Elecraft

K3 hand mic

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Bill-3

K3 hand mic

When I bought my K3, I also bought the hand mic. I used it for a few
weeks until I tired of the comments about the mechanical noise it made
when keyed. I had to be very gentle and careful when using the PTT so as
not to have all the keying noise on my signal (cheap mechanical design
to activate an even cheaper switch). I elected to do surgery on the mic
and gutted the mechanical switch out completely. I then did a little
Bondo work on the shell and installed a square Heil PTT switch. It works
and is very quiet. The only problem is the switches only last a couple
of years - which I learned from using other Heil mics). If you are
careful, you can open the switch and put a little DeOxit in there and
all is well again.

All that said, my question: Any suggestions for a hand mic that will
work quietly and last forever?

Bill W2BLC K-Line
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robert.hair

Re: K3 hand mic

If the "DeOxit" (?) fixes the switch, it sounds like it could be that the
switch isn't switching enough current to keep its contacts in good order.
Some contact materials need to switch more current than others in order to
stay healthy. You may be able to change a pull up or pull down (I don't
know the configuration) resistor to increase switching current - cheaper
than a new mic!

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Thursday, April 09, 2015 9:21 AM
Subject: [Elecraft] K3 hand mic

> When I bought my K3, I also bought the hand mic. I used it for a few weeks
> until I tired of the comments about the mechanical noise it made when
> keyed. I had to be very gentle and careful when using the PTT so as not to
> have all the keying noise on my signal (cheap mechanical design to
> activate an even cheaper switch). I elected to do surgery on the mic and
> gutted the mechanical switch out completely. I then did a little Bondo
> work on the shell and installed a square Heil PTT switch. It works and is
> very quiet. The only problem is the switches only last a couple of years -
> which I learned from using other Heil mics). If you are careful, you can
> open the switch and put a little DeOxit in there and all is well again.
>
> All that said, my question: Any suggestions for a hand mic that will work
> quietly and last forever?
>
> Bill W2BLC K-Line
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

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Bill Steffey NY9H

Re: K3 hand mic

In reply to this post by Bill-3

SHURE 514B

http://cdn.shure.com/user_guide/upload/423/us_pro_514b_ug.pdf0.pdf

the switch will outlast anyone .... human or otherwise,

the ptt assembly is not noisy ..
my kewood mobile hand mic squeaks as the button is pressed,$@!%$^*

Frequency response designed for voice communications
( has rising hi end freq response , long before Heil 'discovered' it)

Rugged, high impact ARMO-DUR® case
Double-pole, single-throw PTT switch designed for
constant usage Four conductor, shielded,
bare-ended (no connector) coil cord Does not require DC power for operation

i always buy used , usually at hamfests ,,,,8-20$ ,,

you will have to address the mini plug needed at the end of the cable,,,

when not using the boom mic at the station, i
have 514s wired for my 7800 & elecraft pinouts.

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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: K3 hand mic

In reply to this post by Bill-3

Bill and all,

One reason for "noisy PTT switches" is that the microphone is wired for
VOX operation - which means that the mic element is always 'live'. If
the PTT switch closes before the PTT button travel is complete, you will
hear a 'pop' as the PTT button contacts the microphone case. In other
words, I do not think the switch itself is the problem.

If you examine the Shure PA mic specs that was mentioned, you will find
that the microphone element is normally open - in other words, you have
to depress the PTT button to activate the microphone element. Depending
on the relative contact times of the PTT switch and the mic circuit
(both on the same switch), if the mic element switch is activated after
the PTT is closed, no 'PTT noise' will be present.

Many ham mics are wired so the mic element is always 'closed' which
allows the microphone to be used for VOX without pressing the PTT
switch. That arrangement can cause noise as the PTT switch is depressed
since the PTT button parts are still rubbing on the mic housing after
the PTT switch has closed.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 4/9/2015 10:39 AM, bill wrote:
> SHURE 514B
>
> http://cdn.shure.com/user_guide/upload/423/us_pro_514b_ug.pdf0.pdf
>
> the switch will outlast anyone .... human or otherwise,
>
> the ptt assembly is not noisy ..
> my kewood mobile hand mic squeaks as the button is pressed,$@!%$^*
>

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Bill-3

Re: K3 hand mic

Thanks for the hints and Don's full explanation. 20/20 hindsight and
Elecraft could have prevented the problem by not designing a hand mic
for VOX (why would anyone do that anyway?)

I have ordered the 514B.

Bill W2BKC K-Line
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Gary Gregory-2

Re: K3 hand mic

I just got out of hospital after a stroke.....lots of things I would like
better.....a mic is not on my list.

:-)
On 10/04/2015 4:28 AM, "Bill" <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Thanks for the hints and Don's full explanation. 20/20 hindsight and
> Elecraft could have prevented the problem by not designing a hand mic for
> VOX (why would anyone do that anyway?)
>
> I have ordered the 514B.
>
> Bill W2BKC K-Line
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>