[Elecraft] Heil headset, K2 and ALC and low audio?

[Steve Uhrig]

Hi all,

I have an early serial number K2 which has been upgraded to the latest 
mods as of maybe nine months ago.

I purchased from Elecraft the Heil headset subsequent to the mods, after 
my $2 computer headset wore out.

I use the K2 every day on a 75 meter traffic net.

Have had reports of soft audio. Crisp, but with low modulation. This is 
from several, all running zillion watt radios.

The ALC only shows one bar on voice peaks unless I speak unnaturally 
loudly, then it may hit 2 or very rarely 3 bars. Same with any other 
mike.

Am running SSBA-3, SSBC-3

On air tests say SSBC-2 sounds better locally with strong signals, but 
SSBC-3 sounds better in crowded 75 meter evening QSOs. Have experimented, 
and never see more than one or two ALC bars.

Question -- is this normal? Radio seems to be perfect otherwise, and I 
get a kick relaying two KW stations to each other on a net who can't hear 
each other, when I keep my power down to 5 watts to qualify as QRP.

I found a mic preamp kit I had bought a good while back from someone. 
Don't have it in front of me. Small PC board which mounts on the back of 
the mic header. Would that help/is it necessary?

Seems the Elecraft/Heil headset should drive the thing properly.

I normally am soft spoken, and I can key the VOX reliably if I remember 
to speak up. If I don't, it will drop before I want it to, with the delay 
set at one second. I never use VOX but thought it might provide useful 
info.

Any inputs appreciated.

Tks ... Steve WA3SWS     K2 s/n 661


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Steve Uhrig, SWS Security, Maryland (USA)
Mfrs of electronic surveillance equip
mailto:Steve at swssec.com  website http://www.swssec.com
tel +1+410-879-4035, fax +1+410-836-1190
"In God we trust, all others we monitor"
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