Batboard

Hey folks:

A friend of mine asked me a question and I'm not sure of the answer. Here is his dilemna. He has a Maratrac Radio that he wants to be able to lock the radio from Transmit when he's not using his vehicle. It's a POV and has a Maratrac with the 99 Channel Head.

He frequently loans out the pickup and doesn't want some of his buddies thinking it's funny to transmit on the radio like a CB. It goes without saying that they should know better but he asked me if it was possible to put a key switch into the IGN Sense wire to lock off the radio when he's not in the vehicle, just in case.

I've got a Maratrac here with the 99 Channel Head but I've never tried this and don't know if it would do any good.

I thought about a power lock out switch on the Positive Feed for the radio itself. That may not be convenient to route into the cabin and look good plus be user friendly. He doesn't want to have to open the hood and flip the switch each time either.

I told him that he should look for new friends and stop loaning out the vehicle. He didn't think that was funny.

Any (Non-Flaming) ideas...........................??????

Thanks. Blaze.

Typically, whenever I take my car in for service or what have you, I just remove the mics.

Hide them in the trunk or whatever.

I think even Crapio Shack has key switches that you can put on the ignition sense line.

Why not just install a hidden toggle to shut the entire head power down? His buddies don't need receive either.

The keyswitch from Crap Shack or Parts Express would work great.

How about a toggle switch on the ignition sense wires going to the control head? It could be hidden under the dash and would disable the radio.

I just don't let people borrow my vehicle. When I put my truck in for service, I remove the fuses that power the switchbox. No power for the relays, no lights. People that DO borrow my truck know better. But, the switch thing is a good idea, or just removing the mic is another solution. I'd say the switch would be my option.

The fuses for my radios are easily accessable so I just pull all of them when my vehicle is being serviced or for some reason someone else is driving it.No fuses and nothing works.I kept them easily accessable just for this reason.By the way where exactly in Iowa are you located? I know quite a few peolple in NE Iowa.

c17loadsmasher wrote:I just don't let people borrow my vehicle. When I put my truck in for service, I remove the fuses that power the switchbox. No power for the relays, no lights. People that DO borrow my truck know better. But, the switch thing is a good idea, or just removing the mic is another solution. I'd say the switch would be my option.

even when they DO know better sometimes there are mistakes. a funny one actually, a friend had dropped a quarter and instintively went to grab for it on its way to the floor and hit my lights switch. I have two DPDT switches that do ALL on and just rear....down being rear. he drove around did his errands and such witht the rear of the car all kinds of flashing. its all taillight inserts so he had no idea. finally he got pulled over by a guy who had seen him earlier in the day but thought it was legit...just a funny story. no way he would have meant to do that...

now i have my warning equipment activate through my cdm

Thanks for the responses........sounds like my key switch on the Ignition sense wires will work correctly. That was kind of what he wanted to go with and we thought maybe a nice plate off the side mounting locations of the radio head would look professional. Especially in a console setup.

Jim's idea was a good one, too. I thought about putting a dead man switch with a safety toggle cover in the glovebox. That way no one would find it and it couldn't accidentally be turned on without having to flip the topcover over the switch.

The keyswitch is what I'm leaning on doing.

Thanks.

Blaze.

I guess its a secret where in NE Iowa you are at.I know quite a few people in that area and may have been able to send some business your way.