VHF with Speaker in the Mic

[pvanv]

I'm looking for an onboard (not handheld) VHF that has the speaker in the mic. Reason is the radio will be below, and while I can clip the mic up by the helm, it's hard to hear the speaker.

Do I have to go to something like a RAM mic, or is there a unit that is already configured like this?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: VHF with Speaker in the Mic

i'm sure there is. in the upper line radios.

 

[pvanv]

Re: VHF with Speaker in the Mic

Any recommended brands or models with the speaker-in-the-mic feature?

 

[haskindm]

Re: VHF with Speaker in the Mic

ICOM has an option on their "upper end" VHF Radios called "COMMANDMICIII" which gives you remote control and a remote speaker on the microphone.
You can add a remote speaker to almost any VHF, which would probably be a much cheaper route. You would still need to go to the radio to use the microphone, but you could hear it from wherever you mount the speaker. Even the most basic VHF's have a provision for a remote speaker.

 

[dingbat]

Re: VHF with Speaker in the Mic

The Icom Command Mike will run your $150-$175. Thought about adding one to Icom 504 but couldn't justfiy the cost in my mind. Went with a remote speaker.

Most if not all VHF radios have a speaker output. Just buy a cheap little speaker and find somewhere in the cockpit to mount it.

 

[slasmith1]

Re: VHF with Speaker in the Mic

I think what you are trying to do is something like the ray 240. here is a link to thier site.
http://www.raymarine.com/Default.aspx?site=1&section=2&page=830

 

[pvanv]

Re: VHF with Speaker in the Mic

Yep, the Icom 504 looks like a possibility.

Also looks like the [pricey] Ray 240 would do it. Also the slightly less-obscenely-priced Ray 218.

Also... seems that Standard Horizon has models that can do it in the Quest-x, Quantum, and Matrix models.

These are all pretty high-end units, to be sure. I'll be installing this for a friend. The owner prefers a speaker-mic instead of a remote speaker. Maybe once he sees these prices, he will change his mind... Unless someone has an idea for a lower-end unit with speaker-mic...

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: VHF with Speaker in the Mic

I know this won't help much, but if you know how to wire a speaker/mic from any radio (knowing what wires are what, where) you can use any speaker/mic to do the job. They're all the same, some may just be louder than others. They may not all be watertight, but if it's for inside of a cabin, you don't need that.​

If you want to save a fortune, get a wiring diagram for the radio you want to use it on, and buy you a dirt cheap speaker/mic. Use the wiring diagram to figure out what wires to use on the wires coming out of the speaker/mic. If you don't want to or can't find a wiring diagram, then just experiment with it. Hook the wires up from the speaker output to the mic speaker output and go until you hear sound coming out of the speaker. You got that one. Now key the mic and hook up wires until you make the radio transmit. Now you're almost done. Solder everything together and seal it well and you're done. Easy as that. You will not kill a radio by experimenting like this until you get it right. It doesn't hurt a thing. Just be careful not to short anything out, but other than that, you'll be fine. I have an old radio I'd like to experiment with myself.​

 

[pvanv]

Re: VHF with Speaker in the Mic

Interesting idea, WITF. If it were for my boat, I'd probably do just that. But this particular guy likely won't be too keen on extending the cable in the field.

Seems that the lower-end VHF radios have permanently-attached mics as a cost-saving way to keep them watertight. While the radio will be belowdecks, the speaker-mic would be at the helm, so would need to be at least splashproof.

I'm wondering if I can get him to go with a Uniden radio, and then use a WHAM, which is a wireless remote (acts like a handheld, but operates the 25W fixed-mount radio). If he wants it tethered to prevent loss overboard, I should be able to accommodate that for him. If I do that, then he will have full controls at the remote, and he won't have to buy a $750-$1000-dollar radio setup.

Thoughts?

 

[slasmith1]

Re: VHF with Speaker in the Mic

Interesting idea, WITF. If it were for my boat, I'd probably do just that. But this particular guy likely won't be too keen on extending the cable in the field.

Seems that the lower-end VHF radios have permanently-attached mics as a cost-saving way to keep them watertight. While the radio will be belowdecks, the speaker-mic would be at the helm, so would need to be at least splashproof.

I'm wondering if I can get him to go with a Uniden radio, and then use a WHAM, which is a wireless remote (acts like a handheld, but operates the 25W fixed-mount radio). If he wants it tethered to prevent loss overboard, I should be able to accommodate that for him. If I do that, then he will have full controls at the remote, and he won't have to buy a $750-$1000-dollar radio setup.

Thoughts?

That should work but if it were me for about the same cost you can do the same thing with the ray 218 and it is a proper class d dsc radio. just personal preference though I like raymarine products.

 

[Boatist]

Re: VHF with Speaker in the Mic

I have a older Standard OMNI and it came with a speaker mike. I also have added a external speaker. The speaker mike is handy when have the radio down low and want to here radio better but have to have it pretty close to the ear before it is louad enough.