[Elecraft] RE: "Mic for K3" (was #309 first issues)

[Gary Hvizdak]

On Tue 12 Feb 2008 22:42:18 EST Joe Stofko (W1AIU) wrote ...

-Front mic socket not compatible with any other mfg. that I can find.

Actually, it is!.. and it is well documented.. the front panel mic connector
conforms to the Kenwood pin-out.  I am using a Kenwood MC-60 on my K3 (#269)
with no modifications and no problems.

--

    As Don has already stated the Kenwood standard wants power (+5V ~ +8V)
on pin-5, whereas the K3 Elecraft standard has FUNC on pin-5 and what
Elecraft calls "bias" on pin-6.

    See < http://elecraft.com/K3/K3FAQ.1.jpg > for the K3 pin-out and
< http://homepage.ntlworld.com/rg4wpw/kwood.jpg > for the Kenwood pin-out.

    If this < http://homepage.ntlworld.com/rg4wpw/kwoodcompat.pdf > partial
Kenwood microphone compatibility table is correct, one can rule out plug-
compatible interoperability of many Kenwood mics with the K3, based solely
on the fact that they have an Electret element.

    From the available information, it appears that your MC-60 and just two
other Kenwood mics (the MC-42 and MC-43) are the only 8-pin round connector
models that will work with the K3 without some sort of adaptor to swap pins
5 and 6.

    My conclusions are based on available information.  There may be addi-
tional Kenwood mics that will simply plug in and work properly with the K3.

73,
Gary  KI4GGX
K3 S/N TBD

P.S. I don't see this issue as a good reason to sell the K3!