much smaller package.
> > >
> > > I'll also put up the laser printer files that can be used to heat
> > transfer
> > > and make your own boards but it may be tomorrow before I get those up.
> > >
> > > 73's
> > > Steve - WB4BXO
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: "Doug Crompton via ARM-allstar"
> > > Sent: Sunday, March 03, 2019 2:39 AM
> > > To: ARM Allstar
> > > Cc: Doug Crompton
> > > Subject: Re: [arm-allstar] Baofeng COS without opening the radio
> > >
> > > Steve,
> > >
> > > If this is reliable it looks like a good way to do it. If it is OK with
> > > you I will add the info to the Baofeng  howto mods.  We also could
> easily
> > > produce a board in quantity to do this if there was a demand. I find
> any
> > > more that most do not want to turn on (or have) a soldering iron so any
> > > amount of mods are out of the question. We are currently sourcing two
> > > models of FOB's, the ARA1 and the ARA1+. Since the yellow box nodes use
> > > Baofeng radios and are sold in large quantities it might be
> advantageous
> > to
> > > build a FOB specifically for those radios using this method. If we test
> > it
> > > and it works and we decide it could be a product do you have any
> > objection
> > > to our use of your circuit?
> > >
> > >
> > > *73 Doug*
> > >
> > > *WA3DSP*
> > >
> > > *http://www.crompton.com/hamradio <http://www.crompton.com/hamradio>*
> > >
> > >
> > > On Sat, Mar 2, 2019 at 8:55 PM "Steve via ARM-allstar" <
> > > arm-allstar at hamvoip.org> wrote:
> > >
> > > > I have put together a little circuit that allows connection to a
> > Baofeng
> > > > UV-5R HT providing COS without having to open and modify the radio
> > > itself.
> > > > This works great for AllStar, packet, APRS, or most anything that
> > > requires
> > > > a soundcard connection to the radio complete with COS. I have even
> used
> > > > this circuit without the sound card to connect to an RC-210 repeater
> > > > controller.
> > > >
> > > > I built the circuit based on the schematic of the UV-5R but I believe
> > > most
> > > > of the Chinese radios will work with it. I have tried it on several
> > > > different Chinese radios including the Anytone AT-D868UV DMR radio
> and
> > > > they
> > > > all worked fine. However, even though these radios are mimicking the
> > > > Kenwood two prong speaker/mic connector, this circuit will not work
> on
> > my
> > > > Kenwood TH-F6. This is due to the fact that the Chinese radios do not
> > > > block
> > > > the DC of the audio amp from reaching the headset, which is why you
> > hear
> > > a
> > > > pop when the squelch opens and closes on these radios, and is what
> this
> > > > circuit counts on to turn on Q1 and provide COS. The Kenwood doesn’t
> > work
> > > > (or have the pop) because it has a blocking capacitor and an MOS
> switch
> > > in
> > > > the audio line that prevents the DC from coming out the jack. But I’m
> > > much
> > > > happier using a $35 radio for this purpose anyway.
> > > >
> > > > I’ve hand etched a couple of boards for it so far and may send it to
> a
> > > > board house to make some prettier boards, especially if others are
> > > > interested in it (I’ve already quoted them and its just too pricey
> for
> > > > small quantities, which is why I decided to hand make the few I
> > needed).
> > > > The boards I have made have some extra pads on the end to allow
> > soldering
> > > > directly to the audio jacks of one of the EBay sound FOBs, just makes
> > it
> > > a
> > > > bit cleaner than having to cable that side of it, though it still
> > > requires
> > > > the two jumpers to the GPIO lines on the sound chip. Also note that
> > there
> > > > is an extra connection at Pin 4 on the sound card side that should
> > allow
> > > > using with an RA-35 or similar that already has the open collector
> > driver
> > > > for PTT. I have not tried this on an RA-35 but feel confident it
> would
> > > > work, my target was primarily the CM108 open board sound FOB you can
> > get
> > > > on
> > > > EBay and Amazon.
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://www.ebay.com/itm/CM108-USB-Drive-Free-Sound-Card-Laptop-Computer-External-Sound-Card-Module-New/263928310585?hash=item3d735a6b39:g:SSwAAOSwEVlcDcAU:rk:1:pf:0
> > > >
> > > > Also note there is no activity detection nor time out timer in this
> > > > circuit, so I leave the TOT of the attached radio set to something
> > > > appropriate in case things get hung up in transmit. And as with other
> > > > interfaces, make sure to keep the RF from the attached HT from
> getting
> > > > back
> > > > into the RPi.
> > > >
> > > > Schematics, some pictures, and this doc can be found here, hope it
> > helps
> > > > someone.
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://www.dropbox.com/sh/lrv9uwkgx8tpm6y/AAD2syTNpZDwcjX1gA8zjV9Va?dl=0
> > > >
> > > > Steve – WB4BXO
> > > > http://www.stevemobley.com
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > >
> > > > ARM-allstar mailing list
> > > > ARM-allstar at hamvoip.org
> > > > http://lists.hamvoip.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/arm-allstar
> > > >
> > > > Visit the BBB and RPi2/3 web page - http://hamvoip.org
> > > _______________________________________________
> > >
> > > ARM-allstar mailing list
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> > >
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> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > >
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> > >
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> >
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> >
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> >
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