[TenTec] Mics

[Mike Gorniak]

Bob's analysis and advice are good. Here are a couple of extra notes:

Choosing the "second receiver" method let's you hear things in the same 
general audio arena in which you hear other stations. You can use that 
to your advantage by making special note of the stations that have audio 
that You like. You can use those stations as references as you 
experiment with equalization, processing, microphone technique, etc. 
It's also helpful if you can use the same filter bandwidths and same 
loudspeaker as you normally use on your "Main" receiver.
Have Fun!
73,
Mike
NM7X

Original Message

Date: Sat, 04 Feb 2006 17:09:00 -0600
From: Robert & Linda McGraw K4TAX <RMcGraw at Blomand.Net>
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Mics
To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment <tentec at contesting.com>

While most of the suggestions regarding determining mike quality and 
such see reasonable, I would point out that "listening to ones self via 
phones" is not a very accurate way to make a judgment.  Why?  Because 
the voice is conducted to the ears via two paths.  One is via the 
headphones; and two, by bone conduction through the head.  The second 
one is always there.

A better system, use a cassette recorder connected to the MONITOR out of 
the radio, record a piece and then play it back using the headphones to 
listen if you wish.  That will give a much more accurate determination 
of "what you actually sound like on the air".  You'll be surprised too.

If you choose to use another receiver then connect the recorder to the 
output of that receiver record a bit and then play it back.  I realize 
that one will need to make several test recordings in more of a trial 
and error approach with different mikes, different mike positions, 
different EQ  and such to get the "best" combination.

Talking and listening at the same time doesn't give a very accurate 
representation.

73
Bob, K4TAX