[Elecraft] Need Mic adapter: Icom SM-50 to K3 mic input jack

[Don Wilhelm]

Bob,

The Elecraft mic pinout is ALMOST the same as Kenwood's
The Elecraft pin 6 carries +5 volts while for Kenwood, the +5 volts is 
on pin 5.
Pin 5 for Elecraft is the Function button.

If your microphone does not require +5 volts and does not have buttons 
other than PTT, then you only have to be concerned about pin 1 (AF), pin 
2 (PTT) and pins 7 and 8 (one for PTT return and the other for AF return 
- both are connected together inside the K3).

Icom and Yaesu are not as straightforward, see the G4WPW info at 
https://www.qsl.net/g4wpw/date.html for details on the pinout for those 
mics.

If you can do a bit of soldering, you can make and adapter for the price 
of a male and female Foster connector and a bit of wire.  If you rewire 
the Foster connector on the mic, you don't need any adapter or 
connectors at all, just a bit of solder, to unsolder the wires from the 
existing connector and solder them in the correct pins for the K3.

OTOH, if you wish to switch back and forth between the Icom/Yaesu pinout 
and the Elecraft, the adapter or the MFJ box would be the best choice.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 11/2/2021 4:34 PM, Gary Peterson wrote:
> It appears that MFJ makes a box, designed to convert one brand’s mic connector to others.  It appears to be programmable, using jumpers.
>
> I believe the Foster connectors on the K3 or K3S are wired the same as Kenwood’s.
>
> The model number is MFJ 1263.  I have not used or seen one, so cannot comment on its utility.
>
> Gary
> K0CX
>
>
> I have no microphone for my K3. I am usually on CW or the digital modes.
> Now I want to get on the KY Phone Net on 3838.
>
> So I talked DXEngineering and they know of no adapter plug/cable.
>
> So, I have an Icom SM-50 mic  and a Yaesu MD-100 mic.
>
> Anyone know of an adapter connector that would fit either to adapt them to the K3?
> Or maybe a universal box that lets me plug all the mic's in and have a cable to the K3 ....
> Also run an Icom IC-9700 FWIW.
> Bob KD7YZ
>