[Elecraft] Help with cheap headset and K2

[Dr. Werner Furlan]

hi Bill, 

I have tried a Plantronics Computer Headset in the past with my K2.
I made an adapter like you did but with the internal 5V bias. 
Audio reports were worse than with the dynamic Kenwood microphone I 
used before. 
I tried this special microphone because G4ILO recommended it on his 
homepage. (http://www.g4ilo.com/k2_headset.html). I had hoped that I could 
make better use of the VOX in the K2, but it was not good enough for my 
low voice.
In the meantime I connected it to the K3 and listened to myself and now I 
know why the reports were bad. The frequency response of the microphone 
is not good for this purpose.
In the K3 I could compensate it with the equalizer, but together with the K2 
you are probably lost. 
Now I am waiting for the Sennheiser PC 150 now, maybe this is better.
My usual headset is the Heil Proset with HC5 element. The reason why I am 
looking for an alternative is the weight of the Heil headset and the earpads 
make a pressure on the arms of my glasses and this hurts after some time.

73! de Werner
OE9FWV



On 18 May 2008 at 16:06, nz0t wrote:

> 
> Just for grins I bought a cheap Cyber Acoustics computer headset to
> use with my K3 when it arrives.  Others have said they got good
> reports with their K3 and this headset which uses an electret mic and
> a 3.5MM stereo mini plug. Not wanting to cut off the plug which fits
> into the back of the K3 I made up an adapter for my K2 using an inline
> stereo jack, an 8 pin mike plug and a 9 volt battery through a 5K
> resistor to power the mic.  My K2 is wired for the Kenwood mics and I
> don't want to power the mic from the rig.  I wired the grounds to the
> base of the plug, 9V DC through the 5K resistor to the middle and the
> mic positive to the tip.  It works but my reports with the K2 have not
> been very good.  I also made up an adapter for my Drake TR7 and
> reports on that rig are fine. Am I doing something wrong with the K2? 
> I know little about electret mics and maybe I am using too much
> voltage or the wrong resistor.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.
> If I can't get it to work the headset was only about $15 shipped so no
> big deal.
> 


--  
Genetic Engineering Splits Scientists



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