[Elecraft] K3 using Kenwood mics

[Don Wilhelm]

  Bob,

The Elecraft mic pinout is *compatible* with the Kenwood pinout - BUT it 
is not exactly the same.
Specifically, Elecraft uses pin 6 for +8 volts while Kenwood uses pin 5 
for the voltage.

What that means is that most Kenwood dynamic microphones will work fine 
with the Elecraft pinout, but any Kenwood mics which use either pins 5 
or 6 in the microphone plug will not work - if the mic has an internal 
amplifier, it will use pin 5.
Check the diagram for the microphone if you have any doubts.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 8/30/2010 10:30 AM, Linda and Bob wrote:
> Can you use any 8-pin Kenwood mic with the K3 without any modification (e.g. MC-42S, MC-60A, MC-50 etc.)? I believe the K3 uses the Kenwood protocol for the wiring of their mics. I have a MC-60A desk mic and MC-42S hand mic. I was thinking of selling them for the Heil PSE HC-6 (see below).
>
> I may buy and use a Heil Pro Set Elite with the HC-6 element for hands free operation with VOX. Since I have three ( ICOM 756 PROII, IC-820H and IC-7800) radios at the QTH, I imagine it would be best to order the "iC" version instead of the regular HC-6. In that way I could use the mic with both the ICOM and K3 knowing that I must turn on the bias voltage and also buy a Kenwood 8-pin Heil adapter if I plug it in to the front panel. If I don't use the front panel, I believe that I can plug the PSE HC-6 in to the rear panel of the K3 and then active the bias voltage. If used with the ICOM rigs, I would need to buy the Heil ICOM 8-pin adapter, hence, two adapters will be needed.
>
> I ordered my K3 on Sunday. I am looking forward to its arrival by Wed. or Thurs. in time for the Labor Day holiday. Thanks again for everyone's help on the Reflector.
>
> 73
> Bob Wilderman, K3SRO
> dlrwild1 at comcast.net
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