Dual Coms for the poor man.

[Downs 99]

I've seen folks running dual coms on their vest on here but usually it's though some sort of costly unit that combines the signals from both radios into your head set.  And you are still stuck lugging around (even though they are lightweight) 2 radios, which means double the batteries are needed for the day as well.   

 

This setup should allow you to use one radio for low cost (under 100 dollars) and use/monitor 2 frequencies at the same time.  This first solution isn't perfect and I'll go into why after the links. 

 

First is an A/B handmic that has two PTTs on the side.  This allows you to use the A and B sides of the radio from the handmic without having to pull the radio to mess with buttons on the face of it.  This mic (none of the dual ptt mics) will make this work with the standard UV-5R radio.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PQ83DDC/ref=s9_simh_gw_p422_d0_i16?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-3&pf_rd_r=1TQDSBB6X9EM6B8HPJFB&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2105323142&pf_rd_i=desktop

 

 

The second is a BAOFENG UV-82.  This comes in various flavors but the basic Uv-82 model is currently 40ish dollars on Amazon.  There is a "HP" model similar to the BF-F8HP (High power UV-5R) that makes 7 to 8 watts instead of the standard 5 watts.  These are just north of 60 dollars.  Anyway this radio has the ability to use the A and B "channels" at the same time without having to push the A/B button like on the UV-5R series.  With the above mic you simply pus the top part of the switch for frequency A and the bottom part of the switch for frequency B.  Easy peasy. There is a dual PTT on the radio itself as well if you don't want to run a handmic. 

 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F33W0FM/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il?ie=UTF8&m=AA3MGRC7F9EI2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00F33W0FM&linkCode=as2&tag=btek-20

 

 

Now the problem with this setup is that a radio like the UV-82 does not have dual transcievers.  It uses one transciever and uses software to "scan" back and forth between A and B frequencies very fast.  This generally works but for example if command is trying to call down to your squad while someone on the squad is trying to talk to you at the same time you will miss one of the calls.  Since the radio only has one transciever it can only listen to one frequency at a time.  this should work 99 percent of the time honestly, and is a good budget option for "dual coms" if you need dual coms for whatever reason.  

 

Now to solve this single transciver probably I usually see folks who run dual coms run two radios.  The other option is to run a radio that has dual transcivers built into it.  One such radio that is affordable is the Wouxun KG-UV8D.  This radio has two transcivers built into the same case.  It also has a cross band repeater capability but that's a subject for another thread.  This radio can recieve both A and B at the same time so in theory you'd never miss a call.  Though it is hard to pick out the words you want to listen to when both channels are open at the same time.  The dual transcievers do make the radio a bit battery hungry as well but there are extended batteries out there and 12 V adapters if you wanted to run it in a vehicle.  

 

The problem here is I haven't been able to test it or find out if the dual PTT speaker mic will work with this radio.  No one I've talked to has tried it yet either.  I don't have a KG-UV8D laying around to test it either my experience with this radio has been though using a friend's UV8D.  If it does indeed work it would  be great for those needing dual coms because it would reduce the load you need to carry to a single radio instead of two.  

 

http://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-013486

 

[Guest Specs]

I'm a fan of speakermics. That first link has my interest. Now if only they would offer a button for muting on the mic itself for easy radio silence. 

[Downs 99]

I'm a fan of speakermics. That first link has my interest. Now if only they would offer a button for muting on the mic itself for easy radio silence. 

in ear monitor from the jack on the handmic mutes the audio from the mic and routes it into your ear instead.  

 

If you wear electronic ear muffs you can use a patch cord to go from the handmic into your hearing protection.  That's how I run my Howard Leights. 

[Guest Specs]

in ear monitor from the jack on the handmic mutes the audio from the mic and routes it into your ear instead.  

 

If you wear electronic ear muffs you can use a patch cord to go from the handmic into your hearing protection.  That's how I run my Howard Leights. 

I could see myself running a setup like that at some point. Typically I just like the minimal fuss and crap on my head that comes with using only the speakermic (which is normally only used for keeping up with command or regrouping after respawn anyway.) But there are times that I might be on a larger group channel for platoon, and I'd like a break from some of the more chatty people. 

 

A simple earwig might be fine I guess, but between my headgear, goggles, and mesh there's a lot going on there. Which is originally why I dropped my old bravo style headset for the speakermic in the first place.