Desktop Mic to Multiple XPR4550

[dmealer]

Hello all,

Part one…
I’m trying to setup a “dispatch” setup using XPR4550s. I’d like to have one desktop mic going into a panel with PTT for each mobile so I don’t have 10 desktop mics sitting on the desk. Wondering if anyone has done anything like this and if you could provide parts lists, schematics, pins used, etc that you’ve used.

Part two…
Same concept as part one, but to also route a computer’s audio into each radio to play alert tones/text to speech for clear dispatch audio. Again, any schematics, parts list, pins used, etc.

Yes, I know a Telex C-Soft system could do all of this but trying to work on a budget. This is for a training institution training Fire/EMS. Any help is appreciated, thanks!

 

[nokones]

Why not get a console, like an Avtec, Motorola, or similar, to control the radios, it would be far less complicated.

 

[buddrousa]

You are going to end up with a big mess and may even damage your radios.
A dispatch console is your only real choice increase your budget or have 10 mics and more confusion.

 

[ff026]

I did this with 3 radios. 2 xtls and 1 maratrac. Individual PTT’s and 1 mic. I used a gooseneck. Replaced the mic cartridge with a Motorola desk mic then ran the mic cable to the board from the same Motorola desk mic then used a few terminal blocks to connect the radios. I feed the audio from each radio to a Zetron model 27.
I made all the cables myself. Nothing was off the shelf.

 

[serial14]

I did this with 3 radios. 2 xtls and 1 maratrac. Individual PTT’s and 1 mic. I used a gooseneck. Replaced the mic cartridge with a Motorola desk mic then ran the mic cable to the board from the same Motorola desk mic then used a few terminal blocks to connect the radios. I feed the audio from each radio to a Zetron model 27.
I made all the cables myself. Nothing was off the shelf.

Do the red switches next to the microphone boom select which radio to talk on?

 

[ff026]

Yes low band, VHF, UHF.

 

[Project25_MASTR]

Buy a used Zetron 4000 series (or other older multiline tone remote) on eBay and acquire enough tone remote adapters that have full BCD channel steering capabilities. As you can configure XPR's to channel steer via BCD...just a simple case of wire up the TRA's to the accessory connector of the XPRs and interface everything via either 2 wire or 4 wire (preferred if you want to receive channel grants).

 

[mmckenna]

I'm sure it's possible. I can think of ways to do it, but I can also think of several challenges.

I think weighing the cost/benefit of this approach is where you'll run into issues. Finding a hobbyist that did this for fun is probably your best option.
Finding someone who did this in an actual dispatch environment is unlikely. By the time someone engineered a suitable solution, plus proved it out to be reliable in a public safety application, plus documented it all, you are well into the area/cost of just purchasing a real system.

Like @Project25_MASTR said, get a used Zetron console. The 4000 series are old enough that they are often being given away for free if you ask around. They are still perfectly functional systems and there are spares available. Lots of documentation and integration info. I've got a 4 position system that will likely be surplussed/e-wasted in another year or two. I know of other dispatch centers that are on the same timeline.

If budget is the concern, that should include labor hours, and I think a used Zetron 40xx system would save you a lot of time.
Plus, if this is a training application, it would make much more sense for people to train on/with an actual functional console that will do patches, etc.

Not trying to discourage you, if I was retired and felt like putting the time and effort into it, that would be an interesting project. But on the professional side, it would make more sense to just get a real console. I know of hams that have done this with retired Motorola Centracom consoles.

 

[dmealer]

I'm sure it's possible. I can think of ways to do it, but I can also think of several challenges.

I think weighing the cost/benefit of this approach is where you'll run into issues. Finding a hobbyist that did this for fun is probably your best option.
Finding someone who did this in an actual dispatch environment is unlikely. By the time someone engineered a suitable solution, plus proved it out to be reliable in a public safety application, plus documented it all, you are well into the area/cost of just purchasing a real system.

Like @Project25_MASTR said, get a used Zetron console. The 4000 series are old enough that they are often being given away for free if you ask around. They are still perfectly functional systems and there are spares available. Lots of documentation and integration info. I've got a 4 position system that will likely be surplussed/e-wasted in another year or two. I know of other dispatch centers that are on the same timeline.

If budget is the concern, that should include labor hours, and I think a used Zetron 40xx system would save you a lot of time.
Plus, if this is a training application, it would make much more sense for people to train on/with an actual functional console that will do patches, etc.

Not trying to discourage you, if I was retired and felt like putting the time and effort into it, that would be an interesting project. But on the professional side, it would make more sense to just get a real console. I know of hams that have done this with retired Motorola Centracom consoles.

Yeah I am and engineer and hobbyist so I was intrigued to do this myself. An actual console is definitely easier, and we are looking at one, I was just wondering to do a project myself cause I like to do things like this!lol

 

[dmealer]

Why not get a console, like an Avtec, Motorola, or similar, to control the radios, it would be far less complicated.

I would love to, and we plan to in the future, just budget right now for a little bit is low. I have all the radios in a rack already, just wanted to project this until we can get an actual console.

 

[mmckenna]

Yeah I am and engineer and hobbyist so I was intrigued to do this myself. An actual console is definitely easier, and we are looking at one, I was just wondering to do a project myself cause I like to do things like this!lol

It would be a fun project. I'm imagining it in my head.