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Re: [TenTec] Mike & Eagle

To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment <tentec@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Mike & Eagle
From: Richards <jrichards@k8jhr.com>
Reply-to: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment <tentec@contesting.com>
Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2014 18:57:55 -0400
List-post: <tentec@contesting.com">mailto:tentec@contesting.com>


On 8/26/2014 8:30 AM, Bob McGraw - K4TAX wrote:
Yes, the connectors are "tight" in terms of working space.  Too much
heat, i.e. too large of a tip will transfer too much heat and things
begin to melt.

----------------------------------------------------

John -- a couple of ideas...

You can make your life much easier if you purchase a commercially prepared Foster plug and cable, which is terminated with the ubiquitous 8-pin Foster plug on one end, and terminated with stripped and tinned leads on the other end. You can splice that to similarly stripped and tinned leads from another cable, sealing and insulating with shrink tubing, or terminate in a different plug, which is easier to work with and solder. Nearly all my microphones and headsets have 3-pin XLR connectors, so I made a break out box with and XLR make on one end, and the 8-pin Foster plug on the rig end. I mounted this under the desk and it makes it easy to swap microphones in an instant and keeps me from messing with the front panel mic connector. It also routes the mic cable out of the way, as I cannot stand it running across the desk and over any notes I am taking.

One version is the MFJ-5208 OPEN END DIN CABLE, 8 PIN
See it here:

http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=MFJ-5208

McKay Products sells one too, on eBay, but they cost a little more... maybe not if postage is involved... you be the Judge:

http://tinyurl.com/l59b9jx


OR, you can get W2ENY or maybe W7YEN - they make cables for guys, or you might even "coax" me into making an adapter cable for you... I am making a couple for another ham this week, so another would be no big deal.

Happy trials to ya.

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






For audio quality determinations, I prefer to use the "comparison"
method. I'll outline my method.  This does require two suitable radios.

Having the "monitor" radio being the 2nd radio connected to the computer
for digital modes, I use that signal path along with a free software
being AUDACITY to record the audio.  I first find a signal on the band
that I think sounds specially good and I record about 30 seconds of that
signal. That becomes my "reference" signal.  I also use external
speakers on the computer and listen to both the reference signal and my
test signal through these speakers.   Remember, the path much be
identical for accurate comparisons.

Now using the mike and radio of choice on a dummy load, same mode,
frequency and such.  I transmit about 30 seconds while recording that
transmission and then listen to it and the other signal.  AUDACITY
allows one to easily switch between the two recorded segments.   By
doing this one is using the exact audio path, computer, speakers and
such to judge ones audio.  If it doesn't sound as you wish, then
adjustments of any nature should be made.  This includes mike-to-mouth
position or changes in audio levels, speech processing or even changing
mikes.  Again repeat the process and each time a change is made and
compare the new configuration to the reference signal that one thinks
sounds specially good.

Now admittingly, ones personal voice will not typically sound exactly
like another's voice, but one can easily discern the differences.  When
finished, just note the various values on the radio, the mouth-to-mike
position and such.  From this one can be quite reasonably assured their
signal will always sound great on the air.

In using this process, if humm, clicks, buzz or such is heard on the
comparative recordings, the source should be investigated and resolved.

I will stress that using the Monitor mode or headphones while recording
ones audio will not accurately  reveal the true audio sound.

73
Bob, K4TAX




----- Original Message ----- From: "John Farler" <k4avx1@windstream.net>
To: <tentec@contesting.com>
Sent: Monday, August 25, 2014 8:57 PM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Mike & Eagle


Thanks for confirming what I've tried.  I think I'd better go
back and check that 8 pin connector pin-out again.  For
this old guys hands and eyes, I wish they had stayed with
the 4 pin connector  :>)

The mini-din on the back caused me much grief.  It wanted
to melt - wonder if it came from radioshack!

And yes, I was told that the headset mike I was using
on the OMNI 6+ sounded as good as the TT desk mike with
the same kind of element.  Ear piece quality is a consideration.
73,
John, K4AVX

Message: 3
Date: Sun, 24 Aug 2014 16:23:44 -0400
From: Richards<jrichards@k8jhr.com>
To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment<tentec@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [TenTec] MIKE & Eagle
Message-ID:<53FA49D0.1040205@k8jhr.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed

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.

Message: 4
Date: Sun, 24 Aug 2014 14:16:24 -0700
From: Jim Brown<k9yc@audiosystemsgroup.com>
To:tentec@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TenTec] MIKE & Eagle


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