[Kenwood] MC 60A question

[Gary McAdams]

Chuck, N8GMB Asks:
>----- Original Message ----- 
>From: N8GMB@aol.com 
>
>Hi,
>
>Why is the preamp useless for SSB? 
 

Fair question Chuck. I'll tell you what I have found.

First, most of the Kenwood radios that would be used with
this mike already have plenty of gain in the audio circuitry.
With the mike preamp gain added to that, you will hear every
breath the operator takes. You can hear the television two
rooms away and the dog barking down the block. The added
background noise will make your audio muddier and harder
to understand.

In AM and FM service, the preamp is more useful because
these modes need a little more audio drive into the rig to 
sound good. In SSB the extra gain is wasted.

In addition, have you used your microphone in the presence
of a strong RF field such as you might see if you are running
a kilowatt? I can assure you that the preamp is VERY sensitive
to this and the RF feedback will sound positively awful!

I found that out the hard way!

Of course, each operator is individual, and your experiences may
vary from mine... I will say that I usually get good to very good
audio reports using my MC-60 into the TS-940. With no preamp
and minimal mike gain.

Again, YMMV.

73 Gary WG7X