[K2] What microphone to choose & wire - I'd like to hear your experiences - good and bad?

[OZ2BRN Brian Lodahl]

  Hi,

Not entirely there yet, but I am trying to think ahead of the build plan
with K2/100 #6936 with KSB2 option (etc...):

What microphones to choose and use for SSB ? -What are your experiences
- good and bad - with misc. makes and models of microphones with K2 ?

Go for dynamic or electret condenser with biasing ?

My preference is headset over table mic's and hand-mic's.
Default contesting headset is Heil Proset.

73'
Brian OZ2BRN
K2 #6936

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[Gary Hvizdak]

At 0734 EDT on Thursday September 9th Brian Lodahl OZ2BRN wrote ...

I am trying to think ahead of the build plan with K2/100 #6936 with KSB2
option (etc...):


Hi Brian,

    I suggest you consider getting the Rework Eliminator(TM) K2 Internal Mic
Adaptor (IMA), which is known to support the Heil Traveler headset.  The
advantages of the IMA are that:

1) Changing the pin-out and/or the bias resistance can be accomplished in a
few seconds, simply by reconfiguring a few jumpers.

2) Only the left side panel of the K2 need be removed to access the IMA's
3x7 jumper block.  In contrast, you would otherwise need to remove the K2's
Control Panel PCB or the entire front panel sub-assembly in order to access
the Mic Configuration header on the back of the K2's Front Panel PCB.

3) Well over 50 microphones are supported, including all Icom, Kenwood, and
Yaesu models that are manufactured with an 8-pin Foster connector.

4) The IMA provides seven jumper selectable bias resistance choices: 820,
2.2k, 3.6k, 4.4k, 5.6k, 9.2k, and 10k Ohms.

    To learn more, please visit http://www.unpcbs.com/

TNX & 73,
Gary  KI4GGX, http://www.unpcbs.com/ webmaster (and IMA designer)
K2 #4067

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[Don Wilhelm-4]

  Brian,

The K2 has adequate microphone gain for high output dynamic elements and
electret elements.
Unfortunately, the Heil HC4 and HC5 elements are about 10 dB lower
output than many other amateur mics.  There may or may not be enough
gain in the RF stages to compensate for the lowered mic gain - You will
find it adequate on most all the bands, but at 10 meters you may find
lowered output.  I use the words "may" and "most" because the RF gain of
a K2 varies from not only component tolerances, but from builder
attention to details during construction.  Later K2s have been using a
2SC5739 at the Q6 location which improves the transmit gain at higher
frequencies.

If you find your current Proset (use a Kenwood adapter) inadequate, then
a small mic preamp may be one solution - it can be mounted on the back
of the front panel.  The other solution is to get the Proset-K2 that is
sold by Elecraft which has a response curve similar in frequency
characteristics to the Heil HC-5 element.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 9/9/2010 7:34 AM, OZ2BRN Brian Lodahl wrote:

>    Hi,
>
> Not entirely there yet, but I am trying to think ahead of the build plan
> with K2/100 #6936 with KSB2 option (etc...):
>
> What microphones to choose and use for SSB ? -What are your experiences
> - good and bad - with misc. makes and models of microphones with K2 ?
>
> Go for dynamic or electret condenser with biasing ?
>
> My preference is headset over table mic's and hand-mic's.
> Default contesting headset is Heil Proset.
>
> 73'
> Brian OZ2BRN
> K2 #6936
>

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