Recording from an MC3000 Console

[DLIMartin]

Hi-

We have an MC3000 that we need to record to an audio logger. Bridging the MC2000 MIC/Handset doesn't seem practical since the MIC is "always open". In VOX mode, it records every conversation in the room when the handset is on-hook.

We looked for a recording output (similar to the 600ohm summed output on the MC2500 that mixes TX/RX audio providing a nicely balanced, squelched recording output.

There doesn't seem to be an output like that on the MC3000. Does anyone know where we could pick up an audio feed (muted when squelched) to record an MC3000 console?

We could also make it work if we had a dry "contact closure' signal during RX/TX. We could use that as a start/stop control for the logger.

Any ideas from the experts?

Thanks in advance!

-Martin

[Will]

What radio do you have connected to the MC3000 Console?

[DLIMartin]

Hi-

The customer reports that the attached radio is an:

Astro
Digital XTL 5000
(control heads W7, and W9)

A phone tech checked pin 11 / GND for audio output with a butset but didn't hear anything.

He sent this picture of the two accessory connectors:

http://www.digital-loggers.com/ac23.jpg

Are we looking in the wrong place?
Is there a switch setting, option, or jumper required to enable output on pin 11?

Motorola hasn't been cooperative. They'd prefer to sell the customer a $20,000 NICE logger!

Thank in advance for the help.

-Martin

[desperado]

Well, I do.. we needed to hook up several 3000 desk sets to a PA system and the customer wanted to hear the TX and the RX.
MCM sells a little stick on 2 channel mixer amp that has variable inputs and oputput and runs on 24 volts. They are a commercial broadcast product and have the 130 dollar price tag to prove it. I don't remember the manufacture right now but it's some 3 letter deal, they worked out great for want we were after, had hi / low input selectable impedance and could even feed phantom power to a mike if needed (didn't need)

Get some, tap the audio lines in a 4 pair biscuit block (screw type phone jack) and go for it...

[DLIMartin]

Thanks Keith!
Still unsure where we should connect. Should we expect TX/RX audio on ACCESSORY 2 or ACCESSORY 3 DB-25's on this radio? Could you possible confirm the correct pins, please?
Thanks again!!
-Martin

[wavetar]

One of our techs was looking at this just the other day. He found in the Consolette service manual that one of the pins in J3 was labeled "Tape Record Output" or something similar. I'll have to check if that worked for him, and ask which pin it was.

[RFguy]

Well, I do.. we needed to hook up several 3000 desk sets to a PA system and the customer wanted to hear the TX and the RX.
MCM sells a little stick on 2 channel mixer amp that has variable inputs and oputput and runs on 24 volts. They are a commercial broadcast product and have the 130 dollar price tag to prove it. I don't remember the manufacture right now but it's some 3 letter deal, they worked out great for want we were after, had hi / low input selectable impedance and could even feed phantom power to a mike if needed (didn't need)

Get some, tap the audio lines in a 4 pair biscuit block (screw type phone jack) and go for it...

We have done the exact thing. The amps are made by RDL (Radio Design Labs). I think we used a STM2. We used a pair of 600 ohm isolation transformers to ensure we didn't mess with the line balancing and introduce hum.

[RFguy]

One of our techs was looking at this just the other day. He found in the Consolette service manual that one of the pins in J3 was labeled "Tape Record Output" or something similar. I'll have to check if that worked for him, and ask which pin it was.

Yup, done that on Astro Spectra and XTL5000 W7's and W9's. The level is quite low, so used a RDL amp to bring it up to 0 dB. The tape out had mixed RX and TX audio with no function tones of ant type.

[Jim202]

Here is some information based on the TRN7391C audio interface board. If that is what you have in the consolette, then your good to go.

You need to find jumper J14 and make sure it is in the A to B position. It should be located near the T100 transformer near the edge of the board. In the A/B position, you will get both TX audio and RX audio out on pin 11 (recorder out) of the acc-3, DB25 connector.

If you have a different audio board, then you will have to let the group here know what it is for any further help. The board will be under the radio.

Jim

[desperado]

Yeah, if the consolette is close then the tape out is a good way to go. Our situation was the desksets were in an ER on the ground floor. The radios were in a penthouse 14 floors away and on the other end of the hospital.