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Re: K3 Bias voltage

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Ian Maude

Re: K3 Bias voltage

Hi all,
I think we need to understand what is happening here. I am pretty sure
I have this correct.

The front panel socket is the same as the Kenwood one apart from the 8v
being present on a different pin. However, this is a bit of a
smokescreen as it actually has very little to do with bias voltage. The
bias voltage as I see it drops a voltage onto pin 1 which will be the
mic audio line. This has been done for speaker mics and handies for
some time. So the bias voltage is nothing to do with where the 8v line
is on the front panel socket. Unless your mic requires the 8v line
which would only normally happen for desk mics (?) I do not see a
problem. The vast majority of desk mics will have a blocking capacitor
on the mic audio line.

Do I have it correct?

73 Ian

--

Ian J Maude, G0VGS
SysOp GB7MBC DX Cluster
Member RSGB, GQRP
K2 #4044 |K3 #455

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Joe Subich, W4TV-3

RE: Re: K3 Bias voltage

> So the bias voltage is nothing to do with where the 8v line is
> on the front panel socket. Unless your mic requires the 8v line
> which would only normally happen for desk mics (?) I do not see
> a problem. The vast majority of desk mics will have a blocking
> capacitor on the mic audio line.
>
> Do I have it correct?

Not quite. Kenwood, Yaesu and TenTec all require the +8V (+5V on
pin 2 for Yaesu/Kenwood) line for electret mics. They do not put
bias on the microphone audio line in order to prevent problems and
potential damage with dynamic mics. Instead they install a R/C
network inside any electret or preamplified microphone to add the
voltage directly at the mic element or preamplifier.

Dynamic mics typically do not include blocking capacitors in the
mic line although some amateur mics will include a switch and .1
to .33 uF capacitor to provide a rising frequency response.

73,

... Joe, W4TV

> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email]
> [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Ian J Maude
> Sent: Thursday, May 01, 2008 10:57 AM
> To: Elecraft Reflector
> Subject: [Elecraft] Re: K3 Bias voltage
>
>
> Hi all,
> I think we need to understand what is happening here. I am
> pretty sure
> I have this correct.
>
> The front panel socket is the same as the Kenwood one apart
> from the 8v
> being present on a different pin. However, this is a bit of a
> smokescreen as it actually has very little to do with bias
> voltage. The
> bias voltage as I see it drops a voltage onto pin 1 which will be the
> mic audio line. This has been done for speaker mics and handies for
> some time. So the bias voltage is nothing to do with where
> the 8v line
> is on the front panel socket. Unless your mic requires the 8v line
> which would only normally happen for desk mics (?) I do not see a
> problem. The vast majority of desk mics will have a blocking
> capacitor
> on the mic audio line.
>
> Do I have it correct?
>
> 73 Ian
>
> --
>
> Ian J Maude, G0VGS
> SysOp GB7MBC DX Cluster
> Member RSGB, GQRP
> K2 #4044 |K3 #455
>
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [hidden email]
> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
> Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com

N4LQ-2

Re: Re: K3 Bias voltage

I have almost come to the conclusion that no one really knows how to connect
a microphone to a K3.

There is even confusion about the Heil headset which Elecraft sells as being
compatable with the K3.

I have a kenwood MC-80 and it worked with no modification however it has an
internal battery so I would probably need rewiring if it were not for the
battery.
Steve Ellington
[hidden email]
----- Original Message -----
From: "Joe Subich, W4TV" <[hidden email]>
To: "'Ian J Maude'" <[hidden email]>; "'Elecraft Reflector'"
<[hidden email]>
Sent: Thursday, May 01, 2008 11:26 AM
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Re: K3 Bias voltage

> So the bias voltage is nothing to do with where the 8v line is
> on the front panel socket. Unless your mic requires the 8v line
> which would only normally happen for desk mics (?) I do not see
> a problem. The vast majority of desk mics will have a blocking
> capacitor on the mic audio line.
>
> Do I have it correct?

Not quite. Kenwood, Yaesu and TenTec all require the +8V (+5V on
pin 2 for Yaesu/Kenwood) line for electret mics. They do not put
bias on the microphone audio line in order to prevent problems and
potential damage with dynamic mics. Instead they install a R/C
network inside any electret or preamplified microphone to add the
voltage directly at the mic element or preamplifier.

Dynamic mics typically do not include blocking capacitors in the
mic line although some amateur mics will include a switch and .1
to .33 uF capacitor to provide a rising frequency response.

73,

... Joe, W4TV

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