[Elecraft] CM-500

[Bill Frantz]

Thanks for everyone's comments on the CM-500 headset. To bring 
my question about reattaching the mic boom full circle, I 
decided to throw money at the problem which seems to have made 
it gone away. :-)

I ordered a new CM-500 from B&H Camera and Video ($60, no tax, 
free shipping). It arrived a day early in good shape. It 
included the headset, two 3.5mm to 1/4 inch adapters, one mono 
the other stereo, and a box that holds two AA cells which I 
haven't used. There were no instructions for use, but it did 
include the usual warning about using them with AC powered 
equipment in a hot tub, and hearing damage from playing them too loud.

The packaging said (in part), "Dynamic Microphone for Active 
Musicians". And specs: Operating range: 100-16000 Hz, 
Sensitivity -56dB 3dB (-36 dB 3dB V/Pa). Pattern: 
Uni-directional (cardiod).

I plugged it into my K3 and it worked as a direct replacement 
for the old one. When I turned microphone bias off in the menu 
it stopped working. By turning bias back on it started working 
again. (BTW, the Elecraft radios may be the only gear I own that 
doesn't automatically provide bias power.)

I managed to make a QSO with it, so it's working well enough to 
pass my call to the other end. I hope people on the SSB nets 
tomorrow will give an audio quality check.

73 Bill AE6JV

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