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K3 Mic connector options

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Bill Frantz

K3 Mic connector options

I have been trying to get my CM500 headset running with my K3.
Using the MH2 mic plugged into the front panel with MIC SEL to
FP.L bias in the voice modes (AM, FM SSB, & CS) while MIC SEL is
set to rP.L bias for the DATA modes. MIC+LIN is set to On for
all modes. This setup works well using VOX for transmitter
keying in DATA and manually turning VOX off and using PTT when I
run voice modes. (I'm mostly a DATA A and AFSK A operator.)

If I plug the microphone from the CM500 into the rear panel of
the K3, and change MIC SEL to rP.L bias, this division between
voice modes and data mode no longer works. Noise in the shack
keys the transmitter, and I assume is added to the output signal
-- not good.

So, my current plan, unless someone says, "Hey Dummy!", is to
build an interface box which plugs into the front panel MIC
connector to route the audio from the CM500 to the K3. I can
include a jack for a foot switch to do PTT and set it up so the
MH2 is also available. (Thanks Don for the pointer to Universal
Radio for the Mic connectors.)

My questions are: What to do with the other 3 lines? I can add
buttons to UP and DOWN lines to provide another way for tuning
the radio, but what does the FUNCTION line do? And, can I
parallel the Mic audio from the CM500 and the MH2 or would it be
better to switch them? (Fewer switches and modes will make my
wife, KI6SLX happier.)

Cheers - Bill, AE6JV

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Bill Frantz |Security, like correctness, is| Periwinkle
(408)356-8506 |not an add-on feature. - Attr-| 16345
Englewood Ave
www.pwpconsult.com |ibuted to Andrew Tanenbaum | Los Gatos,
CA 95032

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Iain MacDonnell - N6ML-2

Re: K3 Mic connector options

Bill,

Why do you have MIC+LIN on? If you don't need that, turn it off, and
set "MIC SEL" to "line in" for the digital modes, and "RP.L bias" for
phone modes.

73,

~iain / N6ML

On Thu, May 16, 2013 at 4:35 PM, Bill Frantz <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I have been trying to get my CM500 headset running with my K3. Using the MH2
> mic plugged into the front panel with MIC SEL to FP.L bias in the voice
> modes (AM, FM SSB, & CS) while MIC SEL is set to rP.L bias for the DATA
> modes. MIC+LIN is set to On for all modes. This setup works well using VOX
> for transmitter keying in DATA and manually turning VOX off and using PTT
> when I run voice modes. (I'm mostly a DATA A and AFSK A operator.)
>
> If I plug the microphone from the CM500 into the rear panel of the K3, and
> change MIC SEL to rP.L bias, this division between voice modes and data mode
> no longer works. Noise in the shack keys the transmitter, and I assume is
> added to the output signal -- not good.
>
> So, my current plan, unless someone says, "Hey Dummy!", is to build an
> interface box which plugs into the front panel MIC connector to route the
> audio from the CM500 to the K3. I can include a jack for a foot switch to do
> PTT and set it up so the MH2 is also available. (Thanks Don for the pointer
> to Universal Radio for the Mic connectors.)
>
> My questions are: What to do with the other 3 lines? I can add buttons to UP
> and DOWN lines to provide another way for tuning the radio, but what does
> the FUNCTION line do? And, can I parallel the Mic audio from the CM500 and
> the MH2 or would it be better to switch them? (Fewer switches and modes will
> make my wife, KI6SLX happier.)
>
> Cheers - Bill, AE6JV
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Bill Frantz |Security, like correctness, is| Periwinkle
> (408)356-8506 |not an add-on feature. - Attr-| 16345 Englewood Ave
> www.pwpconsult.com |ibuted to Andrew Tanenbaum | Los Gatos, CA 95032
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

Joe Subich, W4TV-4

Re: K3 Mic connector options

In reply to this post by Bill Frantz

> MIC+LIN is set to On for all modes.

*WHY* would you enable Mic+Line? Use Line for data modes and either
FP.L or RP.L for voice modes. That way you will not get mic noise in
the digital modes.

73,

... Joe, W4TV

On 5/16/2013 7:35 PM, Bill Frantz wrote:

> I have been trying to get my CM500 headset running with my K3. Using the
> MH2 mic plugged into the front panel with MIC SEL to FP.L bias in the
> voice modes (AM, FM SSB, & CS) while MIC SEL is set to rP.L bias for the
> DATA modes. MIC+LIN is set to On for all modes. This setup works well
> using VOX for transmitter keying in DATA and manually turning VOX off
> and using PTT when I run voice modes. (I'm mostly a DATA A and AFSK A
> operator.)
>
> If I plug the microphone from the CM500 into the rear panel of the K3,
> and change MIC SEL to rP.L bias, this division between voice modes and
> data mode no longer works. Noise in the shack keys the transmitter, and
> I assume is added to the output signal -- not good.
>
> So, my current plan, unless someone says, "Hey Dummy!", is to build an
> interface box which plugs into the front panel MIC connector to route
> the audio from the CM500 to the K3. I can include a jack for a foot
> switch to do PTT and set it up so the MH2 is also available. (Thanks Don
> for the pointer to Universal Radio for the Mic connectors.)
>
> My questions are: What to do with the other 3 lines? I can add buttons
> to UP and DOWN lines to provide another way for tuning the radio, but
> what does the FUNCTION line do? And, can I parallel the Mic audio from
> the CM500 and the MH2 or would it be better to switch them? (Fewer
> switches and modes will make my wife, KI6SLX happier.)
>
> Cheers - Bill, AE6JV
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Bill Frantz |Security, like correctness, is| Periwinkle
> (408)356-8506 |not an add-on feature. - Attr-| 16345 Englewood Ave
> www.pwpconsult.com |ibuted to Andrew Tanenbaum | Los Gatos, CA 95032
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>

Don Wilhelm-4

Re: K3 Mic connector options

In reply to this post by Bill Frantz

Bill,

I would suggest that you can obtain a Heil Kenwood adapter that is used
for the Elecraft ProSet-K2 (I forget the exact Heil designation) that
will allow you to connect the CM500 mic - you will also need a 1/8 inch
stereo female to 1/4 inch male adapter to match the headphone jack on
the adapter.

If using that adapter, you would need to unplug the MH2 and plug in the
CM500 (with the adapter) and adjust the mic gain.

OTOH, If you want to construct a box with a switch, that will work too.

In any case, I would suggest you turn off MIC+LINE unless you are also
using a computer to send pre-recorded messages.

When you switch to digital modes, the "mic sel" should be set to LINE IN
only - the audio input settings for SSB and digital modes are
independent in the K3.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 5/16/2013 7:35 PM, Bill Frantz wrote:

> I have been trying to get my CM500 headset running with my K3. Using
> the MH2 mic plugged into the front panel with MIC SEL to FP.L bias in
> the voice modes (AM, FM SSB, & CS) while MIC SEL is set to rP.L bias
> for the DATA modes. MIC+LIN is set to On for all modes. This setup
> works well using VOX for transmitter keying in DATA and manually
> turning VOX off and using PTT when I run voice modes. (I'm mostly a
> DATA A and AFSK A operator.)
>
> If I plug the microphone from the CM500 into the rear panel of the K3,
> and change MIC SEL to rP.L bias, this division between voice modes and
> data mode no longer works. Noise in the shack keys the transmitter,
> and I assume is added to the output signal -- not good.
>
> So, my current plan, unless someone says, "Hey Dummy!", is to build an
> interface box which plugs into the front panel MIC connector to route
> the audio from the CM500 to the K3. I can include a jack for a foot
> switch to do PTT and set it up so the MH2 is also available. (Thanks
> Don for the pointer to Universal Radio for the Mic connectors.)
>
> My questions are: What to do with the other 3 lines? I can add buttons
> to UP and DOWN lines to provide another way for tuning the radio, but
> what does the FUNCTION line do? And, can I parallel the Mic audio from
> the CM500 and the MH2 or would it be better to switch them? (Fewer
> switches and modes will make my wife, KI6SLX happier.)
>
> Cheers - Bill, AE6JV
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Bill Frantz |Security, like correctness, is| Periwinkle
> (408)356-8506 |not an add-on feature. - Attr-| 16345 Englewood Ave
> www.pwpconsult.com |ibuted to Andrew Tanenbaum | Los Gatos, CA 95032
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>

Michael Eberle

Re: K3 Mic connector options

The Heil adapter for connecting a 1/8" plug to the 8-pin front panel jack is the AD-1-K. I have my headset connected to the rear panel MIC connector and my computer sound card connected to the rear panel LINE-IN connector. I have not had any problems with it other than forgetting to change the mode to DATA then wondering why I have no audio on the digital modes. As others have mentioned, you may need to just turn off the MIC+LINE setting as this is how my K3 is set up.

73,
Mike KI0HA
----- Original Message -----
From: "Don Wilhelm" <[hidden email]>
To: "Bill Frantz" <[hidden email]>
Cc: "Elecraft Reflector" <[hidden email]>
Sent: Thursday, May 16, 2013 11:25:07 PM GMT -06:00 US/Canada Central
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Mic connector options

Bill,

I would suggest that you can obtain a Heil Kenwood adapter that is used
for the Elecraft ProSet-K2 (I forget the exact Heil designation) that
will allow you to connect the CM500 mic - you will also need a 1/8 inch
stereo female to 1/4 inch male adapter to match the headphone jack on
the adapter.

If using that adapter, you would need to unplug the MH2 and plug in the
CM500 (with the adapter) and adjust the mic gain.

OTOH, If you want to construct a box with a switch, that will work too.

In any case, I would suggest you turn off MIC+LINE unless you are also
using a computer to send pre-recorded messages.

When you switch to digital modes, the "mic sel" should be set to LINE IN
only - the audio input settings for SSB and digital modes are
independent in the K3.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 5/16/2013 7:35 PM, Bill Frantz wrote:

______________________________________________________________
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Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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Bill Frantz

Re: K3 Mic connector options

Thanks Don, Joe, Mike, and Iain for pointing out the MIC+LIN is
probably where my problem lies. I set up soundcard modes first
and didn't realize that the sound source was remembered by mode.
So of course I needed sound from both so I set MIC+LIN.

Thanks all - Bill, AE6JV

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Bill Frantz | I like the farmers' market | Periwinkle
(408)356-8506 | because I can get fruits and | 16345
Englewood Ave
www.pwpconsult.com | vegetables without stickers. | Los Gatos,
CA 95032

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html