Re: [Elecraft] Microphone preamp and Heils
Never did get a clear answer on this. If I wire the K2 up for the Kenwood, and I have a Heil Pro Headset with the Kenwood adapter, I will be good to go? Curious, why did they stop making the Elecraft associated mike? Was it plastic or metal? David Wilburn [EMAIL PROTECTED] David Wilburn wrote: Just curious of why the focus on the ICOM mikes? When I looked at the drawing for the pins on the front panel, it looked like the Kenwood was the least complicated to wire. A bit off topic, the Heil website does not show the hand mikes anymore. Well not a 'real' hand mike that sits and your hand as something rugged. They have these little microphone mikes. Not something that I'm interested in connecting to any of my radios. If I want a hands free setup, I'll use a headset and boom. Bar that, if I want to talk on a mike and listen via the speaker, I want a substantial mike that feels like I have something in my hand. My current plan is to wire my K2 up for the Kenwood microphone. My other radio is a TS-570. The assumption on my part, is that I will then be able to use my Heil headset on both the Kenwood and the K2. Is this a valid assumption? David Wilburn [EMAIL PROTECTED] Don Wilhelm wrote: The Heil microphone preamps are required for the Heil microphones using the HC4 and HC5 elements. The electret elements do not need a preamp (but they do need a resistor at the mic jack). The Heil mics designated for use with Icom transceivers are usually of the electret typw and work quite well with the K2. Remember that Heil has a wide variety of mics, just saying that you are using a Heil mic is not sufficient information, one must specify WHICH Heil mics - they are not created equal. I guess an anology is that you would not refer to an automobile as a General Motors car - you must specify if it is a Chevrolet, a Buick, a Cadillac, etc., and in many cases one must also specify which variety of Chevrolet, Buick, etc. Heil mics are much like that. So, yes choose the Icom mics if possible, but if you prefer those with the HC4 or HC5 elements (those elemetns have low ouput), you should plan to add a mic preamp. As far as I know, no PC boards or kits are available for the mic preamps. 73, Don W3FPR -Original Message- Hi, sorry if this repeats previous information request, but I did a lot of searching and didn't find anything directly on point (even though there were several threads on preamps and Heils, etc.) I downloaded the Microphone Pre-Amp for Heil schematic on the Elecraft website. My questions are: 1. Does anybody make a PCB for this project? I imagine all these parts are available from Radio Shack or Mouser? 2. Does the preamp make the microphones work really well, or is it just something that gets you by? 3. As far as Heil microphone modules go, if I build the preamp, and want to buy the Classic, can I use any module, like the Pro, HC-5, HC-4, etc., or should I get the ICOM only module, which I believe is an electret module. I am a bit confused about all this. I asked Elecraft and they said I should get the electret module. Bob Heil said the Classic was not a good choice for the K2 and he suggested his iCM mic for ICOM. Doesn't the iCM mic have the same electret element that the Classic with the IC element has? If all I needed was an electret element, do I need the preamp at all, or does it make the electret work even better? 4. Once I build the preamp, is it something that I can tuck into the microphone itself (like a Heil Classic) or does it go inside the K2 or do I need to put it into it's own little enclosure. Thanks for your help. I am a new ham, and am trying to sort through all this stuff. Christ Kacoyannakis K4CMK -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.441 / Virus Database: 268.17.39/686 - Release Date: 2/14/2007 7:54 AM ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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
RE: [Elecraft] Microphone preamp and Heils
Dave, As far as the connections to the mic, yes, you will be 'good to go' if you use the Kenwood adapter and wire the K2 for the Kenwood configuration.. Whether you will want a preamp or not with that HC5 element is an entirely different question. For use with your HC5 element Proset, you might want to make the changes to the KSB2 board suggested by Jim Brown - Jim is an expert in the Pro-Audio field and has done a lot with ham radio too, so if Jim found those changes helpful, I do not boubt his word, in fact I may make those changes here too just to see what happens. In any case, you do not have your K2 completely built yet, so do not modify anything until you complete the kit and have things up and running. Of course, there is another alternative if you use only the boom/headset type mic - the Elecraft Proset-K2 is still available from Elecraft. I really don't know what happened with the MH2 and MD2 mics - they were good although I do recall a few complaints about the MH2 which was the handheld mic (in an impact resistant hard plastic case) - the desk mic (MD2) is a very nice metal body microphone. I have both here. If you can find someone selling the MH2 or the MD2, you may want to check it out (I am not giving up mine!). 73, Don W3FPR -Original Message- Never did get a clear answer on this. If I wire the K2 up for the Kenwood, and I have a Heil Pro Headset with the Kenwood adapter, I will be good to go? Curious, why did they stop making the Elecraft associated mike? Was it plastic or metal? David Wilburn [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.441 / Virus Database: 268.18.1/690 - Release Date: 2/16/2007 2:25 PM ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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
Re: [Elecraft] Microphone preamp and Heils
Just curious of why the focus on the ICOM mikes? When I looked at the drawing for the pins on the front panel, it looked like the Kenwood was the least complicated to wire. A bit off topic, the Heil website does not show the hand mikes anymore. Well not a 'real' hand mike that sits and your hand as something rugged. They have these little microphone mikes. Not something that I'm interested in connecting to any of my radios. If I want a hands free setup, I'll use a headset and boom. Bar that, if I want to talk on a mike and listen via the speaker, I want a substantial mike that feels like I have something in my hand. My current plan is to wire my K2 up for the Kenwood microphone. My other radio is a TS-570. The assumption on my part, is that I will then be able to use my Heil headset on both the Kenwood and the K2. Is this a valid assumption? David Wilburn [EMAIL PROTECTED] Don Wilhelm wrote: The Heil microphone preamps are required for the Heil microphones using the HC4 and HC5 elements. The electret elements do not need a preamp (but they do need a resistor at the mic jack). The Heil mics designated for use with Icom transceivers are usually of the electret typw and work quite well with the K2. Remember that Heil has a wide variety of mics, just saying that you are using a Heil mic is not sufficient information, one must specify WHICH Heil mics - they are not created equal. I guess an anology is that you would not refer to an automobile as a General Motors car - you must specify if it is a Chevrolet, a Buick, a Cadillac, etc., and in many cases one must also specify which variety of Chevrolet, Buick, etc. Heil mics are much like that. So, yes choose the Icom mics if possible, but if you prefer those with the HC4 or HC5 elements (those elemetns have low ouput), you should plan to add a mic preamp. As far as I know, no PC boards or kits are available for the mic preamps. 73, Don W3FPR -Original Message- Hi, sorry if this repeats previous information request, but I did a lot of searching and didn't find anything directly on point (even though there were several threads on preamps and Heils, etc.) I downloaded the Microphone Pre-Amp for Heil schematic on the Elecraft website. My questions are: 1. Does anybody make a PCB for this project? I imagine all these parts are available from Radio Shack or Mouser? 2. Does the preamp make the microphones work really well, or is it just something that gets you by? 3. As far as Heil microphone modules go, if I build the preamp, and want to buy the Classic, can I use any module, like the Pro, HC-5, HC-4, etc., or should I get the ICOM only module, which I believe is an electret module. I am a bit confused about all this. I asked Elecraft and they said I should get the electret module. Bob Heil said the Classic was not a good choice for the K2 and he suggested his iCM mic for ICOM. Doesn't the iCM mic have the same electret element that the Classic with the IC element has? If all I needed was an electret element, do I need the preamp at all, or does it make the electret work even better? 4. Once I build the preamp, is it something that I can tuck into the microphone itself (like a Heil Classic) or does it go inside the K2 or do I need to put it into it's own little enclosure. Thanks for your help. I am a new ham, and am trying to sort through all this stuff. Christ Kacoyannakis K4CMK -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.441 / Virus Database: 268.17.39/686 - Release Date: 2/14/2007 7:54 AM ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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
RE: [Elecraft] Microphone preamp and Heils
Dave, The stock K2 works best with a high output mic. The previously available Elecraft MH2 and MD2 were high output electret mics (the ProSet-K2 was also). Unfortunately, the MH2 and MD2 are not currently available. The folks at Elecraft are trying to find suitable replacements, but so far no announcements about that. In the absence of actual Elecraft microphones, the Icom mics are the ones that use the electret type element, and a line of those mics is available from Heil - unfortunately, the Heil iC microphones have the Icom pinout, so the easiest route is to just use the mic as-is and set the K2 mic configuration header for Icom. For those who want an electret mic at a more economical price, take a look at the Ten Tec 701 mic priced at $28. It comes with a 4 pin plug that must be changed to an 8 pin, but the advantage is that you can wire it for the Elecraft mic pinout, so that when Elecraft finds a good supplier for their own line of mics, users can just plug in the new mics. 73, Don W3FPR -Original Message- Just curious of why the focus on the ICOM mikes? When I looked at the drawing for the pins on the front panel, it looked like the Kenwood was the least complicated to wire. A bit off topic, the Heil website does not show the hand mikes anymore. Well not a 'real' hand mike that sits and your hand as something rugged. They have these little microphone mikes. Not something that I'm interested in connecting to any of my radios. If I want a hands free setup, I'll use a headset and boom. Bar that, if I want to talk on a mike and listen via the speaker, I want a substantial mike that feels like I have something in my hand. My current plan is to wire my K2 up for the Kenwood microphone. My other radio is a TS-570. The assumption on my part, is that I will then be able to use my Heil headset on both the Kenwood and the K2. Is this a valid assumption? David Wilburn [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.441 / Virus Database: 268.17.39/686 - Release Date: 2/14/2007 7:54 AM ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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
RE: [Elecraft] Microphone preamp and Heils
On Thu, 15 Feb 2007 10:17:57 -0500, Don Wilhelm wrote: The stock K2 works best with a high output mic. Yes. But that's really a nice way of saying that the audio circuitry of the K2 lacks sufficient gain to work well with a real mic. There are several mods to improve this situation, and all that I've seen posted look pretty solid. One simple mod that I've done to my K2's increases the gain by 6 dB and raises the low-cut filter to about 250 Hz. The importance of the low cut change is that the lows don't contribute to communications, but they do suck power, and they also cause the compressor to reduce the mic gain. That mod is: Change R14 to 2K. Change C34 to 0.22 uF. Add 2.2 uF in series with R15. If you have a source for good audio transformers, you can get another 6 dB by adding a step-up transformer with a turns ratio of about 1:3. I found a vintage UTC Ouncer in my junk box that did the job. It's wired with an XLR on one end (that plugs into my EV RE11) and the Elecraft connector on the other. The radio mods will work for any decent mic. The transformer will only work with dynamic mics. It won't work with electret mics (because they need a bit of current from the radio to run the capsule and it's FET output stage). 73, Jim Brown K9YC ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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
RE: [Elecraft] Microphone preamp and Heils
One quick note on the Heil Handi Mic. You can order it with any of the standard Heil elements. It doesn't have a permanently attached cord. You can order a variety of cords for different radios. So I ordered the Icom element with the Kenwood cord. Adding the resistor to the Kenwood style connector worked fine without having to change the Elecraft header. The Handi Mic is a little smaller than the regular mike, but it still seems like a substantial unit and works great. I wanted to take it 'on the road' and the compact size is an advantage. Bernie W1AZ At 10:17 AM 2/15/2007, Don Wilhelm wrote: Dave, The stock K2 works best with a high output mic. The previously available Elecraft MH2 and MD2 were high output electret mics (the ProSet-K2 was also). Unfortunately, the MH2 and MD2 are not currently available. The folks at Elecraft are trying to find suitable replacements, but so far no announcements about that. In the absence of actual Elecraft microphones, the Icom mics are the ones that use the electret type element, and a line of those mics is available from Heil - unfortunately, the Heil iC microphones have the Icom pinout, so the easiest route is to just use the mic as-is and set the K2 mic configuration header for Icom. For those who want an electret mic at a more economical price, take a look at the Ten Tec 701 mic priced at $28. It comes with a 4 pin plug that must be changed to an 8 pin, but the advantage is that you can wire it for the Elecraft mic pinout, so that when Elecraft finds a good supplier for their own line of mics, users can just plug in the new mics. 73, Don W3FPR -Original Message- Just curious of why the focus on the ICOM mikes? When I looked at the drawing for the pins on the front panel, it looked like the Kenwood was the least complicated to wire. A bit off topic, the Heil website does not show the hand mikes anymore. Well not a 'real' hand mike that sits and your hand as something rugged. They have these little microphone mikes. Not something that I'm interested in connecting to any of my radios. If I want a hands free setup, I'll use a headset and boom. Bar that, if I want to talk on a mike and listen via the speaker, I want a substantial mike that feels like I have something in my hand. My current plan is to wire my K2 up for the Kenwood microphone. My other radio is a TS-570. The assumption on my part, is that I will then be able to use my Heil headset on both the Kenwood and the K2. Is this a valid assumption? David Wilburn [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.441 / Virus Database: 268.17.39/686 - Release Date: 2/14/2007 7:54 AM ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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
[Elecraft] Microphone preamp and Heils
Hi, sorry if this repeats previous information request, but I did a lot of searching and didn't find anything directly on point (even though there were several threads on preamps and Heils, etc.) I downloaded the Microphone Pre-Amp for Heil schematic on the Elecraft website. My questions are: 1. Does anybody make a PCB for this project? I imagine all these parts are available from Radio Shack or Mouser? 2. Does the preamp make the microphones work really well, or is it just something that gets you by? 3. As far as Heil microphone modules go, if I build the preamp, and want to buy the Classic, can I use any module, like the Pro, HC-5, HC-4, etc., or should I get the ICOM only module, which I believe is an electret module. I am a bit confused about all this. I asked Elecraft and they said I should get the electret module. Bob Heil said the Classic was not a good choice for the K2 and he suggested his iCM mic for ICOM. Doesn't the iCM mic have the same electret element that the Classic with the IC element has? If all I needed was an electret element, do I need the preamp at all, or does it make the electret work even better? 4. Once I build the preamp, is it something that I can tuck into the microphone itself (like a Heil Classic) or does it go inside the K2 or do I need to put it into it's own little enclosure. Thanks for your help. I am a new ham, and am trying to sort through all this stuff. Christ Kacoyannakis K4CMK ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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
Re: [Elecraft] Microphone preamp and Heils
I recently bought a Heil 'Handi-MIc' with the Icom element (designated HM-IC). It works fine without a preamp, but does need the resistor to bias the electret element. Rather than removing the front panel and wiring the jumper, I just opened up the connector shell on the mic and soldered the resistor between the appropriate pins on the connector. (I'm away from home at the moment and don't have the diagram to tell you which pins, but it's pretty easy to figure out.) The microphone seems to work very well. I assume this would work with other Heil mics with the Icom element. Bernie W1AZ At 09:51 PM 2/14/2007, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi, sorry if this repeats previous information request, but I did a lot of searching and didn't find anything directly on point (even though there were several threads on preamps and Heils, etc.) I downloaded the Microphone Pre-Amp for Heil schematic on the Elecraft website. My questions are: 1. Does anybody make a PCB for this project? I imagine all these parts are available from Radio Shack or Mouser? 2. Does the preamp make the microphones work really well, or is it just something that gets you by? 3. As far as Heil microphone modules go, if I build the preamp, and want to buy the Classic, can I use any module, like the Pro, HC-5, HC-4, etc., or should I get the ICOM only module, which I believe is an electret module. I am a bit confused about all this. I asked Elecraft and they said I should get the electret module. Bob Heil said the Classic was not a good choice for the K2 and he suggested his iCM mic for ICOM. Doesn't the iCM mic have the same electret element that the Classic with the IC element has? If all I needed was an electret element, do I need the preamp at all, or does it make the electret work even better? 4. Once I build the preamp, is it something that I can tuck into the microphone itself (like a Heil Classic) or does it go inside the K2 or do I need to put it into it's own little enclosure. Thanks for your help. I am a new ham, and am trying to sort through all this stuff. Christ Kacoyannakis K4CMK ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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
RE: [Elecraft] Microphone preamp and Heils
The Heil microphone preamps are required for the Heil microphones using the HC4 and HC5 elements. The electret elements do not need a preamp (but they do need a resistor at the mic jack). The Heil mics designated for use with Icom transceivers are usually of the electret typw and work quite well with the K2. Remember that Heil has a wide variety of mics, just saying that you are using a Heil mic is not sufficient information, one must specify WHICH Heil mics - they are not created equal. I guess an anology is that you would not refer to an automobile as a General Motors car - you must specify if it is a Chevrolet, a Buick, a Cadillac, etc., and in many cases one must also specify which variety of Chevrolet, Buick, etc. Heil mics are much like that. So, yes choose the Icom mics if possible, but if you prefer those with the HC4 or HC5 elements (those elemetns have low ouput), you should plan to add a mic preamp. As far as I know, no PC boards or kits are available for the mic preamps. 73, Don W3FPR -Original Message- Hi, sorry if this repeats previous information request, but I did a lot of searching and didn't find anything directly on point (even though there were several threads on preamps and Heils, etc.) I downloaded the Microphone Pre-Amp for Heil schematic on the Elecraft website. My questions are: 1. Does anybody make a PCB for this project? I imagine all these parts are available from Radio Shack or Mouser? 2. Does the preamp make the microphones work really well, or is it just something that gets you by? 3. As far as Heil microphone modules go, if I build the preamp, and want to buy the Classic, can I use any module, like the Pro, HC-5, HC-4, etc., or should I get the ICOM only module, which I believe is an electret module. I am a bit confused about all this. I asked Elecraft and they said I should get the electret module. Bob Heil said the Classic was not a good choice for the K2 and he suggested his iCM mic for ICOM. Doesn't the iCM mic have the same electret element that the Classic with the IC element has? If all I needed was an electret element, do I need the preamp at all, or does it make the electret work even better? 4. Once I build the preamp, is it something that I can tuck into the microphone itself (like a Heil Classic) or does it go inside the K2 or do I need to put it into it's own little enclosure. Thanks for your help. I am a new ham, and am trying to sort through all this stuff. Christ Kacoyannakis K4CMK -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.441 / Virus Database: 268.17.39/686 - Release Date: 2/14/2007 7:54 AM ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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
Re: [Elecraft] Microphone preamp and Heils
Don, W3FPR wrote: Remember that Heil has a wide variety of mics, just saying that you are using a Heil mic is not sufficient information, one must specify WHICH Heil mics - they are not created equal. - Absolutely, and it would appear that mics using the HC4 and HC5 elements are not created equal either. I use a Heil Proset Plus headset with boom mic which uses the HC4 and HC5, and have no difficulty in obtaining full rated output on all bands from an unmodified K2/100 #3255 without using a preamplifier. A preamp would be required if the mic were to be at a greater distance from my mouth e.g. a desk mic. BTW 'Headquarters' reports that I have a quiet voice. 73, Geoff GM4ESD ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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
