[Elecraft] Dynamic Mics on K3

[Dave G4AON]

Most microphones appear to work fine with the K3, I am not sure why you
are trying to use a balanced mic with the K3. Anyway, the common MC-43S
microphone from Kenwood, as used on the TS-570, will work well on a K3
if you want a low cost microphone to try. I would suggest a mic gain
setting of "high" and 30, with compression of 20 with that mic. Also
computer headsets work well for many users, these are very low cost.
Some adjustment of the TX EQ sometimes helps.

You don't say which type of modulation you are using, SSB sounds fine,
if you are using AM or FM the current beta firmware of 2.80 doesn't
include compression on AM (not sure about FM), the next release will. I
have been testing with 2.81 and that works well on AM with compression.

If you e-mail me off list, I will send you a link to a 14 MB MP3 file of
the UK Elecraft net from this Sunday (3.629 MHz LSB). All the stations
on that net, except one (who was using a K2), were using a K3 and all
have good to excellent sounding audio.

73 Dave, G4AON



I'm trying to use a dynamic mic with the K3 (KIO3 MIC INPUT high gain)
but I can't be satisfied with the modulation (I'm listening with another
radio on 144 MHz using an XV144 with the K3).
If I keep the compression level below 15 the mod is awful. Tried with 4
or 5 different dynamic mics, but the results are almost the same.
I made a couple of ipothesis:
Balanced Mics doesn't match too well with the unbalanced input of the radio.
The mic level is too low (I tried to push with mic gain and TXG VCE, but
no results so far).
Any suggestion?

73 de Giulio IW3HVB