Help: Uniden Beartracker 885 Microphone question...

[Blacklion1962]

Hello, all.
I need to make my 885 think there is a mic plugged in. I don't use the CB portion, as I have a 980SSB, but the audio on my 885 is horrible when the mic is not plugged in. A circuit would be great. I can solder it up on a spare plug.

Thank you everyone.

James

 

[dave3825]

I need to make my 885 think there is a mic plugged in. I don't use the CB portion, as I have a 980SSB, but the audio on my 885 is horrible when the mic is not plugged in. A circuit would be great. I can solder it up on a spare plug.

You do not state why you can't leave the mic on the 885 plugged in.

 

[Blacklion1962]

I have a 980SSB. using the 885 strictly as a scanner.

 

[dave3825]

Still does not answer why you can't leave the mic plugged in. From what I recall from back in the day, the mic completes a ground or something and without the ground there is no audio. Something with the ptt button.

edited

just found this that seems to explain it better.

Beartracker 885 - have to plug in Mic or bad audio?

So got a used Beartracker 885 - updated the sd card. Got it wired in via cigarette plug for now. Hooked up GPS antenna and a BNC telescopic. Heard transmissions on scanner but were very faint and garbled like speaker was blown. Couldn't figure it out - then plugged in the Mic and all started...

forums.radioreference.com

So either leave it plugged in or get a wiring schematic, and spare mic connector and maybe someone knows which wires to do to have sound.

 

[Blacklion1962]

i have the 885 and the 980 sitting together. i am not using the cb portion of the 885. hence, i don't want a mic hanging in the way, since i won't be using it. i just want the 885 to THINK there's a mic plugged into it.

 

[dave3825]

See post 4 again. I added as you posted.

 

[Blacklion1962]

actually, isn't the reason irrelevant? I don't want a mic plugged into the 885, but i need the sound. thank you for the post. is there a circuit to accomplish it, or a pin connection, like 'short pins 2 and 3'?

 

[Blacklion1962]

Still does not answer why you can't leave the mic plugged in. From what I recall from back in the day, the mic completes a ground or something and without the ground there is no audio. Something with the ptt button.

edited

just found this that seems to explain it better.

Beartracker 885 - have to plug in Mic or bad audio?

So got a used Beartracker 885 - updated the sd card. Got it wired in via cigarette plug for now. Hooked up GPS antenna and a BNC telescopic. Heard transmissions on scanner but were very faint and garbled like speaker was blown. Couldn't figure it out - then plugged in the Mic and all started...

forums.radioreference.com

So either leave it plugged in or get a wiring schematic, and spare mic connector and maybe someone knows which wires to do to have sound.

Thank you.

 

[dave3825]

actually, isn't the reason irrelevant?

Only asked because one option may outweigh the other.

In any event it may be just grounding 1 pin or connecting two together. The last time I did a cb mic, ( Astatic D104 Silver Eagle Microphone ) was about 35 years ago.

 

[Blacklion1962]

Only asked because one option may outweigh the other.

In any event it may be just grounding 1 pin or connecting two together. The last time I did a cb mic, ( Astatic D104 Silver Eagle Microphone ) was about 35 years ago.

ok. thank you for your help.

 

[wtp]

use a voltmeter to see which two pins have zero ohms.
just a guess, but there is a little science behind it.

 

[tvengr]

actually, isn't the reason irrelevant? I don't want a mic plugged into the 885, but i need the sound. thank you for the post. is there a circuit to accomplish it, or a pin connection, like 'short pins 2 and 3'?

Send a message to JoeBearcat and ask him for either a microphone jack wiring diagram or what pins need to be connected together to maintain audio with no microphone. If you feel brave, look at the switch inside the microphone to see which wires are connected together in receive and open when the transmit button is pressed.

 

[Blacklion1962]

use a voltmeter to see which two pins have zero ohms.
just a guess, but there is a little science behind it.

in a circular motion clockwise, looking at the plug, pins 2 and 5 are connected, or top left and bottom right.

 

[Blacklion1962]

Send a message to JoeBearcat and ask him for either a microphone jack wiring diagram or what pins need to be connected together to maintain audio with no microphone. If you feel brave, look at the switch inside the microphone to see which wires are connected together in receive and open when the transmit button is pressed.

Will do. thank you.

 

[wtp]

it is just an educated guess.

 

[morrisr3nd]

Get a regular scanner that will handle P25 P2 so you can listen to what you want.

 

[522]

Get a regular scanner that will handle P25 P2 so you can listen to what you want.

Dont ya just love it when someone like this chimes in?

 

[morrisr3nd]

Dont ya just love it when someone like this chimes in?

Well..... If you only want half a radio....

 

[iMONITOR]

I'm amazed a microphone wiring schematic isn't shown in the user manual for the 885, it's not! Changing the microphone is one of the most common things people do with their C.B. I spent considerable time doing Google searches and although a few hits looked related but nothing was definitive.

Be careful I did read where some of these new microphone jacks do have live 12VDC that could cause damage if it's shorted out or jumpered to the wrong circuit.

 

[tvengr]

Be careful I did read where some of these new microphone jacks do have live 12VDC that could cause damage if it's shorted out or jumpered to the wrong circuit.

Motorola microphones on the old radios I worked on had a preamp in the mike.