David Bush, KC5UOZ,  operates the nightly Amateur Television Net and Central Texas Slow-Scan Group from the amateur radio clubhouse. He gets pretty busy scanning pictures as they come in on the 2-meter repeater and are re-transmitted on the 421.25 MHz ATV repeater. He asked me to design an interface that would allow hands free operation using a headset and foot switch to control the, Yaesu FT-1500, 2 meter transceiver.

I found a really neat headset, the Altec Lansing model AHS15. The boom microphone is an electret element with a frequency response from 100 Hz to 16 kHz. It uses noise canceling technology to eliminate background noise. I was never a great proponent of the electret element but this one of the best sounding microphones I have ever used. It sounds better than my Heil BM-10 headset with the HC-5 cartridge which cost almost $100. The Altec headset is only $14.95 - you can find them on sale for as little as $8.95 The single earphone has a 30 ohm impedance with a handy volume control that you can clip on your shirt. All parts ( $15 ) for the adaptor were purchased from Mouser. The only item purchased from Radio Shack was the foot switch, part # 44-610 ( $5 ). Total cost $35.00.

Print out the paper panel, tape to metal front plate and center punch holes for push button and jacks. After holes are drilled attach panel with double sided Scotch™ tape and cover entire front panel with 2 " wide clear shipping tape. Be sure to label speaker plug, foot switch jack and radio mic plug using clear heat-shrink tubing.

Have Fun!