DIY Earpieces, making due with “Funny” radios

Our team got some “funny” radios. I didn’t know my electronics as I do know. If I did, I would have known better and looked for some key aspects about what to look for in a radio.
Anyway, these radios did not come with ear pieces. Around this time the Uniden Plant in Laguna closed and this was part of the sale. We were able to get it at a reduced price, but we only found out later that we had no support.
Checking the earpieces online they go for roughly $12 or Php600 plus shipping. Not only that we need them in pairs. Doing it Myself is practice in an important self sufficiency skill: basic electronics and second, the buzz a small but personal accomplishment.
Anyway, it was a simple problem: We need ear pieces. The radio uses a 2.5mm jack. First thing I tried was my cell phone earpiece. Then I tried a 3.5mm jack earbud with a 2.5mm adaptor. It works, it made the left ear-piece become a mic when spoken directly too.
So I got one of those really cheap hands free earpiece for the phone from CDR king, took the mic and implanted in the left ear piece. Viola!
The nice thing about this set up is: Its cheap and easy to fix, I can hear over my earbud normally, and I can whisper to my mic when opponents are close.

Ear Piece Wiring. Php60

Mic from a Cel Phone Hands free Earpiece Php100
Pieces Soldered According to the Colors I found them in.
Taped to prevent them from accidentally touching and folded back into the earpiece

Good as new. Unlike before, which needed it DIRECTLY to my mouth, now its sensitive enough to pick up my voice even if I put it against throat! (hehehe throat mic)
If only we have a better battery capacity and if we can raise the Watt performance to increase the range and endurance. Recycling Old Ni-cad bats. I have my old phone Li-ion batteries, hoping I can find a way to recyle them since I have a multi-battery type smart charger.

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