[TenTec] Yamaha CM-500

[Dr. Gerald N. Johnson]

Last year as I was preparing for the second weekend of 10G + operation 
on a hilltop in Minnesota, I planned to build a box to do PTT and a tiny 
built in CW key (both using microswitches) with an adaption to the 8 pin 
RJ-45 used by the Yaesu I used for the IF. I gathered parts but when I 
hooked up any of my microswitches to the key jack, I found I couldn't 
send good CW, maybe copyable but not good. A leaf switch contact set 
from a lever switch seemed better, but I took along a Western Union 
model 2A legless key on a steel base and it worked fine. So I used only 
the headphones of the Yamaha set. On a hill top in the sun and breeze 
operated 17 or 18 hours over two days, but didn't sit at the radio 
continuously because it took the rover group time to move from point to 
point.

I didn't detect any ear pinching nor the weight on my ears from the 
headset (unlike my hearing protector worn with a hard hat) even though I 
had the head band to rear because I was wearing a broad brimed hard hat 
for a sun hat.

Many on the hill were using speakers and I commented at the end of 
Saturday, "I sure is nice to have the receiving diversity when my sick 
receiver can't hear the rovers." Funny thing, every body on the hill on 
Sunday had headphones and I didn't get that diversity reception. Gotta 
fix the transverter front end for the next time.

73, Jerry, K0CQ

On 3/22/2010 3:58 AM, Martin Sole wrote:
> I like the look of both the Koss and the Yamaha. I see Koss offer an inline
> volume control as an accessory and should work with all such headsets. Now
> if only someone would do an in line PTT assembly!
>
> As an aside I always wonder about long term headset use. I find most
> headsets difficult to wear for hours on end. Most become far to hot and
> heavy over a prolonged period. I would be interested to hear how users have
> found these models for long periods of use. On Ten-Tec radios of course :-)
>
> Martin, HS0ZED
>
>