RE: [Elecraft] Elecraft K2 Microphones?

2006-04-13 Thread Don Wilhelm 
Werner and all,

It is obvious to me that microphones differ.  I have looked at the info from
Bob Heil on the 'best' amplitude vs. frequency response curves for my source
of what would work best for communications with reasonable voice quality.
My best recollection is that there must be content in the 300 to 600 Hz
range and that there should also be significant content in the 1700 to 1900
Hz range to provide good 'voice quality recognition'.

I also know that not only the element, but the housing that it is contained
in will make a difference, and can contribute to the difference between
'working' and 'working well'.

If you need a microphone and do not have one, I might suggest first getting
one that works (inexpensively of course) and then refining your search to
find the one that works best with your voice.  What works best for someone
else may not be the best choice for you.

73,
Don W3FPR

> -Original Message-
>
> I did a lot of testing with different microphones on my K2 #5203.
> The best reports I got with the Kenwood MC43S microphone, and the same
> good reports I also got with the Heil Headset and HC-4 element,
> but not with
> the Heil IC element. I also tested the Icom SM-8 and a Icom handheld
> microphone, the Yaesu MD-100 and a Yeasu Handheld microphone.
>
> I have to add that I did all the SSB modifications which are
> described on the
> very good comprehensive text at
> http://www.qrpproject.de/Media/pdf/ZusammenfassungMods.pdf
>
> For testing different microphones I found the use of microphone
> headers (c)
> by Tom N0SS very useful. They are described here:
> http://home.earthlink.net/~n0ss/download.html
>
> I use a  QRP - K2, maybe results with a 100 W type may differ,
> because the
> higher power might compensate the worse penetration of a wider
> modulation. In my situation readability was prior to natural sound.
>
> 73! de Werner
> OE9FWV
>
> --
> "Das, wobei unsere Berechnungen versagen, nennen wir Zufall."
> Albert Einstein
>
>
>
> PGP-Key: 
> Fone +43 5522 75013
> Fax +43 820 555 85 2621
> Mobile  +43 664 6340014
> K2 #5203
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Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft K2 Microphones?

2006-04-13 Thread Dr. Werner Furlan 
hi Fred, 

> With Elecraft marketing a K2 w/SSB option - why would
> they drop all desk & mobile MICROPHONES for this rig?
> Doesn't make sense - am I missing something?  Should
> I not buy the SSB Option for my K2 # 5422?
> 
> I'm mostly concerned about the electrical physical
> connector and interface to my K2.  I even have one
> of those mini- Flat Hand Mikes from Icon days, but
> not the foggiest idea of what it takes to interface
> it to a K2?   Are there instructions anywhere?

I did a lot of testing with different microphones on my K2 #5203.
The best reports I got with the Kenwood MC43S microphone, and the same 
good reports I also got with the Heil Headset and HC-4 element, but not with 
the Heil IC element. I also tested the Icom SM-8 and a Icom handheld 
microphone, the Yaesu MD-100 and a Yeasu Handheld microphone. 

I have to add that I did all the SSB modifications which are described on the 
very good comprehensive text at 
http://www.qrpproject.de/Media/pdf/ZusammenfassungMods.pdf

For testing different microphones I found the use of microphone headers (c) 
by Tom N0SS very useful. They are described here:
http://home.earthlink.net/~n0ss/download.html

I use a  QRP - K2, maybe results with a 100 W type may differ, because the 
higher power might compensate the worse penetration of a wider 
modulation. In my situation readability was prior to natural sound. 

73! de Werner
OE9FWV

--  
"Das, wobei unsere Berechnungen versagen, nennen wir Zufall."
Albert Einstein 



PGP-Key: 
Fone +43 5522 75013
Fax +43 820 555 85 2621
Mobile  +43 664 6340014
K2 #5203
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RE: [Elecraft] Elecraft K2 Microphones?

2006-04-12 Thread Don Wilhelm 
Fred,

As Eric indicated, the K2 microphone configuration header can be
plugged/wired to work with most any microphone having an 8 pin mic plug.

Obtaining a microphone is easy - if you want to go the inexpensive route,
pick up a CB microphone, they are plentiful and if it doesn't come with an 8
pin plug, get one of those too - Radio Shack used to have them and the first
page of a Google search for '8 pin microphone plug' yielded over 4 sources
at various prices.
If you must rewire the mic plug, you can choose whichever pinout that you
wish and plug the mic configuration header accordingly (I recommend the
Elecraft 'straight across' jumpering with or without the resistor on the mic
jack).

Speaking of the resistor the mic jack, it is needed for those mics
containing an electret type mic element - if the mic element is dynamic, you
should not install it.

One inexpensive method of getting a good working mic is to find a
non-functioning mic and install an electret mic element in the mic head - I
have obtained mic elements from Marlin P Jones & Associates in the past
www.mpja.com
I have re-furbished several mics in that manner - I have a collection of
dynamics and electret types that I use to test the K2s that I build - I can
plug in the one that most closely matches the configuration my client wants
installed - they all work just fine and most of them are from salvaged mic
heads I have acquired inexpensively in various places.

If you do not fancy doing your own microphone from a hamfest 'grabbox'
collection, some folks have found the Ten-Tec mike to work fine, you can
order a mic from Heil wired for Kenwood (similar to Elecraft wiring), or
order a new mic for most any other transceiver on the amateur market - the
KSB2 instructions will indicate how to wire the configuration header.

73,
Don W3FPR

> -Original Message-
>
> With Elecraft marketing a K2 w/SSB option - why would
> they drop all desk & mobile MICROPHONES for this rig?
> Doesn't make sense - am I missing something?  Should
> I not buy the SSB Option for my K2 # 5422?
>
> I'm mostly concerned about the electrical physical
> connector and interface to my K2.  I even have one
> of those mini- Flat Hand Mikes from Icon days, but
> not the foggiest idea of what it takes to interface
> it to a K2?   Are there instructions anywhere?
>
> Thanks to all that are giving me some much help,
> in the K2 #5422 build!
> 73's
> Fred Osborne N3CSY
> FL
>
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Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft K2 Microphones?

2006-04-12 Thread Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ Elecraft 

Hi Fred,

The manufacturer of the MH2 microphone discontinued that model and we 
have been looking for a replacement. We are in discussions with another 
manufacturer now for a replacement hand mic, but it will be a couple of 
months before we can get it in.


Fortunately we designed the K2 and KSB2 to use just about any of the 
current microphones from Yaesu/Icom/Kenwood. Our 8 pin microphone 
connector is the industry standard for most rigs and we provide a jumper 
block on the K2 front panel PCB to jumper the pin out of this connector 
to match each microphone. Check out the KSB2 manual on out manual 
download page for a description of how to set the jumpers. See:

http://www.elecraft.com/manual/KSB2%20manual%20rev%20E.pdf

73, Eric   WA6HHQ
Elecraft

_..._



Fred (FL) wrote:

With Elecraft marketing a K2 w/SSB option - why would
they drop all desk & mobile MICROPHONES for this rig?
Doesn't make sense - am I missing something?  Should
I not buy the SSB Option for my K2 # 5422?

I'm mostly concerned about the electrical physical
connector and interface to my K2.  I even have one
of those mini- Flat Hand Mikes from Icon days, but
not the foggiest idea of what it takes to interface
it to a K2?   Are there instructions anywhere?

Thanks to all that are giving me some much help,
in the K2 #5422 build!
73's 
Fred Osborne N3CSY

FL

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