> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.sonoransoftware.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Radio Hardware

> Connect an external push-to-talk button or headset to Sonoran Radio.

> [!NOTE]
>
> **Gaming communities are limited to two users with hardware access enabled at a time**,
> across all rooms. Real-world agencies will need **Sonoran Radio Enterprise (coming soon)**.

> [!WARNING]
>
> Hardware support is experimental and in testing. You may encounter bugs.

Use an external push-to-talk button to transmit on your Sonoran Radio channels:
hold to talk, release to stop. Audio pairing and PTT button setup are separate.

## Connection options

| Platform | Control options |
| - | - |
| iOS and Android | Keyboard/HID, AINA A.18 BLE, Jabra / BlueParrott BLE, Blu-PTT BLE, PTT-Z BLE |
| Android | BlueParrott Classic, Zello-style Bluetooth serial (SPP), USB-C CDC, configured phone PTT buttons |
| iOS | MFi accessories using the PTT SDK protocol |

See [Protocols and Standards](/radio/hardware/protocols) for the exact interfaces.

## Set up an accessory

1. Connect to your community, then open **Settings → Hotkeys → External PTT Button**.
2. Pair headset audio in your phone's Bluetooth settings. Pair Android serial and
   BlueParrott Classic accessories there too.
3. Choose the control connection below, select your accessory, and press **Connect**.
4. The primary button is selected automatically. Press and release once to arm it.
   To choose another button, select **Assign Accessory Button** and press/release it.
   Button checks in settings do not transmit.
5. Close settings, hold the button to talk, and release to stop. Wait for the transmit
   indication before speaking. **Keep the app open and the screen awake.**

| Accessory | Setup control |
| - | - |
| Bluetooth BLE or Android serial/Classic | **Find Bluetooth Accessory** |
| Android USB-C CDC | **Find USB Accessory**; allow USB access, then find/connect again |
| iOS MFi | Pair or plug in the accessory, then **Find MFi Accessory** |
| Android phone button | **Phone PTT Buttons**, then connect the phone-button adapter |
| Keyboard/HID button | Pair in system settings, then **Assign Keyboard Button** and press/release it |

Your first assigned PTT press requests a hardware slot; **Enable Hardware Access**
reserves one beforehand. The slot stays reserved between transmissions. If both
slots are occupied, a popup explains the limit and on-screen PTT remains available.
Use **Release Hardware Slot** to free it when finished.

Connecting a Jabra / BlueParrott control assigns its configurable button to Sonoran
Radio. Restore its previous function in the manufacturer's app when needed. Close
other PTT apps that may own the accessory connection.

## Falconclaw setup

Follow the [Falconclaw pairing manual](https://www.falconclaw.eu/cdn/shop/files/FC_PTT_MANUAL_PUBLIC.pdf?v=4001290175019457488)
to pair **FALCONCLAW** audio and **BLU-PTT** control. Choose the Blu-PTT entry in
**Find Bluetooth Accessory**. FC-PTT compatibility is awaiting confirmation from
hardware testing. Bluetooth audio uses Falconclaw's onboard microphone.

## Configured Android phone buttons

Configure your phone's button mapper to send the
[Zello-style press/release actions](/radio/hardware/protocols#android-phone-button-broadcasts)
to Sonoran Radio. A mapping targeted only at Zello will not reach Sonoran; available
mapping options depend on your phone's firmware.

## Reconnecting

Leaving the app, losing the control connection, or disconnecting releases hardware
access. Return to the app and reconnect if needed. For a sleeping PTT-Z button,
press and release to wake it, then hold again to talk. A continuous transmission
ends after 60 seconds; release before pressing again.


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