Rigging up a portable cb to my I/S? I did it!

[Squatchmo]

Guess I'm gonna beat this cb thing to death.  Did a search but no luck on finding out the following:

I have a portable CB I just purchased and want to use on my I/S.  Can't afford the OEM or J&M stuff out there.  I have intercom headsets.  I also have the CB headset.  Unfortunately, I can't fit both speakers inside the helmet without modifiying the inside of the helmet (unwise).  Tell me if the following could be done without ruining my intercom headset (expensive); I'm not so concerned about the CB headset (cheap):

Could I "piggyback/splice" the itty-bitty headset wires from the CB headset to the headset wires on the intercom headset?  That way (maybe) I could still use intercom, listen to radio AND communicate on the CB when necessary?

I know, I know, it would be nice if I just bought a unit that is plugl-n-play, but that ain't happening right now.  And I don't want to give up one of my intercom speakers to put the CB speaker on one side.

Any suggestions / answers / advice is greatly appreciated!

[PAVALKER]

I believe the only part of that CB you can connect to your Valk I/S system is the speaker portion.... taking the output of the speaker via the headset jack and plugging it in to the Aux Audio Input.  Then possibly getting a microphone clipped on to your shirt/jacket so you can key the mike and talk on the CB thru the mike.    But if you find another way..... let me know.

Considering the same option.... but I use my GPS to feed my AUX input and might have to get a splitter to split the input.  But I think it will work.  I do have a microphone that clips to my jacket as well....

[Squatchmo]

After thinking it over, I do have room in my helmet to add the 2nd mic.  Maybe I can just piggyback the speaker wire from the CB headset to my intercom speaker (tossing the CB headset speaker), then add the second mike to my helmet, mounting it in the helmet in the front where it would be in front of my mouth.

[Rocketman]

Splicing speaker wires or microphone wires and trying to mate up two devices that way usually doesn't work.  It ends up with feedback and a generally unusable system.  A specially designed circuit with the appropriate filters/switches is really the only way that would work, I believe.
As for audio output, using the AUX would work wonderfully, but would cut out any other audio other than the intercom (you would lose FM/AM radio).

[Squatchmo]

Yeah, I kinda figured that.  I guess it's back to the drawing board.  I'm determined to figure out something that works without giving up my other gadgets (XM in this case).  I'll keep plugging away and let y'all know what I come up with (or what gets destroyed  , whichever comes first).

[Squatchmo]

Well, I finally finished my project.  It took a lot of trial-and-error, solder, heatshrink tubing, and a coupla zip ties, but it's done and seems to work great.  I was able to install a headset speaker, microphone, and Push To Talk button, as well a quick mounting method for the CB.  Total cost, including headset, CB, Antenna, etc., about $110.00.  Pictures & explanation here:

[BrettB]

Ingenious!

[Bagger John - #3785]

Get yourself one of these:



http://www.cellset.com/frset.html

I designed an interface to that device which allows seamless integration to a Valkyrie I/S' CB control head, and am working on a "Gen2 Approach" for it as well.

As it stands...my I/S's audio system is capable of hosting an amateur radio transceiver, FRS/GMRS unit or a portable CB with the appropriate interface cable. Mic and speaker audio are available by means of the standard headset; no splicing or axtra stuff required.

This setup also works with a JMCB2003; we've rigged Blondie's Tourer up accordingly.

Next spring I'll come up with a way to use the Kennedy unit with Hondaline/Clarion's OEM Standard/Tourer CB package.

If anyone wishes to duplicate my efforts, get in touch with Jon @ Kennedy and ask him for copies of the materials I provided to him. Free of charge to the Valkyrie community...

[Squatchmo]

Very cool unit, BaggerJohn.  Wish I had known it existed.  I have been on some trips with my setup and finally got to road test it.  Works great, can't complain.  I did have to get an SWR meter to tune things, but even with that, it was only about $160 all told, including CB & Attenna.  Eventually I want to go "plug-n-play", but that will need to wait til I can afford it.

[Rocketman]

Get yourself one of these:
http://www.cellset.com/frset.html

As it stands...my I/S's audio system is capable of hosting an amateur radio transceiver, FRS/GMRS unit or a portable CB with the appropriate interface cable. Mic and speaker audio are available by means of the standard headset; no splicing or axtra stuff required.

If anyone wishes to duplicate my efforts, get in touch with Jon @ Kennedy and ask him for copies of the materials I provided to him. Free of charge to the Valkyrie community...

Very cool.  What channel does the sound come over?  i.e., does it feed through Aux, or does it replace the CB, or just overlay over top of everything else without silencing everything?

[Henry Jude Hardy]

Could you please send me details about interfacing my garmin Rino 130 into my valkyrie? Will this effect anything else, the ability to talk over the intercom with my passenger, listen to iPod through auxiliary etc?