17 Jul
2003
17 Jul
'03
10:58 a.m.
I'm posting this here because, on the average, you guys are pretty
smart.
I'm trying to put a push-to-talk switch on the steering wheel of my
car so I can key the 2-meter ham radio while keeping both hands
on the wheel. I've got a little boom mic and have built an interface
box, but how to mount the switch has me stumped.
I picked up one of the velcro aircraft ptt buttons, which mounts
nicely, but even with the relatively short turning radius of my
Subaru it's still a good number of turns lock-to-lock and the coiled
cord has a tendency to get snagged in the space between the
wheel and steering column.
My next thought is to use the aircraft button, but with a tiny
transmitter/battery mounted on the wheel, with a receiver mounted
under the steering column with a keying relay. Hit the button, the
relay turns on, let up, the relay releases.
I've been Googling for a while, but most tiny transmitters are either
for "spy" audio apps, or are multi-button jobs for garage doors and
things like that. All I need is a simple on/off fm transmitter that
controls a simple relay on the receiver end, preferably powered by
a couple of AA cells or similar, and the transmitter needs to be
hackable so I can connect the wheel-mounted ptt switch.
Any suggestions?
I know this isn't directly related to Classiccmp, but it IS related to
ham radio and electronics, and ham radio and electronics are
related to hamfests, and hamfests attract computer collectors, so
there. I just made the connection.
Thanks.
Paul Braun
Cygnus Productions
nerdware(a)ctgonline.org
17 Jul
17 Jul
12:02 p.m.
nerdware(a)ctgonline.org wrote:
I've been Googling for a while, but most tiny transmitters are either
for "spy" audio apps, or are multi-button jobs for garage doors and
things like that. All I need is a simple on/off fm transmitter that
controls a simple relay on the receiver end, preferably powered by
a couple of AA cells or similar, and the transmitter needs to be
hackable so I can connect the wheel-mounted ptt switch.
It should be fairly trivial and inexpensive to use a wireless FM lapel
mike. The ones I've had were about 2" long and maybe 3/4" square. The
bigger problem would be to keep interference from keying your
transceiver, *especially* if you left it turned on in the vehicle.
Adding PL encode/decode might be one fairly inexpensive way of dealing
with that problem.
12:33 p.m.
Why not just put a foortwitch on the floor - allowing hands-free
operation with no wire mess and trying to press a button and turn a corner
at the same time....
Of course if you have a manual transmission this might be slightly less
than optimal, but I've done it many times with several vehicles - never
had a problem.
Cheers
John KB6SCO
21 Jul
21 Jul
1:15 p.m.
Why not just put a foortwitch on the floor -
allowing hands-free
operation with no wire mess and trying to press a button and turn a
corner at the same time....
Thought about that, but with the manual gearbox, the left foot gets
a workout as well. Plus, I have reasonably large feet, so the room
up there is minimal. I have a footswitch I can try for a while, to see
if I can work it.
Of course if you have a manual transmission this
might be slightly
less
than optimal, but I've done it many times with several vehicles -
never had a problem.
However, my main goal was to be able to talk while shifting, which
requires my left hand to be on the wheel, my right hand on the
shifter, and the left foot on the clutch....
I may not be able to make that happen. The more I think about it,
the IR or RF options have their own set of problems. The hard-
wired, wheel-mounted switch works fine in race cars because they
never have to go more than one turn lock-to-lock or so, therefore
don't have to worry about the cable tangling. Other option I just
thought about is to put the switch on the column, on the left side,
with a paddle that's wide enough to keep my finger on it while I'm
making a mild turn. If I need to make larger steering inputs, I can
stop talking and concentrate on not hitting someone...
Cheers
John KB6SCO
73,
Paul WD9GCO
Paul Braun WD9GCO
Cygnus Productions
nerdware_nospam(a)laidbak.com
"A computer without a Microsoft operating system is like a dog without a bunch of
bricks tied to its head."
1:23 p.m.
Paul Braun wrote:
However, my main goal was to be able to talk while shifting, which
requires my left hand to be on the wheel, my right hand on the
shifter, and the left foot on the clutch....
I may not be able to make that happen. The more I think about it,
the IR or RF options have their own set of problems. The hard-
wired, wheel-mounted switch works fine in race cars because they
never have to go more than one turn lock-to-lock or so, therefore
don't have to worry about the cable tangling. Other option I just
thought about is to put the switch on the column, on the left side,
with a paddle that's wide enough to keep my finger on it while I'm
making a mild turn. If I need to make larger steering inputs, I can
stop talking and concentrate on not hitting someone...
What about taking an idea from the NOS guys? They usually put the
switch for nitrous on the shifter handle, in the thumb position. Kinda
like a fire button on a fighter's control stick...
--
--- Dave Woyciesjes
--- ICQ# 905818
5:48 p.m.
On Sun, 20 Jul 2003, Paul Braun wrote:
Thought
about that, but with the manual gearbox, the left foot gets
a workout as well. Plus, I have reasonably large feet, so the room
up there is minimal. I have a footswitch I can try for a while, to see
if I can work it.
Having a manual gearbox myself - it just now occurs to me that an
interesting place for the PTT switch might be on the gearshift lever,
under the knob somewheres...
Hmmmm - got new truck, time for rig in same - hmmm...
Cheers
John
17 Jul
17 Jul
12:51 p.m.
On Mon, 14 Jul 2003 nerdware(a)ctgonline.org wrote:
My next thought is to use the aircraft button, but
with a tiny
transmitter/battery mounted on the wheel, with a receiver mounted under
the steering column with a keying relay. Hit the button, the relay
turns on, let up, the relay releases.
Perhaps a near-IR LED with a 555 and a 9V battery would work for the
"transmitter"? Somewhere I have some plans filed away for something
similar. Depending on the output of the LED, and sensitivity of the IR
transistor used by the detector circuit, you might not be able to key
while making a turn, but then how often would you need to do that?
-Toth
4:54 p.m.
I second the motion! Use an IR link! Use of a frequency selective IR
Tx/Rx system will prevent unwanted keying of your transmitter, and if it
is anything like the ones I have built, the reflected signal will be
enough to make it work (no need to be line of sight).
Using RF to create a link is asking for trouble, not to mention a lot
more work. Check FCC regs, this is considered remote transmitter
control. If you choose to go RF, use a coded transmitter similar to a
remote entry key, not a PL based one, since even that is susceptible to
interference. Holtek makes a few Tx/Rx chips with digital coding. You
can buy the chips at digikey.com. (But don't use them! Go IR!)
-Bryan
Tothwolf wrote:
On Mon, 14 Jul 2003 nerdware(a)ctgonline.org wrote:
My next thought is to use the aircraft button, but
with a tiny
transmitter/battery mounted on the wheel, with a receiver mounted under
the steering column with a keying relay. Hit the button, the relay
turns on, let up, the relay releases.
Perhaps a near-IR LED with a 555 and a 9V battery would work for the
"transmitter"? Somewhere I have some plans filed away for something
similar. Depending on the output of the LED, and sensitivity of the IR
transistor used by the detector circuit, you might not be able to key
while making a turn, but then how often would you need to do that?
-Toth 
9:40 p.m.
I'd think a bit about IR, because of the following:
My neighbor complained that my ham gear was turning her television set on.
IR control was being triggered by sunlight wafting in through drapes and
blinds, and happened to hit the right pulse sequence to turn on the set.
I've heard that is not unusual.
Being "outside", you might have something like that key up your
transmitter when you don't want it to. I'd stick with a hardwire PTT
switch of some sort.
Gary Hildebrand WA7KKP
I second the motion! Use an IR link! Use of a
frequency selective IR
Tx/Rx system will prevent unwanted keying of your transmitter, and if it
is anything like the ones I have built, the reflected signal will be
enough to make it work (no need to be line of sight).
Using RF to create a link is asking for trouble, not to mention a lot
more work. Check FCC regs, this is considered remote transmitter
control. If you choose to go RF, use a coded transmitter similar to a
remote entry key, not a PL based one, since even that is susceptible to
interference. Holtek makes a few Tx/Rx chips with digital coding. You
can buy the chips at digikey.com. (But don't use them! Go IR!)
-Bryan
10:09 p.m.
I wouldn't use a simple on/off IR signal. I'm talking about a modulated/
decoded signal. Sunlight will not affect that. An RF link is far more
susceptible to RF interference than an IR signal (if the IR receiver is
properly shielded, and most come already shielded). If the front end of
an RF receiver becomes saturated, it is even more susceptible. Until
now, I've never heard of a TV being activated by RF through the IR
electronics. I won't say it can't happen, but I would not give it very
good odds.
-Bryan
ghldbrd(a)ccp.com wrote:
I'd think a bit about IR, because of the
following:
My neighbor complained that my ham gear was turning her television set on.
IR control was being triggered by sunlight wafting in through drapes and
blinds, and happened to hit the right pulse sequence to turn on the set.
I've heard that is not unusual.
Being "outside", you might have something like that key up your
transmitter when you don't want it to. I'd stick with a hardwire PTT
switch of some sort.
Gary Hildebrand WA7KKP
>I second the motion! Use an IR link! Use of a frequency selective IR
>Tx/Rx system will prevent unwanted keying of your transmitter, and if it
>is anything like the ones I have built, the reflected signal will be
>enough to make it work (no need to be line of sight).
>
>Using RF to create a link is asking for trouble, not to mention a lot
>more work. Check FCC regs, this is considered remote transmitter
>control. If you choose to go RF, use a coded transmitter similar to a
>remote entry key, not a PL based one, since even that is susceptible to
>interference. Holtek makes a few Tx/Rx chips with digital coding. You
>can buy the chips at digikey.com. (But don't use them! Go IR!)
>
>-Bryan
10:17 p.m.
I wouldn't use a simple on/off IR signal. I'm
talking about a modulated/
decoded signal. Sunlight will not affect that. An RF link is far more
susceptible to RF interference than an IR signal (if the IR receiver is
properly shielded, and most come already shielded). If the front end of
an RF receiver becomes saturated, it is even more susceptible. Until
now, I've never heard of a TV being activated by RF through the IR
electronics. I won't say it can't happen, but I would not give it very
good odds.
-Bryan
ghldbrd(a)ccp.com wrote:
> IR control was being triggered by sunlight wafting
in through drapes and
>blinds, and happened to hit the right pulse sequence to turn on the set.
>I've heard that is not unusual.
1:09 p.m.
I'm posting this here because, on the average, you
guys are pretty
smart.
Not THAT smart, we just try harder than most people.
I'm trying to put a push-to-talk switch on the steering wheel of my
car so I can key the 2-meter ham radio while keeping both hands
on the wheel. I've got a little boom mic and have built an interface
box, but how to mount the switch has me stumped.
I picked up one of the velcro aircraft ptt buttons, which mounts
nicely, but even with the relatively short turning radius of my
Subaru it's still a good number of turns lock-to-lock and the coiled
cord has a tendency to get snagged in the space between the
wheel and steering column.
My next thought is to use the aircraft button, but with a tiny
transmitter/battery mounted on the wheel, with a receiver mounted
under the steering column with a keying relay. Hit the button, the
relay turns on, let up, the relay releases.
I've been Googling for a while, but most tiny transmitters are either
for "spy" audio apps, or are multi-button jobs for garage doors and
things like that. All I need is a simple on/off fm transmitter that
controls a simple relay on the receiver end, preferably powered by
a couple of AA cells or similar, and the transmitter needs to be
hackable so I can connect the wheel-mounted ptt switch.
Any suggestions?
I know this isn't directly related to Classiccmp, but it IS related to
ham radio and electronics, and ham radio and electronics are
related to hamfests, and hamfests attract computer collectors, so
there. I just made the connection.
Thanks.
Paul Braun
Cygnus Productions
nerdware(a)ctgonline.org
Scrap the button on the wheel idea --- I'd mount a good rugged switch on
the floorboard off to the left of the brake pedal. Something on the order
of a headlight dimmer switch.
With power steering, you really don't need both hands on the wheel
anymore. I can't remember back when, when I needed both hands to steer.
And I'd say a radio controlled 'PTT' might be a tad illegal under FCC
rules of controlling a radio with a radio link. That, if you remember,
has to be done on frequencies higher than 222 MHz.
One thing I did years ago and people thought I was crazy until they tried
it --- mounting the microphone so that it hangs handy for the LEFT HAND
instead of the right. Once you get used to it, it makes consommate sense.
Keeps right hand free for steering, and automatic tranny shifting. This
might entail an extension cable, and another mic jack mounted next to the
door somewhere on the dash. In my case, the radio fit best on the LH
side.
Gary Hildebrand WA7KKP
4:50 p.m.
If you're really stuck on the 'wireless' solution, I think the cheapest
option has to be buying one of those 'el cheapo' wireless doorbells and
hacking it to do what you want.
DaveB
Christchurch, NZ
----- Original Message -----
From: <nerdware(a)ctgonline.org>
To: <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2003 7:32 AM
Subject: OT-- need plans for a wireless switch
I'm posting this here because, on the average, you
guys are pretty
smart.
I'm trying to put a push-to-talk switch on the steering wheel of my
car so I can key the 2-meter ham radio while keeping both hands
on the wheel. I've got a little boom mic and have built an interface
box, but how to mount the switch has me stumped.
I picked up one of the velcro aircraft ptt buttons, which mounts
nicely, but even with the relatively short turning radius of my
Subaru it's still a good number of turns lock-to-lock and the coiled
cord has a tendency to get snagged in the space between the
wheel and steering column.
My next thought is to use the aircraft button, but with a tiny
transmitter/battery mounted on the wheel, with a receiver mounted
under the steering column with a keying relay. Hit the button, the
relay turns on, let up, the relay releases.
I've been Googling for a while, but most tiny transmitters are either
for "spy" audio apps, or are multi-button jobs for garage doors and
things like that. All I need is a simple on/off fm transmitter that
controls a simple relay on the receiver end, preferably powered by
a couple of AA cells or similar, and the transmitter needs to be
hackable so I can connect the wheel-mounted ptt switch.
Any suggestions?
I know this isn't directly related to Classiccmp, but it IS related to
ham radio and electronics, and ham radio and electronics are
related to hamfests, and hamfests attract computer collectors, so
there. I just made the connection.
Thanks.
Paul Braun
Cygnus Productions
nerdware(a)ctgonline.org
18 Jul
18 Jul
2:18 a.m.
I always wondered how they hooked up wiring to things that rotate, like
helicopter blades. With brushes?
At 14:32 14/07/2003 -0500, you wrote:
I'm posting this here because, on the average, you
guys are pretty
smart.
I'm trying to put a push-to-talk switch on the steering wheel of my
car so I can key the 2-meter ham radio while keeping both hands
on the wheel. I've got a little boom mic and have built an interface
box, but how to mount the switch has me stumped.
[---------]
"Homer, we don't have to have sex."
"Yes we do, the cookie told me so."
"Deserts aren't always right Homer."
"But they're so delicious."
Website: retrobbs.org
BBS: telnet bbs.retrobbs.org 2323
Tradewars: telnet tradewars.retrobbs.org
[---------]
11:27 a.m.
On Fri, 18 Jul 2003, Mark Firestone wrote:
I always wondered how they hooked up wiring to things
that rotate, like
helicopter blades. With brushes?
by periodically running it in reverse to untwist the wires?
>I'm trying to put a push-to-talk switch on the
steering wheel of my
>car so I can key the 2-meter ham radio while keeping both hands
>on the wheel. I've got a little boom mic and have built an interface
>box, but how to mount the switch has me stumped.
disconnect the horn and use its button
20 Jul
20 Jul
12:31 p.m.
On Mon, 14 Jul 2003 nerdware(a)ctgonline.org wrote:
I know this isn't directly related to Classiccmp,
but it IS related to
ham radio and electronics, and ham radio and electronics are
related to hamfests, and hamfests attract computer collectors, so
there. I just made the connection.
Nicely done. You get a gold star :)
--
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org
* Old computing resources for business and academia at www.VintageTech.com *
7840
days inactive
7844
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15 comments
11 participants
participants (11)
-
cisin＠xenosoft.com -
dwoyciesjes＠comcast.net -
ghldbrd＠ccp.com -
jpl15＠panix.com -
marvin＠rain.org -
nedry＠mail.bedlambells.com -
nerdware＠ctgonline.org -
oldcomp＠cox.net -
tothwolf＠concentric.net -
tractorb＠ihug.co.nz -
vcf＠siconic.com