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K2 microphone options

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Greg Derda-2

K2 microphone options

Hi all,

I am in the process of building K2 #6001 and need to start thinking
about a microphone. I've looked over the Reflector archives, and it
seems that there are lot of little mods needed for a variety of
microphones. The simplest solution would be a MH2, but I don't know
that I can wait until the June 15 production date. Question is, can I
not just jumper my K2 for Kenwood, buy a Heil HM-10 or Handi_Mic, and
plug-n-play (without any internal K2 mods)? I will get a Pro Set
someday, but I just want a decent little microphone to get me started.
Any suggestions?

Thanks and 73,
Greg
KI4MMM

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Don Wilhelm-3

Re: K2 microphone options

Greg,

The K2 needs a high output microphone, and that usually means an
electret type element. Most Icom mics (and Heil mics with the 'iC'
suffix) are the high output electret type. If you choose one of these
and wire your K2 configuration header for ICOM (with a 5.6k resistor
between the AF pin and the 5 volt pin), you should be able to just plug
it in.

The other electret mic that I know works well are those from TenTec -
the 701 is the hand mic. They come with a 4 pin mic connector that you
must change to 8 pins, but you can wire the new mic plug for any mic
configuration that you want - I suggest the Elecraft wiring - straight
across (use computer jumpers) on the mic header.

73,
Don W3FPR

Greg Derda wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> I am in the process of building K2 #6001 and need to start thinking
> about a microphone. I've looked over the Reflector archives, and it
> seems that there are lot of little mods needed for a variety of
> microphones. The simplest solution would be a MH2, but I don't know
> that I can wait until the June 15 production date. Question is, can I
> not just jumper my K2 for Kenwood, buy a Heil HM-10 or Handi_Mic, and
> plug-n-play (without any internal K2 mods)? I will get a Pro Set
> someday, but I just want a decent little microphone to get me started.
> Any suggestions?
>
> Thanks and 73,
> Greg
> KI4MMM
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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
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> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
>
>

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Bernie Gardner

Re: K2 microphone options

In reply to this post by Greg Derda-2

Greg,

I bought a Handi_Mic for K2 5707 a few months ago. As Don stated, you need to
get the electret type, iC version. I bought the Kenwood cable, wired the K2
header straight through. I incorporated a resistor to power the electret
element in the body of the connector on the cable. That seemed easier than
removing the front panel to make the connections on the header. It's worked
great with plenty of drive and receives good comments on the air.

Bernie
W1AZ

On Wednesday 02 May 2007 09:24, Greg Derda wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> I am in the process of building K2 #6001 and need to start thinking
> about a microphone. I've looked over the Reflector archives, and it
> seems that there are lot of little mods needed for a variety of
> microphones. The simplest solution would be a MH2, but I don't know
> that I can wait until the June 15 production date. Question is, can I
> not just jumper my K2 for Kenwood, buy a Heil HM-10 or Handi_Mic, and
> plug-n-play (without any internal K2 mods)? I will get a Pro Set
> someday, but I just want a decent little microphone to get me started.
> Any suggestions?
>
> Thanks and 73,
> Greg
> KI4MMM
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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

Greg Derda-2

Re: K2 microphone options

Thanks to all for the replies to my K2 microphone question. I have a
much better idea what my options are now. I am leaning toward a Heil
iCM or Handi_Mic (electret), but considering the TenTec 701. I imagine
that the new MH2 would be ideal, but I hope to finish my K2 by the end
of May, and don't know if I could bear the wait (for its release).

73,
Greg
ki4mmm

On May 2, 2007, at 8:43 PM, Bernie Gardner wrote:

> Greg,
>
> I bought a Handi_Mic for K2 5707 a few months ago. As Don stated, you
> need to
> get the electret type, iC version. I bought the Kenwood cable, wired
> the K2
> header straight through. I incorporated a resistor to power the
> electret
> element in the body of the connector on the cable. That seemed easier
> than
> removing the front panel to make the connections on the header. It's
> worked
> great with plenty of drive and receives good comments on the air.
>
> Bernie
> W1AZ
>
>
> On Wednesday 02 May 2007 09:24, Greg Derda wrote:
>> Hi all,
>>
>> I am in the process of building K2 #6001 and need to start thinking
>> about a microphone. I've looked over the Reflector archives, and it
>> seems that there are lot of little mods needed for a variety of
>> microphones. The simplest solution would be a MH2, but I don't know
>> that I can wait until the June 15 production date. Question is, can I
>> not just jumper my K2 for Kenwood, buy a Heil HM-10 or Handi_Mic, and
>> plug-n-play (without any internal K2 mods)? I will get a Pro Set
>> someday, but I just want a decent little microphone to get me started.
>> Any suggestions?
>>
>> Thanks and 73,
>> Greg
>> KI4MMM
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [hidden email]
> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
> Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
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>
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> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
>

Greg Derda-2

Re: K2 microphone options

In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm-3

Just a quick followup in case it will be of use to somebody else some
day. I went with the TenTec 701 for my K2 because it was a quick and
easy option, and as Don said (thanks Don!), it "works well." Since
finishing K2 #6100 last week, I have made several 5-10w SSB contacts
from my QTH in North Georgia throughout the eastern US and Central
America, and the reports are that my audio is great! A 17m QRP contact
to Pennsylvania last night told me that "I was the smallest signal he
had worked that day, but the best sounding one"!!

Anyway, I am sure there are lots of great microphone options, but the
affordable little 701 "works well." I got the 8-pin connector from my
local RS store, and it was quite easy to wire the microphone and mic
header.

73,
Greg
KI4MMM

On May 2, 2007, at 9:39 AM, Don Wilhelm wrote:

> Greg,
>
> The K2 needs a high output microphone, and that usually means an
> electret type element. Most Icom mics (and Heil mics with the 'iC'
> suffix) are the high output electret type. If you choose one of these
> and wire your K2 configuration header for ICOM (with a 5.6k resistor
> between the AF pin and the 5 volt pin), you should be able to just
> plug it in.
>
> The other electret mic that I know works well are those from TenTec -
> the 701 is the hand mic. They come with a 4 pin mic connector that
> you must change to 8 pins, but you can wire the new mic plug for any
> mic configuration that you want - I suggest the Elecraft wiring -
> straight across (use computer jumpers) on the mic header.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
>
>
> Greg Derda wrote:
>> Hi all,
>> I am in the process of building K2 #6100 and need to start thinking
>> about a microphone. I've looked over the Reflector archives, and it
>> seems that there are lot of little mods needed for a variety of
>> microphones. The simplest solution would be a MH2, but I don't know
>> that I can wait until the June 15 production date. Question is, can
>> I not just jumper my K2 for Kenwood, buy a Heil HM-10 or Handi_Mic,
>> and plug-n-play (without any internal K2 mods)? I will get a Pro Set
>> someday, but I just want a decent little microphone to get me
>> started. Any suggestions?
>> Thanks and 73,
>> Greg
>> KI4MMM
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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
>

Matthew Zilmer

Re: K2 microphone options

Anyone have a similar recommendation for the desktop 708/709 Ten Tec
mics?

Thanks es 73,
matt zilmer
WA6EGJ

On Tue, 29 May 2007 13:05:17 -0400, you wrote:

>Just a quick followup in case it will be of use to somebody else some
>day. I went with the TenTec 701 for my K2 because it was a quick and
>easy option, and as Don said (thanks Don!), it "works well." Since
>finishing K2 #6100 last week, I have made several 5-10w SSB contacts
>from my QTH in North Georgia throughout the eastern US and Central
>America, and the reports are that my audio is great! A 17m QRP contact
>to Pennsylvania last night told me that "I was the smallest signal he
>had worked that day, but the best sounding one"!!
>
>Anyway, I am sure there are lots of great microphone options, but the
>affordable little 701 "works well." I got the 8-pin connector from my
>local RS store, and it was quite easy to wire the microphone and mic
>header.
>
>73,
>Greg
>KI4MMM
>
>
>On May 2, 2007, at 9:39 AM, Don Wilhelm wrote:
>
>> Greg,
>>
>> The K2 needs a high output microphone, and that usually means an
>> electret type element. Most Icom mics (and Heil mics with the 'iC'
>> suffix) are the high output electret type. If you choose one of these
>> and wire your K2 configuration header for ICOM (with a 5.6k resistor
>> between the AF pin and the 5 volt pin), you should be able to just
>> plug it in.
>>
>> The other electret mic that I know works well are those from TenTec -
>> the 701 is the hand mic. They come with a 4 pin mic connector that
>> you must change to 8 pins, but you can wire the new mic plug for any
>> mic configuration that you want - I suggest the Elecraft wiring -
>> straight across (use computer jumpers) on the mic header.
>>
>> 73,
>> Don W3FPR
>>
>>
>>
>> Greg Derda wrote:
>>> Hi all,
>>> I am in the process of building K2 #6100 and need to start thinking
>>> about a microphone. I've looked over the Reflector archives, and it
>>> seems that there are lot of little mods needed for a variety of
>>> microphones. The simplest solution would be a MH2, but I don't know
>>> that I can wait until the June 15 production date. Question is, can
>>> I not just jumper my K2 for Kenwood, buy a Heil HM-10 or Handi_Mic,
>>> and plug-n-play (without any internal K2 mods)? I will get a Pro Set
>>> someday, but I just want a decent little microphone to get me
>>> started. Any suggestions?
>>> Thanks and 73,
>>> Greg
>>> KI4MMM
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> 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
>>
>
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