[WriteLog] Using writelog with Dell Laptop

[David Hachadorian]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Joe Wilkowski" <k8fc at k8fc.com>
To: "David Hachadorian" <k6ll at adelphia.net>; 
<writelog at contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, November 02, 2006 8:15 PM
Subject: Re: [WriteLog] Using writelog with Dell Laptop


> Be careful, many Dell laptops have a monaural mic input 
> and are NOT stereo. In addition, the Heil headset 
> microphone plug is MONAURAL unless it has been modified by 
> someone.  I cannot understand why a microphone (two 
> conductor) would have a stereo plug in the first place. 
> Your mileage may vary, but unless the particular laptop in 
> question has a stereo mic input the Heil mic plug should 
> be compatible.
> /jhw

Sound card microphone inputs require a stereo plug, even 
though computer microphones are all mono. Mic audio goes on 
the tip, shield goes on the shell. The ring is used to 
provide DC power to electret mikes, which includes virtually 
all mikes designed for computer use. When you use a regular 
Heil dynamic element, there should be no connection to the 
ring. If you stick a mono plug into a sound card mic input, 
strange things happen. Sometimes the DC gets superimposed 
onto the audio, which screws up the audio. Sometimes the DC 
gets grounded to the shell, which should be ok in a 
well-designed sound card, but should be avoided. Some sound 
cards have an extra preamp that can be switched in for 
low-output mics like the Heil. Some sound cards are ok for 
Heil without the preamp, and some cards don't have the 
preamp and the Heil can't drive them hard enough.

Dave Hachadorian, K6LL
Yuma, AZ