by Robin Rumbolt
When I first started my PPG training, I found that the FRS radios I already owned, Motorola Talkabout 250's, wouldn't work with my new PPG helmet, the NAC-2000. Speaker audio and push-to-talk worked just fine, but there was no transmit audio.
Trying to get thru to Motorola was a hopeless maze that ended up with me being told that interface info was "proprietary" and could not be disclosed. Gee thanks, Motorola!
Luckily, I found that the problem was mechanical, not electrical.
Below is a close up photo of the microphone and earphone jacks on the TA250. You will notice that both have raised plastic ridges around the jacks. The next photo is of the NAC-2000 connectors as plugged in to the jacks.
The raised ridges prevent complete insertion of the plugs from the helmet.
That was the problem!
There are two solutions - modify the radio case, or modify the helmet plugs. The latter is easier. With a sharp knife just trim the plastic back around the helmet plugs until they fit.
That solved the problem. Microphone audio: work! The plugs also stay plugged in better!
Good flying!
Robin Rumbolt
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