[1000mp] Advice on Mic Settings, Please

[Rod Elliott]

Robert...

1. Connect the rig to a dummy load, then POWER on.
2. Set the voice processor (PROC button) off.
3. Set the METER VCC/MIC button to MIC. This will display the audio level 
in the transmit audio circuits.
4. Speak into the mic using your normal "radio" voice. Set the MIC gain 
control so the bar graph just hits the right-hand side on occasional voice 
peaks. Leave the MIC gain at that setting unless you change your 
microphone. (On my MP with a Heil Pro-Set HC4 mic, this puts the MIC 
control at 9 o'clock)
5. Then adjust the RF PWR control so the PO bar graph just hits 100 watts 
on voice peaks. (On my rig this puts the RF PWR control at 3 o'clock)

With those settings, indicated power out (PO) should average 25 watts or 
less, and just make it to 100 watts on peaks. Your ALC readings will just 
make it to the right-hand side of the red bar on peaks. All will be well... 
you will have excellent audio quality and no splatter (unless you start 
shouting).

I know that 25 watts average sounds depressing, but a 6 dB peak/average 
ratio is typical for normal speech.

So what about the voice processor? As you know, it's function is to 
compress the dynamic range of your audio so as to increase average power. 
Like all good things, that comes at a price... with too much compression, 
fidelity and intelligibility suffer.

I like to use a little processing... just enough to help the ALC limit 
drive when I shout, but not enough to degrade audio quality. With the above 
settings, my setup is:
6. Set the PROC button to on.
7. Set the PROC control to maximum counter-clockwise
8. Set the METER ALC/COMP button to COMP
9. Talking in your normal voice, increase the PROC control setting until 
you get no more than 2 or 3 dB compression on voice peaks. (On my MP this 
puts the PROC control at 10 o'clock)

Once the mic and processor are is set up that way, I never have to change 
them. I get lots of "great audio" reports, and never a splatter complaint. 
BTW, I've found that using more compression is NOT productive in DX 
pileups... having a clean crisp signal seems more effective than a 
louder-but-muffled one.

Hope this helps...

73
Rod Elliott VE3UW


At 02:27 01/06/05, you wrote:
>Hello to all on the list, and Happy New Year.  I'm a relatively new owner 
>of a 1000MP, and have also acquired both an MD100 and MD200 microphone 
>(long story there...involving eBay bidding that brought both mikes to my 
>door!).
>
>I'd appreciate any guidance from list members on basic settings on the rig 
>to assure that I've got the mike correctly set up, driving the rig 
>adequately but not at too high a level, and so forth.  If you're familiar 
>with either 100 or 200 configuration with the 1000MP, it would be very 
>helpful to have your advice.
>
>Thanks / Robert, N7EIR / Seattle
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