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Mic gain
- Thread starter Ziploc
- Start date
(For some people) this depends upon whether or not the AMC has been defeated..
You may hear some people talk about a "sweet spot" for the mic gain, this can be indication of a "clipped limiter" (or disabled automatic modulation control), though this isn't always the case.
Often times an aftermarket echo board will include an internal gain adjustment.
If this hasn't been adjusted correctly it can present too much gain in the mic circuit, leading to excessive levels of distortion even with a functioning AMC circuit..
A "power mic" or amplified microphone could sound poorly with too much gain (between the mic's control and the radio's) even with an otherwise out of the box radio,..
2NC995 makes a great point, ideally (with a modern radio + correct mic) you should be able to turn the mic gain all the way up and communicate trouble-free (aftermarket mics can have a different impedance value, another variable to consider).
You may hear some people talk about a "sweet spot" for the mic gain, this can be indication of a "clipped limiter" (or disabled automatic modulation control), though this isn't always the case.
Often times an aftermarket echo board will include an internal gain adjustment.
If this hasn't been adjusted correctly it can present too much gain in the mic circuit, leading to excessive levels of distortion even with a functioning AMC circuit..
A "power mic" or amplified microphone could sound poorly with too much gain (between the mic's control and the radio's) even with an otherwise out of the box radio,..
2NC995 makes a great point, ideally (with a modern radio + correct mic) you should be able to turn the mic gain all the way up and communicate trouble-free (aftermarket mics can have a different impedance value, another variable to consider).
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I use a Turner Plus3 with my Bearcat 980. Mic gain on 980 is at 3. Gain selection in the 980 menu is 1,2,3,4. I use 3. My Turner is put at the 9 O'clock position. I get good audio reports.
For my CB radios I run it wide open. The radios don't have clipped limiters or other hacks. That makes a big difference.
Shadetree Mechanic
Delaware Base Station 808
I use a Cobra 148 as a station monitor. With no antenna connected and headphones, I can hear my transmit audio. Makes setting the mic gain easy, especially needed with a power mic or rack gear. I would not operate my station without it.
And I use a walkie talkie to monitor and adjust my transmit audio. It's especially helpful when switching over to a power mic from a stock mic.
Shadetree Mechanic
Delaware Base Station 808
When I get a new radio, I hook it up and try all my mics on it. You can really hear what each one sounds like when you can hear what you are doing.
Me too. I test the Turner mics. the Astatic mics., etc.
i run an ancient turner +3b on my galaxy 2527, it is set at 9 oclock and the radio modualation is set at half way,,, i talk on it about a foot away and i dont talk loud into it,,,,it always gets good reports,,, in my mobile i run a turner/telex rk56 with a bruteforce cobra 29 gtl mike gain set wideopen always get the best reports on it too,,, my president washington first generation i run a turner supersidekick i have the radio modulation set half way the mike set half way and the setting underneath the mike is just barely turned up,,
I'm also using a Turner +3 on my RCI 2990 DX. The mic is set at 9 o'clock and the mic gain on the radio is also set at 9 o'clock. If I try to increase the volume/gain the annoying sound of the cooling fans on my radio and amp is magnified.
About 2 inches is as far away as I talk into a mic. If you want to lay back in the easy chair a headset is nice. Unless your shack is dead silent the background noise is annoying. None of this applies to that guy on 75 meters that has a fan blowing into his mic.
I agree background noise can be very annoying. My shack used to be dead silent until the annoying cooling fans arrived.
Depends upon the radio & the microphone being used.It is important with a hand microphone to speak across the face of the microphone & not directly into the face of the microphone.Boom microphones used with a base radio or in a radio shack vary depending upon their design.It is best to set each radio & microphone up independently for best results.
SIX-SHOOTER
SIX-SHOOTER
Shadetree Mechanic
Delaware Base Station 808
I run a studio mic with my rack gear, but I don't use a condenser mic. I use a dynamic mic because until I can get the amp fan noise under control, the background noise is too much. Properly adjusting the noise gate helps, but it is still there.