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

[W3FPR - Don Wilhelm]

Steve,

Is this something that just occurred - in other words, did the mic work OK
before? or has ot a;ways been that way.

If it has never worked well for you, I need to ask - Did you add the 5.6k
resistor between pins 1 and 6 on the back of the mic jack properly?  And set
the jumpers on the mic configuration jack straight across as required for
the Elecraft mics?

If you have done all that, it should work.  I guess there is a chance that
you have a bad mic, but I have not heard reports of that before.  The
headset mic sold by Elecraft should drive the K2 with no trouble - On the
other hand, if your headset is the standard (non-Elecraft) Heil ProSet with
the HC4 or HC5 element, then one can expect low output from it (do NOT use
the resistor), and a preamp is the easiest solution.

73,
Don W3FPR

> -----Original Message-----
>
> 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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