Nice picture Joshua. ?Just for the heck of it I tried the ICOM BM-17 headset with the including cable assembly that came with my TX-500 and I couldn't hear any audio through the headset and the mic didn't work. ?It does work with my non-ICOM BM-17 headset just fine. ?Just to be clear I wasn't using your N5FY device.
73,
David
K9AT
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Joshua, Nice interface!? I'm liking the built-in mic option.? My little interface project uses Mic with Bias pin and has a TRRS connector for headset with mic plus a PTT button in the middle.? Tested with an old cell phone ear/mic set and it works. Now I'm using Kimura Eer/Mic set
I've built one prototype, had to cut and jumper one trace and would like to have a few new circuit boards made with a few more physical changes..? Who knows, I might end up a with few of these to make available sometime this year. But I've got a back-log of home maintenance and auto repairs that seems to consume my free time.
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Grace & peace,
Tim AF6TF
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Martin, I posted this on the other group, but since you raised the point about the current TX-500 I¡¯ve copy-pasted my comment here as encouragement for existing owners:
I¡¯m on the fence about the new ¡°TX-500MP.¡± I¡¯m not certain there¡¯s a huge market for all of that military-esque narrative. When I hear what look like pre-endorsements ¡ª from influencers like OH8STN and, to be fair, probably others ¡ª in which words like ¡°tactical¡± and ¡°deploy¡± are thrown about repeatedly, I¡¯m wondering what scaled-up group of ham radio operators from real life are truly being referenced? Am I somehow missing flocks of Navy SEALs at the ham radio meetings and swap meets I visit? And does the POTA crowd really want a radio whose USB/mic ports are designed to be clipped to your torso? And does anybody need ¡°all the ports¡± shifted to one end of the radio (under the guise of ¡°cable management feedback¡± while forgetting that clumsy usb/mic clip-on thingie for the moment) if that means that?independent?ports have really been combined (i.e., eliminated)? And is getting rid of Lab599¡¯s truly engaging band scope really more desirable than a new antenna tuner ¡ª when we¡¯re already hearing that people want to use this with a tiny linear amplifier anyway ¡ª which of course necessitates another antenna tuner? Finally, why in the world would any influencer act like the loss of the TX-500¡¯s sturdy VFO knob, in favor of tiny buttons that will need to be clicked-clicked-clicked-clicked, is a feature rather than an ergonomic nuisance? I frankly think what we¡¯re about to witness as a follow up to Lab599¡¯s initial masterpiece¡ is a blunder of colossal proportions. I hope I¡¯m wrong about this, I truly do.
73, Randy K7RAN
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Ah that feeling when you witness your beloved QRP radio about to be superseded by a newer, better version that may make yours less valuable, less cool and potentially obsolete after only a year or so of ownership¡priceless.
Just kidding. From what I can see so far from Julian¡¯s excellent videos is that this admittedly interesting looking new radio really only seems to make sense if ManPack employed using a 1/4 vertical for ¡°local¡± groundwave comms. Remember it¡¯s QRP. If you tend to set up shop and use wire antennas for distance I can¡¯t see much benefit in the MP.?
On Sun, Feb 18, 2024 at 7:19 AM, bobsayers2000 via groups.io < bobsayers2000@...> wrote: Hi? Randy,
Good question as of now as so little information is yet available! There are a number of YouTube videos showing it - most of what follows is gleaned from them and I have no special source of information, so very happy to be corrected or shot down in flames!
The biggest difference is the format - the MP is a little like the current 500 turned 90 degrees on one edge, so that it becomes like a large ('ish) handheld.
No loudspeaker is fitted, a speaker/microphone is supplied.
All connectors are waterproof types, and are all at the "top" end, along with the antenna connector (sufficiently strong to mount a whip).
The BP Battery Pack can still be used, and mounts on the "back" of the radio.
The display is again a high-contrast monochrome type, but obviously now has to fit across the width of the new front panel.
For resilience, NO VFO knob is fitted (it will be interesting to see how long it is before a third-party manufacturer brings one out) so frequency changes are made via the up/down keys, and presumably also those on the microphone.
An Interface Unit will be available which clips on clothing at chest height and carries ports for data and audio in/out. It will be interesting to see if this unit reaches production in the form of the images shown, as it appears not to have the same environmental protection as the radio itself. A lot of discussion so far has centered around use portable with the radio in a backpack, where of course the display cannot be seen. Personally, as a long-time IC-703 user I have always found voice prompts useful when the radio is used in this way, and I hoped they are introduced on the MP. I don't have a "normal" TX-500 at the moment, perhaps someone could confirm if this feature is available there?
Best regards,
Bob, G8IYK
On Sun, 18 Feb 2024 at 14:30, Randy K7RAN <k7ran@...> wrote: What are the differences between the TX-500 and TX-500MP?
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Hi? Randy,
Good question as of now as so little information is yet available! There are a number of YouTube videos showing it - most of what follows is gleaned from them and I have no special source of information, so very happy to be corrected or shot down in flames!
The biggest difference is the format - the MP is a little like the current 500 turned 90 degrees on one edge, so that it becomes like a large ('ish) handheld.
No loudspeaker is fitted, a speaker/microphone is supplied.
All connectors are waterproof types, and are all at the "top" end, along with the antenna connector (sufficiently strong to mount a whip).
The BP Battery Pack can still be used, and mounts on the "back" of the radio.
The display is again a high-contrast monochrome type, but obviously now has to fit across the width of the new front panel.
For resilience, NO VFO knob is fitted (it will be interesting to see how long it is before a third-party manufacturer brings one out) so frequency changes are made via the up/down keys, and presumably also those on the microphone.
An Interface Unit will be available which clips on clothing at chest height and carries ports for data and audio in/out. It will be interesting to see if this unit reaches production in the form of the images shown, as it appears not to have the same environmental protection as the radio itself. A lot of discussion so far has centered around use portable with the radio in a backpack, where of course the display cannot be seen. Personally, as a long-time IC-703 user I have always found voice prompts useful when the radio is used in this way, and I hoped they are introduced on the MP. I don't have a "normal" TX-500 at the moment, perhaps someone could confirm if this feature is available there?
Best regards,
Bob, G8IYK
On Sun, 18 Feb 2024 at 14:30, Randy K7RAN <k7ran@...> wrote: What are the differences between the TX-500 and TX-500MP?
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I have created a TX-500MP group to support the forthcoming "MP" model of the TX-500.
I am asking all prospective members to restrict all postings to the group to subjects specifically only to the MP, and for subjects relating to the current TX-500 and more general discussions to continue to use and support the Lab599 group.
Bob, G8IYK
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Love the artwork, Joshua!
Bob, G8IYK
On Fri, 16 Feb 2024 at 14:29, Joshua Ellis N5FY <jjellis2010@...> wrote: Trying again to get the photos attached...     Joshua N5FY
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Trying again to get the photos attached...     Joshua N5FY
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Thanks Joshua and our Russian friend on this thread. ?I didn't know this so I'll have to try my ICOM headset.
K9AT
David
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First off I remembered that I was using the LAB599 cable assembly that has a mini PTT that you can press with your thumb and not the Heil hand trigger. ?That on another radio that I own. ?Too many radios to keep them all straight. ?:). Additionally that cable has two female 3.5mm jacks marked for the headset and mic. ?And yes it's Heil's dynamic mic headset. ?The other BM-17 that Neil makes is specific for ICOM radios with one of the mic pins to supply voltage to power the IC/Electret mic element. ?As far as I know the TX-500 doesn't supply this voltage at the mic connector when I looked at their schematic pdf of all their cables. ?Without that voltage it won't work.
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Rutgers,
It sounds like you are using a Dynamic mic with the TX500. What adaptor are you using or maybe homemade? Also curious why you chose a dynamic over an IC/Electret mic element. Not that either is wrong, just curious.?
Joshua
N5FY
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Lab599 For Sale w/LDG Z100Plus and DigiRig
Hey all,
I'm sure most of you own a Lab599, but if there is anyone who is lurking that doesn't own one OR if you guys know someone who is looking to purchase one, I am selling mine.
Comes with all original accessories, a LDG Z100Plus Tuner, and DigiRig for digital modes. The TX500 is still under warranty (~6mos) and has only been used indoors. Asking $1100.?
Reason for selling: I'm looking to acquire a 100w rig and I thought I'd be doing POTA/SOTA but that's just not in my cards for the time being.
Happy to meet over FaceTime or Zoom.
My email is kf0gtr@...?for questions. Thanks!
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Hi Bob,
I use the Heil BM-17 (the yellow headset) non-ICOM headset with my TX-500. ?I have to turn up the mic gain to 100 to sound loud enough though. ?You can use either the Heil hand or the foot PTT or operate your radio in the VOX mode. ?It works great for me. ?To answer your question about the MP version I would imagine the same would be true.
Best 73,
Ruffers
K9AT
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Are any of you using the RadioSport headsets with the 500?
My question will eventually be for use with the "MP" model when that becomes available, but I imagine the electrical requirements for both radios will be the same, even if different connectors are required.
Bob, G8IYK
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P.S... This last year in the fall.
On Thu, Feb 8, 2024 at 3:12?PM Bob Finch < w9ya@...> wrote: I cancelled my order and ordered direct from Dubai.
(Just a suggestion)
es vy 73 de "baab" w9ya
On Thu, Feb 8, 2024 at 2:31?PM asnyman < asnyman@...> wrote: Waiting since early April 7th 2023. Same unacceptable answers..?
Adriaan?
Saint Helens, OR.
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I cancelled my order and ordered direct from Dubai.
(Just a suggestion)
es vy 73 de "baab" w9ya
On Thu, Feb 8, 2024 at 2:31?PM asnyman < asnyman@...> wrote: Waiting since early April 7th 2023. Same unacceptable answers..?
Adriaan?
Saint Helens, OR.
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Waiting since early April 7th 2023. Same unacceptable answers..?
Adriaan?
Saint Helens, OR.
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Re: Firmware update using Linux (Ubuntu
On linux distros the user group addition will (typically) be EITHER "dialout" or "uucp" that the individual user should/must be added to in order for devices to "automagically" be usable.
es vy 73 om de "baab" w9ya
On Thu, Feb 8, 2024 at 8:43?AM Tim Fairbairn < af6tf.tim@...> wrote: Dominic,
Wonderful response. Thanks for the hints to further my education.?
After posting this query, I installed WSJT-X and that process included an OS restart.? Followed that up with actually enabling the 'Activate' button in the flrig transceiver setup. Then I heard relay clicking in the TX500 and I was online with CAT control.?? I did notice that the modem group was temporary so i shall practice the user settings as suggested.
End result: once I found and selected the correct sound adapter for WSJT-X, there were stations being decoded and I was able to call CQ.? Got one to respond and we logged the exchange.? Success!? Next step is to find the audio level adjustments in the sound adapter to get the audio a bit stronger so the radio is sending a few more watts.? It's very QRP right now.
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Grace & peace,
Tim AF6TF
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David Holmgren K9AT "Ruffers"
Randy K7RAN
