I guess it's time for an update... but first a BIG thanks to Willie for lending me his headsets while I wait for mine to come in. Willie, thanks so much for taking the time to meet with me and let me borrow your BRAND NEW headsets! They have been a HUGE help.
Ok, now for the latest on the Motorola Maratrac intercom integration saga. (Just to let you know, not only am I slow to get my intercom installed and tested, but we're right in the middle of a kitchen and bath home remodel... been keeping me just a tad busy!)
So, I finally got the dash torn apart and determined a suitable "temporary" mounting spot for the new intercom. I purchased a Racer-X AR550 intercom with plugs for 4 positions, expandable up to 8. It has the input for an mp3 player (ipod) and cell phone. The front controls are squelch, volume and on/off. It has a power indicator light on the front as well as cell/phone and music input 3½mm input jacks (it also has a molex plug in the rear for all of your I/O needs, phone, ipod, gopro, etc). I chose that particular model specifically for the squelch/VOX feature. The race models only have constant "on" settings for the intercom and I wanted to use the VOX feature.
I finished building the interface cable (looks like an octopus) this last week (ran into some manufacturing problems, but it's expected and is part of the development process). I was able to get some time to install it this weekend. The install is merely temporary in nature as I have to redesign the dash and move the components around for maximum utilization (I haven’t gotten that far quite yet though). I also wanted to get it in to check cable lengths etc and it looks like I’ll have to shorten up some of the cords.
But, the good news is that it works GREAT. Everything works as designed. The radio is nice and clear, the intercom works fantastic and they operate independently. So, you have your basic radio operation without the headset and intercom and the intercom works without the radio, and when both are turned on… they work great together! The only thing I need to adjust is to bring in direct power from the battery to power the intercom unit. But, that’s pure install and it’s just running clean power.
Now, I’m going to run the intercom for a while to see if I can uncover any issues so I can address any potential issues. My headsets should be in by Tue and I’ll get Willie’s sets back soon!
Just a couple of pics to feed the monster!