Yes, I am working on having Y wire to connect to the external speaker and to LED circuit. I am just looking for an easier option.
Kenwood: TM-D710: Light Indicator when RX.
- Thread starter alzadjali
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If the backlight of the display does not change intensity my idea will not work. If it does change then a light sensitive diode or transistor could be facing the display. A change in the displays brightness caused by receiving a signal and opening the squelch could be used to turn on a LED places where you can easily see it. Some radios will change display brightness on receive. If brightness did change then without direct electrical connection to the radio you would have a “remote” indication. The reason I said non-invasive hook, meaning connection without physical contact.Sorry, I don't get you
Hoping you find something that will work for you.
Good Luck!
Got you. Unfortunately, Kenwood does not dim when receives signals.
On the TM-D710G, Menu 902 Auto Brightness needs to be On (default is Off) and Menu 901 Brightness needs to be something other than 8 (default is 8). When the radio is set up this way, the display will dim down to whatever brightness level that 901 is set to and then brighten up one level when a button is pushed or scan is stopped. The effect is very subtle because there isn't much difference between brightness levels. This is probably not what the OP is looking for.
OK, these tests were conducted on a TM-D710 (non-G), but I have no reason to think that it wouldn't work on a TM-D710G, or a TM-V71, for that matter.
There is a female 6-pin mini-DIN jack on the back of the radio body (not the control head) labeled DATA. This jack is for use with an external TNC or an EchoLink controller. Pin 6 on this connector is labeled SQC which is a squelch control signal from the radio (used in some TNC applications). The default mode is for SQC to go high, relative to ground (Pin 2), when the squelch is open and to go low when squelch is closed. Menu 921 (520 on a TM-D710 or TM-V71) reverses that action.
The only issue with this is that the squelch signal only works for the band (side of the radio) configured as the "data band". The data band is selected in menu 930 on the TM-D710G (menu 517 on TM-D710 or TM-V71). The little "D" above the frequency display indicates which band is the "data band".
So, with all of this set up on my TM-D710, I found that when the squelch is closed (no audio being passed), I measure 0 volts between pins 6 and 2. When the squelch is open (audio being passed), I measure approximately 4.8 volts between pins 6 and 2. The manuals don't say anything about how much current you can pull through pin 6. There is probably not enough current available to drive an LED directly, but maybe enough to drive the base of a switching transistor.
There is a female 6-pin mini-DIN jack on the back of the radio body (not the control head) labeled DATA. This jack is for use with an external TNC or an EchoLink controller. Pin 6 on this connector is labeled SQC which is a squelch control signal from the radio (used in some TNC applications). The default mode is for SQC to go high, relative to ground (Pin 2), when the squelch is open and to go low when squelch is closed. Menu 921 (520 on a TM-D710 or TM-V71) reverses that action.
The only issue with this is that the squelch signal only works for the band (side of the radio) configured as the "data band". The data band is selected in menu 930 on the TM-D710G (menu 517 on TM-D710 or TM-V71). The little "D" above the frequency display indicates which band is the "data band".
So, with all of this set up on my TM-D710, I found that when the squelch is closed (no audio being passed), I measure 0 volts between pins 6 and 2. When the squelch is open (audio being passed), I measure approximately 4.8 volts between pins 6 and 2. The manuals don't say anything about how much current you can pull through pin 6. There is probably not enough current available to drive an LED directly, but maybe enough to drive the base of a switching transistor.
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k6cpo
Member
That radio has a separate control head. Why not mount the head higher on the dash where it's easier to see? It really should be closer to your normal line of sight so you're not looking down at the radio while driving. I have my FTM-400 head mounted just below the top line of my dash so it's much easier to see.
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Unfortunately, I am using APRS for the second band. Good idea.
I use the radio in the desert where many big dunes and I can't look at the unit while I am driving. This link gives you an idea
Which won't be a problem. The selection of APRS data band in menu 601, is independent of the selection of the data band for an external TNC in menu 930.
In fact, this is one of the cool things about the Kenwood TM-D710--you can do APRS on one "side" of the radio while using an external TNC on the other "side" of the radio.
I tried but could not get the voltage at all. Could you please give me step by step how to config the radio? Thank you.
Lets assume you are doing APRS on the B band and using the A band for voice communications.
Set menu 601 to B band. Set menu 930 to A band.
Measure voltage between pins 2 and 6 on the 6-pin mini-DIN jack on the back of the radio. That voltage will go between 0 and approximately 5 volts as the radios squelch condition changes.
Set menu 601 to B band. Set menu 930 to A band.
Measure voltage between pins 2 and 6 on the 6-pin mini-DIN jack on the back of the radio. That voltage will go between 0 and approximately 5 volts as the radios squelch condition changes.
Thank you very much for your help., it is working. Also, I would like to thank everyone who spent the time to help. God bless you all - Status
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