CB Radio in American RSV's

[Nacho]

John, I need to know how the american CB radio works in your Venture.

What I need is to know where and how is your PTT button (Push to Talk).

I think that you guys use the switch that we have in Europe for the flashing high beam. This means that you don't have this option of flashing but and do not have the PTT button. Am I right?

If your PTT is something different, a picture of it would be of great help.

What we are trying to figure out in the Spanish Venture Club is if we could buy the American CB Radio and the Control Unit for the handelbar and then work normally of we also will need to buy a different PTT button and disconnect the flashing high beam.

Any help about this deal will be very appreciated.

Thanks in advance for the info.

Best regards form Spain,

Nacho.

[roland]

Hello, Nacho!

Yes, our switch for the headlight flash is the ptt-button at the US-bikes. I had a look at John's bike when I tried to install a aftermarket CB.

I can post you a pic from my ptt-switch I bought with the add-a-radio-interface from airrider. Unfortunatly my bike is 350 km away from me for installing a trailer hitch and i will get it back in December. But you shoud find the switch at the airrider website. The switch is attached to the handlebar between the grip and the switch unit. I already had it installed at the France meeting!

May be I have the papers of the switch available so I will scan it and post here. Today I can't because I am busy at work but tomorrow in the evening is possible.


Here is the pic from airriders website:

Mine is a little bit different, I don't have the switch lever, mine has a push button.

[Nacho]

Thanks Roland.

So, where do you plug that jack cable? Directly to a normal CB Radio. To a Walky Talky? How does it get into the sound system of the Venture? Is it using the AUX mode of the system? I am a little bit confused.

Take your time. We are not in a hurry. We have all winter to make lots of tests.

I think that it could be a good idea for everybody to show here in the forum pictures and installations of the CB Radios each one uses so we all can learn from the others.

What do you think guys?

Anyway. Thanks for the info, Roland.

Best regards form Spain,

Nacho.

[bunnie]

great idea

[roland]

The switch belongs to this add-a-radio-interface from airrider:



The interface is "plug and play". You disconnect the cable to the riders headset of the intercom under the fairing and plug the interface in this connections. Install the ptt-switch and connect it to the 3,5 mm jack. Then in Europe you can connect any PMR (FRS-radio in US) or LPD-radio with the double pin connections (motorola standard type 3,5 and 2.5 mm) and you are ready for "bike-to-bike" talk. You have to switch the stock intercom on and also the pillow driver can listen to the talk. The US handheld CB's can also be directly connected because they have the same connections like our PMR's. Not so in Europe, but it should be possible with a selfmade adapter. But not really necessary because the PMR's are favourite in Europe. They are small units and within a range of two km useable and can be attached to any bike with a direct headset. No need of an intercom and no need of a power connection to the bike.

Hope this helps a little. BTW PMR's are available in good quality, waterproof and not too expensive. Do yourself a favour and look for units with batteries in AA-Size. They lasts up to four or five days with not too much transmissions without charging in stand-by mode.

[johnjr]

Hey Nacho....just now reading, sorry...looks like Roland has you handled!!!! He is good at that stuff for sure......so if ya need anything else from me..just let me know.....haa....!!!!

[Nacho]

Yeap. I can see that Roland knows "a little bit" about these things.

We, at the Spanish club use a very similar system. In this case, the interface is not from Air Rider but from Kenedy Technologies or something like that.

The only difference I see is that we don't use PMRs but the old 27 MHz radios (the ones truckers have always used). I wonder if our interfaces would work with PMR's also.

Unfortunately, the interfaces that we all bought at the Spanish club are not available any more.

Roland, do you think that we could still talk with the friends if they buy this Air Rider set?

Just too many questions from an electronic ignorant.

Thanks a lot for your coments.

Best regards from Spain,

Nacho.

[roland]

The Kennedy interface should be quite the same as the set from airrider. When I was looking for a interface I decided to go with airrider instead of the Kennedy's because I had the pictures at the airrider website. Both should work in the same way, so I was told from Kennedy's.

I don't know how your CB's are attached to the Kennedy interface. The airrider has the two pin mono connection (two parts at each pin for positive and ground). In Germany the handheld CB's have the similar connection but one pin is stereo (three parts at the pin) and the 3,5 mm and 2.5 mm pin are changed. And the third part of the stereo pin is for the ptt-switch. Should be possible to make them work with the interface connector but every CB unit must get a special work at the adapter here in Germany. If in spain the connectors of CB and PMR are similar then You shouldn't have this problems (like US). But the US CB units use slightly different frequencies so only some Channels hit the German or european channel partitions.

In fact the PMR's will beat the CB's in future because they are much smaller and easier to handle at any bike. I always tried to install CB but always got too much ground noise during the running of the motor so I stuck with the PMR. And no one except Ventures and Wings have CB and mostly the US CB's. Otherwise some PMR's can be tuned up to two watt so the range for transmissions is really good if the PMR is attached somewhere to the fairing. Also a separate Antenna is a good idea for a PMR but not legal except some units which comes in this way from the manufacturer.

Perhaps John can have a look at a US handheld CB how the connections for the extern mic, speaker and ptt are switched. May be we should get a "workshop" next year at a meeting somewhere and sometimes to try some units and interfaces. Would be nice to have a good and not too expensive solution to get everyone in Europe in the "bike-to-bike" talk. It's very helpful on tours with friends. I tried it on a holiday with friends and we enjoyed it very much.

BTW the Airrider interface work with the dynamic mics of the headset and the pmr, which usually use electret mics. No need to change the headsets of the Venture or Wings.

[Nacho]

Wow, Roland!!!

I wish we lived closer to each other to have long chats about these things and make tests on the bikes.

A few Spanish guys are making some works in Barcelona to build our own interface. The don't want to pay the big buck for these kinds of accesories and they say that they alreadu have got succesfull tests.

The only problem is that they are focused on CB's instead of PMR because we decided so in one of our meetings. We knew that the only bikes we could talk with were the Wings because we never get together with other brands (nothing against other models, but we simply have more relatio with wings than with BMW's or any other).

But if their final product is good enough for the CB's, we could start a new standard product for all bikes using PMR's.

Anyway, here I post a few pics of the work my boys have done already. I bet you will understand more than me what you see.

As you can see in one of the pictures, they even included the name of one guy into the circuit. Bronco is the member of the Spanish member I have in Barcelona.

Best regards from Spain,

Nacho.

[roland]

Not bad, much better than I could do it. If I am right then with this unit the CB is connected somewhere to the intercom circuit and switches with relays between intercom and CB. My tries were in the similar way but without a board with layout.

Then I found a layout for an interface where a european cb or pmr could be attached and not to care about electret or dynamic microphones. A friend of mine worked hard to make these layout perfect and made me listings for the parts I needed. But during my illness I couldn't finish these interface and I don't know when I could do this, so I bought the interface from airrider.

If you want I can give you the paperware of this layout and all needed parts. I also have at least two platines laying around. But it is also not the cheapest because all needed parts together are roundabout 100, € for every interface. If you have someone with a small electronic factory may be he can do it with some units. May be Bronco is able to finish this by hand. It's not too hard but he should have some expierences in soldering and testing but I am sure Bronco could do this if he wants and have the time to do it. I am sure if he would finish one and all is running he has to do much more.

I will try to take a pic to show you of what I am speaking.

[roland]

@ Nacho:

Found something out during sufing in the Internet:

The CB-Unit Alan 42 Multi should be compatible with the airrider adapter. the Alan 42 comes with an adapter to plug directly in a cigarette lighter and the antenna has an BNC-plug (139,90 € in Germany). This means it should be possible to mount the CB unit somewhere at the fairing, can be connected to power of the bike, the intercom and a CB-Antenna at the bike!

With this combination You have for roundabout 400, € a good CB-system istalled at the Venture! This is much cheaper than the original CB and can be installed to Ventures, Wings or as "stand-alone" unit at any other bike, cars and can also be used as walkie-talkie and home stations. And no change at the bike or the Audio Control needed. At any time You can change to a PMR-System within 3 minutes. I am impressed and will try to get a unit for a test. But I have to wait until my bike is at home again!!!

May be a self-made solution can be cheaper. In my opinion not very much if you want to have a good combination. What do You think?

[Nacho]

That's what I am runnig with right now. My set is the Kennedy interface plus the Alan 42. I have been using it for the last 3 years and it works great, clean and nice. We have both AM and FM on the Alan, so when we don't have GoldWings or old Ventures in the group, we talk in FM because it is cleaner.

I do have the Alan installed in the handle bar and conected to the bike power so I don't worry about batteries.

Some people in the Spanish club has all the installation inside the trunk, so everything looks cleaner in the handlebar area. But they can not control the walky talky to change chanels, use squelch or turn up the volume.

Let me take a few pictures this weekend and I will show you.

Now, the only thing that I would like to figure out is if a standard PMR would fit in my installation. I mean that if a PMR has the same female ports than my Alan, then it could work. What disturbs me is that not all these things work in the same way. For example, if I use a motorola walky talky that has the same female jack ports (one of them is smaller than the other) it does not work. Don't tell me why but the connections are the same ones and the system dos not work.

Anyway. Pictures coming on Monday (if I come to work. I may be father this coming Sunday).

Thanks again for all the info, Roland.

Besta regards from Spain,

Nacho.

[roland]

Don't hurry, the winter is long enough. The most important thing is to become a father! Hope all will go in the right way and best wishes for this, for your wife also, of course.

If you would try a alan PMR it should work. Some other units work with the adapter if VOX is switched on! Not logically but sometimes it works. Here in Germany also not all units work in the same way but they should.

Best regards
Roland

[Nacho]

Thanks Roland. Let's see if I can add a few pictures of the baby on Monday along with the Radio ones ;D

In the meanwhile, I just went to check our old archives from our old Spanish Venture web site and found a couple of pictures of the Alan that we recomended to buy to our members. You can see here the complete set (walky, PTT and the interface from Kennedy). The only problem of this set is that the passenger can listen to other bikes comunications but can not talk. Also, the passenger does not hear the driver talking when he uses the PTT. I guess it is not a perfect system, but at least it works quite well (much better and clear than Wings and old Venture radios and also longer range of commnucation).

Anyway. Here are the pics. I hope they work.

Geeez!!!!! How I like these conversations. I wish we could do it in person with a few beers in front.

[roland]

Yes, it would be much better we could do this in person. But think back: Few years ago we never found each other and no communication in this way at all was possible except writing letters!

Instead of this the internet is much better. BTW I asked my wife: she can hear me during the transmission and hears also the answer. May be she can speak also to a other bike if I would push the ptt-switch. Never tried this.

Orderd me the Alan 42 because it solves all my problems with the CB and I will install it at the handlebar to have all controls available. Now I have to think about a switch to hear the CB also over the extern speakers. But this is not really necessary.

Now I found a link in Germany from soeone who sells the Alan 42 with a switchbox for 350,- €. Talked to him several years ago and he would be able to make it work with the Venture.

Here is the link in english:
goldwingelectronic.de/GW_Sprache/GOLD_WING/CB_RADIO/cb_radio.html

[winghunter]

;D ;D ;D ;D
that is an item from a strange scooter

[roland]

Sometimes such items are also good for better machines. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[Nacho]

Roland, let me check next week about the price of the Alan 42 here in Spain.

It could be a lot cheapper. If I find it cheapper, I can send it to Germany if you want.

Talk to you on Monday or Tuesday.

Best regards,

Nacho.

[oliver]

Hi Nacho

I've bought a american CB for venture on ebay and I've made all the connection and transform our call light button in a ptt button. I've send all the pictures to Gary Mace and he work to make a tech library for how to transform a europe venture in a american venture for the cb. If you want I can send you the pictures

[roland]

Nacho:

Don't forget it's the Alan 42 WITH the switchbox like the Kennedy set or my Airrider interface. Found the Alan 42 here in Germany for 115 €. The set from this dealer is a little bit cheaper than buying the parts alone.

Best regards
Roland

BTW here are the pics from my selfmade interface (still not finished, the resistors are missing)

[Nacho]

oliver:

Sure I would love to see those pictures. Please send them to me to [e-mail] or post them here. I'll do it if you want. I will also wait for Gary's report about the transformation.

@roland:

I don't know what you mean with "Alan 42 WITH the switchbox". The Alans that they sell in Spain are just the walky plus the conection to the cigarette outlet of the cars, plus two boxes for holding AAA batteries (1,5 volts each one) plus a leather (plastic) holder to keep the walky talky.

I have been asking in several dealers but I am afraid that I can not get cheaper than 148 €. Mine was a lot cheaper a few years ago, but it seems that it went higher now. It is very starnge because the new digital radios should make the Alan 42 go cheaper.

Anyway. I'll keep watching this thread.

Best regards to all from Spain,

Nacho.

[roland]

@ Nacho:

The switchbox is the interface to put the Alan directly to the intercom. No changes at the bike, just "plug and play". No need to buy or build anything to make the CB work with the headsets. All together for 350,- €. Next time we meet we can talk with CB or PMR, just You like..... and drink something together in person, of course.

BTW Are You already Dad again?

Best wishes
Roland

[Nacho]

Nop. Not yet. We almost went to the hospital last Sunday night. Elena started to have lots of pains, but it all was a false alarm. Still waiting.

Thanks for the interest, anyway.

Best regards,

Nacho.

[roland]

Received my Alan 42 CB-Radio on wednesday. It works for sure with the airrider interface. Somewhere on Ventureres.org there was a posting in the GoldWing section if my memory serves me right, that the Alan 42 with a good CB antenna installed at the bike was better than the stock one. I will test it next year at our local GoldWing meeting.

BTW tomorrow I'll try to get my bike and the trailer home. Hope it doesn't snow or rain until I am back home. Seems to be a little fresh anyway. Over the winter time I will find a place to install the CB-unit.

Does anyone know wether the UK frequencies are the same like the US? If so I will have no problems to talk to all original US-Radios in Bikes because the Alan 42 multi can be changed to the country rules of Europe.

[Horác]

Hello everybody!

I want to use the flashing high geam button insted of PTT button. But my friend - the electronical specialist - don´t recommand me that, becouse of the noise (etc.)during pushing PTT.

I bought PTT button, FRSet4 interface, intercom harness and radio adapter for PMR Alan 456, all from "Kennedy Technology Group".

All parts were very easy to install.





---
Jarda

[roland]

The high beam flasher should work without noise if it's completley disconnected from the electrical connections at the bike. But I prefer the additional button and keeping the high beam flash.

BTW the ptt-button is exactly the same I got with the interface from airrider. Seems to me that the Kennedy set has a lot more cables than the airrider interface. Both should work also with the Alan 42 multi CB-Radio.

[Falko]

roland said:

But think back: Few years ago we never found each other and no communication in this way at all was possible except writing letters!

thxxxx Roland

we cant say this often enough
we not only have friends now across the world
sometimes they can help us...

[Nacho]

Roland,

My good friend Bronco from Barcelona, the one who developed his own interface, has made a new and nice CB installation.

They have now two ways to install CB radios in non American Ventures.

First one is like you all can see in these pictures.





As you can see, what they have done is simply add a chrome palte to the fairing and put the controls of a regular CB radio there. The CB radio and the Interface are inside the fairing and only the controls to change chanels, squelch and volume are outside. They only opened the radio unit and made the cable for the controls a little bit longer by soldering them in a different place.

It looks easy, but apart from soldering them, it is necesary to protect them against water and interferences. They have done a very good job and it is working very well. The one you are seeing in the pics travelled from Barcelona to Valladolid and back (a total of 1,400 km) working perfectly and talking to other bikes (in both AM and FM).

Now the second way to install another kind of CB radio is taking off the cassette deck and putting the CB radio in its place. They have one already working but need to ficnish some details.

They tried to keep the casstte door, but it seems to be innecesary. The radio that they are using seems to fit perfectly and it looks like if it was a factory made component from Mama Yama.

They are gonna ficnish the whole thing this weekend and I hope to see some pictures on monday. Will post them here as soon as I have them.

I will keep updating this thread with further news..

Hasta la vista,

Nacho.

[roland]

Wow, excellent work, Nacho! I cant wait to have a closer look at this! Did they use the Alan 42 or a different CB?

For me may be it's better to stick with the Alan 42 for changing with the PMR. Too many different systems used in my area. But Your work looks pretty good. I have to think over.

[bunnie]

Very nice idea for extending your dashboard. Want to have design drawings if there are any.