[TenTec] Distortion SSB Omni VII

[Jim Brown K9YC]

>Attatched ground leads 

Grounding is probably barking up the wrong tree unless something is 
really wrong with your antenna system. 

The most likely cause is the live mic over-driving the electronics 
that it is connected to. In other words, you need to turn down the 
gain of that input stage a LOT. 

I don't know the Omni VII, so can't offer more specific advice. But 
Ten Tec rigs in general have always had very good audio inputs. 

One of the guys in our contest club (NCCC) recently organized a 
group purchase of Yamaha CM500 headsets with attached mics. These 
are very nice, and also quite inexpensive (about $40), but the mic 
signal comes out very "hot" (that is, much nigher level than most 
mics). This required us to readjust the audio inputs of our rigs so 
that we didn't overdrive them. 

The CM500 mic also has excellent EQ for communications use, and 
sounds MUCH better than most Heils I've heard. The SSB SS weekend 
will be the first serious test of these headsets for most of us. 
Hopefully we'll still like them after 24 hours on the air. :)

73,

Jim K9YC