+++++++++++++++++ See also Headphones +++++++++++++++++ From: "Tom Whiteside" To: Cc: Date: Thu, 25 Jul 2002 08:21:41 -0500 Subject: [Elecraft] Re: Headset for use with the K2? >Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 10:56:09 -0700 >Subject: [Elecraft] Headset for use with the K2? >I'd like to operate while driving--can anyone recommend a headset >that would work well in combination with the K2's VOX circuit for >hands-free operation? Hi Rich, I use Heil Prosets here for both my Yaesu rig and my K2 and they work really well with the K2. One caveat for mobile operation I guess - part of why I like the headset is that it blocks surrounding sound a bit - that might not be a feature on the highway... They make a Pro-micro boomset that might be a better choice for not blocking surrounding sound and be a little lighter. I'm partial to the HC-4 "DX" element for giving a tad more punch via emphasizing the highs a bit - makes me sound a little like Ross Perot and helps with the pileups - HAR HAR... Their HC-5 element is also very effective. Tom Whiteside N5TW Georgetown, TX +++++++++++++++++++ From: Tim ORourke To: "'elecraft at mailman.qth.net'" Date: Thu, 25 Jul 2002 08:17:24 -0400 Subject: [Elecraft] RE: Headset for use with the K2? I would suggest one of the small Heil head sets. Bob just released the Traveler, I believe same element as in hand mic offered by Elecraft. It has a push to talk and up down buttons mounted on cord. You can order with appropriate adaptor to match how the mic plug was wired. HTTP://www.HeilSound.com Tim KG4CHX (W4YN as of Aug. 1) ++++++++++++++++++++ Date: Sun, 9 Feb 2003 19:25:21 -0600 (CST) From: jhaynes at alumni.uark.edu To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] Re: Aviation headset I sent a hint and kink on this topic to QST but I don't think they have ever published it. The modern aviation headset is designed to be compatible with the old radios that used carbon mikes. The earphones are obvious; and they are higher impedance than the 8 ohm stereo earphones but will probably work with no problem. To run the microphone you need to supply DC, and the easiest way is to use the DC that is available on the mike jack of most radios and use a transformer. DC into the transformer, the other end of the winding to the ring of the 3 conductor mike plug, and the sleeve of the plug to ground. Then the other winding of the transformer goes to the mike input and mike ground on the radio. Now here we get into an area that I know little about. My Kenwood TS-940 uses a low-level mike, and all the amplification inside the radio, so I use the Radio Shack 1000:8 ohm stepdown transformer. I have the K-2 wired like a Kenwood, for what that's worth. The guy I did this for also has a Kenwood radio, so that's how we did it. I have another friend who has an older ICOM radio and there the microphone has a built-in amplifier. So I guess it needs a higher-level mike signal than the Kenwood and the Radio Shack 600:600 ohm transformer might be more appropriate. Somewhere I wrote down the number of the appropriate Switchcraft jack for the aviation headset. Anyway, you can make a tin box with the jack and the transformer inside and a mike plug for your K2 coming out the other side, all parts available at Radio Shack. Jim W6JVE +++++++++++++++++ From: "Stuart Rohre" To: , Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Re: Aviation headset Date: Mon, 10 Feb 2003 13:18:37 -0600 Jim the only problem with aviation headsets is that the carbon mikes may require much more current than the mike voltage point on modern radios is set up to deliver without overheating. Better to simply drop out the carbon element and wire in a cheap electret element mounted in a circle of foam packing material. The Headphones work fine, as they are high impedance magnetics and do not require much audio to deliver full volume. 73, Stuart K5KVH +++++++++++++++++++ Date: Sat, 15 Feb 2003 12:56:32 -0500 To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net From: Gary Lee Subject: [Elecraft] George's headset mod messages Here Fellers. Knew I'd kept them around. ----------------------cut here------------------------- Date: Fri, 8 Mar 2002 20:23:57 -0600 From: George Franklin To: "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Subject: Ref. El Cheapo Headset for K2 Hi Fellow K2ers, If you have wanted to use a headset for SSB but didn't want to spend $50 to $100 bucks here is an inexpensive way to go. Radio Shack has currently on sale (half price) computer headset PN 33-1107 for $9.98. Other headsets would very likely work just as well, but I haven't tried any except this one. Add a tantalum cap (I used 0.1uF) and a resistor (I used a 560 ohm 1/4 W) inside the RS 8-pin mike plug (PN 274-025) and you have an excellent headset for about $15.00. Use the 3.5mm plug as is into the K2 headphone jack. Cut off the 2.5mm (mike) plug and wire the RS 8-pin as follows: A. Mike lead through the tantalum cap to pin 1 on the 8-pin. (positive side of cap to mike side of the cap) B. Resistor from pin 5 of 8-pin to pin 1. C. Shield to pin 7 of 8-pin The above assumes you have wired your K2 to be "Kenwood compatible." If not, consult your K2 manual for proper pins to use. Be sure to insulate the components with plastic tape before sliding them inside the 8-pin plugs housing to avoid shorts. I've been receiving glowing TX audio reports and the K2 RX audio sounds great. A friend told me my Heil Gold Line mike (which I normally used) really sounded great on the K2. Then I told him it was the el cheapo unit! This setup keys the K2's VOX very nicely. Try it; you'll like it. FWIW. 72/73/74 de George/W0AV Hamming since '35 SOC#101, COG#1, PITA (# TBA) Date: Fri, 8 Mar 2002 20:36:51 -0600 From: George Franklin To: "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Subject: Ref. CORRECTION to El Cheapo Headset for K2 Hi K2'ers, I had a senior moment when I typed the wiring instructions for the headset. The resistor must connect (inside the 8-pin connector housing) to the mike side of the tantalum capacitor, NOT TO PIN ONE (which is the radio side). The resistor is obviously required to provide operating voltage for the electret microphone element and must therefore be connected as above. Sorry about that. Hey, no body's perfect, not even an old QRPer. 72/73/74 de George/W0AV SOC#101, COG#1, PITA (# TBA) ++++++++++++++++++ From: "Mike Rioux" To: "'Mike KW1ND'" Cc: Subject: RE: [Elecraft] W0AV K2 headset mods Date: Sun, 16 Feb 2003 22:53:30 -0500 Hi, Thanks all for the heads up on the Radio Shack headset, it works fine. I haven't run quality tests with folks that know my voice, but the Q's I've made so far seem to indicate that the audio quality is great. I decided to finish up the Rev A to B changes last night, and while I was at it I made some changes. (I think I've had the covers off of the K2 more than on it! It's fun to work on your own radio and make mods). After the A to B mods I added a wire from the center pin of the AF gain pot to pin 5 (through a 10k resistor) of the mic connector to bring audio out through the mic connector for PSK. I had previously done the 'scratchy' pot mod and was able to grab the constant level audio signal from this point. I also pulled the shorting pin from the mic configuration header. All are jumpered now straight across except the one that goes to pin 5. I made up a new mic cable for the Radio Shack headset that provides the 5V from pin 6 to run the electret mic in the headset. I used a 560 ohm resistor and a 1uf tantalum cap as W0AV did as outlined below. As part of this new cable I also brought out the PTT and AF out to a 1/4" phone jack and 1/8" phone jack respectively. The PTT can be used with a foot switch or be used for PSK PTT. Another note, with the Elecraft MH2 you are supposed to add a resistor between pins 6 and 1 of the front panel mic connector. I found it to be more flexible to mount this resistor in the mic's connector instead. That way I could use my other microphones without worrying about the 5V on pin 1. I hope this helps anyone thinking of getting these $3 headset/mics - they do work pretty well and are nice and small for travel. 73, Mike W1USN ++++++++++++++++++