K3 with Heil PR781 Speech Processor or Pre-Amp?

[Brian J. Linn]

To the List:

I just brought my new kit K3 on line using
the Heil PR781. The microphone has great tone; however, it seems that
I need a little more signal going into the K3. I'd like to know
what
more experienced (which is everyone in comparison to me)
Elecraft users have to say on the subject of speech processors and
pre-amps used with the K3.

Thanks,

Brian KD0HII

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[Don Wilhelm-4]

Brian,

I don't have any first hand experience with external speech processors
and the K3, but with the controls available in the K3 itself - TXEQ, mic
level, and compression, I wonder why anyone would want to use additional
processing.

I might add a cautionary note - using two speech compressors in tandem
can easily cause problems with distortion (by compressing an already
compressed waveform).  So if you use compression in the external
processor, turn it off (to zero) in the K3 - or if you want the K3
compressor on, tun it off in the external processor.

73,
Don W3FPR

[hidden email] wrote:

> To the List:
>
> I just brought my new kit K3 on line using
> the Heil PR781. The microphone has great tone; however, it seems that
> I need a little more signal going into the K3. I'd like to know
> what
> more experienced (which is everyone in comparison to me)
> Elecraft users have to say on the subject of speech processors and
> pre-amps used with the K3.
>  
>

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[Bill VanAlstyne W5WVO]

You probably have the AF GAIN parameter in CONFIG set to LOW
(which I believe is the default). Set it to HIGH, and you should
have plenty of audio from Heil mics, which tend to be a little on
the low-output side.

Bill W5WVO


----- Original Message -----
From: <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Monday, December 07, 2009 3:42 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] K3 with Heil PR781 Speech Processor or
Pre-Amp?




To the List:

I just brought my new kit K3 on line using
the Heil PR781. The microphone has great tone; however, it seems
that
I need a little more signal going into the K3. I'd like to know
what
more experienced (which is everyone in comparison to me)
Elecraft users have to say on the subject of speech processors and
pre-amps used with the K3.

Thanks,

Brian KD0HII

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[N5GE]

On Mon, 7 Dec 2009 17:36:52 -0700, "Bill W5WVO" <[hidden email]>
wrote:

Bill please explain to me how the AF Gain changes the Mic input level
to the TX.  Did you mean to say Mic Gain?

Tom, N5GE

[hidden email]
K3 #806 with SUB RX, K3 #1055, PR6,
XV144, XV432, KRC2,
W1, 2 W2's and other small kits

1 K144XV on order

http://www.n5ge.com
http://www.swotrc.net

>You probably have the AF GAIN parameter in CONFIG set to LOW
>(which I believe is the default). Set it to HIGH, and you should
>have plenty of audio from Heil mics, which tend to be a little on
>the low-output side.
>
>Bill W5WVO
>
>
[snip]

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[Bill VanAlstyne W5WVO]

Sorry, my bad. I meant the H or L gain range settings in the MIC
SEL entry of the main menu. In MIC SEL, tap "1" to toggle between
Low and High mic gain range for the selected mic. Use the High
setting for most Heil mics.

That's what I get for answering a question off the top of my head.
Sorry.

Bill W5WVO


----- Original Message -----
From: "Radio Amateur N5GE" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Monday, December 07, 2009 7:13 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 with Heil PR781 Speech Processor or
Pre-Amp?


> On Mon, 7 Dec 2009 17:36:52 -0700, "Bill W5WVO"
<[hidden email]>
> wrote:
>
> Bill please explain to me how the AF Gain changes the Mic input
level

> to the TX.  Did you mean to say Mic Gain?
>
> Tom, N5GE
>
> [hidden email]
> K3 #806 with SUB RX, K3 #1055, PR6,
> XV144, XV432, KRC2,
> W1, 2 W2's and other small kits
>
> 1 K144XV on order
>
> http://www.n5ge.com
> http://www.swotrc.net
>
> >You probably have the AF GAIN parameter in CONFIG set to LOW
> >(which I believe is the default). Set it to HIGH, and you

should
> >have plenty of audio from Heil mics, which tend to be a little
on

> >the low-output side.
> >
> >Bill W5WVO
> >
> >
> [snip]
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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

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[Jim Brown-10]

On Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:25:14 -0500, Don Wilhelm wrote:

>I don't have any first hand experience with external speech processors
>and the K3, but with the controls available in the K3 itself - TXEQ, mic
>level, and compression, I wonder why anyone would want to use additional
>processing.

I strongly agree, Don. The K3 has everything built in to transmit very high
quality and very aggressive communications audio. There is NO need to add
ANYTHING external to a K3 other than a good mic, and the Heils would be at
the bottom of my list of recommended products.

73,

Jim K9YC



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[Terry Schieler]

Hi Brian,

I have the Heil PR781 on my K3 (#474).  I run the mic gain per the manual,
EQ flat and compression at about 10 and have gotten very good audio reports.
Also, no other in-line amps, mixers, etc.

73,

Terry, W0FM

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]]
Sent: Monday, December 07, 2009 4:43 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] K3 with Heil PR781 Speech Processor or Pre-Amp?



To the List:

I just brought my new kit K3 on line using
the Heil PR781. The microphone has great tone; however, it seems that
I need a little more signal going into the K3. I'd like to know
what
more experienced (which is everyone in comparison to me)
Elecraft users have to say on the subject of speech processors and
pre-amps used with the K3.

Thanks,

Brian KD0HII




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[Matt Zilmer]

Hi Jim,

I don't want to ask you to repeat yourself, but do you have a short
list of recommended mics for the K3 (or in general)?

Using the Goldline HC-4 and -5 on #24, I've always like the audio and
got good reports.  Just the same, I think we're all in line to put out
better audio if possible.

Thanks & 73,
matt W6NIA
K3 #24

On Mon, 07 Dec 2009 23:12:21 -0800, you wrote:

>On Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:25:14 -0500, Don Wilhelm wrote:
>
>>I don't have any first hand experience with external speech processors
>>and the K3, but with the controls available in the K3 itself - TXEQ, mic
>>level, and compression, I wonder why anyone would want to use additional
>>processing.
>
>I strongly agree, Don. The K3 has everything built in to transmit very high
>quality and very aggressive communications audio. There is NO need to add
>ANYTHING external to a K3 other than a good mic, and the Heils would be at
>the bottom of my list of recommended products.
>
>73,
>
>Jim K9YC
>
>
>
>______________________________________________________________
>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

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[Jim Brown-10]

On Tue, 08 Dec 2009 07:24:59 -0800, Matt Zilmer wrote:

>I don't want to ask you to repeat yourself, but do you have a short
>list of recommended mics for the K3 (or in general)?

>Using the Goldline HC-4 and -5 on #24, I've always like the audio and
>got good reports.  Just the same, I think we're all in line to put out
>better audio if possible.

If you're happy with what you have, save your money for something you
really need (like a better antenna). If you need to buy a mic for the
K3, I strongly recommend the Yamaha CM500 headset mic, which can be
found online for under $50. It plugs straight into the K3 (rear panel),
is comfortable to wear (I've recently used it in two 24 hour weekend
contests), and sounds great.

Almost any ham mic will work just fine with the K3 if you wire the
connector for it. ICOM, Kenwood, and Yaesu each went their own way with
connector wiring, so a mic wired for one needs to be rewired to work
with another. If I'm not mistaken, Elecraft used the Kenwood wiring.
Whatever mic you have, simply look at the wiring, and pull out your
soldering iron if you need to.

Virtually any dynamic mic will work very well with a K3 if you wire it
properly. Elecraft has given us plenty of easy adjustment of levels and
equalization to accomplish that. Most NON-professional electret mics
will work well with the K3 too, but in some cases it may be trickier to
hook them up. Pro electret mics will NOT work with ham gear -- they use
a balanced powering method called phantom power.

There are two tutorials on my website that discuss audio for ham radio.
http://audiosystemsgroup.com/publish.htm   Select the RFI tutorial and
the power point about Ham Interfacing.  

73,


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