Ham Motorcycle Install?

[CaptCaveman22]

I need to use a mobile (vs HT) on my motorcycle for greater TX power. I have a Yaesu FTM-500 but I can't find a way to get the RX/TX to my helmet. Any suggestions? I read a lot about the Sena SR-10 (Bluetooth) but it's old, expensive, hard-to-find tech for which I could find no compatibility details... and it seems the FTM-500's BT may only connect to Yaesu's headset (BT-10). I'll go wired if I have to (not preferred).

 

[GlobalNorth]

Are you relying on BT for the linking? I did mine back in 1999 with a coil cable and it worked great.

I have no clue if they can interface with the Yaesu, they aren't cheap, but if anyone can make it work right, it is Setcom.

Home

The easiest to use, most versatile high quality and affordable headsets for Industrial workers, Fire Departments and Police Motorcycles.

setcomcorp.com

 

[JustinWHT]

I need to use a mobile (vs HT) on my motorcycle

I had a CB radio on my Kawasaki 900 decades ago and vibration killed it. Thick soft rubber gromets should work. The best solution I found are repurposed silicone rubber rings.

Amazon three for $12

 

[k6cpo]

There is a way to connect a headset and PTT switch to the FTM-500, but it would entail adapting the headset to a helmet and rigging a PTT switch somewhere on the bike, preferably the handlebars.

I rode a Honda Goldwing for many years that had a built-in sound system that included a passenger intercom, CB radio and music in the helmet. It was a pre-Bluetooth wired system, but I had no difficulty with being "connected" to the bike.

 

[novaman64]

Maybe checkout PCI radios website. They setup all the desert race bikes with VHF.

 

[KD7RJC]

There is a way to connect a headset and PTT switch to the FTM-500, but it would entail adapting the headset to a helmet and rigging a PTT switch somewhere on the bike, preferably the handlebars.

I rode a Honda Goldwing for many years that had a built-in sound system that included a passenger intercom, CB radio and music in the helmet. It was a pre-Bluetooth wired system, but I had no difficulty with being "connected" to the bike.

Can't deny I'm interested in the separate PTT and headset even irrespective of a motorcycle, as the potential for the hobby running up against handsfree driving laws. It would be convenient to have a battery-operated PTT button on the steering wheel if one could also manage to rig a microphone, even if using the control head's integrated speaker to listen.

 

[k6cpo]

Can't deny I'm interested in the separate PTT and headset even irrespective of a motorcycle, as the potential for the hobby running up against handsfree driving laws. It would be convenient to have a battery-operated PTT button on the steering wheel if one could also manage to rig a microphone, even if using the control head's integrated speaker to listen.

So far, I haven't run up against hands-free laws regarding mobile radio use in a vehicle. California modified their hands-free laws several years ago to prohibit holding your phone in your hand (it's still universally ignored) and we were concerned it was going to apply to microphones and handheld radios. As it turned out, after the law was enacted the California Highway Patrol issued a letter indicating the law would not apply to mobile radios and the rest of the state followed suit. Heil Ham Radio has solutions that would allow a single-sided headset (legal in most states) but everything would be wired.

 

[JustinWHT]

There is a way to connect a headset and PTT switch to the FTM-500, but it would entail adapting the headset to a helmet and rigging a PTT switch somewhere on the bike, preferably the handlebar

Your "but it would entail adapting the headset" is not that difficult.

Baofeng has a motorcycle helmet mic/headphones/switch kit on Amazon for $24. If you don't want to cut off the K1 connector (3.5 mm mic and 2.5 mm earpiece plugs), go Amazoning (you heard it here first - searching Amazon for something), 3.5 and 2.5 audio sockets. Hard wire them to a FTM-500 audio cable.

Technical Section - Miklor

Technical Section - Miklor

www.miklor.com

 

[krokus]

Have you looked at Pryme's options?

Pryme Radio Products

Pryme Radio Products offers high quality business walkie talkie, handheld, push to talk (PTT), UHF, VHF, and audio accessories for professional two way radios (2 way radios) and now smartphones and tablets as well! Our markets include public safety, emergency services, industrial, commercial...

www.pryme.com

 

[CaptCaveman22]

Have you looked at Pryme's options?

Pryme Radio Products

Pryme Radio Products offers high quality business walkie talkie, handheld, push to talk (PTT), UHF, VHF, and audio accessories for professional two way radios (2 way radios) and now smartphones and tablets as well! Our markets include public safety, emergency services, industrial, commercial...

www.pryme.com

Thank you. I hadn't seen their products. I'll give it a look. I need to make sure I use a condenser (non-dynamic) mic.

 

[krokus]

Thank you. I hadn't seen their products. I'll give it a look. I need to make sure I use a condenser (non-dynamic) mic.

If the mic is not directly connected to the radio, then that seems like a moot point. The headset/adapter combo would handle the bias & audio level for you.

 

[KC3ECJ]

Keep in mind there's a risk of RF exposure since there's nothing such as a metal roof between you and the antenna if you're using high watts.

 

[k6cpo]

Your "but it would entail adapting the headset" is not that difficult.

Baofeng has a motorcycle helmet mic/headphones/switch kit on Amazon for $24. If you don't want to cut off the K1 connector (3.5 mm mic and 2.5 mm earpiece plugs), go Amazoning (you heard it here first - searching Amazon for something), 3.5 and 2.5 audio sockets. Hard wire them to a FTM-500 audio cable.

Technical Section - Miklor

Technical Section - Miklor

www.miklor.com

When I said that, I was talking about finding away to install a standard headset in a helmet.

 

[JustinWHT]

Baofeng has a motorcycle helmet mic/headphones/switch kit on Amazon for $24.

Sorry that was the wrong Baofeng mic/headset I was thinking of.
Should be these l:

 

[CaptCaveman22]

Thank you all. Ultimately, I went with a wired approach. I used a Ram Mount to place the head unit of my Yaesu FTM-500 and a PTT switch on the left handle bar wired to the base unit in the saddlebag, a mobile mag antenna with ground plane radials on a fabricated metal plate at the rear of the sissy bar, and the mic and ear pieces from a Heil BM10 mounted in my helmet. This gives the most dependable connection to my helmet, and a full 50 watts on the bike.

I'm still sorting how to get the best 2M/70cm antenna performance on this motorcycle. Any suggestions? It seems to improve a bit when I add a wire via allegator clips from the antenna's ground radials to the bike frame but it's still a bit disappointing.

 

[JustinWHT]

I'm still sorting how to get the best 2M/70cm antenna performance on this motorcycle. Any suggestions? It seems to improve a bit when I add a wire via allegator clips from the antenna's ground radials to the bike frame but it's still a bit disappointing.

There are a few "no ground plane" 2 cm antennas on Amazon and eBay.

Edited... 2 m band. Thanks to KD7JC pointing out my good.

 

[KD7RJC]

There are a few "no ground plane" 2 cm antennas on Amazon and eBay.

I don't think he's going to find much traffic on the 15GHz band...

 

[JustinWHT]

I don't think he's going to find much traffic on the 15GHz band...

My bad. 2 METER

 

[CaptCaveman22]

Here's an update to my original post at the top of this string... I chose a wired solution for audio going from the FTM500 base unit in my saddle bag to my helmet where I installed the mic and speakers from a Heil BM-10 headset. The head unit is on my handle bars using RAM mounts. I found a chrome PTT switch to go next to the clutch on the handle bars. A half-wave antenna works well given poor grounding on an MC. This set-up has worked great when volunteering at public service events such as marathons (see photo) and 100mi bicycling events. Thank you for all the input in the messages above. K9MSG