[TenTec] MIKE & Eagle

[Richards]

John --

My test for mic quality is to make a recording on the computer using a 
low sampling rate, maybe 11.5 Hz - and if it sounds OK, then it should 
sound OK on the air.  If not,  try another model.

There was a good discussion in a brief article, with schematics for 
various condenser type microphone headset designs,  on page 64 of the 
November 2013 QST Magazine,  which match computer gaming headsets to 
transceiver microphone inputs.  Perhaps that would be of some assistance 
as you match a computer headset to the rig.

Personally I prefer an L-pad voltage divider to a single resistor,  as I 
am told (by others who know more than I do ) that makes it easier to 
predict the level of attenuation.   I also employ a capacitor to 
guaranty DC stays off the audio input (although K9YC is undoubtedly 
correct modern radios are likely internally protected already ) - I like 
belt and suspenders redundancy, I guess.

As for sound quality of various sets, I figure the microphones vary 
least, while earphone receivers vary most.   Most gaming headsets employ 
a $2 (or cheaper!) electret condenser microphone capsule and often sound 
the same - differences are caused more by the acoustics of the mic shell 
and boom arm assembly than differences in capsule characteristics.  
Thus,  "most" any inexpensive headset should produce acceptable 
communications grade audio, and sound good on the air.   I doubt if 
YaeComWood uses any better or more expensive capsules in the supplied 
hand microphones... and they sound good enough on the air.    I have 
sample recordings of LOADS of little microphones, and they are all 
pretty much equivalent.   My favorite are found on eBay for $1 
delivered.   No one has ever correctly selected a sound sample from it,  
from among several other samples of expensive gaming headsets.   You can 
buy little condenser capsules at Radio Shack for $2, and they sound great.

I recently repaired my friend's favorite Yamaha CM-500 headset which had 
developed an intermittent in the microphone wiring scheme - replacing 
the entire boom arm with one from a very cheap $5 headset acquired on 
eBay.com - and he is thrilled it works as well as it did before.    So, 
in my take,  microphone quality is not (usually) the determining factor 
in one's purchase decision.

In contrast, earphone receiver quality can vary substantially. So 
variation in earphone quality determines the price point where you may 
find happiness.

Many hams have had success with the above mentioned circuits published 
in QST - in fact I recently built one for a ham with Parkinson's 
Disease.  Those with more patience than I ( like K4TAX) can mount all 
the components inside an 8-pin  Foster plug - while go right to 
surrender, and build them on small PCBs in plastic or metal project 
boxes.    (photos of both types available on request...)

Anyway - post me off list if you would like photos or more info on 
matching this type of headset to the rig.

------------------------  K8JHR ---------------------





On 8/23/2014 12:18 PM, John wrote:
> I've had good luck on the older TT's using a computer mic on
> them for contesting using the vox in the radio and the headset.
>  I have tried different
> circuits with the Eagle, using the 9 V. line for the mike, and
> using a circuit with a 9 v. battery dropped to 5 v. regulated.
> So far, no circuit works.
>
> I'm thinking maybe the gain control internal to the Eagle
> might need to be adjusted.  The hand mike works fine
> on VOX, but I want a cheap headset, and don't want
> to spend a fortune on a "ham" headset.
> Any ideas??  Anyone had experience with another
> mike besides the TT one?
> Thanks,  73,
>
> John, K4AVX
> k4avx1 at windstream.net
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