Can I use an RJ45 splitter to run dual Hand Mics?

[WSJL659]

I am working on setting up a base station and ideally would like the unit to live in the basement. Can I simply use an RJ,45 splitter and run a remote handmic elsewhere in the house? I haven't found any examples of this anywhere, but don't see why it wouldn't work. 

Thank you!

-Adam

[MarkInTampa]

Two problems I see...

1st) If you are using a Y-cable/splitter I'd assume you are going to run into mic impedance issues. The radio is designed for a certain microphone impedance, adding another mic in parallel or trying to extend the cable by 30ft is probably gonna jack it up.

2nd) If you did run a 2nd hand mic somewhere - what about audio?

 

[amaff]

11 minutes ago, WRUE951 said:

i said basicity.  

It's basically* ethernet in the same way that the 120v wiring in your house is basically ethernet. 

Ethernet is a network technology. 

There's no 'networking' going on between the mic and your radio. No addressing being shared. It's just using a common connector to pass the same type of signal (your audio, your PTT trigger, button pushes) that would come through any other kind of mic connector to the radio. It's an RJ-45 connector. It's nothing at all like an ethernet connection other than it shares a common connector type.

[nokones]

Yes you can have multiple microphones connected to one radio device and it is done all the time in the Aviation industry. It is not rocket science, it is basic electronics in matching levels with each microphone circuit with the radio device. Don't forget, if you're going to have separate microphones in separate locations, you will need to have separate speakers and you will need to factor in if you are going to have side tone without causing feedback (audio loop) or if you're going to automatically mute the receive audio circuit.

It will be a little more involved than just coupling (doubling) two microphones to one radio.

Also, fire apparatus have multi-comm systems similar to aircraft systems. And, Rugged Radios has on-board radio/Intercom systems for multiple users in one vehicle for off-road applications.

You might want to checkout Racing Radios or Radio Electronics.

[amaff]

To answer the original question: I don't see a reason that wouldn't work. There's a couple of BTech radios that do this from the factory. They have RJ-45 connectors at the radio, and come with a splitter that has RJ-45 on 1 end, and a K1 connector on the other. In my case, I have one in my race car, with the K1 connector going to the wiring harness for my helmet mounted mic & ear buds, and steering wheel mounted PTT.

[SteveShannon]

4 hours ago, WSJL659 said:

I am working on setting up a base station and ideally would like the unit to live in the basement. Can I simply use an RJ,45 splitter and run a remote handmic elsewhere in the house? I haven't found any examples of this anywhere, but don't see why it wouldn't work. 

Thank you!

-Adam

Some people do use an RJ45 manual switch to switch between two microphones, but in that case only one microphone is connected at a time.  I don’t know how what you refer to as an RJ45 splitter is actually wired, but if the two microphones are connected in parallel I would not expect good results. Also, there’s the problem of having a long run for the microphone cable. You might find that it’s just too long and your audio signals are too weak.

[SteveShannon]

2 minutes ago, WRUE951 said:

The Mic connection is  basicly an eithernet connection to the radio, generally, no you can not split an ethernet signal without feeding it through a switch or router..   

No, although the same connector is used, none of the radio microphones for which I’ve seen schematics are Ethernet. The different wires carry analog audio, push to talk, and other analog connections which allow push buttons or LED lights on the microphone.

[WRUE951]

4 hours ago, WSJL659 said:

I am working on setting up a base station and ideally would like the unit to live in the basement. Can I simply use an RJ,45 splitter and run a remote handmic elsewhere in the house? I haven't found any examples of this anywhere, but don't see why it wouldn't work. 

Thank you!

-Adam

it doesn't make sense.  why would you want to split the mic?  You can extend a mic using RJ45 extensions.. There are aslo some Bluetooth mic gizmos that you can add.   The Mic connection is  basicly an eithernet connection to the radio, generally, no you can not split an ethernet signal without feeding it through a switch or router..   

[WRUE951]

21 minutes ago, WRUE951 said:

Jesus..   whats a real cheerleader   

I knew that would cofuse you Boxcar..     

[WRUE951]

34 minutes ago, SteveShannon said:

No, although the same connector is used, none of the radio microphones for which I’ve seen schematics are Ethernet. The different wires carry analog audio, push to talk, and other analog connections which allow push buttons or LED lights on the microphone.

i said basicity.  The MIC connection and cable is using the same physicial RJ45 connector and twisted pair wire found in ethernet systems but with different wiring pinout and for different purposes.  Yes, it is a non ethernet connection, we all know ethernet  needs to be a  managed connections, hence the reason you use switches or routers in a eithernet environment which is more than likley lacking with his set up.  I will say, if i wanted to, i could extend the mic on my repeater via Ethernet and a lot of other things.      

[WRUE951]

46 minutes ago, amaff said:

It's basically* ethernet in the same way that the 120v wiring in your house is basically ethernet. 

Ethernet is a network technology. 

There's no 'networking' going on between the mic and your radio. No addressing being shared. It's just using a common connector to pass the same type of signal (your audio, your PTT trigger, button pushes) that would come through any other kind of mic connector to the radio. It's an RJ-45 connector. It's nothing at all like an ethernet connection other than it shares a common connector type.

Jesus..   whats a real cheerleader