[Elecraft] Muddy SSB

[Steve & Anne Ray]

I am no expert, but had complaints about my audio on  USB 20 and 17
sounding to Bassy, playing with the FL1 filter setting did not seem to help.
If I
switched to LSB on 20 and 17 got good audio reports.  The opposite was true
on 15-10 meters.  This is to be expected as the rig inverts above 17 meters.
Anyway I was running a Kenwood MC50, did the mod to improve the intermod for
PSK when I built the SSB module, and then changed R14 to 10K.

After a lot of had scratching and talking to Bob Heil at the Dayton
Hamfest, I ended up buying a HC-5 Heil Element and installed it in my MC50
Mic. I then
set the BFO for FL1 per the manual and I have been getting excellent
reports.  I also recorded (into my computer) my audio (SSBA Balanced Mode)
with the original Kenwood MC50
and then with it using the HC-5 element.  I am no sound expert, but it sure
sounded better to me with the HC-5 element.  I have left the 10K at R-14.

Anyway I am now getting unsolicited reports of good sounding audio, whereas
before the unsolicited complaints were my audio was two bassy and muddy.
Better yet, on a purely subjective basis I seem to have better luck working
DX.  Realize nothing exotic, but I do manage to get through.even in pileups
(realize the pile ups are for UA, HA, G, South Americans, etc), nothing
exotic,
but I am happy.

The usual I have no connection with Heil, just happy with the results.

Good Luck

72,
Steve Ray K4JPN ex K1VKW
EM82ep Warner Robins GA
Elecraft K2 1422
Heath Fan HW-101, HW-8