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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!ucbvax!decvax!ulose!bob
From: bob@ulose.UUCP ( Bob Bismuth )
Newsgroups: net.aviation
Subject: Re: Reliability of mail order houses (and RST info)
Message-ID: <119@ulose.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 2-Sep-85 09:57:09 EDT
Article-I.D.: ulose.119
Posted: Mon Sep  2 09:57:09 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 4-Sep-85 04:49:08 EDT
References: <761@infopro.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: CADMUS Computer Systems, Lowell, MA.
Lines: 42

> Telex push-to-talk switch (special price with headset). The Telex switch
> is clearly made less well than the Clark equipment but seems quite sturdy.
> 
> Unless anyone has experience that would indicate it's a bad idea, I plan
> to order an RST intercom soon. This unit seems to have all the features of
> all the other intercoms put together, and is also cheaper. Comments, anyone?
> 

Regarding the Telex switch, in my experience they are better made than the
Dave Clark switch. Twice I've had the soldering connections fails in my
Dave Clark switch - both times when I needed to contact some sort of ATC.

I also use an RST intercom which took me about 3 hours to assemble. Overall
I am very pleased with it - it has all the features you could want, including
both tape play back and tape record (useful for instrument practise when you
need to analyse some misunderstood ATC instruction later). The directions
with the kit are very complete, but like all software engineers, I never
read the manual first!

There were about four problems with their directions, but having looked over
the circuit and pc board, I was able to correct them before starting. They 
were not even problems, just inefficient ways of doing things. The hardest
part of building was making the patch lead which connects the unit to the
headphones, 12/24 v power supply (if you have one handy), tape unit (if
needed - works well on long cross countries), etc.

Since my usual craft does not have an electrical system, being able to run
the intercom from a 9 v battery for 50 hours was very attractive. I also
would advise against building it with the panel mount. This is time 
consuming for little gain - I use velcro to hold it in place and can then
move it to any craft I wish to fly without too much fuss.

Regarding the Telex switch, if you have a PT-200 the RST intercom will NOT
work properly. It will with the PT-300. This is because it requires that
the high side of the mike audio line be broken when not depressed. The
PT-200 does not do that.

   --  bob
       (decvax!ulose!bob)