Thread: Connecting two CB radios to one speaker?

From an electronics point of view, as long as both radios use the same speaker type (usually an 8 ohm speaker), then there shouldn't be a problem. If you want to be careful then you can put a diode in the positive side of the speaker connection from each radio, but it's probably not essential.

From a practical point of view, do you plan on running both radios at the same time?? If so, I can see it being very annoying of transmissions come in from both radios at once....

Thanks mike ie!

Well i generally would not be using both radios at the same time, however i was thinking more about problems that may occur if both radios were turned on accidently.

Edward

hi. I agree, from an electronics point of view there would be no problems, but having worked as a strike team leader in the C.F.A. , we can have up to 4 radio's in the one command vehicle, so we generally space each speaker at distance from each other so that you know which radio to respond to. Even still you do get easily confused!

Originally Posted by charlesdillon

... we generally space each speaker at distance from each other so that you know which radio to respond to. Even still you do get easily confused!

Most radios have a squelch hi/lo line which can be brought out to a timer (555 works well) bringing a small led on.
2 secs works well, but of course you can adjust.

Originally Posted by mike_ie

If you want to be careful then you can put a diode in the positive side of the speaker connection from each radio, but it's probably not essential.

Please don't do this. Speaker signal is sinusoidal and doesn't work like dc current.

Originally Posted by rogan

Please don't do this. Speaker signal is sinusoidal and doesn't work like dc current.

Indeed. Think my brain must have been switched off when I wrote that

I wouldn't be doing it.

There's various reasons - impedance mismatch, possible AC and DC components feeding back into the other amp. You could cook either the CB or your AM radio.

You COULD do it with a properly designed impedance bridge made up of resistors and capacitors, but then that would cost you.

Just fit another speaker.