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7180 outside spkr

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powerlineman

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Jul 25, 2005
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I am wanting to add an outside speaker and microphone on the side of a firetruck. I know the 25pin connector probably has everything I need to accomplish this. My concern is with the audio output. Is it enough to drive a external speaker and the internal speaker? Am I going to have impedance mismatch issues which would ultimatly damage the audio output?

Thanks
 

ab3ai

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Nov 22, 2004
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I'm not fiamiliar with the 7180. But it's a bad idea to run two speakers at the same time. You will stress the audio amp and burn it up. I try to talk folks at work out of doing that and run a switch for internal and external speakers. When I install a TK-790 I would program one of the buttons to do the switching in the radio (A and B speaker on a 9 pin molex plug). The 7180 might be able to do that. As far as the mic goes, check to see if one of the pins is for mic level not line level audio. The 7180 does have a remote option and that would be the way to go. It may even have a two remote head adapter. I would, if possible, install a second setup with a remote head installed in a bin and the radio tucked away somewere, but that's a small radio and the remote head might not be needed.
 

ramal121

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Dec 5, 2008
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There is no dual head option for the TK-7180.
You can pull a external speaker and mic from the back of the radio, not hard to do at all.
Use shielded cable to prevent noise. Run cable to a RJ-45 jack (outdoor type is better, if
you can find one) and plug a spare mic into the jack.

In the software, you will have to enable an aux input as PTT to key the radio. There is also
a section where you can steer mic audio/ tx data depending on which PTT source is active, but
the radio default is normally what you want.

I have seen TK-7180s with two or more speakers on them and they continue to play. Again though,
this makes the audio amp work more and increases the chance of failure. I would think you would want
a switch anyway for a pump panel speaker. There are times you may not want the speaker blaring
on the outside of the engine.
 
Joined
Jun 5, 2004
Messages
211
Location
Arizona
I am wanting to add an outside speaker and microphone on the side of a firetruck. I know the 25pin connector probably has everything I need to accomplish this. My concern is with the audio output. Is it enough to drive a external speaker and the internal speaker? Am I going to have impedance mismatch issues which would ultimatly damage the audio output?

Thanks

yes your 25 pin will have everything you need to use for this. I just installed a david clark headset in our new engine monday and used it. You will also need to open the softwear and assign a pin for external PTT.
 
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