[ICOM] Crossband repeating with Icom radios

[John Geiger]

Kenwood has a few rigs that can be interfaced to one of their FM rigs
through the 6 pin mini-DIN jacks on each radio to let them run in crossband
repeat.  These rigs include the TS480, TS590, and I think the TS570.  The
TS2000 can even do crossband repeat using both of its receivers, so an
extra radio isn't even needed.

Has anyone tried doing this with other brands of radios.  For example, take
an Icom 756PRO, turn up the squelch, and run a cord from the external
speaker jack to the mic jack on an Icom 706MKIIG, which has VOX turned on.
When the squelch opens, it should key the 706 and transmit the audio from
the 756PRO.  Then do the opposite for the audio going the other
direction-run a cord from the speaker jack on the 706MKIIG, with the
squelch turned up, and tuned to 444.000, running to the mic jack on the
756PRO, which has VOX turned on.  When you transmit on 444.000 with an HT,
the 706MKIIG would pick it up, open the squelch, and send the audio to the
756 to be transmitted on 50.125, or whatever frequency you like.

Has someone successfully done something like this?  Are there reasons why
this wouldn't work as planned?  It looks good on paper, at least.

73 John AF5CC