[Elecraft] Settings for CM500 on K3?

[Matt Zilmer]

Hi Doc,

I second Don's advice.  But here are some "starting points" that may
help.

- Set the mic gain to the high range.  That's in the MAIN:MIC SEL
menu.

- Make sure the bias is turned on; it probably is or you wouldn't hear
anything.

- Start with MIC gain set to about 20 and see how that works.  Adjust
CMP and MIC according to the instructions in the manual, watching ALC
- etc.  FWIW, I found the MIC gain set to about 30 is right for my
voice here.  YMMV.

- If you need to adjust the MIC gain up, be sure and listen to
yourself using a MON setting that allows you to hear your TX audio. TX
TEST mode works well for this; there's no need to do on-air tests at
first.  Plus, if it sounds good to you it will probably sound good for
everyone else.

I just got CM500's working here this afternoon.  The little electret
power box is handy in my case, because I use the rear panel MIC/SPKR
for room audio and the front panel MIC/PHONES sockets for the CM500. I
just replaced the 3.5mm cable/plug with a shielded cable with
MIC+/BIAS/GND signals and it all works fine.

73,
matt W6NIA
K3 #24


On Mon, 13 Sep 2010 19:38:20 -0600, you wrote:

>I don't use SSB much, but I just bought the much-recommended Yamaha CM500
>for those occasions when I venture up to that end of the bands.
>
>Trouble is, after following the instructions on p. 28 of the K3 operating
>manual, along with K7YC's suggestions in e-mail
><20100908054102.5A05A58577 at gw1.nlenet.net>, my PEP meter says I'm running
>about 30W PEP output. So I've obviously done something wrong.
>
>Could some kind soul who has the CM500 on a 100W K3 post the exact settings
>they are using to get ~100W output (as measured by an external PEP meter)?
>
>  73 -- Doc N7DR