Posted by
Don Wilhelm-4 on
Jan 11, 2009; 11:25pm
URL: http://elecraft.85.s1.nabble.com/Front-Rear-MIC-Input-Level-tp2141584p2143294.html
Werner, Merv,
In that case I do suspect something is wrong. Can I assume you are
running the latest firmware? There was a change in the ALC and the
recommended 'number of bars' about 3 months ago which increased the
normal 'number of bars'. If you are back-level I recommend you upgrade
to the latest beta and try it again.
One other consideration is how far away from the mic are you speaking -
if using the headset, the microphone should be a max of only 2 inches (5
cm) away from your mouth, and the flat side of the mouthpiece should
face your mouth. With a desk mic, it should be placed about the same
distance from the mouth as well. Those mics are designed to
'close-talk' which helps with pickup of room noise too, and the
microphone output drops off dramatically if you speak off-axis.
I normally operate with the Elecraft MD2, but I went down to the
workbench and brought up my D-104 that has been modified with an HC-5
element. I plugged it in a tried it at the same settings as I used with
my MD2 (but with bias off) and could not talk it up to any ALC bars at
all without shouting, but I did see an occasional bar or two on the CMP
meter.. I switched to FP.H and still had to increase the mic gain up to
43 before I could see 7 bars on voice peaks with normal speech, like
"Hello from W3FPR". My compression was set at 23 for all those tests.
From that experience, I must conclude that any who say they run with
the mic range on Low and a mic gain setting of 23 for their HC5 element
either have more mic gain than my K3 or they are shouting into the mic,
or have a mic preamp in the AF input - no offense to anyone intended,
but my K3 just does not behave that way with the HC5 element
(unamplified).
I do consider my setting to be in an acceptable range because the HC4/5
elements are the lowest output mics that I will likely use with my K3.
73,
Don W3FPR
Dr. Werner Furlan wrote:
> hi Merv,
>
> Merv Schweigert schrieb am 11 Jan 2009 um 11:51:
>
>
>> I just checked mine #2306, cannot get ALC above 7 bars either, Heil
>> proset, mic setting of 8 to 10 is plenty to get full power out. But even
>> if setting mic to 60 ALC is still 7 bars max. But I notice that below the
>> ALC bar scale ALC brackets go to 7 bars, perhaps that means full scale? I
>> am using the rear panel jack also, manual states 5 to 7 bars max. As far
>> as power output less, thats normal check the CONFIG: TXG VCE menu and set
>> the gain up a small amount, will bring SSB up to CW power level. Use an
>> external meter as the K3 bar may not respond fast enough to show peaks on
>> SSB. Merv KH7C
>>
>
> I checked again and it is exactly the same here. I have a LP-100 peak meter
> and it shows 100 Watt out in SSB with MIC GAIN 20 COMP 20.
> With normal speech I have only 2-4 bars of ALC, with OOOOLA I get 5-6.
>
> 73! de Werner OE9FWV
>
>
_______________________________________________
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.htmElecraft web page:
http://www.elecraft.com