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How to Switch Microphones Between Rigs

Most citizen band and ham radio rigs are sold with an included microphone. However, there may be occasions when you've lost the microphone and need to borrow a buddy's. Microphone jacks are often the same across many radios within a brand and look like oversized telephone jacks, or four-pin jacks, so physical compatibility isn't usually an issue. However, many radios require different microphone characteristics.

Things You'll Need

Manuals

Instructions

- 1
  Verify that the microphone impedance from the microphone you want to use matches the impedance used by the radio. For example, the Yaesu FT-1900R's microphone impedance is 2 k-ohms. You may have to check owner's manuals for multiple rigs.
- 2
  Check the jacks match. For example, Yaesu Ham radio microphone jacks, which look like oversized telephone jacks, include six connectors. Looking into the jack from left to right, the first connector is "PTT/Clone and the second is the actual "Mic Input." This is followed by the "Ground" and the "+6V," "Mic SW1" and "Mic SW2." Cobra CB radio jacks are round four-pin connectors and don't fit Yaesu radios.
- 3
  Verify that the swapped microphone clips into the microphone bracket to avoid having the microphone loose in the cab and becoming inaccessible through movement.
- 4
  Remove the microphone from one rig by unplugging it. Then attach it to the new rig by plugging it in.

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