LS-671/VRC Loudspeaker Control Unit
           Power and Hook Up Instructions

Note: Changes added October 10, 2018 - please reload the page.
                         

     What can I do with a LS-671?

Possible uses:

1. Use as a external amplified speaker

2. Use it to interface the noise canceling H-250 handset or the M80/U microphone to a marine SSB or "civilian" radio. You can hide that Rice Box and remote the audio.

3. Use to remote your radio. Probably good for couple of hundred feet. Limiting factor is the PTT line.

4. Connect it to a BC-1306 or BC-474 at the next rally and see what happens when the experts drop by.

                LS-671/VRC Speaker. Brooke's site PRC-68.com has quite a bit of information about this unit. There are numerous sites with information about the LS-671 but they might be missing voltage levels, current consumption and correct pin connections. I have posted pin information below that worked for me and my applications.  
                      Brooke's Military Information, N6GCE   http://www.prc68.com/I/RT1439.shtml#LS-671

                           The 2nd board. Note the large LM317.

                                        
                                        Main System Connector J1

                   The main system connector is a standard 18 contact connector used in the VIC (Vehicle Inner Comm) system. The contact pins are lettered and are easily identified. Power up the unit via Pin C (relay control line) (see schematic) and Pin A (GND)on the main system connector. The voltage from Pin C goes through the switch/circuit breaker combination and provides power to the 9 and 18 volt internal voltage regulators.

                    More connection information below.

                               

          The plastic speaker is kind of interesting speaker grill has slots to pass the audio but no water proof membrane but looks to be pretty water resistant. An interesting note and link below by Steve KM4V:

"Have enjoyed and used the resources on your site....Many thanks! Thought I would pass along a possible discovery re: the LS-671, I think the speaker in these units is a Piezo unit, just like or similar to the MISCO MP-1103, or at least that is what I seem to recall from my research."

                     http://www.miscospeakers.com/speakers/MP-1103

http://www.miscospeakers.com/speakers/MP-1103

           Basic speaker amplifier operation

                                
                                                       CLICK

1. Provide power to Pin C, Ground to Pin A of the main system Connector.

2. Feed audio into Pin K , ground to Pin A of the main system connector J1.

3. Turn set On.

4. Adjust volume, make sure the volume control switch is pulled out and not pushed in. Pushing in the volume switch will mute the speaker but does not mute handset audio.

   Speaker Amplifier Bench Notes:

     With an input of .8 volt PP the output measure at the speaker test point Pins E or F was 5.3 volts PP resulting in approximately 15 dB gain. An input of 100 mV resulted in output of 600 mV, An input of 200 mV resulted in output of 1100 mV etc. NOTE: 9 volts is present on test points E and F, use a .1 capacitor on the ground of your scope probe when checking levels or when using these points to feed other devices use a .1 coupling capacitor on one lead.

    Current Consumption:

 Power 24 volts, 1000 cycle tone on the input at .5 volts PP.   Low audio volume setting resulted in 80 mA current, High Volume 95-100 mA. System idle about 70 mA. With a lot of audio to the point of distortion current draw was 150 mA.NOTE you can remove the light bulb (DS1) from its holder and reduce overall current drain by 40 ma. Turning off the main toggle switch/circuit breaker completely powers down the unit and reduces input current to zero. Note during battery operation you have to turn the LS-671 speaker set off other wise you will eventually drain the battery. An alternative would be to let the transceiver supply the power through its "accessory" jack.

The Direct Support Maintenance manual TM-5820-900-30-4 list current consumption as 150 to 500 mA.

    NOTE: The amplifier does not have a fuse and I am not sure about reverse polarity protection as I did not test it.

                       Microphone Preamp Operation

                                  
                                                    CLICK

1. Apply power to the unit.

2. Low level microphone audio input to Pin D of the U-229 connector.
Ground to Pin A of the handset connector.

3. Amplified microphone output will be present on Pin U (Audio Smit) of the main system connector.
Be sure and ground Pin S (Audio Xmt Rtn)

                                            Bench Notes:

    With 50 mV in on Pin D of the Handset connector J2 (U-229 type) with Ground on Pin A resulted in an output of 2 Volts PP on Pin U (Audio Xmt) of the J1 system connector , a very large increase (over 30 dB) and this reduces to about 1 volt PP when under load of a typical radio microphone circuit. With a typical H-250 handset voltages obtained were 2 to 5 volts PP depending on voice peaks which is reduced under typical circuit load to about 1 to 2 volts PP. Most radios will require an additional pad to reduce the voltage.

    Note: PTT does not have to be activated in order to use the transmit audio amplifier circuit. (info - typical voltages for a GE mic element is 1 volt PP, typical handset H-250 mic audio is approximate 50 mV so the LS-671 microphone output is quite high.

                                                   PTT operation

                                 
                                                                 CLICK
    The PTT circuit is a direct connection between the handset and the system connector. There are no relays or solid state switching involved just the contacts on the handset. Remote operation requiring the PTT circuit is probably possible up to a hundred plus feet depending on the radio. The PTT line also activates the Mute circuits for speaker muting but does not mute the handset. Resistance measurements indicate a internal system resistance of 10-20 ohms when using the H-250, this resistance may hinder remote operations.

                                Remote control Contacts

                         

                                   
    The main toggle switch has an extra set of contacts that allows pins B and D on the system connector to make contact through the switch - this contact pair could be used to power up a device but you will be limited due to the current capability of the switch contacts which is unknown best guess 10 amps.