Fire Truck Headset setup with CDM mobile INSTALL PICS!

apco25 · Post by **apco25** » Wed May 28, 2003 2:14 pm

Never hooked up a headset / intercomm system to a CDM mobile. Its a new rig and the headset system was factory installed.

Any pitfalls or things I should be aware of? I'm expecting it to be straight forward based on other headset systems.

Its Sigtronics by the way,

Znarx · Post by **Znarx** » Wed May 28, 2003 3:46 pm

the only thing to beware of is the Rx audio circuit
the CDM (as well as any M radio with the 16 pin acc. plug) uses balanced audio output..there is DC voltage on both lines....make sure that NO side of the headset speaker is grounded..you will damage the audio output of the radio

workaround...use only one ext. speaker lead, put a 470uF cap in line, then run to the speaker (only use this if modifying the headset is not an option)

...Z

Znarx · Post by **Znarx** » Wed May 28, 2003 3:50 pm

oops! almost forgot!...make sure the headset microphone is not a plain-jane 600 Ohm element..your Tx audio will be low...if this is the case, add an amp board to the headset mic circuit
...Z

apco25 · Post by **apco25** » Wed May 28, 2003 4:09 pm

Ok I'll double check although I just spoke to the chief and its supposed to be a plug in play system from sigtronics no adapter needed from them

jim · Post by **jim** » Wed May 28, 2003 6:27 pm

What brand headphones are you using? Which intercom interface or radio interface part #?

apco25 · Post by **apco25** » Sat May 31, 2003 6:58 pm

Sigtronics 4 person full headset/intercom. I've yet to see it - Dept bought it and is asking me to install. The headset system is supposed to been factory installed and wired so I don't think I have anything more to do than hook up the radio and configure the accessory connector via software.

of course this could be its supposed to be and not what's actually there for me to work with.

jim · Post by **jim** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 5:39 am

If it came from Sigtronicss as the 'plug and play' for the CDM, you should just have to configure the radio through RSS.

If you get an interface with 6 or 8 wires, you will have to get a 16 pin connector from Motorola and crimp 6 of the wires into the acc. connector. You won't have to worry about isolated audio and such, as Sigtronics has 2 isolated audio, 2 isolated mic and 2 isolated PTT lines that will go directly to the radio.

I found with Sigtronics, you will have to bump up the external mic gain approx 5dB over the factory setting to get a good sounding (not muffled) audio.

apco25 · Post by **apco25** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 8:01 pm

Got it all up and running today for a test but the factory harness was too short. It came with an 8 pin modular connector juction box that lets you plug in the headset system and the regular mic together.

I expect it to be a 16 pin connection for the headset since everything is available back there.

it does work this way and I quickly noticed the mic gain issue. I increased the gain the sigtronics interface itself as the internal gain for the radio was already just fine.

I'm building a custom replacement harnest instead of the junk one from Sigtronics.

$385,000 rig and they don't put a quality cable in .

jim · Post by **jim** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 12:04 pm

I can't believe they do this! I never ordered a plug-n-play Sigtronics- I just make my own.

FireCom (junkjunkjunkjunkjunkjunk) uses this same setup and its....you guessed it....JUNK!

At least Sigtronics doesn't connect the entire system together with the P.O.S. modular phone connectors like FireCom. Did I menthion that these are junk?

JAYMZ · Post by **JAYMZ** » Mon Jun 09, 2003 6:39 am

Some pictures of the headset system. Nice lookin truck I might add as well.. mmmm Pierce....

Looks good Alex...

jim · Post by **jim** » Mon Jun 09, 2003 4:26 pm

Is that a green lens on the Vector bar? Never seen that one before if it is. We run all red on municipal vehicles and personal Chiefs' cars and the vollies have all blue (in Pa.)

What make/model is that truck? Our '03 KME custom build is due in another month. I just hope it doesn't give us problems like many other KMEs that I've rewired and performed other major electrical repairs on. You ought to see this truck with the 88" Tomar lightbar across the cab! Once our department website is back up, the pics will be posted. I just ordered the CDM1550 (lowband, of course!), M1225 UHF, 2 Untenna low profiles and the 7-unit David Clark system. It's been 24 years since our last new one, so we're getting toys on it

http://www.uvfr.org should be up in a week or so.

Post by **Code3Response** » Mon Jun 09, 2003 4:32 pm

That Dept must be close to Chicago - all of their engines have a green light on the starboard side - it came from sold old thing about boats having a green light on starboard, and an old cheif liked the idea or something like that? I read about it somewhere.

Post by Pj » Mon Jun 09, 2003 4:33 pm

Chicago uses at least one green light on their trucks. I don't remember why, but it has to do with some tradition.

Jay, can we get a close up of that flag on the grille, and where did you guys get that? I may need to order one for our Pierce and Simon/LTI ladder! (Don't think it will fit on a quantum)

JAYMZ · Post by **JAYMZ** » Mon Jun 09, 2003 5:40 pm

Ask Alex (apco25) it's his truck.. I just posted the pictures for him. I'm kind of curious myself...

Here's the close up

FFParamedic571 · Post by **FFParamedic571** » Mon Jun 09, 2003 6:22 pm

Lockport is about 40 mi Southwest of Chicago. Just north of Joliet. The Chief there is a Huge Chicago Fire Dept. Buff. I know he used to be my Deputy Chief. The Green lens is a Chicago tradition back from the 19th century. All CFD rigs have atleast one green light on the passenger side.

JAYMZ · Post by **JAYMZ** » Mon Jun 09, 2003 6:47 pm

FFParamedic571 wrote:Lockport is about 40 mi Southwest of Chicago. Just north of Joliet. The Chief there is a Huge Chicago Fire Dept. Buff. I know he used to be my Deputy Chief. The Green lens is a Chicago tradition back from the 19th century. All CFD rigs have atleast one green light on the passenger side.

But why is my question...

Did a lot of Chicago FD's trucks take a swim so they put lights on them to look like boats? Y'know just in case they would float if you put it in the drink....

There has to be a reason for the tradition. It's interesting... I'm curious to know.

Radio_Cowboy · Post by **Radio_Cowboy** » Mon Jun 09, 2003 6:51 pm

I've HEARD it's because of all the Irish in the Chicago FD (and PD) as well..... Irish have made up a large number of FD up there for a long time.....

Just what I've heard.

-RC-

FFParamedic571 · Post by **FFParamedic571** » Mon Jun 09, 2003 7:11 pm

There was a Commisioner ( fire Chief) in the early 1900's that owned a a shipping line. He used the port/starboard to identify the sides of the engines for the firemen. Its been that way ever since.

Also the firehouses in chicago are the same one red light on the right side of the bay door green on the left.

JAYMZ · Post by **JAYMZ** » Mon Jun 09, 2003 7:20 pm

Ok good enough for me...

The red/green lights on a sea-bearing vessel have been in existence forever. I think it's actually a Coast Guard requirement now... Not completely sure.

apco25 · Post by **apco25** » Mon Jun 09, 2003 9:44 pm

The truck is a Pierce, just delivered a few days ago. Its VERY nice. They have another identical unit due in a couple months.

I'm not sure a to the origin of the flag on the grill, I'd have to ask the Chief. I'd assume Pierce put it on there.

Also green is used as Incident Command out here.

Post by Pj » Mon Jun 09, 2003 9:51 pm

If you can find out, it would be great. I am going to pass it along to my chief