[Milsurplus] throat mike technique

[WA5CAB@cs.com]

e, Bob, eta l & Group,

I've never used a T-30 either nor the T-45 lip mic that replaced it ~ mid 
war.  The intent of both was to have a hands-free mic for use in armored 
vehicles and aircraft.  The standard installation included a CD-318 extension 
cable with PTT switch, so neither was truly hands-off, but at least the 
SW-141 on the CD-318 didn't have to be held in any particular position in 
order to function (i.e., it didn't have to be held up near the mouth).  
Perhaps the secondary actions (pressing with the thumb and fingers) as 
described by Bob that were necessary in order to improve audio quality were 
what drove the change to the T-45.  In aircraft of course, full-face oxygen 
masks or headset/boom mics offered a better solution than either.

I have noticed a recent trend among the MV people to begin to have their 
installed radio/interphone equipment work as per originally intended rather 
than sit there looking pretty or with a Motorola FM unit buried inside.  
Perhaps we can get some recent first-hand experience info from some of them.  
I overhauled an SCR-528 for re-installation in an M5A1 Stuart up in Kansas.  
The owner wanted a full complement of T-30's for some reason but I didn't 
have that many so I sent half and half T-30's and T-45's.  Next time I talk 
to him, I'll try to remember to ask for comments on comparison of voice 
quality and wearer comfort.  

Since I had a phone call while I was writing the above and temporarily filed 
it, I've since talked to the Stuart owner.  When asked for a comparison 
between the T-30 and T-45 on intelligibility and audio quality, his comments 
on the T-30 are not quite printable in a family rag like this.  I could 
probably print them if they were transmitted by a T-30 as no one would be 
able to understand them.  :-)  On the other hand, the T-45's work quite well 
he said.

I noticed Saturday that Brent used a T-17 in his M5A1.  Couldn't see what his 
crew were using as they were buttoned up.  Couldn't tell what he was using in 
the M18 or what the M8 Commander was using as they were too far away and I 
didn't have my binoculars.  I have to go back up to his place and pick up an 
SCR-528 that has severe interphone circuit noise and bring it down here and 
fix it.  I'll try to get his comments on this subject.


In a message dated 3/23/2003 3:03:43 AM Central Standard Time, 
milsurplus-request@mailman.qth.net writes: 
> Re: [Milsurplus] throat mike technique
> Cc: milsurplus@mailman.qth.net
> 
> I have used throat mikes several time years ago.  The way we were taught 
> was to press
> one of the mike elements with your thumb and the other with the middle two 
> fingers on
> the same hand and talk in a slightly elevated voice level. Shouting does 
> not do any
> thing except increase the distortion of the voice.  The only problem with 
> throat mikes
> is that it is a two handed operation, one hand to hold the mike tightly to 
> the throat
> and the other to key the transmitter.  One place where it was handy was 
> when either 
> wearing a gas mask or oxygen mask as a hand mike is almost impossible to 
> use.
> 
> 

73,
Robert Downs
Houston
<wa5cab@cs.com>


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