K3 Microhpone

[Gary Gregory-3]

Hello Again,

I agree with an earlier post from Steve. I will sit under my favourite Gum
tree in the back yard, under my nice 80M full wave loop and silently pray
that the gods at Aptos are reading these posts closely and that somewhere in
the dark of the night in Aptos an idea will be born to design, build and
market the "perfect" microphone for those of us who have a distinctly "Non
Professional Radio Announcer Voice" so we can be all happy little campers.

The K3 is now without a doubt the best TCVR on the market, we just need to
have a really good tailor made mic...oh..and while I am adding to the wish
list..can we have some knobs and buttons as well as a "Locking PTT
Bar/Button" on this (hopefully) perfect new base mic...Please..¿

OK, I will climb off my soapbox and journey down into the bomb
shelter..after I turn on my incoming missile deflector....:-)

73's
Gary
K3/100 #679
Stokers...we get ya goin'

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[.k8dd.-2]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Gary Gregory" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Friday, August 08, 2008 5:58 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] K3 Microhpone

> Hello Again,
>
> I agree with an earlier post from Steve. I will sit under my favourite Gum
> tree in the back yard, under my nice 80M full wave loop and silently pray
> that the gods at Aptos are reading these posts closely and that somewhere
> in
> the dark of the night in Aptos an idea will be born to design, build and
> market the "perfect" microphone for those of us who have a distinctly "Non
> Professional Radio Announcer Voice" so we can be all happy little campers.
>

Maybe they will.  After all, they came up with one of the better paddles for
CW
with the Hexkey ..... I guess they could spend some time on the phone ops!
(tongue out of cheek)

73    Hank    K8DD

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[Fern Rivard]

Hi Gary:

    Look no further as I've found that the Shure 444D is the ideal base microphone for the K3 except for the fact that it does not have the UP/DOWN keys feature.  Now if you want a very nice sound dynamic hand microphone with the UP?DOWN keys feature, I can help you out with this as I have stock on those. They are originally made for a commercial land mobile radio but the resultant transmit is equivalent to that of the Shure 444D desk mic and that is without even having to use the 8 band transmit audio equilizer.

    73 from Fern   VE7GZ



----- Original Message -----
From: "Gary Gregory" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Friday, August 08, 2008 3:58 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] K3 Microhpone


Hello Again,

I agree with an earlier post from Steve. I will sit under my favourite Gum
tree in the back yard, under my nice 80M full wave loop and silently pray
that the gods at Aptos are reading these posts closely and that somewhere in
the dark of the night in Aptos an idea will be born to design, build and
market the "perfect" microphone for those of us who have a distinctly "Non
Professional Radio Announcer Voice" so we can be all happy little campers.

The K3 is now without a doubt the best TCVR on the market, we just need to
have a really good tailor made mic...oh..and while I am adding to the wish
list..can we have some knobs and buttons as well as a "Locking PTT
Bar/Button" on this (hopefully) perfect new base mic...Please..¿

OK, I will climb off my soapbox and journey down into the bomb
shelter..after I turn on my incoming missile deflector....:-)

73's
Gary
K3/100 #679
Stokers...we get ya goin'



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


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[Charly]

Real serious hams use Heil headphone/mic set.

Ideally have the 5 and the 4 elements switchable as

in one model Heil sells.  All other discussions

of other choices are just for fun.  73


Charles Harpole

[hidden email]






>
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[Fern Rivard]

Charles:

    You must be kidding as real serious hams DO NOT use heil mics. They are overpriced and have lousy audio. One gets much nice transmit audio using good quality dynamic microphone rather than those cheap elecret cartridges.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Charles Harpole" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Friday, August 08, 2008 10:23 PM
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] K3 Microhpone



Real serious hams use Heil headphone/mic set.

Ideally have the 5 and the 4 elements switchable as

in one model Heil sells.  All other discussions

of other choices are just for fun.  73


Charles Harpole








>
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[Gary Gregory-3]

Fern,

My posting on Mics got some strange responses mate. I use an old Turner+2
(34 years old) and it gets perfect audio reports all the time.

I was following the posts on Mics so I thought maybe a "Super Mic" was a way
for Elecraft to increase sales.

Just imagine mate:
weight...4 Kilos  (Heavy is good, if you throw it it won't go too far)

Switches on the base for:...1. ESSB On/Off
                                        2. EQ ON/OFF (Flat or programmed)
                                        3. Knob for Mic gain
                                        4. Knob for compression
                                        5. Locking PTT Button/Bar
 GFVD display with "ON Air" illuminated when mic is activated
Firmware upgradable so we can change the element sensitivity

I am absolutely positive that I have missed some options we could have in a
"Super Mic", perhaps the ability to change our voices so we sound like our
favorite celebrities?...Just think we could all end sounding like Donald
Duck, Bart Simpson?...scary stuff eh?

Anyway, not sure if my tongue in cheek post was well received or not, but I
was chuckling when I sent it out.

Cheers mate, keep posting, I get a huge kick out of reading the reflector,
plus, I am learning a lot from all you guys.

Cheers,
Gary
K3/100 #679

Stokers...we get ya goin'


2008/8/9 Fern Rivard <[hidden email]>

> Hi Gary:
>
>    Look no further as I've found that the Shure 444D is the ideal base
> microphone for the K3 except for the fact that it does not have the UP/DOWN
> keys feature.  Now if you want a very nice sound dynamic hand microphone
> with the UP?DOWN keys feature, I can help you out with this as I have stock
> on those. They are originally made for a commercial land mobile radio but
> the resultant transmit is equivalent to that of the Shure 444D desk mic and
> that is without even having to use the 8 band transmit audio equilizer.
>
>    73 from Fern   VE7GZ
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Gary Gregory" <[hidden email]>
> To: <[hidden email]>
> Sent: Friday, August 08, 2008 3:58 PM
> Subject: [Elecraft] K3 Microhpone
>
>
> Hello Again,
>
> I agree with an earlier post from Steve. I will sit under my favourite Gum
> tree in the back yard, under my nice 80M full wave loop and silently pray
> that the gods at Aptos are reading these posts closely and that somewhere
> in
> the dark of the night in Aptos an idea will be born to design, build and
> market the "perfect" microphone for those of us who have a distinctly "Non
> Professional Radio Announcer Voice" so we can be all happy little campers.
>
> The K3 is now without a doubt the best TCVR on the market, we just need to
> have a really good tailor made mic...oh..and while I am adding to the wish
> list..can we have some knobs and buttons as well as a "Locking PTT
> Bar/Button" on this (hopefully) perfect new base mic...Please..¿
>
> OK, I will climb off my soapbox and journey down into the bomb
> shelter..after I turn on my incoming missile deflector....:-)
>
> 73's
> Gary
> K3/100 #679
> Stokers...we get ya goin'
>
>
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
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> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
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>
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> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
>
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> Internal Virus Database is out-of-date.
> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 270.5.10/1586 - Release Date: 8/1/2008
> 6:59 PM
>
>

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[Julian, G4ILO]

Fern Rivard wrote

    You must be kidding as real serious hams DO NOT use heil mics. They are overpriced and have lousy audio. One gets much nice transmit audio using good quality dynamic microphone rather than those cheap elecret cartridges.

I used to think Heil mics were overpriced but at the moment, here in Europe, the prices compare quite favourably with mics from the main radio manufacturers like Yaesu and Kenwood.

I always liked the "bright" Heil sound. I have always liked the audio from Icom rigs, as well, which I believe normally use electret mics.

I think ham radio is becoming like other endeavours and becoming subject to "fashion" regardless of whether it is practical. There appears to be a fashion now to transmit broadcast FM quality. Personally I think ham radio is mostly about trying to communicate under often less than ideal conditions and audio with some treble emphasis does that better, regardless of whether or not it sounds natural.

[LA4AMA]

The Kenwood MC-90 are a very good desktop microphone who fits directly on the K3 connector without resoldering. It has a wider frequency range than the Heil HC4 or HC5 and gives you a broader range of sound possibilities.

The MC-90 is a 250 ohm dynamic microphone without any amplification, only a 2 step low-cut switch on the bottom of the base. It is the best all-round desktop microphone I have tried, suitable for both full-sounding "ragchew" and DX.

Link: http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/mics/1870.html

Frequency response: http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/mics/1870grap.html

Heil HC4 and HC5 freq-response: http://www.heilsound.com/amateur/products/gm/frequency_response.jpg
Sound-file: http://www.heilsound.com/amateur/products/hm10dual/hm10.mp3

As you see the Heil elements (especially the HC4) has almost no audio-response below 400-500Hz and will sound very "narrow". On the MC-90 you can set lowcut to position V2 and have a similar sound.

There are 2 replaceble microphone heads, use the one without holes in the side for a bit more treble response.

Microphone connector: http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/mics/1870plug.jpg

Since the MC-90 has no connection on pin 5 or pin 6 (+8V) it can be safely used on the K3.

Best regards
LA4AMA
Roar

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Julian, G4ILO wrote

I used to think Heil mics were overpriced but at the moment, here in Europe, the prices compare quite favourably with mics from the main radio manufacturers like Yaesu and Kenwood.

I always liked the "bright" Heil sound. I have always liked the audio from Icom rigs, as well, which I believe normally use electret mics.

I think ham radio is becoming like other endeavours and becoming subject to "fashion" regardless of whether it is practical. There appears to be a fashion now to transmit broadcast FM quality. Personally I think ham radio is mostly about trying to communicate under often less than ideal conditions and audio with some treble emphasis does that better, regardless of whether or not it sounds natural.

[Bill Steffey NY9H]

At 11:23 PM 8/8/2008, Charles Harpole wrote:
>Real serious hams use Heil headphone/mic set.

What I believe, my opinion after selling microphones since 1981, for
Sennheiser ..then AKG then Shure Brothers is different. Our firm was
their exclusive agent in Illinois & Wisconson, so we sold tens of
thousands,,, ( if you count the SM58).

Many ""real serious"" appliance operators do not know how to wire up
a microphone,
  much less grab an electret element and assemble their own microphone.

Which is not to say there is something wrong with being an appliance operator;
but not all "real serious " hams use heil products.

MANY Real serious audio hams use AKG & Sennheiser and some of the
Shure product line, from companies that have engineers and anechoic
chambers  . ( and actually manufacture the mic element, not just the case....)

Some of heils product graphs were marked as being made in an anabolic chamber.
You best look up that one. Even the magazine articles.

Bob had done a great job awakening the ham community to difference a
mic can make.

The rising hi end frequency response....however is something Al Gore
invented and licensed it to Shure Bros in the 50s for their # 444 and
other communication & paging microphones.

I use a mini 414b handheld for my K3 which you can drive a truck
over,,,, has one of those "million-cycle" switches...and has
fantastic audio....for SSB.

too bad it was discontinued years ago,,,,
many hamfests have a larger similiar 'paging' product, and they sell
for 5$ at the hamfests, marked Johnson, RCA, or areoflex..or some
other American radio company who bought them from Shure.

http://www.shure.com/ProAudio/Products/WiredMicrophones/us_pro_514B_content


LOUD & CLEAR....

go rip out an electret element from a discarded telephone and
surprise yourself....

ranting off,,,,
bill


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[Jim Brown-10]

On Sat, 09 Aug 2008 10:51:05 -0500, Bill NY9H wrote:

>The rising hi end frequency response....however is something Al Gore
>invented and licensed it to Shure Bros in the 50s for their # 444 and
>other communication & paging microphones.

My good friend Bill is kidding here, of course, but he knows what he's
talking about. To understand mics and audio for ham radio, check out
my tutorial, which shows the real reason for the rising hi end
response in a 444 (which is what they did with the SM58 as well, and
for a similar reason).

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

and the Power Point for my presentation to ham clubs  

http://audiosystemsgroup.com/HamInterfacing.pdf

If I lived outside the US and wanted to buy a good mic for ham radio,
it would be an ElectroVoice RE11 or RE16. These are pro mics, so they
don't have PTT switches, but they sound great on good ham rigs. The
tutorials show how to wire them and how to use them. In general, good
quality dynamic mics last forever unless they are badly mistreated, so
it's pretty safe to buy them used.

The discontinued Shure SM53 and SM54, aand AKG D202, D222, and D224
are equivalent to the RE11 and RE16. Of these, only the RE16 is still
a current product.

73,

Jim Brown K9YC


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