[1000mp] Help with Microphone Selection

[Paul Carr]

I use the MD-200.  I run the mike gain at 9:00 and the ALC easily stays 
within limits.  My power putput is fine.  I agree with others that you 
might have something else going on.  You are not in Class A mode by any 
chance?

Paul
WL7PC

Chris Brougham wrote:

> Hi Folks,
>
> I think I need to get a new microphone as the included MH-31 doesn't 
> seem to be so good!
>
> Here's my story: On my Mark V this weekend I had a hard time driving 
> the rig. I was trying to keep the ALC just to the right of the red 
> line and had a terrible problem being heard (my antenna situation 
> aside ... I don't want to discuss that!). No much more than 50 watts 
> output even with the rf set to full and using 200 watt menu ... sad 
> story for me on the ARRL contest! So I was experimenting toggling 
> between MH-31 setting 1 and 2  and driving the ALC a little harder. 
> PJ4R can't hear me on 20M with the ALC just at the red line ... about 
> 10% or 15% over no problem at all! ... On mic setting 2 PJ2T can't 
> hear me on 40M .... on microphone setting 1 he gets me but with 
> difficulty. A few months ago I was doing some contest and had a bad 
> audio report from another station and I noticed that the ALC was about 
> 20% - 25% past the red line. Since then I've tried to be really 
> careful about the ALC ... the PJ4R situation was in desperation I 
> assure you!
>
> I don't use SSB much (and only for contests or dx) but I would like a 
> better microphone for when I do. Here's what I'm thinking of:
>
> A used MD-100ABX
> A Heil HM-10 with the HC-4 element
> A HEIL GM witht he HC-4 element
>
> What do you folks think?
>