Desk Mike for the K3 Question

Ladies "n" Gents....

I use my Heil Headphones HC-4 most of the time for SSB operation, but I was wondering what people use for a Desk Mike for the K3.  I don't have one if the Heil set goes bad.  I thought I would pick something up.  What are you using if anything?

Lee - K0WA


In our day and age it seems that Common Sense is in short supply. If you don't have any Common Sense - get some Common Sense and use it. If you can't find any Common Sense, ask for help from somebody who has some Common Sense. Is Common Sense divine?

_______________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Post to: [hidden email]
You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
 http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft   

Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com

[Barry Simpson]

Hi Lee

 

I am using an Icom SM20 (which I kept when I sold my PRO3). The plug needs a bit of rewiring but it really performs.

 

I use it with the low cut “on” and some emphasis of higher frequencies in the K3.

 

I get fantastic reports on the audio.

 

73

 

Barry  VK2BJ  K3 #1397

 

From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Lee Buller
Sent: 27 November 2008 17:00
To: Elecraft Reflector
Subject: [Elecraft] Desk Mike for the K3 Question

 

Ladies "n" Gents....

I use my Heil Headphones HC-4 most of the time for SSB operation, but I was wondering what people use for a Desk Mike for the K3.  I don't have one if the Heil set goes bad.  I thought I would pick something up.  What are you using if anything?

Lee - K0WA


In our day and age it seems that Common Sense is in short supply. If you don't have any Common Sense - get some Common Sense and use it. If you can't find any Common Sense, ask for help from somebody who has some Common Sense. Is Common Sense divine?

 

_______________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Post to: [hidden email]
You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
 http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft   

Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com

[Don Wilhelm-4]

Lee,

I use an Elecraft MD2, but you can't get them anymore.  I also have an
old D-104 microphone that had a damaged crystal element in it - I
replaced the element with a Heil HC-5 and a bunch of foam some time
ago.  The mic plug is wired to mate with the Elecraft pinout.  Heil has
a conversion kit for the D-104 that you may be interested in.

The later D-104s were amplified, and any of those will work with the K3
if the plug is wired properly.
Most any desk microphone can be wired to use the Elecraft pinout, it
does not even have to be a ham type if you use VOX or take care of the
PTT with a footswitch.  Heil has several other microphone solutions and
mic stands - some are quite nice, but expensive.

You may also want to look at the Ten-Tec PN 708 and 709 microphones
(those two have a 4 pin plug, so you have to find an 8 pin elsewhere),
or the 708A and 709A which come with an 8 pin plug, but the plug must be
re-wired to work with the K3.  The 711 is a desk stand that is usable
with the 709 and 709A mics.
Those looking for an inexpensive hand mic could consider the TenTec 701
or 701A - the same thing goes for re-wiring the plug.

There are many, many other choices, but for most of those choices, plan
to change the mic plug, or if it already is an 8 pin, plan to re-wire it
for the Elecraft pinout. With the built-in K3 TX EQ, you can tailor the
audio response of most any microphone to your liking.

Then at the high end, one can always use a ProAudio microphone along
with an external mixer and feed the K3 line-in with the line level
output from the mixer.

At the low end of the scale, find a desk type computer microphone (those
are usually electret types), turn on the bias for the rear mic jack and
plug it in - you have to make other arrangements for PTT if that is
desired, but several K3 owners have reported good to great success with
those mics.  Or see the "Shower Head" microphone featured in QST for
November - that woks too (but looks ugly IMHO).

Be creative.

73,
Don W3FPR

Lee Buller wrote:

>
> Ladies "n" Gents....
>
> I use my Heil Headphones HC-4 most of the time for SSB operation, but
> I was wondering what people use for a Desk Mike for the K3.  I don't
> have one if the Heil set goes bad.  I thought I would pick something
> up.  What are you using if anything?
>
> Lee - K0WA
>
>
>  

_______________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Post to: [hidden email]
You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
 http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft   

Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com

[Chuck - AE4CW]

Lee, I use an inexpensive AKG professional dynamic mic (specific model no longer available) that looks like a knockoff of a Shure SM-58, the pro-audio standard for wired dynamic mics.  These mics are under $50 on sale from musician stores, e.g. Guitar Center.  The output is XLR low-impedance balanced, so you will need an in-line transformer to convert to the K3's unbalanced input (available from Radio Shack and Frey's).  I also use a pro-quality scissor arm boom available from this source: http://q-mic.com/qm-50.html

All up you will out under $100 for a pro-quality set-up that outperforms the name ham brand for less than half the price, particularly combined with the K3's TX EQ which can tailor the response as you like for rag-chews or serious DX.  

Chuck, AE4CW



Ladies "n" Gents....

I use my Heil Headphones HC-4 most of the time for SSB operation, but I was wondering what people use for a Desk Mike for the K3.  I don't have one if the Heil set goes bad.  I thought I would pick something up.  What are you using if anything?

Lee - K0WA


In our day and age it seems that Common Sense is in short supply.  If you don't have any Common Sense - get some Common Sense and use it.  If you can't find any Common Sense, ask for help from somebody who has some Common Sense.  Is Common Sense divine?
_______________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Post to: [e-mail]
You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
 http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft   

Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com

[Jim Brown-10]

On Thu, 27 Nov 2008 15:57:11 -0800 (PST), Chuck - AE4CW wrote:

>The output is XLR low-impedance
>balanced, so you will need an in-line transformer to convert to the K3's
>unbalanced input (available from Radio Shack and Frey's).

NO, NO, NO!

You do NOT need a transformer -- in fact, should NOT use a transformer. A
balanced mic has two hots and a shield. To connect it to an unbalanced
input, wire one "hot" to "hot" in the radio, the other hot to "mic
return" in the radio, and the cable shield to the chassis (the shell of
the front panel mic connector).

http://audiosystemsgroup.com/HamInterfacing.pdf

http://audiosystemsgroup.com/RFI-Ham.pdf 

Also, the standard "ball mics" that look like SM58s are NOT a great choice
for ham radio because they are simple cardioids that have proxmity effect
(bass boost when used close-up). Some far better choices are listed in the
pdf above.

73,

Jim Brown
K9YC


_______________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Post to: [hidden email]
You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
 http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft   

Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com

[Chuck - AE4CW]

Jim, I wrote this response based on my experience with my K3.  I agree, the direct connection to the front panel mic connector should work fine, but I had a transformer on hand and wanted to use the rear mic connector where a chassis ground is not as easily available.  This connection has worked very well in a high RF environment with no problems whatsoever.

Re the Shure SM58 style mics: as cardioids, they are subject to proximity effect but largely to the extent you "eat the mic".  At more reasonable distances of 1-2 inches I don't find it a problem at all.  I also like the noise reduction from amplifier fans the cardiod pattern affords.  Coupled with the K3 TX equalizer where I roll off everything below 400 Hz and boost to varying levels at 1600 Hz and above, I personally find the results equal to or better than any other mics I have used on the K3.

Of course, a simple computer headset electret mic can also work very well and cost next to nothing!

Chuck, AE4CW

Jim Brown-10 wrote

On Thu, 27 Nov 2008 15:57:11 -0800 (PST), Chuck - AE4CW wrote:

>The output is XLR low-impedance
>balanced, so you will need an in-line transformer to convert to the K3's
>unbalanced input (available from Radio Shack and Frey's).

NO, NO, NO!

You do NOT need a transformer -- in fact, should NOT use a transformer. A
balanced mic has two hots and a shield. To connect it to an unbalanced
input, wire one "hot" to "hot" in the radio, the other hot to "mic
return" in the radio, and the cable shield to the chassis (the shell of
the front panel mic connector).

http://audiosystemsgroup.com/HamInterfacing.pdf

http://audiosystemsgroup.com/RFI-Ham.pdf 

Also, the standard "ball mics" that look like SM58s are NOT a great choice
for ham radio because they are simple cardioids that have proxmity effect
(bass boost when used close-up). Some far better choices are listed in the
pdf above.

73,

Jim Brown
K9YC


_______________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Post to: [e-mail]
You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
 http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft   

Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com