Bendix King EMH5990A mobile - microphone and programming

[g8tzl2004]

I have recently acquired a Bendix King EMH5990A VHF mobile. The radio came with no microphone.

The EMH powers up OK and is RXing on what appears to be default factory frequencies (136.45, 155.45, 173.65, 155.45 and 162.55 MHz)?? From channel 6 to 114, all channels are programmed on 150.00 MHz.

I understand that the EMH can be programmed using either a DTMF mic or the usual PC and software (EMHedWin1_0_4). The Bendix King DTMF mic is a 6 pin RJ12 rather than a typical 8 pin RJ45 mic

I have searched for a BK DTMF mic but they are selling for "crazy" money!!!

I'm wondering if anybody has successfully modded a DTMF mic from another manufacturer to use on the BK EMH? I have an old Kenwood 6 pin RJ12 DTMF mic which might work after re-wiring the 6 pin RJ12 plug? Any thoughts?

The Bendix King programming cable also sells for crazy money!!! There is a Bendix King RS232 to TTL interface based on a MAX232 (listed on Repeater Builder) which appears to be a typical design using parts that cost a few $. However, I wonder if anybody has successfully modded an existing other manufacturer programming cable to work with a EMH - such as a Kenwood/Tait/Icom/Vertex/Motorola cable - so I don't need to start building a homebrew programming interface?

Thanks

 

[prcguy]

Join the groups.io BKradio group and they have programming software and other info on that radio. The programming mic was specific to the BK radios and not a simple DTMF mic, I think they are very scarce these days. Just get the programming software from the BKradio group and cable and load up the radio. I have a couple of the VHF and UHF versions and they are very good radios, however the UHF will only do 25/12.5KHz channel increments and our local 70cm amateur repeaters use 20KHz increments so not as useful around here.

 

[g8tzl2004]

OK on the BKradio group having the programming software. Pity its not a simple DTMF mic...but I read that keypad programming has to be enabled in software so I might have had to use the programming software anyway.

Do you know if the software is DOS based or will it run in Windows 98 / XP etc.

The EMH is the first BK radio I have seen "across the pond". I thought it might be an air band radio when I bought it as I associate BK with the aviation market so I was pleased when it was actually a VHF commercial radio Its seems to be well built and is very heavy.

I guess I can check out the TX by shorting the PTT and GND pins on the "three row" DB15 socket. I read that the DB15 is used on later models while earlier models used a standard DB9 socket.

Any idea if I can use, say, a basic old 6 pin RJ12 Kenwood mic for TXing..having re-wired the 6 pin RJ12..or I might make an adapter. There are some 3rd party BK mics for sale (again at crazy prices!!) which look like Kenwood mics...and I presume the standard BK mic is a basic electret type requiring PTT, GND, Mic and +ve?

Thanks

 

[prcguy]

OK on the BKradio group having the programming software. Pity its not a simple DTMF mic...but I read that keypad programming has to be enabled in software so I might have had to use the programming software anyway.

Do you know if the software is DOS based or will it run in Windows 98 / XP etc.

The EMH is the first BK radio I have seen "across the pond". I thought it might be an air band radio when I bought it as I associate BK with the aviation market so I was pleased when it was actually a VHF commercial radio Its seems to be well built and is very heavy.

I guess I can check out the TX by shorting the PTT and GND pins on the "three row" DB15 socket. I read that the DB15 is used on later models while earlier models used a standard DB9 socket.

Any idea if I can use, say, a basic old 6 pin RJ12 Kenwood mic for TXing..having re-wired the 6 pin RJ12..or I might make an adapter. There are some 3rd party BK mics for sale (again at crazy prices!!) which look like Kenwood mics...and I presume the standard BK mic is a basic electret type requiring PTT, GND, Mic and +ve?

Thanks

I don't remember if the mics are dynamic or electret condenser but it seems like dynamic might be it. BK once sold a Shure DTMF model as an option. There is both DOS and Windoz software and it used to be one for programming frequencies and another for alpha numeric display names but that was probably for the DOS version.

BK or Bendix King was the first commercial radios I ever purchased brand new as I had a friend that was a dealer. I had a UHF handheld and an EMV4990A UHF mobile purchased in the mid to late 1980s. They were and still are very good performing radios and I still have several buried in the garage somewhere.

 

[g8tzl2004]

I have an Optoelectronics "universal" RS232 to TTL level converter so I will use that to try and program the EMV.

So I think I need to wire up a 6 pin RJ12 comprising pin 5 (RXD), pin 6 (TXD) and pin 3 (GND). No need for pin 1 (+ve) as the universal level converter is self powered. Any views?

Could the optional Shure DTMF mic be used for programming?

How old is EMH series and was it crazy expensive when first introduced? Were BK radios priced higher or lower than Motorola stuff?

 

[prcguy]

I have an Optoelectronics "universal" RS232 to TTL level converter so I will use that to try and program the EMV.

So I think I need to wire up a 6 pin RJ12 comprising pin 5 (RXD), pin 6 (TXD) and pin 3 (GND). No need for pin 1 (+ve) as the universal level converter is self powered. Any views?

Could the optional Shure DTMF mic be used for programming?

How old is EMH series and was it crazy expensive when first introduced? Were BK radios priced higher or lower than Motorola stuff?

The BK programming mic was a very specific programming accessory and not usually supplied with a radio. The Shure mic will not do programming. The programming mic was also a PIA to use and the PTT button had to be mashed pretty hard to work. It was not the highest quality mic.

The EMV and EMH series was not that old when I first got one in the mid 80s and I would estimate they came out maybe early 80s. I was not up on Motorola models and prices back then but I think the BK was a little less $$ and the programming software was free where Motorola would put you in jail for sharing their software.