any of you out there have a working patch cord or know the parts for making one up?

found this http://www.heyeng.com/ImpedanceInstructions.doc

First step: Find a seasoned tweet that has flown on H-models, and ask them. Not sure if they would work on your newfangled overpriced Herc, but good luck!

the down and dirty version is to buy a phono plug from radio shack and solder it to the end of an old headset plug. Off the top of my head it's the red and white wires, black is the keyer and green is ground.