radio communication from cox to launch

[Ro]

Hi,
I am looking to fix up a method of allowing the coach in a launch to listen to call the cox is making via some kind of radio linnk.
Does anyone have an experience of this and could maybe suggest a method?
At the moment I am looking at 2 way radios but ideally I would want something that is hands free.

Thanks in advance.

Rohanne

[A3aan]

This is often done with a pair of portophones. You need to get a decent one with good quality microphone, good range (several kilometers) and a headphone socket. I think they come at around 100-150 euro (sorry, don't know your local currency).

Concept 2 sell an adapter for NK CoxBoxes, see here: http://shop.concept2.nl/roeien+op+het+water/elektronica/nielsen+kellerman/accessoires/adapter+portofoon+nk_y_+3_y_5+mm+plug_y_+bnc+connector
(there is another one with more options that costs 69 euro)
With this adapter you can hook up a portophone to your coxbox system. The idea is that the coach can listen in and coach the crew. When the cox speaks the coach is suppressed (I hope).

As you might notice I have looked into this. The reason I have not started using this is that I have heard bad reviews about the end result. Crew could not hear the coach properly or get confused hearing two voices coming from the speakers. However if your only goal is to hear the cox then this might be a good solution for you.

Cheers,

A3aan.

[SingleMinded]

People must have been doing something like this in the past, given that it's banned on the Tideway.

[thomas....@googlemail.com]

On Monday, February 4, 2013 10:47:23 AM UTC, Ro wrote:
> Hi, I am looking to fix up a method of allowing the coach in a launch to listen to call the cox is making via some kind of radio linnk. Does anyone have an experience of this and could maybe suggest a method? At the moment I am looking at 2 way radios but ideally I would want something that is hands free. Thanks in advance. Rohanne

Ok, geek setting on maximum and this is just speculation as I havenn't tested this at all

You could connect the cox box to an iPhone using the following adapter
http://www.nkhome.com/store/product.php?productid=16379&cat=248&page=1

or build your own

http://www.thecoxguide.com/personal/coxbox.html

Then on the iPhone you could either:
1) Call the coaches mobile phone and the coach use a bluetooth headset, if you have one with a noise cancelling microphone/microphone you can disable you could even have the coach talk over the coxbox

2) Set up a personal hotspot on the Cox iPhone and then connect to that hotspot on the Coaches smartphone and connect the the two with a VOIP telephone app (saves mobile call time mins)

[Ro]

Ah, they aren't stocking that NK wiring in the UK at the moment but emailed the distributor to find out if they will be in future. That could work.
I am not looking to talk from the launch into the boat speakers, more to listen to what the cox has to say.

Thanks for all the replies! Anymore suggestions welcome.

[Henning Lippke]

Can I somehow disable the 'reply' button in Usenet-View in Thunderbird?
I always hit it instead of reply to group.

Am 05.02.2013 14:44, schrieb thomas....@googlemail.com:
> You could connect the cox box to an iPhone using the following adapter
> http://www.nkhome.com/store/product.php?productid=16379&cat=248&page=1
>
> or build your own
>
> http://www.thecoxguide.com/personal/coxbox.html

Do you know if the DIY version supports injection of audio from an
external device, say a mp3 player or a PMR radio?

It is meant to work the other way, recording the cox. The NK one would
be right but I don't want to believe they just charge 70 $ for a simple
solder job of standard plugs. Is there some more passive electronics
involved?

[John E]

There are electronics in the NK product. If you put a meter on the connectors at each end you don't get a reading. My understanding is that this is because the output of a radio is so much higher than a microphone.