SSB low output

[Rich McCabe]

Brian your K2 sounds pretty normal to me. I have had two late model K2's and
have found the drive on SSB marginal on both of them. The resistor swap did
not help me either.

For somer reason you really have to "talk em up" and wattmeters do not show
a very good indication of output. I checked mine on a scope and output was
as rated (110) but the PEP Daiwa showed about 1/8 that.

73,

Rich
kdozv


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----- Original Message -----
From: "Brian Mury" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Monday, November 22, 2004 11:20 PM
Subject: **SPAM** Re: [Elecraft] SSB low output

> On Mon, 2004-22-11 at 20:56 -0500, Dale Boresz wrote:
>> The first thing to note is that the Heil HC5 has been deliberately
>> designed to require relatively close talking.
>
> Got that boom mic right up to my lips! :-)
>
>> Additionally, the K2's compressor chip includes a noise gate, so a
>> "knee" exists at the point where the action changes from noise gate to
>> compressor. Below the knee, input from your microphone is actually
>> attenuated (the assumption is that any low-level noise is probably
>> undesirable background noise). Above the knee, it is amplified, although
>> held below some maximum level. My normal speaking voice is probably
>> lower, both in amplitude and pitch than lots of folks, so what ends up
>> happening is the peaks continue to hit the 100watt level, and unless I
>> shout, much of the rest of the level from the microphone ends up being
>> below the knee and therefore attenuated.
>
> I've noticed that behaviour as well. As long as I keep the volume of my
> voice up, it seems ok, but if I speak normally it sometimes seems to cut
> out on lows.
>
>> After much experimenting, including the building of a second KSB2, I
>> ended up building the single transistor amplifier, the circuit diagram
>> of which is available on the Elecraft website. This amp completely
>> solved the problem. I now have plenty of audio, and have received quite
>> a few compliments on the audio quality. So, my suggestion to you, is to
>> take the time to build up that little preamp; you won't be disappointed.
>
> FB Dale, I was already planning on building it. Maybe now I'll build it
> sooner! :-)
>
>> By the way, I now have two microphones with HC5 elements; one amplified,
>> and the other 'stock'. I'd be happy to set up a sked if you'd like, so
>> that you can hear the difference between the amplified, and
>> non-amplified HC5 elements.
>
> A sked would be fine. I'm free afternoons, evenings, and weekends. Hope
> you don't mind me shouting at you... :-)
>
>
> --
> 73, Brian
> VE7NGR
>
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[Geoffrey Mackenzie-Kennedy-2]

Top of the head thought, I wonder if it is only the late model K2s that have
to be "talked up". If so, it might have something to do with manufacturing
tolerances of the audio ICs. Would be interesting to get a yes - no roll
call from all K2 SSB users that use Heil mics.

I also use a scope to look at the output, and found that I have to talk
across the top of the Proset Plus boom mic for best results - as is usually
done. Also I have a "quiet" voice (according to the XYL - "what? Speak up")

Glad to hear, Brian, that things are on the mend.

73,

Geoff     GM4ESD     K2/100 # 3255



----- Original Message -----
From: "Rich McCabe" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Tuesday, November 23, 2004 6:05 AM
Subject: Re: **SPAM** Re: [Elecraft] SSB low output


> Brian your K2 sounds pretty normal to me. I have had two late model K2's
and
> have found the drive on SSB marginal on both of them. The resistor swap
did
> not help me either.
>
> For somer reason you really have to "talk em up" and wattmeters do not
show

> a very good indication of output. I checked mine on a scope and output was
> as rated (110) but the PEP Daiwa showed about 1/8 that.
>
> 73,
>
> Rich
> kdozv
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------
> This mailbox protected from junk email by MailFrontier Desktop
> from MailFrontier, Inc. http://info.mailfrontier.com
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Brian Mury" <[hidden email]>
> To: <[hidden email]>
> Sent: Monday, November 22, 2004 11:20 PM
> Subject: **SPAM** Re: [Elecraft] SSB low output
>
>
> > On Mon, 2004-22-11 at 20:56 -0500, Dale Boresz wrote:
> >> The first thing to note is that the Heil HC5 has been deliberately
> >> designed to require relatively close talking.
> >
> > Got that boom mic right up to my lips! :-)
> >
> >> Additionally, the K2's compressor chip includes a noise gate, so a
> >> "knee" exists at the point where the action changes from noise gate to
> >> compressor. Below the knee, input from your microphone is actually
> >> attenuated (the assumption is that any low-level noise is probably
> >> undesirable background noise). Above the knee, it is amplified,

although

> >> held below some maximum level. My normal speaking voice is probably
> >> lower, both in amplitude and pitch than lots of folks, so what ends up
> >> happening is the peaks continue to hit the 100watt level, and unless I
> >> shout, much of the rest of the level from the microphone ends up being
> >> below the knee and therefore attenuated.
> >
> > I've noticed that behaviour as well. As long as I keep the volume of my
> > voice up, it seems ok, but if I speak normally it sometimes seems to cut
> > out on lows.
> >
> >> After much experimenting, including the building of a second KSB2, I
> >> ended up building the single transistor amplifier, the circuit diagram
> >> of which is available on the Elecraft website. This amp completely
> >> solved the problem. I now have plenty of audio, and have received quite
> >> a few compliments on the audio quality. So, my suggestion to you, is to
> >> take the time to build up that little preamp; you won't be

disappointed.
> >
> > FB Dale, I was already planning on building it. Maybe now I'll build it
> > sooner! :-)
> >
> >> By the way, I now have two microphones with HC5 elements; one
amplified,

> >> and the other 'stock'. I'd be happy to set up a sked if you'd like, so
> >> that you can hear the difference between the amplified, and
> >> non-amplified HC5 elements.
> >
> > A sked would be fine. I'm free afternoons, evenings, and weekends. Hope
> > you don't mind me shouting at you... :-)
> >
> >
> > --
> > 73, Brian
> > VE7NGR
> >
> >

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