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Fitting an Earpiece or Headset

At Comsco, we provide a variety of accessories to compliment your radio hire. From covert acoustic tubes, D-Shape over the ear to noise cancelling headsets we can provide what you need to hire no matter what the need.

The earpieces and headsets all connect via the 2-pin accessory socket located on the side of the hire radios. Motorola CP040 and Motorola DP1400 both feature the same socket located underneath a dust cap. Other radios such as Motorola GP340 or Motorola DP4400 require an accessory port audio adapter to use the standard 2-pin connection or they can use the bespoke direct connection which connects directly to the accessory port.

Here we will explain how to correctly fit the 2-pin connection.

Unlike a 3.5mm audio jack you may plug into your mobile phone, the radio may not work via the earpiece directly after installing without following the below instructions. This is because the remote PTT (push-to-talk) located on the wire of the earpiece / headset or sometimes on the cup of a headset uses the microphone line to send the push-to-talk command.

To correctly fit your 2-pin earpiece simply follow the instructions below:

  1. Ensure radio is switched OFF. If the radio is switched on the audio will be routed to the speaker of the earpiece but it is unlikely to transfer control of the PTT to the remote PTT.
  2. Fully insert the 2-pin earpiece plug into the radio until it firmly ‘clicks’ into the accessory port. This ensures correct alignment of the plug to the socket. If not pushed firmly the plug can sit slightly off target but feel and look like its connected correctly.
  3. Switch on the radio. The radio will now detect that an earpiece is connected and reroute the microphone and PTT control to the earpiece.
  4. Adjust the volume control to a suitable level.

Radio D-Shape Radio Earpiece for Two-way Radio | Over Ear Headset

Lee Emerick No Comments

Is a Radio Case Advisable?

Is a radio case advisable? It would largely depend on the environment the radio will be used in. Below we have created a list of key areas a radio is susceptible to damage should it be used unprotected to help you draw your own conclusions. It is not an exhaustive list but it does describe areas of invisible damage where the user may not realise damage is taking place.

The main radio components susceptible to contamination, leakage and corrosion are:

  • Front Speaker – behind the grill is a piece of felt that protects the speaker from contamination. The speaker has a seal to prevent moisture, dust or splashed liquid entering the radio however it does not offer much protection against ferrous metal filings. When these build up they break through the felt and create holes in the speaker over time which can allow debris to enter the radio. Ferrous metal contamination is not always evident externally and the user may be unaware until the damage is done. A thicker case can distance the magnetic field of the speaker from the source of contamination thus reducing the problem.
  • Microphone – this is not as prone to ferrous contamination but does attract dust and debris which can block the tube from the front of the case to the microphone.
  • Top Controls – The main area of entry for contamination is via the Volume control. As this is rotated more frequently than the channel switch, any water sitting above the seal works its way past the rubber bezel into the radio itself. In a wet, dusty or contaminated environment, having some form of cover or shielding above the top of the radio will deflect an amount of this collecting.

For these reasons Comsco recommends a robust leather case that covers most of radio for harsh environments.