Push to Talk Switch

[Jackal24]

I need to get a push to talk switch for the Cessna's I rent now. I have
noticed that they are very expensive for what they are (a switch). Is it
legal to build my own from Radio Shack type parts? If so, does someone have
the specs?

Tyson

[Kyle Boatright]

You can buy one from Sporty's for ~$20... It even comes with the cords, so
you can plug it right in to your intercom.

My understanding is that you could build one from Radio Shack parts, since
the plug-in PTT switches are not FAA certified (nor are headsets, for that
matter).


"Jackal24" > wrote in message
...
>I need to get a push to talk switch for the Cessna's I rent now. I have
> noticed that they are very expensive for what they are (a switch). Is it
> legal to build my own from Radio Shack type parts? If so, does someone
> have
> the specs?
>
> Tyson

[Don Hammer]

On Tue, 21 Dec 2004 10:47:31 -0000, Jackal24 > wrotD:

>I need to get a push to talk switch for the Cessna's I rent now. I have
>noticed that they are very expensive for what they are (a switch). Is it
>legal to build my own from Radio Shack type parts? If so, does someone have
>the specs?
>
>Tyson

By the time you buy the parts, you are better off buying one. In
answer to your question, it doesn't have to be a certified part. All
a transmit switch does is ground the key line on the radio.


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[Cockpit Colin]

> By the time you buy the parts, you are better off buying one. In
> answer to your question, it doesn't have to be a certified part. All
> a transmit switch does is ground the key line on the radio.

I can't speak for all portable PTTs, but the ones I've bought actually have
2 switches - one to key the transmitter, and one that connects the
microphone (I cut the former so that passengers have to press the PTT to
talk over the intercom - cuts the noise down considerably when the cheap and
nasty squelch control keys all 4 mics at once :(

[Gumby]

Jackal24 wrote:
> I need to get a push to talk switch for the Cessna's I rent now. I
> have noticed that they are very expensive for what they are (a
> switch). Is it legal to build my own from Radio Shack type parts? If
> so, does someone have the specs?

Lemme get this straight. You can afford to fly but you're too cheap to buy a
under $50 PTT? Bwhahahahahahaha.

--
I'm Gumby dammit!

[Jackal24]

"Kyle Boatright" > wrote in
:

> You can buy one from Sporty's for ~$20... It even comes with the
> cords, so you can plug it right in to your intercom.
>
> My understanding is that you could build one from Radio Shack parts,
> since the plug-in PTT switches are not FAA certified (nor are
> headsets, for that matter).
>
>
> "Jackal24" > wrote in message
> ...
>>I need to get a push to talk switch for the Cessna's I rent now. I
>>have
>> noticed that they are very expensive for what they are (a switch). Is
>> it legal to build my own from Radio Shack type parts? If so, does
>> someone have
>> the specs?
>>
>> Tyson
>
>

The cheapest one I saw on their website was $60 something. Please give me
a link.

Tyson

[Jackal24]

"Gumby" > wrote in
:

> Jackal24 wrote:
>> I need to get a push to talk switch for the Cessna's I rent now. I
>> have noticed that they are very expensive for what they are (a
>> switch). Is it legal to build my own from Radio Shack type parts? If
>> so, does someone have the specs?
>
> Lemme get this straight. You can afford to fly but you're too cheap to
> buy a under $50 PTT? Bwhahahahahahaha.
>

I can afford a $50 PTT, but why pay $50 when it is not worth that? I
don't pay $25 for a candy bar, do you?

Tyson

[Bill Denton]

But how much is a reliable switch worth when you're truckin' through a Class
B and all hell breaks lose?



"Jackal24" > wrote in message
...
> "Gumby" > wrote in
> :
>
> > Jackal24 wrote:
> >> I need to get a push to talk switch for the Cessna's I rent now. I
> >> have noticed that they are very expensive for what they are (a
> >> switch). Is it legal to build my own from Radio Shack type parts? If
> >> so, does someone have the specs?
> >
> > Lemme get this straight. You can afford to fly but you're too cheap to
> > buy a under $50 PTT? Bwhahahahahahaha.
> >
>
> I can afford a $50 PTT, but why pay $50 when it is not worth that? I
> don't pay $25 for a candy bar, do you?
>
> Tyson

[G.R. Patterson III]

Jackal24 wrote:
>
> The cheapest one I saw on their website was $60 something. Please give me
> a link.

Anytime someone mentions Sporty's, you can probably find it cheaper elsewhere.
How about $12.95? Part number 11-12100 at Aircraft Spruce & Specialty.

George Patterson
The desire for safety stands against every great and noble enterprise.

[CVBreard]

>But how much is a reliable switch worth when you're truckin' through a Class
>B and all hell breaks lose?

In addition to the built-in PTT switch on the 172 I rent (with my Dave Clark
headset), the plane has a standard hand-held mike installed.

I also carry my own hand-held mike in the bottom of my headset bag, giving me 3
mikes.

Talk about 'belt and suspenders'.... :-)

[Jackal24]

"G.R. Patterson III" > wrote in news:41C8DBBC.589FFD5
@verizon.net:

> 11-12100

Thank you very much.

Tyson

[Jackal24]

"Bill Denton" > wrote in
:

> But how much is a reliable switch worth when you're truckin' through a
> Class B and all hell breaks lose?
>

First, the plane does have a handheld mic if need be. Second, how much
more reliable do you think a $50 switch is versus a $0.50 one? I doubt
very much at all. In fact, they are probably the same switch.

Now that I found one for $13, I am fine with it. $13 is overpriced too,
but much better than $50.

Tyson

[Denny]

As a long time user of parts from the Shack, let me comment that their
push button switches are not reliable... Order a name brand product
from DigiKey, or Mouser, or Dan's RF, etc...

Denny

[Peter R.]

Bill Denton ) wrote:

> But how much is a reliable switch worth when you're truckin' through a Class
> B and all hell breaks lose?

As a previous owner of a Cessna, I can attest to the fact that the
Cessna PTT switches are *not* that reliable and certainly not worth the
price for the part.

--
Peter

[[email protected]]

Bill Denton wrote:
> But how much is a reliable switch worth when you're truckin' through
a Class
> B and all hell breaks lose?

I agree. However, a more expensive switch is not necessary more
reliable than a cheaper one. Last year, we paid something like $10 for
a PTT for the copilot side. It did not work with the intercom. I
learned from the newsgroup that it needed to be rewired. Since we could
not figure out a way to crack the plastic box opened, we took it to our
avionic guy. He convinced us to pay for a $75 PTT switch. Since it was
a newer switch, we put it in the pilot's side. Later on, I decided to
modify the cheap switch myself to keep as a backup. Anyway, few weeks
later, the spanking new switch malfunctioned and created an
embarrassment incidence where the ATC could hear everything which we
said in the cockpit. At least, we were not in a B space. It turned out
to be a bad solder joint of one of the ground wires. We resoldered it
then another solder joint broke (all within a month or two). We could
have returned it, but I decided to resolder all the wiring and added a
strain reliever (which should have been part of the design in the first
place!!). BTW, we has been using the cheap $10 PTT in the pilot's side
for the last 9 months or so and it has been working fine.

[Bill Denton]

Interesting point...

How old was the Cessna?

While somebody operating out of a cornfield might use the PTT a few times a
year, somebody consistently flying in a Class B might be using it a couple
of times a minute.

The switches do wear out, I wonder if it might be worth replacing it
periodically, based on how frequently it is used?




"Peter R." > wrote in message
...
> Bill Denton ) wrote:
>
> > But how much is a reliable switch worth when you're truckin' through a
Class
> > B and all hell breaks lose?
>
> As a previous owner of a Cessna, I can attest to the fact that the
> Cessna PTT switches are *not* that reliable and certainly not worth the
> price for the part.
>
> --
> Peter
>
>
>
>
>

[tscottme]

A built-in PTT was one reason I chose my particular headset. It has a PTT
built into one of the earcups. If the aircraft's, or any add-on PTT goes
TU, I can plug my headset into the jacks directly and use my last-ditch PTT.

--

Scott

[Peter R.]

Bill Denton ) wrote:

> How old was the Cessna?

Two years old.

> While somebody operating out of a cornfield might use the PTT a few times a
> year, somebody consistently flying in a Class B might be using it a couple
> of times a minute.

Or class C. The aircraft was based at a class C airport and,
consequently, the switch was used frequently.

> The switches do wear out, I wonder if it might be worth replacing it
> periodically, based on how frequently it is used?

This is definitely an item that can be replaced after it fails rather
than preemptively, since there are two other switches in the cockpit
(other yoke and mic switch).

--
Peter

[john smith]

David Clark PTT's are built with two switches in the housing.
I have yet to have one go bad.

[gregg]

wrote:

>
> Bill Denton wrote:
>> But how much is a reliable switch worth when you're truckin' through
> a Class
>> B and all hell breaks lose?
>
> I agree. However, a more expensive switch is not necessary more
> reliable than a cheaper one....

Very true. I called up one supplier who had one PTT for $16 and one for $79.
I asked what the difference was and he said, not much. I said I'd pay for
the more expensive one if it bought me something and he said it wouldn't.

So I bought the $16 and used it a lot in our 152's as their yokes have no
PTT. Held up pretty well.

Gregg

[Jon Woellhaf]

While a $16 switch and a $79 switch may be of equal quality, there certainly
can be a tremendous difference in the quality of similar-type switches.

"gregg" > wrote in message
news:jFpyd.226905$5K2.143982@attbi_s03...
> wrote:
>
> >
> > Bill Denton wrote:
> >> But how much is a reliable switch worth when you're truckin' through
> > a Class
> >> B and all hell breaks lose?
> >
> > I agree. However, a more expensive switch is not necessary more
> > reliable than a cheaper one....
>
> Very true. I called up one supplier who had one PTT for $16 and one for
$79.
> I asked what the difference was and he said, not much. I said I'd pay for
> the more expensive one if it bought me something and he said it wouldn't.
>
> So I bought the $16 and used it a lot in our 152's as their yokes have no
> PTT. Held up pretty well.
>
> Gregg
>

[gregg]

Jon Woellhaf wrote:

Hi Jon,

You mean in switches from Radio Shack?

Gregg

> While a $16 switch and a $79 switch may be of equal quality, there
> certainly can be a tremendous difference in the quality of similar-type
> switches.
>
> "gregg" > wrote in message
> news:jFpyd.226905$5K2.143982@attbi_s03...
>> wrote:
>>
>> >
>> > Bill Denton wrote:
>> >> But how much is a reliable switch worth when you're truckin' through
>> > a Class
>> >> B and all hell breaks lose?
>> >
>> > I agree. However, a more expensive switch is not necessary more
>> > reliable than a cheaper one....
>>
>> Very true. I called up one supplier who had one PTT for $16 and one for
> $79.
>> I asked what the difference was and he said, not much. I said I'd pay for
>> the more expensive one if it bought me something and he said it wouldn't.
>>
>> So I bought the $16 and used it a lot in our 152's as their yokes have no
>> PTT. Held up pretty well.
>>
>> Gregg
>>

[Jon Woellhaf]

I asserted, "... there certainly can be a tremendous difference in the
quality of similar-type switches."

And Gregg asked, "You mean in switches from Radio Shack?"

I mean among all switches, not just those from Radio shack. Radio shack
doesn't have any good switches.

Besides, you can't pay $16 for a Radio Shack switch, can you? Let's see ...
According to their web site, pushbutton switches (SPST momentary -- suitable
for PTT) range from $2.79 to $3.49.

A really good switch, the Newark 61F1210, is $19.57, according to their web
site.

Of course, we're talking about just the switch itself, not a complete PPT
switch assembly.

Jon

[[email protected]]

Jackal24 > wrote:
> I need to get a push to talk switch for the Cessna's I rent now. I have
> noticed that they are very expensive for what they are (a switch). Is it
> legal to build my own from Radio Shack type parts? If so, does someone have
> the specs?

Note that the PTT circuit uses smaller than 1/4" (.250") diameter plugs
and jacks. .206" comes to mind.

> Tyson


Best regards,

Jer/ "Flight instruction and mountain flying are my vocation!" Eberhard

--
Jer/ (Slash) Eberhard, Mountain Flying Aviation, LTD, Ft Collins, CO
CELL 970 231-6325 EMAIL jer'at'frii.com WEB http://users.frii.com/jer/
C-206 N9513G, CFII Airplane&Glider, FAA-DEN Aviation Safety Counselor
CAP-CO Mission&Aircraft CheckPilot, BM218 HAM N0FZD, 221 Young Eagles!