[Elecraft] k3 Mic Suggestions

[Lyle Johnson]

> We're having serious distortion when the compression is set
> to 13 or above on both our K3's with the Heil elements....
> I'd be very interested in a fix.  I understand "normal"
> compression settings are around 23.

I routinely use a Heil Goldline with "flat" and "HC-5" switchable 
elements, an Elecraft MH2 and a Kenwood MC-43S with my K3s.  And a 
Proset with Icom element.  And a cheap Radio Shack "computer" headset 
with electret mic.

I use FP.H and no bias for the Heil and Kenwood mics.

I use FP.L and bias for the MH-2, and RP.L with bias for the Proset and 
radio shack electret-mic headset.

I keep MIC+LIN OFF so no computer noise gets coupled in when I'm in 
voice modes.

I adjust Mic Gain for the usual 5-6 bars of ALC when speaking as I would 
on the air.  If you raise your voice during a contest, then speak loudly 
when you adjust things :-)

I then adjust CMP for the desired effect.  Note that CMP modifies the 
waveform which is the definition of distortion, so there will be some. 
How much depends on your voice and the amount of CMP you dial in.  23 
may work for someone else, 12 may be better for you.  It all depends. 
More is *not* necessarily better.  You can use too much and get really 
terrible audio.

Tx EQ can make a huge difference, too.

Finally, I use Tx Gate to kill background noise.  If you use this, don't 
set it at the threshold of the noise or you'll get choppy kinds of 
distortion as it cuts in and out; set it well above the background noise 
but where VOX still reliably trips and your voice sounds normal (before 
adding CMP).

The K3 uses IF envelope clipping, same as the new Ten-Tec outboard box.

73,

Lyle KK7P