[Elecraft] Anyone using Heil HC5?

[Dale M. Boresz]

Has anyone had any success using the Heil HC5 element with the K2?

I have a Heil HM-10 which contains both the HC4 and HC5 elements. The 
only way I can get the HC5 element to work, is by screaming into it at 
very close range. The HC4 element produces a higher output, but is 
pretty brutal (for the operator at the other end), so I prefer not to 
use it.

The HC5 works well with my ICOM-746PRO, however even with that rig, I 
must run the mic gain at max.  I've seen the article on the elecraft 
website at: http://www.elecraft.com/Apps/microphone_pre.htm however it 
appears to be designed for a 'floating' element, and the HM-10's 
elements are unbalanced and referenced to ground.

I haven't ruled out the possibility that it's just my voice which 
probably has most of it's energy at the lower frequencies, and the KSB2 
filter when adjusted according to the manual,  tends to roll off pretty 
rapidly below about 350 Hz. When I look at the output on an 
oscilloscope, I can see that there are very sharp peaks hitting the max 
power level, but in general, the average output is probably 10% of the 
peak level - even with the speech compressor running at 3 or 4.

Has anyone found that the Heil hand mic sold by Elecraft, has worked for 
them, when the HC5 element would not?

73, Dale WA8SRA