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Yaesu mod to accept mp3 player

mvm1234

New Member
Apr 14, 2019
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hi there
I am posting this in hopes that one of you kind gents and ladies can give me a hand
I am an artist - and I am looking for information as to attach / modify a Yaesu 817 or 857 to accept a 3.5mm jack as input, so I can connect the player to it easily

I am looking to make a transmission to be picked up for an art piece - my voice reciting
as teh transmission will be short, but repeated over a number of times

I am posting this in high hopes
can someone help me out, please?
this project is about my father.. and of great emotional importance to me
happy to consider third party solutions - and also to have someone make the components for me if needed

thank you
 

Each of those radios has a 6-pin socket marked "Data". The phyiscal description of the mating plug is a "mini-DIN". The small size makes it tough to custom-wire a hookup to it.

In addition to feeding the audio from your player into the radio's "Data In". audio input pin, you would need to activate or "key" the transmitter as well

This sort of radio should never be made to transmit without an antenna attached.

Just one problem. You're supposed to have a license to do that.

An alternative to this is a so-called "dummy" antenna, or dummy load. It's a resistor inside a shielded enclosure with a socket that matches the antenna connector on the radio. A normal coax cable used for an antenna hookup feed the transmitter power into this load.

As a rule, another radio in the near vicinity will hear the small fraction of your transmitter power that will leak out of this load into the area around the radio.

This would let you link the two radios as you describe legally, without causing potential interference on the frequency you choose for the two radios.

It sounds as if your shopping list will include the "Data" cable that fits the radio you'll use for the transmit end of this setup. The same cable will fit either the 817 or 857 radio.

An adapter plug to mate the MP3 player's output to the Data cable's input.

A dummy load for the transmitting radio and a coax cable to connect it.

A power supply for each radio.

Some way of activating the transmit mode of the transmit radio and starting the MP3 player's audio program.

This Ebay seller says he can make the Data cable you need, looks like.

https://www.ebay.com/str/W7YENs-AMATEUR-RADIO-HELPERS?_trksid=p2047675.l2563

I tried linking directly to the cable type for those radios, but Fleabay won't allow that any more.

73
 
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Reactions: NZ8N
You also could pick a cheaper radio to do this with. Keying up a ham radio and playing prerecorded music or other programming is highly illegal if I am not mistaken.
Why not just use an intercom system?
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: NZ8N
Each of those radios has a 6-pin socket marked "Data". The phyiscal description of the mating plug is a "mini-DIN". The small size makes it tough to custom-wire a hookup to it.

In addition to feeding the audio from your player into the radio's "Data In". audio input pin, you would need to activate or "key" the transmitter as well

This sort of radio should never be made to transmit without an antenna attached.

Just one problem. You're supposed to have a license to do that.

An alternative to this is a so-called "dummy" antenna, or dummy load. It's a resistor inside a shielded enclosure with a socket that matches the antenna connector on the radio. A normal coax cable used for an antenna hookup feed the transmitter power into this load.

As a rule, another radio in the near vicinity will hear the small fraction of your transmitter power that will leak out of this load into the area around the radio.

This would let you link the two radios as you describe legally, without causing potential interference on the frequency you choose for the two radios.

It sounds as if your shopping list will include the "Data" cable that fits the radio you'll use for the transmit end of this setup. The same cable will fit either the 817 or 857 radio.

An adapter plug to mate the MP3 player's output to the Data cable's input.

A dummy load for the transmitting radio and a coax cable to connect it.

A power supply for each radio.

Some way of activating the transmit mode of the transmit radio and starting the MP3 player's audio program.

This Ebay seller says he can make the Data cable you need, looks like.

https://www.ebay.com/str/W7YENs-AMATEUR-RADIO-HELPERS?_trksid=p2047675.l2563

I tried linking directly to the cable type for those radios, but Fleabay won't allow that any more.

73



T H A N K YOU!!!


I have been looking for this for ever literally
THANK YOU





so basically this cable will do it fine
and all i woudl need to do is actaully press the PTT button for the audio signal to go through?

that is AMAZING!

I knEW!! it could be done - but I had no idea how


Nomad Radio - I am in your debt
thank you
I wil get in touch with the Ebay Seller ASAP

thank you
 
You also could pick a cheaper radio to do this with. Keying up a ham radio and playing prerecorded music or other programming is highly illegal if I am not mistaken.
Why not just use an intercom system?


hi tallman

i completely understand the complexities

this is not for pirate radio
or music at all


this is for making a transmission in a closed art space - a performative action

sure i coudl get an FM transmitetr - or make one with a raspberry pi

but


first I wish to keep the integrity on ham bands of the transmission

it means a lot to me to actually utilise the same tools that real people utilise - and not 'simulate' or fake it

secondly - I am planning on getting back to ham again
and I would have a radio anyway - this way I would not need to invest in a system whose integrity I misrtust

the sound piece is abouyt my father he passed away
I owe that to him to be in ham and shortwave
not fm...

hope this makes sense
 
IIRC you will have to use SSB. I don't think the digital in function is operational in any other mode. I used to dabble a bit in SSTV and PSK-31 and it seems to me the audio is only switched to that aux port in SSB modes. Try it and see.
 
secondly - I am planning on getting back to ham again
and I would have a radio anyway - this way I would not need to invest in a system whose integrity I misrtust

the sound piece is abouyt my father he passed away
I owe that to him to be in ham and shortwave
not fm...
It is admirable that you are willing to create an art work dedicated to your Father, and since you are planing on getting back into Ham radio again going with a good radio is a smart Idea. I have an embarrassment of wealth in radios. (None for sale though)
 
IIRC you will have to use SSB. I don't think the digital in function is operational in any other mode. I used to dabble a bit in SSTV and PSK-31 and it seems to me the audio is only switched to that aux port in SSB modes. Try it and see.
hi Captain Kilowatt
many thanks for your input

just to make sure I get you alright

the radio needs to be set to transmit in SSB yes?


again many thanks
(and I apologise for the lack of knowledge here on my part... I am a newb in this... but I will get better at it I promise!)
 
It is admirable that you are willing to create an art work dedicated to your Father, and since you are planing on getting back into Ham radio again going with a good radio is a smart Idea. I have an embarrassment of wealth in radios. (None for sale though)


thank you Tallman
- means a lot


i realise that what I am asking here might sound like sw pirate radio - but trust me it is a set of voice transmissions that can (they may won't - even if a good dipole and 100 watts were used I realise..)
be picked up by other hams

but it is indeed teh integrity here that si important for me
 
A dummy load on the transmitting radio will make it legal.Won't radiate enough RF energy to break the rules.

As a rule, enough RF will "leak" out into the room for the other radio to hear it. Might need to clip a foot or two of wire into the receiving radio's antenna socket to pick up the "leakage" well enough.

73
 
Each of those radios has a 6-pin socket marked "Data". The phyiscal description of the mating plug is a "mini-DIN". The small size makes it tough to custom-wire a hookup to it.

In addition to feeding the audio from your player into the radio's "Data In". audio input pin, you would need to activate or "key" the transmitter as well

This sort of radio should never be made to transmit without an antenna attached.

Just one problem. You're supposed to have a license to do that.

An alternative to this is a so-called "dummy" antenna, or dummy load. It's a resistor inside a shielded enclosure with a socket that matches the antenna connector on the radio. A normal coax cable used for an antenna hookup feed the transmitter power into this load.

As a rule, another radio in the near vicinity will hear the small fraction of your transmitter power that will leak out of this load into the area around the radio.

This would let you link the two radios as you describe legally, without causing potential interference on the frequency you choose for the two radios.

It sounds as if your shopping list will include the "Data" cable that fits the radio you'll use for the transmit end of this setup. The same cable will fit either the 817 or 857 radio.

An adapter plug to mate the MP3 player's output to the Data cable's input.

A dummy load for the transmitting radio and a coax cable to connect it.

A power supply for each radio.

Some way of activating the transmit mode of the transmit radio and starting the MP3 player's audio program.

This Ebay seller says he can make the Data cable you need, looks like.

https://www.ebay.com/str/W7YENs-AMATEUR-RADIO-HELPERS?_trksid=p2047675.l2563

I tried linking directly to the cable type for those radios, but Fleabay won't allow that any more.

73






thank you nomadradio -
teh idea to use a dummy load is excellent - and will keep me in the legal zone too!

for a 857d - am I right to think that the load should be able to 'handle' 100 watts

and for the 817? - same ?
(even though transmission power is way less? = 5 watts ?)
 
hi Captain Kilowatt
many thanks for your input

just to make sure I get you alright

the radio needs to be set to transmit in SSB yes?


again many thanks
(and I apologise for the lack of knowledge here on my part... I am a newb in this... but I will get better at it I promise!)

Yes....I am pretty sure the digital in connections on the DIN accessory jack is only active in SSB mode.
 

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