OHIS: Open Headset Interconnect Standard

[@websurferx]

Another benefit of the OHIS is user experience and ease of use. How many times have you purchased a headset or mic and didn't get the right adapter, or had to build your own adapter? How much time have you poured over pinout diagrams or relied on vague descriptions from some log forgotten blog post? Did you read the pinout backwards? Oops. Time to rewire or buy another connector. The user experience improvement benefits both device and radio makers.

[@dreupen]

I think this is a great idea. In reading the latest edition of QST, I enjoyed the article about a birdhouse LORA mesh network, and while there is no connection, I thought that a OHIS article in QST would be a great way to promote the OHIS concept to ARRL members.

[@SmittyHalibut]

Yep, been meaning to do that. Thank you for the reminder, I’ve created a ticket to remind me. github.com/open-headset-interconnect-standard/ohis/issues/11

[@MoonMan1333]

Fantastic, and well thought-out! I have an old microphone that I’ve been wanting to use with a modern radio, and instead of creating a single interface, I think I might create an OHIS interface for each so I have future flexibility!

[@SmittyHalibut]

@@MoonMan1333 That's a great idea! I like it! Please let me know how it turns out for you.

[@monolitesounds]

Great work! Working with building automation and the standard BACNet as my referece to the Ohis😊 73 de sm5wyk ps. hamradioworkbench is the best podcast ot there😊

[@ricktighe191]

Very cool...and timely. It would be nice to add the CW Keying Line...but all out of pins, (maybe in CW mode the PTT line becomes the keying line). My interest is in being able to easily SWITCH between radios in my collection of rigs. I've just completed a modular desk project that allows me to physically arrange the equipment for ease of access. This standard helps tremendously with the switching project, even though my rigs' manufacture dates span decades. I look at the "Adapter Project" as a retrofit solution for legacy equipment. If all radio manufacturers, starting tomorrow, were to equip their radios, with OHIS ports and the headset, mic PTT switch manufacturers released their products with OHIS plugs, obviously no adapters would be needed; hence my view of the current status as a retrofit of legacy equipment. Various attempts have been made to produce products for RIG selection, but none that I've seen have taken the 40,000 foot view that you have...great work!

[@SmittyHalibut]

Thank you for the kind words! 🙂 This video is intended as a generic standards advocacy video and doesn't touch on the devices my company Halibut Electronics makes. I'm currently selling adapters (pre-sale, delivery in October 2023), and am working on two "Consoles" to go between the radio and the user. The first is the Contesting Console (two users, one radio), the second is the Station Console, which is what you're describing: multiple radios, one user. It's expected for release sometime in the first half of 2024. And, yes. Ideally, manufacturers would adopt OHIS and start putting OHIS ports on their gear natively, no adapters necessary. But I acknowledge that they are unlikely to do that until there's some traction with the standard. Adapters are the bridge technology to get us there.

[@thuff3207]

Good idea but how about a bluetooth interface with it too.

[@SmittyHalibut]

The standard is just the electrical middle part. The devices that implement that standard is where the Bluetooth would be. There's nothing stopping anyone from making a User adapter that connects to a Bluetooth headset instead of a cabled headset. Or a Radio adapter that LOOKS LIKE a Bluetooth headset and presents an OHIS Radio port. I'm not sure how standard the Bluetooth PTT stuff is though, how difficult that would be to implement. I'm currently concentrating on wired analog solutions and haven't really researched the Bluetooth stuff yet.

[@haxwithaxe]

I think this is a good idea and not just for hams. There are plenty of devices with unusual audio interfaces outside of ham radio. Not as common but they're out there. I'm skeptical of the idea that manufacturers will put this interface in radios because my understanding is they make a big chunk of money off of selling accessories and if they have to compete for accessory sales they will be financially up a creek.

[@SmittyHalibut]

I've spoken with a few manufacturers and I categorize their response as Optimistic Skepticism: "That's a really great idea! I don't think it'll ever happen." :-/ I actually think it's not that bleak. Your point is totally valid, but OHIS doesn't have to REPLACE their existing ecosystem. I'm not asking the big three to do away with their GX16 mic connectors, but to add an OHIS port next to it, or maybe on the back of the radio. They already have the "Accessory" port which duplicates the audio in and out and PTT, so I know they CAN do it. The trick is convincing them that it's WORTH doing with a standard. And the way to do that is to get traction on that standard. So that's what I'm trying now.