[Elecraft] Re: Microphone Pinouts

[Don Wilhelm]

Dave,

Such is the situation with most all amateur equipment.  I figure it got 
started when the manufacturers started making additions to the features 
on the microphones.  The old 4 pin microphone connector is largely a 
thing of the past - but it was easy - 1 pin for AF, another for AF 
Ground, one for PTT and the 4th for PTT ground - there were versions 
that used only one common ground pin and used the remaining pin for a 
voltage (some Ten-Tec transceivers for instance).
Once microphones were equipped with more than a PTT button, more pins 
were needed, and each manufacturer made up their own pinout - and the 
microphones became unique to the rigs produced by that manufacturer.  
The result is that we have the chaos that is with us today.

An easy solution is to just bite the bullet and buy an Elecraft 
microphone, or buy a Heil with a Kenwood adapter.  Bob Heil explained to 
me that his microphones (except for those with an electret element (such 
as those for the Icom - iC suffix) had only 4 pins - AF, AF Ground, PTT 
and PTT Ground - his adapters routed his 'standard' 4 pin arrangement to 
the proper pins of the transceiver.  The Heil Kenwood adapters do not 
use either pins 5 or 6, so there is no conflict between the Elecraft 
pinout and the Kenwood for *his* adapters.

73,
Don W3FPR

Dave Yarnes wrote:
> Well, what it tells me (I think) is that I had better get busy and 
> make up a conversion cable, swapping pins 5 and 6, if I want to use 
> any Kenwood microphones.
>
> I guess I'm curious as to why Elecraft felt it necessary to make this 
> pin swap.  In the K2 we could simply wire that rig any way we wanted.  
> So why not go with a more standard pinout for the K3?  I guess I'll 
> have to ask the gurus in Aptos that question.  Truth is, I probably 
> know the answer.
>
> By the way, Heil doesn't even show an adapter cable for Elecraft 
> stuff. Maybe that's because the K2 could be wired internally multiple 
> ways.  But now that the K3 has established a hard-wired standard, 
> possibly they will.
>
> It's just too bad we can't have more standardization in things.  But 
> we see this kind of thing all the time.  For example, Icom has their 
> own unique type connectors for separation cables, etc.  Translated, 
> this means "not easily reproduced".  Sony is one of the worst--try 
> using after market stuff on their products--even their power 
> connectors are relatively unique.  Don't even get me started on power 
> connectors with all the differing inside and outside dimensions!  
> Sure, some situations dictate using smaller or larger, but generally 
> it seems we could get by very well with just 3 or 4 sizes instead of 
> having 15 or 20!
>
> So, my next question is, how are the microphones sold by Elecraft 
> wired?  I don't see any real disclosure about the actual pinouts on 
> the website.  I assume they are wired exactly to match the rig, which 
> means I might not be able to use one of those with my Kenwood.  Making 
> my own adapter isn't that big a deal, just a pain in the butt.
>
> Dave W7AQK
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Don Wilhelm" <w3fpr at embarqmail.com>
> To: "'Elecraft'" <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2007 9:01 AM
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] microHAM K3 cables ...
>
>
> Joe,
>
> That is why I internally 'bristle' a bit when I hear folks say that the
> Elecraft microphone is the same as Kenwood. Even Bob Heil had made that
> statement to me when I specifically addresses it with him last year at
> Dayton. Perhaps he really meant that the pinout was the same with
> respect to *his* microphones, or perhaps he had never checked about the
> pin 5, pin 6 swap.
>
> Remember that 'compatible' does not necessarily mean 'equivalent'.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> Joe Subich, W4TV wrote:
>> Argh!  Another case of being "almost the same."  This breaks a lot of 
>> good Kenwood mics - MC-44, MC-55, MC-60, MC-80, MC-85 - when they are 
>> powered from the radio.
>> It’s this kind of "hidden" design departures that are extremely 
>> frustrating to users and third party vendors alike.
>>
>
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