Hi gang!
After being much busy, the Corona Virus lock down gave me enough time to continue with the project. I focused on the "Cigarette pack" size and here is the engineering prototype for the GM360/380, 1-line & 3-line display.(Is there a CDM with 3-lines lcd?). I think that it also works with CDM 1250 & 1550 but I will test it to be sure. Everything you see in this bare-bones set-up, is for evaluation purposes and can be altered.
(I had to crop the picture, to hide the total mess of the bench, don't tell anyone!)
This is the "featured" Option1 head. The description:
On the front you can see the Power, Channel Select & Volume Set keys. Do we need Function Keys, also? Is a Rotary encoder more practical to select channels?
On top, there is a PTT for "Hands Free" operation, although, on the right there is a handheld microphone connector and a speaker connector on the bottom (Not installed, yet). The microphone element can be seen near the Power Button ans a mic gain trimmer will also be installed, accessible from the outside.
On the right, you can also see the radio connector. My initial goal was to connect this minimal head directly on the mic connector of the original head, but this is unfeasible due to Motorola engineers will, so the radio must be in Remote Head configuration.
On the left, surprise! You can chain-connect as many heads as you like! Even the original (as last). If more than 2 heads are to be connected, it is advisable to supply an external 12V in order not to overload the radio's built-in regulators. I must provide a connector.
On the display, you can see the (First line of the) radios's display, 14 characters.
The "20442" is a PTT-ID Decoder for the Select-5 signalling, shown on line-3 of the 3-line lcd radios or on the singe line of 1-line radios .
I must check with MDC1200 radios behavior.
I tried to embed the three status LEDs. The "RCV" indicator say that the radio is idling. On Carrier Detect shows "BSY" (BUSY), on transmit "XMT" (XMIT).
I should better show some icons, according to the originals(?) place some real LEDs?.
AND, since the Volume control is UP/DOWN, there is a Volume level indicator. (is a potentiometer more practical?)
I have ready to install a light sensor (LDR) to control the lighting intensity automatically.
It will also need a decent housing...
My camera ran dead on batteries, so I go to bed (it is 0642 Local time) and later I will introduce the "Compact" option2 head. Stay tuned, I welcome your comments!.
There are 10 kind of people: Those who understand binary and those who don't.
