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K3 and Kenwood MC-90 desk mic

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Graham Pemberton G7NEH

K3 and Kenwood MC-90 desk mic

Hi all,

Sorry if this is off topic, I have just got a kenwood MC-90 desk mic and am planning to use it on my K3, has anybody else had any experience with this microphone and are there any settings I should alter on the radio.

Many thanks for your comments

Regards
Graham G7NEH

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Graham Pemberton G7NEH

Re: K3 and Kenwood MC-90 desk mic

HI Ray,

Many thanks for your reply, yes you are correct it is a dynamic mic and I have made the relevant changes in the K3 menu, I’ve had a couple of QSO’s on 40m this afternoon with UK stations and received some very good reports on my audio.

Regards
Graham G7NEH
Chester UK
IO83OE

On 30 Sep 2014, at 13:48, Ray Sills <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Hi Graham:
>
> I do not have that mic, but I'd suspect it is a dynamic mic. If so, you do not need to use mic bias for it to work. Outside of that, it would be a matter of having the proper connector to mate with your K3, and proper connections inside the connector... which may be different from what Kenwood uses for their gear. You could wire up an adapter, should you want to keep the mic and connector in original condition.
>
> A good feature of the K3 is the ability to tailor the audio response to accommodate various mics and operator voices. Most users recommend reducing the response to low frequencies, by setting the first two EQ bands to the lowest value. Experimentation will likely be the key, and you can monitor the audio yourself... and ask for critical reports, preferably from a local station.
>
> 73 de Ray
> K2ULR
> KX3 #211
>
>
> On Sep 30, 2014, at 8:25 AM, Graham Pemberton wrote:
>
>> Hi all,
>>
>> Sorry if this is off topic, I have just got a kenwood MC-90 desk mic and am planning to use it on my K3, has anybody else had any experience with this microphone and are there any settings I should alter on the radio.
>>
>> Many thanks for your comments
>>
>> Regards
>> Graham G7NEH
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>
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>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

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Dominic Baines-3

K2 Mikes

Dummy question...

I've got a K2 serial c5500 added the KSB2 module I have a Yaseu mic
MH-31 (No additional pre-amp fitted) will to do the SSB test and
alignment with it... however the K2 is going to someone who uses an ICOM
mike, type unknown. (Yes will need to know if need to add pin 2 for a
pre-amp...checking)

Anything that might be very different between them from those in the
know that would make alignment with one irrelevant for the other?
I'm pretty sure I will have to wire differently on the unit for the
inital mike and the final one (bit of a pain ho hum), apart from the
jumpers and details listed P17/18 in the KSB2 manual.
http://www.elecraft.com/manual/ksb2%20manual%20rev%20G.pdf

Or anyone suggest suitable tests just to make sure it is all working
fine? I could think a PTT and/or an up/down break out board and switches
might be worth doing?

72/73
Dom
M1KTA

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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: K2 Mikes

Dom,

If you plan to do K2 work repetitively, making up a "microphone pinout"
change box would be handy.
However, that does not fully address the problem of the bias resistor.
In order to test properly, you would need one (or more) dynamic
microphones like your Yaesu MH-31, plus you would need an electret type
microphone, like the Elecraft MH2/3 or one of the Icom microphones.

I myself would be reluctant to simply change the plugging of the
microphone configuration header and then ship a K2 to the customer
without having the ability to test that change.

If this is a one-time build for another ham, I would ask him to send his
Icom microphone to you.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 9/30/2014 12:11 PM, Dominic Baines wrote:

> Dummy question...
>
> I've got a K2 serial c5500 added the KSB2 module I have a Yaseu mic
> MH-31 (No additional pre-amp fitted) will to do the SSB test and
> alignment with it... however the K2 is going to someone who uses an
> ICOM mike, type unknown. (Yes will need to know if need to add pin 2
> for a pre-amp...checking)
>
> Anything that might be very different between them from those in the
> know that would make alignment with one irrelevant for the other?
> I'm pretty sure I will have to wire differently on the unit for the
> inital mike and the final one (bit of a pain ho hum), apart from the
> jumpers and details listed P17/18 in the KSB2 manual.
> http://www.elecraft.com/manual/ksb2%20manual%20rev%20G.pdf
>
> Or anyone suggest suitable tests just to make sure it is all working
> fine? I could think a PTT and/or an up/down break out board and
> switches might be worth doing?
>
> 72/73
> Dom
> M1KTA
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
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>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

Michael Babineau-2

Re: K2 Mikes

In reply to this post by Dominic Baines-3

On a note related to this topic … for anyone with the KSB2 module, I highly recommend installing the unpcbs.com
Internal Mic Adaptor kit (www.unpcbs.com). This little add-on kit is brilliant ! Once installed, rewiring the K2 for a different mic
(assuming 8 pin foster connector) is simply a matter of removing the side panel on the K2 and moving a few headers
on the board … it even allows the selection of proper bias resistors (included in the kit).

The usual disclaimer applies, I have no connection to unpcbs.com, other than being a satisfied customer.

Michael VE3WMB / VA2NB
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