Elecraft

Xmit Audio Problem

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Bob KD7YZ

Xmit Audio Problem

I suspect I need a different mike than the old heil-pro headset. But
then, I better ask first.

The symptoms are that is I don't appear have any punch. I use cmp and
mic and get the ALC bars in the right places according to the manual.

I have adjusted TXG up to 3.

Still, when I am transmitting SSB, the output is barely indicating 10%
of (A) a HARD whistle pr (B) CW

And I have mic at 60 and cmp at 40.

What is a "Great" desk mike for the K3? Anyway, I am tired of the boom
mic so wanted a desk mic and this may be a good reason.

thanks
--

Bob KD7YZ
AMSAT LM 0901
http://www.qrz.com/db/KD7YZ
www.denstarfarm.us/LGD
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k6mkf

Re: Xmit Audio Problem

I get good reports out of an old Kenwood MC-60 desk mic. I had one kicking
around from my Kenwood days and noticed it had an 8-pin mic connector, so
thought I'd give it a shot. Worked great with some minor adjustments.

Make sure the bottom switch for 'Mic Amp' is in the out position. A bonus
is the 'Down - Up' rocker switch that is great for fine frequency
adjustments.

I use this macro to set up the K3 for the MC-60:

MN053;DN;DN;MG009;CP014;ML010;TE+14+14+08+06+08+10+12+00;MN255;

- 73 de Mike, K6MKF, W6NAG, Secretary - NCDXC, IDXG, ADXG, RRC #933,
K3-P3-KPA500-KAT500 Addict, Maui

-----Original Message-----
From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Bob
KD7YZ
Sent: Monday, May 26, 2014 11:40 AM
To: K3 List
Subject: [Elecraft] Xmit Audio Problem

I suspect I need a different mike than the old heil-pro headset. But then, I
better ask first.

The symptoms are that is I don't appear have any punch. I use cmp and mic
and get the ALC bars in the right places according to the manual.

I have adjusted TXG up to 3.

Still, when I am transmitting SSB, the output is barely indicating 10% of
(A) a HARD whistle pr (B) CW

And I have mic at 60 and cmp at 40.

What is a "Great" desk mike for the K3? Anyway, I am tired of the boom mic
so wanted a desk mic and this may be a good reason.

thanks
--

Bob KD7YZ
AMSAT LM 0901
http://www.qrz.com/db/KD7YZ
www.denstarfarm.us/LGD
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Elecraft mailing list

Re: Xmit Audio Problem

In reply to this post by Bob KD7YZ

>>>> Still, when I am transmitting SSB, the output is barely indicating 10%
of (A) a HARD whistle pr (B) CW <<<<

10% of Average, or Peak Envelope Power?

Are you using a PEP Watt meter?

((((73)))) Milverton.

On Monday, May 26, 2014 1:44 PM, Bob KD7YZ <[hidden email]> wrote:

>
>
>I suspect I need a different mike than the old heil-pro headset. But
>then, I better ask first.
>
>The symptoms are that is I don't appear have any punch. I use cmp and
>mic and get the ALC bars in the right places according to the manual.
>
>I have adjusted TXG up to 3.
>
>Still, when I am transmitting SSB, the output is barely indicating 10%
>of (A) a HARD whistle pr (B) CW
>
>And I have mic at 60 and cmp at 40.
>
>What is a "Great" desk mike for the K3? Anyway, I am tired of the boom
>mic so wanted a desk mic and this may be a good reason.
>
>thanks
>--
>
>Bob KD7YZ
>AMSAT LM 0901
>http://www.qrz.com/db/KD7YZ
>www.denstarfarm.us/LGD
>______________________________________________________________
>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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Joe Subich, W4TV-4

Re: Xmit Audio Problem

In reply to this post by k6mkf

Since you're replacing a headset look for the Yamaha CM-500. They're
generally $60 or so at places like B&H Photovideo, Sweetwater, Amazon,
etc. They are more comfortable than the old Heil Proset and half the
price. If you watch for sales they're even less (I replaced a ProSet
with two CM-500 for less than what Heil wanted for the current ProSet)
The mic works very well with the K3 ... set the bottom two TX EQ bands
to -16 and the top three to +3, +5, +6 (a rising 3 dB/octave above
800 Hz).

I adjust the mic gain for 5 bars and run CMP between 15 an 20 dB. The
audio sounds good according to reports and there is plenty of "talk
power."

73,

... Joe, W4TV

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Bob
> KD7YZ
> Sent: Monday, May 26, 2014 11:40 AM
> To: K3 List
> Subject: [Elecraft] Xmit Audio Problem
>
> I suspect I need a different mike than the old heil-pro headset. But then, I
> better ask first.
>
> The symptoms are that is I don't appear have any punch. I use cmp and mic
> and get the ALC bars in the right places according to the manual.
>
> I have adjusted TXG up to 3.
>
> Still, when I am transmitting SSB, the output is barely indicating 10% of
> (A) a HARD whistle pr (B) CW
>
> And I have mic at 60 and cmp at 40.
>
> What is a "Great" desk mike for the K3? Anyway, I am tired of the boom mic
> so wanted a desk mic and this may be a good reason.
>
> thanks
>

Bill-3

Re: Xmit Audio Problem

In reply to this post by Bob KD7YZ

Almost any microphone can be made to sound good on the K3. You just have
to play with the equalizer, gain, and comp settings. I recommend you
have a single trusted ham work with you on a closed band while making
your adjustments.

If you have more than one helper, they will argue about what sounds good
or bad.

Personally, I use the OEM Heil mic made for Elecraft. The PTT switch is
trash, but the element is a good sounder and the case is solid. I merely
did some creative plastic surgery on the case and installed a Heil
"square PTT" switch and all crunching and clicking noise vanished. I
also have an MC60 - which is too a great sounder.

Bill W2BLC K-Line
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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: Xmit Audio Problem

In reply to this post by Bob KD7YZ

Bob,

I assume you are using the Heil ProSet with the HC4 or HC5 or HC6
element (which have quite low output) - if it is a ProSet-iC or the
ProSet-K2, you will need bias turned on (and ignore the following
paragraph).

You may have to use the Hi mic gain range with the HC4/5/6 microphone -
go to the MIC GAIN setting and tap [1] to toggle from low to high. See
page 47 in the K3 Owner's Manual.
Is there any chance that you have bias turned on when using that
microphone. If so, that will run current through the mic element
reducing its sensitivity.

Then back the compression to zero, put the K3 into TX TEST so no RF is
developed and adjust the mic gain for 5 to 7 bars on the ALC scale.
After that, increase the compression setting as you desire.

Make certain you are using the peak reading setting on your wattmeter
and you should see the same amount of power for SSB as you are seeing
for CW.
If both CW and SSB are lower than the requested power, do the TXG
calibration.

As for a desk microphone, any of the Kenwood mics will plug into the
front panel. Do not use the amplified Kenwood mics unless you can turn
the mic amplifier off.

Another choice that will work well is to use one of the desk type
computer microphones - plug it into the rear mic jack and turn bias on.

On 5/26/2014 2:39 PM, Bob KD7YZ wrote:

> I suspect I need a different mike than the old heil-pro headset. But
> then, I better ask first.
>
> The symptoms are that is I don't appear have any punch. I use cmp and
> mic and get the ALC bars in the right places according to the manual.
>
> I have adjusted TXG up to 3.
>
> Still, when I am transmitting SSB, the output is barely indicating 10%
> of (A) a HARD whistle pr (B) CW
>
> And I have mic at 60 and cmp at 40.
>
> What is a "Great" desk mike for the K3? Anyway, I am tired of the boom
> mic so wanted a desk mic and this may be a good reason.
>
>

Bob KD7YZ

Re: Xmit Audio Problem

In reply to this post by Elecraft mailing list

On 5/26/2014 15:07, [hidden email] wrote:

> 10% of Average, or Peak Envelope Power?
> Are you using a PEP Watt meter?
>

A coaxial-dynamics WM with a 2500 slug

--

Bob KD7YZ
AMSAT LM 0901
http://www.qrz.com/db/KD7YZ
www.denstarfarm.us/LGD
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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: Xmit Audio Problem

Bob,

If you are measuring a 100 watt signal with a 2500 watt slug, you can
expect significant errors.
Even the Bird slugs (right after calibration) offer only a 5% of full
scale accuracy. With a 2500 watt slug, that means a possible error of
+/- 125 watts at any point on the scale.
For best results, use a slug that is as close to the maximum power that
you expect as possible.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 5/26/2014 11:11 PM, Bob KD7YZ wrote:
> On 5/26/2014 15:07, [hidden email] wrote:
>
>> 10% of Average, or Peak Envelope Power?
>> Are you using a PEP Watt meter?
>>
> A coaxial-dynamics WM with a 2500 slug
>

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