[Elecraft] K3 and Heil Microphones

[Julian, G4ILO]

Gary Gregory-3 wrote:
> 
> Hello All,
> 
> I would caution all who listen to the advice from Heil. My experience with
> them has been less than satisfactory to date.
> 
> Recently I spoke with them and discussed several options and I was advised
> to purchase the Goldline dual element mic, holder, adapter and base. I
> repeatedly asked would this meet my requirements and I was given an
> assurance that they would.
> 
> Well, the items arrived and the short answer is that they did not listen
> to
> what I required at all, but instead, shipped the items with no regard for
> what I requested. I also sent them an e-mail with the request for a
> latching
> PTT button fitted to the base.
> 
> Heil shipped a Goldline with dual elements fitted and their rather cheap
> plastic mic holder attached to a poorly made, overweighted base with a
> momentary push button and two cables to be connected between the base and
> the pig tail off the adapter for the connection to the K3.
> 
> It is messy to say the least, the cables are so long that they get in the
> way and l have difficulty trying to conceal the excess cable.
> 
> [snip]
> 
> 
It looks like you have the exact same mic that I bought. Just goes to show
you can't please all the people all the time. Yes, the cables are long and
the separate PTT cable is a nuisance since I have no desire to use a foot
switch, but I have screwdrivers and a soldering iron so I shortened the
cable and rewired the PTT jack so it goes in the back of the mic socket, and
then via the screened cable to get to the radio.

Heil don't do a locking PTT as far as I know which is a bit of a bind, so
they did slip up if they gave you the idea they did. It would be nice to
have an option on the K3 to configure the PTT as a toggle - one press for
on, another for off.

I had a Nissei desk mic that worked quite well with my K2 but I felt that
the best radio deserved the best mic. Try as I might I couldn't get the
audio to sound how I wanted with the TX EQ, though to be fair there have
been a lot of firmware revisions and audio improvements since then so
perhaps it would be easier now. Anyway I'm pleased with the Heil mic and the
ability to just flip a switch to get the DX setting is easier than going
into menus.

-----
Julian, G4ILO
http://www.g4ilo.com/ G4ILO's Shack 
http://www.ham-directory.com/ Ham Directory 
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