[Elecraft] KX3 PTT Issue

[James Bennett]

Need a little help on this one. I have an inexpensive mic/headset that has a three connector plug (TRS). If I plug it into the Mic jack on the KX3, it works fine, although I have to use VOX, which, having an 18 month old in the house, is not a good choice! I've only made a few SSB QSO's (I'm primarily a CW op), but audio reports I get lead me to believe this mic is acceptable.

OK, while on CW I don't always like using QSK. So I built a small PTT switch that has a momentary button and an on/off toggle switch. I plug this into the mic jack. It has a four connector plug - TRRS. My switches short ring 1 and ring 2 together. Works great. 

When I decided to try some occasional SSB, I had the problem of only ONE mic jack. So, I purchased an "octopus" connector. It has one TRRS male plug and three female TRRS jacks. I plug my headset mic into one jack and my homebrew PTT switch into another. When I'm on CW, all works fine - I press the PTT, the KX3 goes into transmit and I send CW with my paddle. But on SSB, things no longer work. If I put the KX3 into VOX, that works. If I put the KX3 into PTT mode and press my PTT switch, the radio goes into transmit, but speaking into the mic produces no audio! 

I put my VOM on the octopus leads. They are all as they should be - straight through on each connector - nothing cross connected. I've tried it with MIC BTN set to OFF and PTT. Neither makes it work.

What do I have set wrong that's causing this strange behavior?

Jim Bennett / W6JHB
Folsom, CA