DESK MIC FOR KENWOOD HF

[Sonar]

IMHO all the Kenwood HF Mics SUK...most sound like a Screech Owl is behind them
And yes buy an MC60 or 60A you will have RF issues sooner or later...
A Shure 444D is a great mic for a TS450 ( I only owned one for like 13 yrs) also...
A Heil GM V or better is also a great choise.
All the Best
Gary

OH PS: If you own a TS-450 SAT and the power has been cranked up past about 110wts on 10/11m...DO NOT use the internal tuner unless you don't like it because it won't be around long anyway...Those are rated at 125 wts PEP...just FYI

It is a 450sat. It hasn't been modified in any way. If the 110 output is something that can be done without opening the transceiver then maybe it does have higher output.
I'm thinking a mod like that must be done inside the rig. I'm sure most who do that are like myself chicken banders. This rig came from the original owner who's an older amateur operater who kept his gear in excellent condition. This 450s was barely used and is in like new condition. I'm sending the 450 to my Tec for an alignment and will have him do the general coverage (11 meter) modification. I know it's simple but i don't open stuff. If anything I own needs to be opened for a repair it goes to him. Thanks for that information. I won't be using the at but might in the future and would hate to destroy a perfectly good internal AT. I've read the 450s has an excellent AT. Thanks for your input. Unless someone convinces me other wise it's gonna be the 444d. After 13 years one would've figured out the mic was a bad choice for a particular rig.

 

[Sonar]

sonar,
out of the mics i listed i prefere the mc60a & yes the 450 is pre 570 without dsp unless you have the external dsp100.

I've read about the dsp unit available for the 450 before I purchased it. The 450 will be a backup for my ft 950. I've got a west mountain dsp speaker I use on my madison and I know unlike the dsp unit available for the 450 it won't do anything for the transmitted audio but I've heard the 450 has very nice audio on it's own.
Going from a madison to the ft 950 and the ts 450s for a backup is gonna make me very happy.
The ft 950 might even wind up being the backup. I've always preferred Kenwood audio.

 

[bob85]

The mc60a does have an issue with rf, not had issues with the mc50 or 60,
the stock cable is a poor choice for connecting an amplified mic in a strong rf environment,
i use 9 core fully shielded cable & trap the drain wire under the cable clamp at either end which shields all conductors inside the cable and the amplifier inside the mic base,

i also have shure 450 444d 526t & a few hand mics for nostalgia.

 

[2RT307]

It is a 450sat. It hasn't been modified in any way. If the 110 output is something that can be done without opening the transceiver then maybe it does have higher output.
I'm thinking a mod like that must be done inside the rig. I'm sure most who do that are like myself chicken banders. This rig came from the original owner who's an older amateur operater who kept his gear in excellent condition. This 450s was barely used and is in like new condition. I'm sending the 450 to my Tec for an alignment and will have him do the general coverage (11 meter) modification. I know it's simple but i don't open stuff. If anything I own needs to be opened for a repair it goes to him. Thanks for that information. I won't be using the at but might in the future and would hate to destroy a perfectly good internal AT. I've read the 450s has an excellent AT. Thanks for your input. Unless someone convinces me other wise it's gonna be the 444d. After 13 years one would've figured out the mic was a bad choice for a particular rig.

I don't think you can go wrong with the 444. And get your ticket, for cryin' out loud!

73,
Brett

 

[w9cll]

And get your ticket, for cryin' out loud!

And I second this too!!

 

[222DBFL]

I use an old Icom mic, an HM-35, noise cancelling dynamic on my kenwood TS-140S. I had to modify the circuit board a little inside to get the audio louder, but I get better reports with it than I did with the stock mic. My voice just didn't match well with the stock kenwood mic. With the Icom mic I get much better audio reports. Granted I got the mic for free, but it works well once you do some modding to the circuit board inside the mic. I'm sure the Shure mic sounds better, but I work with I can get. Especially when it's free!! Just some food for thought. And I've also actually found that the old Cobra coffin mic's sound better than the stock kenwood mic as well. This is on my TS140s. Again, just some other options and food for thought. Have a good one.

 

[Sonar]

I don't think you can go wrong with the 444. And get your ticket, for cryin' out loud!

73,
Brett

My research says the 444 will not work well with the 450s. The 444 is a high Z. The 444d has an impedance switch on it. It's possible what I read was written by someone who wasn't informed or i misunderstood.

To get a ticket or not to get a ticket that is the question. Whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows that comes with being a chicken bander or to take arms against a sea of nut cases and by opposing get my ticket?

 

[Sonar]

The mc60a does have an issue with rf, not had issues with the mc50 or 60,
the stock cable is a poor choice for connecting an amplified mic in a strong rf environment,
i use 9 core fully shielded cable & trap the drain wire under the cable clamp at either end which shields all conductors inside the cable and the amplifier inside the mic base,

i also have shure 450 444d 526t & a few hand mics for nostalgia.

I'm assuming you say nostalgia because there nice to look at. Do you not use them because you don't like the way they sound?

 

[DainBramage]

.... The 444 is a high Z. The 444d has an impedance switch on it. It's possible what I read was written by someone who wasn't informed or i misunderstood....

go back and read post #2

the 444D WILL be good on that rig.

 

[Sonar]

go back and read post #2

the 444D WILL be good on that rig.

Lot's of reading. #2 say's it all. I've been doing some research on the mics suggested. The 444d seems to be the consensus.

 

[bob85]

sonar
i don't use them because i have mics i prefere the sound of, i have other mics i don't use,
my 444d & 526t don't sound bad,
can't remember what the 450 sounds like, its been many years since i had it wired to a radio.

 

[Sonar]

sonar
i don't use them because i have mics i prefere the sound of, i have other mics i don't use,
my 444d & 526t don't sound bad,
can't remember what the 450 sounds like, its been many years since i had it wired to a radio.

I totally get the nastagia of the older gear. Weather radio transmitter, transceiver or microphone the, old are truly good to look at. It's no only Aesthetics but the quality of the equipment itself IMO. And might even sound better. I like the MC 60 and 90 but having to correct a problem right out of the box is not right and is the single thing that's keeping me away from them. I guess it all comes down so many factors. The operator's voice characteristics, what transceiver the mic is being used with and cost. Not everyone could or wants to spend $300+ or even $150+ for that matter. I've heard CB's and hf's alike who's operated claim to be using in 10 or $20 microphone and sound incredible. I like the old stuff myself. I'm going to go with the consensus and purchase the 444d. I don't know if it's just me but a second mic is a prerequisite on my end. So I will eventually get a second mic in the case the 444d breaks or for the reasons I mentioned just don't make a good match for me. I don't know if the Kenwood ts-450s is going to sound better than my yaesu ft 950. I've been listening closely for about 19 months now and I truly like the Kenwood audio over the yaesu, icom and all the other hf transceivers. If by some chance the 450s does sound better than the ft 950, the 950 will be the backup and the 450s will be the go to. Thanks for responding to my post. thanks to everyone you've been a great help. 73

 

[2RT307]

My research says the 444 will not work well with the 450s. The 444 is a high Z. The 444d has an impedance switch on it. It's possible what I read was written by someone who wasn't informed or i misunderstood.

To get a ticket or not to get a ticket that is the question. Whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows that comes with being a chicken bander or to take arms against a sea of nut cases and by opposing get my ticket?

Sorry, I forgot to type the "d". There are plenty of nut cases on the ham bands too...they're just spread out over several bands instead of on channel 6, 12, 19, 28 AM, and 38 LSB.

You have progressed to the point that you are serious enough to buy hf equipment, so you might as well take advantage of playing on the bands that those rigs offer.

73,
Brett

 

[Sonar]

Sor

Sorry, I forgot to type the "d". There are plenty of nut cases on the ham bands too...they're just spread out over several bands instead of on channel 6, 12, 19, 28 AM, and 38 LSB.

You have progressed to the point that you are serious enough to buy hf equipment, so you might as well take advantage of playing on the bands that those rigs offer.

73,
Brett

ry, I forgot to type the "d". There are plenty of nut cases on the ham bands too...they're just spread out over several bands instead of on channel 6, 12, 19, 28 AM, and 38 LSB.

You have progressed to the point that you are serious enough to buy hf equipment, so you might as well take advantage of playing on the bands that those rigs offer.

73,
Brett

Thanks Brett. I'm not a hypocrite. I can't count how many times I've told chicken banders who were purchasing or considering getting an hf that their basically buying a glorified cb radio if their not utilizing the capabilities of an hf.
My logic in the purchasing the hf's I did was it's time. If I had known when I got back on the air after a 25+ year absence that I had to spend more money get my oldies but goodies up to snuff than the cost of a very nice hf I would've sold everything I collected or left them in the closet and bought an hf immediately.
Not to mention there's not a single cb I could think of that could hold its own in comparison to a modern dsp hf on ssb (stoner, CPI?).
Had it not taken me so long to understand that I would've bought an hf a year ago. So now I'm the owner of 2 glorified CB's. I'm a chicken bander and although acquiring my license isn't out of the question (a future possibilitie) for now I'm content operating on 11 meters and 'freebanding'. If and when I tire of it I will move on up to the east side and get my piece of the pie. I jest but totally get where you're coming from and honestly probably will eventually get my ticket but for now I'm enjoying the hobby and doing so strictly on 11. Thanks. 73

Sorry, I forgot to type the "d". There are plenty of nut cases on the ham bands too...they're just spread out over several bands instead of on channel 6, 12, 19, 28 AM, and 38 LSB.

You have progressed to the point that you are serious enough to buy hf equipment, so you might as well take advantage of playing on the bands that those rigs offer.

73,
Brett

Sorry, I forgot to type the "d". There are plenty of nut cases on the ham bands too...they're just spread out over several bands instead of on channel 6, 12, 19, 28 AM, and 38 LSB.

You have progressed to the point that you are serious enough to buy hf equipment, so you might as well take advantage of playing on the bands that those rigs offer.

73,
Brett

Sorry, I forgot to type the "d". There are plenty of nut cases on the ham bands too...they're just spread out over several bands instead of on channel 6, 12, 19, 28 AM, and 38 LSB.

You have progressed to the point that you are serious enough to buy hf equipment, so you might as well take advantage of playing on the bands that those rigs offer.

73,
Brett

Sorry, I forgot to type the "d". There are plenty of nut cases on the ham bands too...they're just spread out over several bands instead of on channel 6, 12, 19, 28 AM, and 38 LSB.

You have progressed to the point that you are serious enough to buy hf equipment, so you might as well take advantage of playing on the bands that those rigs offer.

73,
Brett

Sorry, I forgot to type the "d". There are plenty of nut cases on the ham bands too...they're just spread out over several bands instead of on channel 6, 12, 19, 28 AM, and 38 LSB.

You have progressed to the point that you are serious enough to buy hf equipment, so you might as well take advantage of playing on the bands that those rigs offer.

73,
Brett

 

[543_Dallas]

I like the mc60. It did have RF issues when running an amplifier on 40 & 80 but I was using a crummy antenna at the time. I bypassed the preamp circuit that I didn't use and the RFI went away. Later I put a shure sv100 on the mc60 base...it sounds slightly better to my ears.