- Today, we're building a trigger switch
for a headset microphone.
This should be a really fun project,
so please stick around for more.
(upbeat music)
Hi, I'm Michael KB9VBR, your host for Ham Radio Q and A.
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Well I recently purchased a high LBM 17 headset
to help out with my portable operations.
Sometimes while working in a campground
or in a public area, I don't want the noise associated
with the speaker or I want a more hands-free operation
while on the air.
The Heil headset gives me a good quality set of headphones
and a mic element that is always properly placed
in front of me for the best audio pickup.
Normally, if I'm home I'll use a foot switch
to operate the headset.
This is a pedal I picked up at the bargain bin
in a music store, and it works great in the shack.
But I don't want to take it out into the field.
Heil makes a trigger switch for that purpose.
While a very nice product, I figured I could do
something myself and save some money.
So digging through my junk box with parts
for my trailer solar project, I found a little single pole,
single throw momentary switch.
Perfect.
I can build my own trigger.
With a little more digging. I found some,
a multi conductor wire and a one quarter inch Phono plug.
Now all I needed was a handle.
Low and behold, a one half inch schedule 40 PVC tubing
will fit inside of a rubber bicycle handle grip.
I'm taking a trip to Target.
I got a set of ergonomic handles for about $10.
So with the parts I had on hand lying around in the shack
and a purchased handle grip,
I put this trigger switch together for about $10.
If you want to build your own, I'll put,
I'll put a parts list in the video description below.
Otherwise, here's how
to build your own headset trigger switch.
First off, for parts, you're gonna need the following,
a bicycle handlebar handle.
You can find these in the bike shops, discount stores
or online, get whatever style pleases you.
A single pole, single throw momentary switch, a short length
of one half inch schedule 40 PVC, one, 1/2 inch PVC cap.
One, 1/4 inch model phono plug, and the length
of multi conductor wire.
Two conductor wire is best.
I had some four conductor wire lying around,
so I chose that.
For tools you'll need a wire cutter or a utility knife
to strip the wires, a PVC cutter or saw, a drill,
along with a step drill bit or properly sized standard bit,
vice grips to hold the cap while drilling the hole,
and of course a soldering iron.
To make the trigger switch,
we will first need to cut the PVC.
Measure the handle, as you will want the PVC to stick out
about an inch.
From my handle, that was about five inches of PBC.
Cut the PVC and then insert it into the center
of the handle grip.
This is the hardest part as it's gonna be a very tight fit.
I ended up pushing on it, pushing on it
on the floor with my weight to get it fully inserted.
Next, drill a hole into your PVC cap.
Check your switch to see how big
of a hole you're gonna need.
Mine requires a 13 32nd inch hole.
Make a mark in the center of the cap and clamp the cap
with your vice scripts.
Using the step bit, drill a hole into the cap
until it's at that the right size
or the switch can fit into it.
(drill drilling)
(upbeat music)
(drill drilling, background music)
Next, cut about a six foot piece of wire
or however long you want it to be and thread it
through the bottom of the handle grip up through the PVC.
My handle had a little vent hole in it at
and the wire fit through perfectly.
If yours doesn't, you're gonna have to make a little hole
with your utility knife.
Now here's the important part.
Pull the cable through the little,
through the little nut and the washer for the switch
and then the cap.
I didn't do that the first time
and I had to re solder my switch.
Now trim the outer, trim away the outer jacket
of the cable and strip two of the wires.
If there's a break or shield, you can trim that away too
so that it doesn't short circuit the switch.
Solder the wire to the leads of the switch.
It doesn't really matter which direction,
as this is a single throw switch.
You only have two positions, on or off.
Once the wires are soldered, you can assemble the switch
in the cap and tighten up the nut.
After doing that, I added a zip tie
about five and a half inches down on the wire.
This will help prevent the wires from being torn out
of the switch if the cable gets pulled.
Now do the same thing with the plugin.
Run the wire through the cap
of the phono plug, strip the wires, and then solder them
to the tip and the ring connection on the plug.
Again, it doesn't matter which goes to what,
as we're gonna be using a single throw switch.
You only need to complete the circuit.
Once that is done, screw everything together
and let's test it out on the radio.
(knob tightens)
(radio static)
And that is pretty much all you need to do.
You know, if you're thinking about building a trigger switch
for your headset, you can do this.
You need about an hour.
And like I said, the parts cost was minimal.
The most expensive thing was the handlebar grip.
Everything else I was able to scrounge up
around in the shack.
Looking online, I found a 10 pack of switches
for about eight bucks and you can pick those up
and in no time you'll have a junk box as diverse as mine,
or, you know ask a fellow HAM
if they have some little switches in their stash.
Or maybe even watch the Ham Fest for a switch and a plug.
Yeah, that's how I matched my parts collection.
And you know, looking at this, you know
if I was going to do anything different, you know, this,
I would probably try to shorten the little bit of,
you know space that this, this cap takes,
but otherwise, you know, it's a pretty ergonomic fit,
and I'm kinda happy how this project turns out.
And that's how you build your own custom trigger switch
for a headset microphone.
If you have any questions or comments about the project,
please leave it in the comments below.
I'll filter through them and who knows, you know,
maybe yours will end up on our next
Your Questions Answered live stream,
but for more articles of information and VHF, UHF antennas
for sale please check out my website
at www.jpole-antenna.com.
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That's it for this time.
I'm Michael, KB9VBR, have a great day and 73.