[Elecraft] K3 mic probs

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

 > The manual says it is a mono jack but I think what threw me was that
 > the microKeyer employs a stereo plug.  If indeed it is a mono jack, I
 > will need to jumper the ring and the shield on the stereo plug that
 > terminates the mic cord (other end is a 3 pin XLR).

Like many other manufacturers, Elecraft and microHAM both use TRS
plugs and jacks in "Mono" mode simply by floating the ring.  You
should not jumper the ring and the sleeve - there is no need to do
so as the sleeve contact in three conductor jacks is very close to
the base of the plug (front panel).

The shield must be picking up some to give me something.

The expected connection for ANY dynamic microphone in both the K3
(rear panel) and microHAM microKEYER II (front panel- EXT Mic) is
mic hot to the tip and mic return to the sleeve.  The shield should
float when using a mono input;  it should be tied to the CHASSIS (shell) 
when using balanced input connection (e.g., a Foster,
XLR connector or even a STEREO input TRS jack).

73,

    ... Joe Subich, W4TV
        microHAM America, LLC.
        http://www.microHAM-USA.com
        http://groups.yahoo.com/group/microHAM


On 7/2/2010 11:21 AM, Jim Hoge wrote:
> Tnx to all that responded. I now have the hand mic working as it
> should be- all it took was to toggle the mic gain to high. However,
> the mic of choice will be via the rear panel and it will take some
> more detective work. The manual says it is a mono jack but I think
> what threw me was that the microKeyer employs a stereo plug. If
> indeed it is a mono jack, I will need to jumper the ring and the
> shield on the stereo plug that terminates the mic cord (other end is
> a 3 pin XLR). The mic is a dynamic one, a Heil PR-20. It seems to
> make sense that the low levels of less than stellar audio would be
> due to the return floating in a trs plug when the ring is
> unconnected. The shield must be picking up some to give me something.
> The cable is good so only other option is bad mic but I haven't tried
> it on another radio yet. Sounds like a project for a three day
> weekend, hi.
>
> Does the K3 employ a mono or stero jack for the rear mic connection?
>
> tnx es 73, Jim W5QM
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