[Elecraft] Voice is clipped K3s

[Gary Smith]

Folks,

Thank you for all the replies regarding 
the clipping and a thank you for the 
replies regarding proper setting for the 
Mic. That's just what I was looking for.

Unfortunately my transmit issues remain. 
I'm beginning to think there is perhaps 
something wrong with the radio. I was on 
40M today, checking out the results on my 
grounding efforts to see if that made a 
difference. Many came on to tell me I 
indeed still have a problem. One person 
said the audio effect gave them 
"goosebumps" so there's something definite 
going on.

One common thread was my signal seems to 
be cutting in & out. Although I don't hear 
it in the headphones, it must be rendered 
in a later stage. A few said it sounded 
like RFI. I'm stumped... However, when 
following Don's suggestions on adjusting 
the ALC level and then compression I 
noticed something unusual & I think, not 
right.

When I have the headset on, monitor on a 
high volume setting & I key the mic, I 
hear a very clear and loud low 
reproduction of the ambient noise in the 
room, almost like a low frequency hearing 
aid. The moment I adjust either the mic or 
compression, that character completely 
stops and the background sound in the 
headphones becomes silent. It is exactly 
to me, like hearing a rumbling background 
noise with Bose QC-15 headsets and then 
flipping the power on and hearing the 
background drop out to be replaced with 
ambient silence.

I've tried this multiple times and it is 
always the same, it's as if turning 
compression or MIC engages some noise 
cancelling from the K3s. My voice changes 
from somewhat bassy albeit clear, effect 
like talking close into a condenser mic, 
to the brighter, non bassy settings I have 
adjusted the TX EQ to be.

Does this sound familiar? If so, what 
might I look at?

Thanks again,

Gary
KA1J