Functionality of remote ports?

[Lostboyd]

I just bought a GE 3-5287A from Ira. It has a remote port on the side, like many other boomboxes do, and I am assuming this is for a remote control. Since all the controls on the boombox appear to be analog and therefore physically change positions, what functions can the remote control? Do any of you guys know if the remote can control the functions of the knobs and switches? Here's some pictures:

 

[redbenjoe]

great question -
i have tons of analgue boxes with remote jacks -

what do they do ????????

 

[tshorba]

3.5 remote jack next to mic input is for the mic, it only allows external mic on/off and sometimes tape pause.

only logic controlled decks can operate from a remote.

 

[redbenjoe]

thanks tshorba --
nothing else make sense

 

[Lostboyd]

Thanks tshorba! That makes sense.

 

[tshorba]

No problem, it is an answer I know

 

[teamstress]

The switch turns the tape motor on and off.

 

[Lostboyd]

Thanks teamstress! Perfect illustration!

When did manufacturers start (and stop) incorporating these ports? And for what, emceeing?

 

[jaetee]

For what, emceeing?

I think that particular feature was more for recording, especially if you were using a long mic cable. That's a dictation feature, I think.

I actually remember using a mic just like the one pictured previously, plugged into a tape recorder. When I was growing up, we never lived close to my dad's side of the family because of the military. And since long distance calling from Europe to the US was mucho expensive, my dad would sit us down around a tape recorder and we would make audio letters for my grandparents....

Yea, we're talking decades before the internet became the mighty world-shrinker!!!.

 

[Lostboyd]

Before the internet?? Not sure what you mean.

Dictation, interesting. So it was more for practical value than entertainment... Thanks.

 

[jaetee]

Dictation, interesting. So it was more for practical value than entertainment... Thanks.

Well said, that remote on/off is definitely for practical value.

I believe as an emcee, you'd be more interested in a box having the mic-mixing feature, so you could control mic volume separately from the source rec volume controls.

 

[Reli]

So the switch on the mic tells the boombox to shut the tape motor off? Or does it just mute the recording?

 

[skippy1969]

So the switch on the mic tells the boombox to shut the tape motor off? Or does it just mute the recording?

It shuts off the motor Reli........

 

[Reli]

That's kind of weird. I mean, if you want to shut the tape off, just press Stop, lol. It's not like you're gonna be very far from the boombox anyway, due to the cord being only 5-6 feet long.

 

[jaetee]

Yea, it's more of a remote "pause" control..

 

[Lostboyd]

Thanks guys.