BREAKTHROUGH WITH ICOM DATA MICS

Hi Everyone,

For some time we’ve been working on a TalkSafe Microphone Splitter to operate with the Icom data mics. Like the other TMS devices this will allow you to use a TalkSafe and your microphone together, in this particular case either an HM98, HM133 or HM151. So in addition to the usefulness of the TalkSafe system, you can continue to drive safely &/or have the freedom of moving around in your shack, AND you still have the full functionality of the microphone keys. Also, if the battery runs out on your Bluetooth headset, you can still transmit using the hand mic. This has been something of a challenge as all the functions, including the PTT, are digitally controlled.

About 3 weeks ago, the breakthrough came when we cracked the code and since then we’ve been testing and refining our new product.

Whilst the aim was to design an interface purely for use with the TalkSafe range of products we felt that, having got this far, we had to go the extra mile and add a simple RS232 serial port to the unit. The serial port mimics the microphone commands and can be used to send commands to the radio set. To simplify the data interface we have turned the Icom data stream into ASCII and Hex codes that can be read and produced using simple terminal programmes such as Hyper Terminal or Real Term.

The only thing that we aren’t supplying, are simple PC software programmes that will to allow users to integrate with other Amateur software programmes. However, we know that there are many amateurs that can create such programmes.

We will be publishing the data protocol on our website in the next few days, along with adding the TalkSafe Microphone Splitter (model no. TMS-IDM) to the online shop for anyone who wants to place orders.

We are very proud to announce that the Splitter will be available in the next 2-3 weeks and advance orders are being taken.

If you have any questions about this new product, please either leave a comment here or email us at technical@rpf-comms.com

Our thanks go to Icom UK for their help with this project.

Take care & 73's

Gail