[Elecraft] K2 microphone options

[Greg Derda]

Just a quick followup in case it will be of use to somebody else some 
day.  I went with the TenTec 701 for my K2 because it was a quick and 
easy  option, and as Don said (thanks Don!), it "works well."  Since 
finishing K2 #6100 last week, I have made several 5-10w SSB contacts 
from my QTH in North Georgia throughout the eastern US and Central 
America, and the reports are that my audio is great!  A 17m QRP contact 
to Pennsylvania last night told me that "I was the smallest signal he 
had worked that day, but the best sounding one"!!

Anyway, I am sure there are lots of great microphone options, but the 
affordable little 701 "works well."  I got the 8-pin connector from my 
local RS store, and it was quite easy to wire the microphone and mic 
header.

73,
Greg
KI4MMM


On May 2, 2007, at 9:39 AM, Don Wilhelm wrote:

> Greg,
>
> The K2 needs a high output microphone, and that usually means an 
> electret type element.  Most Icom mics (and Heil mics with the 'iC' 
> suffix) are the high output electret type.  If you choose one of these 
> and wire your K2 configuration header for ICOM (with a 5.6k resistor 
> between the AF pin and the 5 volt pin), you should be able to just 
> plug it in.
>
> The other electret mic that I know works well are those from TenTec - 
> the 701 is the hand mic.  They come with a 4 pin mic connector that 
> you must change to 8 pins, but you can wire the new mic plug for any 
> mic configuration that you want - I suggest the Elecraft wiring - 
> straight across (use computer jumpers) on the mic header.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
>
>
> Greg Derda wrote:
>> Hi all,
>> I am in the process of building K2 #6100 and need to start thinking 
>> about a microphone.  I've looked over the Reflector archives, and it 
>> seems that there are lot of little mods needed for a variety of 
>> microphones.  The simplest solution would be a MH2, but I don't know 
>> that I can wait until the June 15 production date.  Question is, can 
>> I not just jumper my K2 for Kenwood, buy a Heil HM-10 or Handi_Mic, 
>> and plug-n-play (without any internal K2 mods)?  I will get a Pro Set 
>> someday, but I just want a decent little microphone to get me 
>> started.  Any suggestions?
>> Thanks and 73,
>> Greg
>> KI4MMM
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