Two way radios are generally considered easy to operate for point-to-point communications. Just push the button to talk, and release to listen. Yet in spite of this simplicity, there are some aspects to these devices that seem somewhat confusing or complicated to manage. A prime example of this is in regards to the audio accessories, or more specifically, the lack of cross-compatibility between the plugs, ports and different connectors. We are often asked whether the earpieces, headsets and speaker microphones used for one brand of walkie talkie will work with radios from other brands. After all, many other types of audio products follow a set of standards for plugs, jacks and connections, so why not the radios? Aren't audio connectors for radio accessories universally compatible?
If only it were that simple. However, such is not the case.
Many two way radio manufacturers have their own proprietary connector set for their products. Some follow their own standard across their entire product lines, and others, such as Icom and Motorola, use several different types of connectors that are proprietary to specific model tiers and series.
The good news is that this is beginning to change. Thanks in large part to overseas manufacturers, most notably those in China, a standard of sorts began to emerge during the last decade, and its adoption continues to gain serious momentum. The standard? This is the 2-pin Kenwood, or K1 style connector.
Many radio brands such as Baofeng, TYT and Wouxun are now using the K1 connector as the de facto standard for audio accessories. This allows greater flexibility, interoperability and choice for consumers who want to upgrade to a new portable handheld radio, but don't want the expense and hassle of having to toss out all their old earpieces and replace them with new ones. Instead of jamming them into the junk drawer or lobbing them into a landfill, they can now mix and match existing headsets, speaker mics and other accessories with their latest transceiver purchase.
But what about the other name brand manufacturers? Are there adapters or other options that will allow someone to convert one type or brand of audio accessory connector to another?
We get this question a lot. Unfortunately, with few exceptions, the answer is a very disappointing no.
So, how do you determine what audio accessories are compatible with your radio? How can you identify the type of audio connector your radio uses and how can you tell all the different plugs and ports apart from one another?
The chart below lists common connector types and the radios that are compatible with them. Although it was created to cross-reference XLT brand audio accessories, it can be used to help identify connector types for other accessory brands as well.
Click on the connector part number in the chart below to view a sample image of the connector type.
| Handheld Two Way Radio Audio Connector Types | |
|---|---|
| XLT Part Number | Radio Models |
| C1 | Cobra: Cobra FRS/GMRS Radios Garmin: Garmin 110, 120, 130, 530, 610, 650, 655t |
| K1 | Baofeng: BF-F8+, BF-F9, UV-5R, UV-B6, UV-82 Blackbox: Blackbox Base Station HYT/HYTERA: TC620, TC700EX Kenwood: TK-208, TK-220, TK-240, TK-240D, TK-248, TK-250, TK-260, TK-260G, TK-270, TK-270G, TK-308, TK-340, TK-340D, TK-348, TK-350, TK-353, TK-360, TK-360G, TK-370, TK-370G, TK-372G, TK-430, TK-431 TK-2100 (Pro Talk), 2102 (Pro Power), 2130 (Pro Talk XLS), 2160, TK-2212, TH-22AT, TH-77A, TH-78A, TH-D7A(G), TH-235A, TH-28A, TH-42AT, TH-48A, TH-G71A, TH-F6, TH-F6A, TH-K2AT, TK- 320, TK-373, TK-2000, TK-2170, TK-2200, TK-2202, TK-2300, TK-2360, TK-3000, TK-3201, TK-3170, TK-3173, TK-3200, TK-3202, TK-3212, TK-3230, TK-3230DX, TK-3300, TK-3302, TK-3350, TK-3360, TK-3202 TK-3100 (Pro Talk), TK-3101 (Free Talk XL), TK-3102 (Pro Power), TK-2400, TK-2402, TK-3400, TK-3402, TK-3130 (Pro Talk XLS), 3131 (Free Talk XLS), 3160, TK-3230 (Pro Talk XLS), TK-D340U, NX-240V16P, NX-340U16P, NX-240V16P, NX-340U16P, NX-P1200AV, NX-P1200NV, NX-P1202AV, NX-P1300AU, NX-P1300NU, NX-P1302AU Leixen: LX-928 Midland: BizTalk BR200 Olympia: P324 Relm: RPU416, RPV516, RPU499, RPV599X, RPV516A, RPV599A Plus, RPU416A, RPU499A Plus, RPU4200 TYT: MD-280, MD-380, MD-390, MD-UV380, TH-350, TH-UV88 Wouxun: KG-805, KG-805F, KG-805FS, KG-805G, KG-805M, KG-824B, KG-826B, KG-905G, KG-935G, KG-935G Plus, KG-S72C, KG-S84B, KG-S86B, KG-S88G, KG-D901, KG-UV6D, KG-UV6D PRO, KG-UV7D, KG-UV8D, KG-UV8D Plus, KG-UV8E, KG-UV8H, KG-UV899, KG-UV9D, KG-UV9D Plus, KG-UV9D MATE, KG-UV9P, KG-UVD1P, KG-UVN1 |
| K2 | Kenwood: TK-190, TK-280, TK-290, TK-380, TK-385, TK-390, TK-480, TK-481, TK-2140, TK-3140, TK-2180, TK-3148, TK-3180, TK-3212, TK-4180, TK-5210, TK-5400, TK-5410, TK-5220, TK-5310, TK-5320, TK-5410, TK-5420, Nexedge NX-200, NX-210, NX-300, NX-410, NX-3200, NX-3300, NX-5200, NX-5300, NX-5400 |
| K3 | Kenwood: PKT-23 |
| K4 | Kenwood: NX-P500 |
| M1 | Bearcom: BC120 Blackbox: BlackBox , Blackbox+ HYT/Hytera: HYT TC500, TC518 OBR, TC600, TC610, TC700 Midland: BizTalk MB400 Motorola: BC10, BC120, BC130, MAG ONE/BPR40, BC90, CLS Series, CLS1110, CLS1410, CP125, CP185, CP88, CP100, CP100d, CP150, CP200, CP200d, CT150, CT250, CT450, CT450LS, DLR1020, DLR1060, DTR Series, DTR410, DTR550, GP68, GP88, GP280, GP300, GP308, GP350 (requires Motorola adapter HLN9482), GP2000, GTI, GTX, LTS2000, P040, P080, P110, P1215, P1225LS, PR400, PRO3150, RDU2020, RDU2080d, RDU4100, RDU4160, RDV2020, RDV2080d, RDV5100, RMU2040, RMU2080, RMU2080d, RMV2080, RMM2050, SP10, SP21, SP50, XTN446, XTN500, XTN600, XV1100, XV2100, XU1100, XU2100, XU2600, VL50, VL130 RCA: BR-250 Relm: RP6500 Tekk: XU100, XV100, XU1000, XV1000 |
| M3 | Motorola: EX500, EX600, GL2000, GP328Plus, GP338Plus, GP344, GP388, PRO5150elite, EX560XLS TYT: MD-2017 |
| M4 | HYT/HYTERA: TC980 Motorola: MTP700, GP1280, GP140, GP320, GP328, GP329, GP338, GP339, GP340, GP360, GP380, GP640, GP650, GP680, HT1250, HT1250LS, HT1550, HT1550XLS, HT750, MTX8250, MTX8250LS, MTX850, MTX850LS, MTX9250, MTX950, PRO5150, PRO5350, PRO5450, PRO5550, PRO5750, PRO7150, PRO7350, PRO7450, PRO7550, PRO9150, PTX700, PTX760, PTX780, MTX950, PR860, PRO7750, SABRE radio series |
| M5 | EF Johnson: 5000, 5100, 51LT ES, 51SL ES Series, 7700 Series, AN/PRC 127EFJ, Avenger 8100 Series, Multi-Net Ascend ES Series, Viking VP600, VP900, Viking CK8500 Series, Viking Fire Motorola: GP900, GP9000, HT1000, JEDI, JT1000, MT1500, MT2000, MTS2000, MTX8000, MTX838, MTX900, MTX960, MTX9000, MTX-LS, PM1500, PR1500, XTS1500, XTS2500, XTS3000/Astro, XTS3000, XTS3500, XTS5000 |
| M6 | Cobra: FRS 5512, 5522, T5800, 5820, 6200, 6210, 6220, 6250, 6300, 6320, 6400, T7200 series, FR50, FR60 DeWALT: DXFRS300, DXFRS800 HYT/HYTERA: TC1688, TC320, TC310, TC310 OBR Motorola: Single Pin for FRS/GMS/GMRS "talkabout" radios, T200, T260, T270, T280, T289, T400, T460, T465, T480, T600, T605, T800, T5100, T5200, T5300, T5320, T5400, T5410, T5420, T6000 series, T8000 series, T9000 series, and EM, FV, MB, MC, MD, MH, MJ, MR, MT, SX series radios. Olympia: Single Pin for FRS/GMRS radios, R100, R300, R500. TriSquare: TriSquare TSX series |
| M7 | Midland: STP404A Motorola: TRBO, XPR6300, XPR6500, XPR6350, XPR6380, XPR6550, XPR6580 and APX7000 Series |
| M12 | Motorola: CLP1010, CLP1040, CLP1060 Series |
| ML1 | Midland: Works with all Midland FRS/GMRS radios such as the Midland G, GXT, and LXT series radios. President: RANDY FCC radio |
| S2 | Midland: Works with all Midland FRS/GMRS radios such as the Midland G, GXT, and LXT series radios. Note: cable comes straight out of the back of the connector. President: RANDY FCC radio |
| S6 | Icom: IC-F3G, IC-F3GS, IC-F4G, IC-F4GS, IC-F11, IC-F21, IC-F14, IC-F14S, IC-F24, IC-F24S, IC-F31, ICF33G, IC-F43G, IC-F43TR, BC100, IC-F1000, IC-F2000, IC-F1000D, IC-F2000D, IC-F3001, IC-F3011, IC-F3021, IC-F3021S, IC-F3021T, IC-F3031, IC-F3210D, IC-F4210D, IC-F4031, IC-F3101D, IC-F4101D, ICF4001, IC-F4011, IC-F4021, IC-F4021S, IC-F4021T |
| S8 | Icom: IC-F30G, IC-F30GT, IC-F30GS, IC-F31, IC-F31GS, IC-F31GT, IC-F40G, ICF40GS, IC-F40GT, IC-F41G, IC-F50, IC-F50V, IC-F51, IC-F60, IC-F60V, IC-F61, F70, F80, M87, M88, IC-F3061 Series, IC-F4061 Series, IC-F3161 Series, ICF4161 Series |
| T1 | TYT: TH-9600 |
| Y4 | Vertex Standard: Two mounting screws - eVerge EVX-261, EVX-531, EVX-534, EVX-539, VX130, VX160, VX180, VX210, VX210A, VX-261, VX-264, VX300, VX400, VX410, VX420, VX230, VX231, VX350, VX351, VX354, VX451, VX454, VX459 |
| Y6 | Vertex Standard: eVerge EVX-S24 |
