HFU HF Underground
Technical Topics => Equipment => Topic started by: BunkerKC on January 12, 2022, 1324 UTC
-
Hi all,
Hi all, I have a question about CB/11m (Yes, commence eye-rolling, I know.) I'm trying to set up a proof-of-concept over CB for purposes of sending JS8Call over CB.
Currently the setup is a CB radio hooked up to a USB sound card hooked to the laptop. However, I'm running into trouble hooking up the CB to the sound card: I can use the external speaker output 3.5mm jack to hook up to the sound card, but I can't easily connect the mic output to the sound card. The mic output is a basic 4-pin Cobra/Uniden, and I can't seem to find a way (or more likely I'm just too dumb) to make that connection.
There does exist a 4-pin-to-3.5mm connector on ebay, but it's out of Australia and will take a month and $65 to get to where I am.
Do any of you smart people know of a workaround here, or know of an off-the-shelf CB radio that will easily connect to a usb soundcard? I'd prefer not to reinvent the wheel if I don't have to. Thank you all in advance.
(Also, for context: I have a Xiegu 5105 setup for JS8Call already. The above project is more just a "see if possible" attempt. The Xiegu is 5w, CB is 4w; CB should function similar to the QRP radio I think, so I'd like to see what operations look like using a pure CB setup, and not extrapolating using, say, 10m stuff.)
-
If I'm understand you correct - maybe try the following:
The 4 pin Cobra/Uniden Mike connector is
Pin 1 - Massa/Ground
Pin 2 - Audio
Pin 3 - TX
Pin 4 - RX
Just shortcircuit pin 1 and 4 for RX
From Audio source/speaker/Soundcard
Wire audio plus to pin 2 and audio min to pin 1
Andre
CoolAMRadio/OHR
the Netherlands
-
That is pretty much what I'm looking for. Unfortunately, I'm one of those very slow individuals who needs things explained like I'm 5 years old...
I did find a 4 pin TRRS adapter cable that should work for this, and is set up like this:
Pin 1: "L"
Pin 2: "R"
Pin 3: "V"
Pin 4: "Ground"
Using the Cobra/Uniden schematic you detailed, what would I hook up to where on this adapter cable for purposes of mimicking the "Transmit" function? My guess would be "Cobra Pin 3" to "Adapter Pin 3", and "Cobra Pin 1" to "Adapter Pin 4"?
***
If I'm understanding the USB sound card correctly, the "RX" radio function feeds to the headphone jack on the sound card; The "TX" radio function feeds to the mic jack on the sound card. The "RX" output should be handled via the CB's external speaker jack. The "TX" output is where I'm uncertain.
Adapter cable here: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07PQTKMM7/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1
If I'm understand you correct - maybe try the following:
The 4 pin Cobra/Uniden Mike connector is
Pin 1 - Massa/Ground
Pin 2 - Audio
Pin 3 - TX
Pin 4 - RX
Just shortcircuit pin 1 and 4 for RX
From Audio source/speaker/Soundcard
Wire audio plus to pin 2 and audio min to pin 1
Andre
CoolAMRadio/OHR
the Netherlands
-
You need to use a interface such as a Signalink.
If you overload the signal, it won't be decipherable..
Plus digital modes are not allowed on the citizens band, just phone AM and SSB..
Plus you would need to use a SSB radio, not AM..
Digital modes tends to use Upper Side Band Only.. Everybody has to be on the same page for it to work, and there is no rules for the citizens band - since cb is only designed for local communications..