Canford TecPro Master station

[paulears]

I've a Canford Master station, that we don't use that often because I don't like the way it works. I've looked inside for a jumper type mod, but can't find one.

 

It has two separate circuits, A and B, but switching, for example, the A button off cuts the mic, as it does on a pack, but it also cuts the audio. Channel B does this too. I've never used another of these, but plenty of people do - so my question is - is this mode of operation normal for these, or is mine set up wrong. There's nothing in the manual, and I cannot find and jumpers to change the operational mode.

 

Ideally, I'd like to use it to be able to listen to both circuits, but select which one, or both I speak to. I assumed this was how they worked when I got it, so just can't get my head around the fact it mutes in and out when the switch is pressed. It was second hand, but as new.

 

Is this how they all work, or has mine been got at? I can't imagine that if the DSM switches the mic off to talk to somebody local privately, the audio would cut out - and if the second channel was muted on the switch, you'd never know anybody was talking unless they flashed.

 

I'm stuck, and a bit confused.

Paul

[J Pearce]

The newer canford/tecpro master stations I've come across have listen and speak buttons for each channel, is yours the older sort with the big square buttons?

 

Edit

 

Nope I'm talking rubbish, can't be changed. Also you asked the same question in April 2012 (http://www.blue-room.org.uk/index.php?showtopic=48956 - see end of thread)

[DrV]

Is this a 721? A venue down here in Surrey had Canford do a firmware patch to theirs. It was a change to the way it powers up I think, not what you want, but it shows they can be flexible.

Dave

[paulears]

I didn't think 721 (old series) actually had any 'ware' firm or soft? I did ask the question a year ago - but nobody replied - so this is a bit of a success, in the response department.

 

I dare say a simple response will be to hardwire a link preventing the audio cutting out - maybe even a switch on the rear panel?

[Brian]

It sounds like the unit only has one 'hybrid' ie the bit that inserts audio onto the line and extracts audio from the line.

 

To mute a mic from one line only, whilst still listening to that line and still being able to talk and listen to the other line, requires two hybrids.

[timtheenchanteruk]

I have one too, and it works in the same way, switch the mic off, it cuts the audio, annoying, as Id also prefer to be able to listen to 1 channel whilst speaking on the other.

[Shez]

Same oddity here. And also with the aux input - muting the mic also stops the aux feeding each channel. I too contacted Canford who replied to say that that's not normal behaviour for the aux and that someone must have altered it. They didn't have any documentation beyond the basic user manual though.

[Brian]

If my guess (above) is correct then it *might* be possible to modify them to include the extra hybrid by using a BlueCom PCB.

[dmxdesign1]

Hi if its the station I'm thinking of you can mod it quite easily to allow you to listen to both rings and use the ring 1 ring 2 switch just to enable the mic on that ring

I dont have the modded unit in front of me but when it comes back in I'll see how I did it and post the instructions

all the best

chris

[paulears]

Thanks for the comments, guys - it does just (at least in my head) seem odd that the most expensive unit Canford designed - for the DSM has limitations like this. All the beltpacks have the ability to mute the mic, so I assumed the bases stations with two circuits would operate exactly the same, and just contain two separate boards in one box, which sort of justifies the price. I can't think why anyone would actually want a feature that turns off the audio FROM the comms line. For the DSM, hearing two sources is a big advantage at the same time.

[J Pearce]

To me the DSM master station needs a similar setup to the dual circuit pack, with a mic switch, line volume and call button (plus any extras like mic kill) for each circuit.

[paulears]

I've found the solution - sadly not one of the options, but it's not too much of a faff to do.

Remove bottom and top lids.

Remove the 4 screws securing the PCB with the flash buttons and switches.

Remove both the 12 pin press button switches. The pins are a loose fit, so after desoldering, the switch just falls out.

 

The feed from the comms line to the headphone amp is simply shorted to earth when the button is out, so just bend the top pin out of the way, and reinsert the switch and resolder.

 

I put the link on the pcb side of the board, but afterwards realised it could have been done neater by doing it on the switch side of the board, as the switch itself has the tags on the top.

 

The push buttons now work as the packs - pressing turns on and off the mic, while audio on the line is always heard.

http://www.limelight.org.uk/tecpromsmod.jpg

I did the same on both channels, but you could keep the other channel as per the original - turning off the switch silences send and receive.