Need to relocate the microphone jack on my IC-7000: Okay to use cat5 and an RJ-45 plug/jack?

As always, thanks for looking

I've been a busy little bee putting my EMCOMM box together this weekend, and so far there have been no major issues or setbacks. The only minor thing that has come up is that the front mic jack on my IC-7000 sits too close to the shelf in the iPortable rack to use it. I've been using the rear mic jack instead for initial testing, but using the rear mic jack makes the cord awfully short.

Ideally, I'd like to make a remote mic jack using a short (~12") straight through cat5 extension cable with an RJ-45 plug on one end, and an RJ-45 jack on the other. The goal is to mount the remote jack in a location that can be more easily reached within the box.

Are there any issues doing this? As with any patch cable I make, this remote extension will be fully tested and validated to ensure that I don't mess up the pinout and harm the radio. Will standard cat5e plenum be sufficient?

Thank you in advance for your input. I'd rather play it safe and ask you guys before I commit, rather than risk damaging an expensive radio by doing something dumb


Edited for spelling.

I used Cat5 to running from my rig through my car and up front for my mic.

Just look at the both tips to see how the wire colors are lined up. Just repeat the same process when you crimp them.

I never had an issue.

I was planning on doing this also but I have no idea so I'm in for the answer!

Wow, that was fast! Thank you Chino

Okay, need to run to the office to grab my cat5 crimper.

Thanks again for your rapid fire expertise

ETA: Happy Memorial Day Marine!

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I use a short patch cable and RJ45 coupler in my truck with no problems. Just crimp the same on both ends. You could even mount a nice RJ45 wall jack in the box.

That is exactly what I just finished doing, and it works perfectly

In homage to Jedi, I decided to use orange jacks


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I've been using a 6' cat5 patch cable for a mic cable in my truck for a few years. It's an icom 2m rig, not a 7K, but I suspect they're not using any weird pin swaps...

I did the same thing, but the radio in my truck is a Kenwood TM-D710A. Used a short piece of CAT5, to a female/female jack, then the cable to the control unit. That way I can remove the control head without constant use of the port on the control head.
I am going to use CAT5 in an FT-857D installation in the same way in another vehicle.

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