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President McKinley Personal Review
- Thread starter Recon
- Start date
I think the President microphones sound pretty good. One thing I found though is to not speak into the microphone, but speak across it. Speaking into it causes a puff type sound.
It's hard to give up an up/down buttons microphone for a microphone that does not have buttons. The up/down buttons cycle through the menus and the level settings too. Changing channels, and starting a re-scan is wonderful in mobile operation. I do wish President would come out with a noise canceling microphone with up/down buttons for mobile use.
Saw a Snake Customs video where he was modding the President microphones. He was getting that puff sound, but did not actually show how he was speaking into the microphone. I can speak directly into the microphone, and duplicate the same puff sound he was getting on the talk back. Speaking across it, and there is no puff sound.
It's hard to give up an up/down buttons microphone for a microphone that does not have buttons. The up/down buttons cycle through the menus and the level settings too. Changing channels, and starting a re-scan is wonderful in mobile operation. I do wish President would come out with a noise canceling microphone with up/down buttons for mobile use.
Saw a Snake Customs video where he was modding the President microphones. He was getting that puff sound, but did not actually show how he was speaking into the microphone. I can speak directly into the microphone, and duplicate the same puff sound he was getting on the talk back. Speaking across it, and there is no puff sound.
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My Lincoln II does the same thing a bit in cold weather - however the McKinely does not! One more reason why I love the McKinley in the vehicle.
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Got a McKinley used...set up as base for testing. The swr check had me baffled, but after reading here, it takes it's time performing the check. The MFJ-820 works just fine.
Paired with Palomar 450 LD made contact with Auxeaucal, Mexico for a few minutes yesterday. One "radio check" on 19...."it works".....typical. Power set at 4 watt dead key, might be little high, I'll back it down some. It just seems to modulate best on SSB at 4w into the 450LD.
Find the mike small, but sound is "punchy". Just couldn't resist, had to see insides of mic. Mic is not centered, no foam, or baffle.....it's mounted offset, in a socket of the plastic cover.....looks like the open end of microphone is right up against the shell, enclosed. No holes.....hmmm? Decided to leave it alone. If it ain't broke, don't fix it....quote from my Step Daddy.
Hope to get some more contacts with the McKinley soon. So far so good......
Thanks Woody-202
Paired with Palomar 450 LD made contact with Auxeaucal, Mexico for a few minutes yesterday. One "radio check" on 19...."it works".....typical. Power set at 4 watt dead key, might be little high, I'll back it down some. It just seems to modulate best on SSB at 4w into the 450LD.
Find the mike small, but sound is "punchy". Just couldn't resist, had to see insides of mic. Mic is not centered, no foam, or baffle.....it's mounted offset, in a socket of the plastic cover.....looks like the open end of microphone is right up against the shell, enclosed. No holes.....hmmm? Decided to leave it alone. If it ain't broke, don't fix it....quote from my Step Daddy.
Hope to get some more contacts with the McKinley soon. So far so good......
Thanks Woody-202
I absolutly hate the "It works" on the radio checks. Now if I do a check on lets say 146.52 on the 2 meter band people want to know what you are running. Radio, antenna, maybe even coax. They are really into what people are using to be on the air. CB just seems like a "don't bother me" zone. Sad really.
Got a McKinley used...set up as base for testing. The swr check had me baffled, but after reading here, it takes it's time performing the check. The MFJ-820 works just fine.
Paired with Palomar 450 LD made contact with Auxeaucal, Mexico for a few minutes yesterday. One "radio check" on 19...."it works".....typical. Power set at 4 watt dead key, might be little high, I'll back it down some. It just seems to modulate best on SSB at 4w into the 450LD.
Find the mike small, but sound is "punchy". Just couldn't resist, had to see insides of mic. Mic is not centered, no foam, or baffle.....it's mounted offset, in a socket of the plastic cover.....looks like the open end of microphone is right up against the shell, enclosed. No holes.....hmmm? Decided to leave it alone. If it ain't broke, don't fix it....quote from my Step Daddy.
Hope to get some more contacts with the McKinley soon. So far so good......
Thanks Woody-202
So if you are using it in a base environment you can do a couple of things to boost the mic audio.
#1 - Drill a hole where the microphone element is centered in the microphone. I did this and it made it much clearer. Because it's behind the plastic it's a bit muffled.
#2 - Add a Road Devil D104 Noise Cancelling Power microphone - I use these on the President Lincoln II and President McKinely radios and they are a great match. Punchy and loud but without the extra background noise. I get some great feedback on the audio with this microphone+McKinley. DXMan on the forum has heard it and can tell you how they match up.
#3 - Add a UR6QW 8 band equalizer and use it inline with the stock microphone. This is what I'd doing right now. Brings up your audio a ton, more consistent output on SSB with the compression, and you can still use the up/down buttons on the stock microphone!
Or you could always just leave it as is too if you're happy with it!
I have had a few good conversations with some drivers. Time of day seems key. A few locals are good. But my location is not prime. SSB is where the ops will get technical. Contact with Mex yesterday was good, in English, very clear. Detailed, location, antenna, etc.
Was wondering about the RD. Have 2 sitting, need new cords. I have those and 6 pin. Need to weld them up.
Actually, it registers a little over 4w dk on AM. Backed it down some since. Prolly bout to 2 or 3w. No contacts this evening. Silence.
The 980 handles the Palomar 450LD w 4w in real well. Being cautious with the Dead President.
Ok thanks for sharing. I have my 980 at 3 watts DK on AM going into a Cobra 250 amp. I am going to turn it down to just around 2 watts DK on AM. My SSB is right around 8 watts but I may try turning it down to around 4-5 watts going into my Cobra 250 amp. I also have an RM Itally 203. I have not had any CB hooked up for about a year and want to get it up and running again. Not working tomorrow so that may be a good time to get it going. In the past I would be heard on some audio gear in the house. I think experimenting with turning down the input power to the amp may help me not do that. Thanks for jogging my mind with that idea.
Got a McKinley used...set up as base for testing. The swr check had me baffled, but after reading here, it takes it's time performing the check. The MFJ-820 works just fine.
Paired with Palomar 450 LD made contact with Auxeaucal, Mexico for a few minutes yesterday. One "radio check" on 19...."it works".....typical. Power set at 4 watt dead key, might be little high, I'll back it down some. It just seems to modulate best on SSB at 4w into the 450LD.
Find the mike small, but sound is "punchy". Just couldn't resist, had to see insides of mic. Mic is not centered, no foam, or baffle.....it's mounted offset, in a socket of the plastic cover.....looks like the open end of microphone is right up against the shell, enclosed. No holes.....hmmm? Decided to leave it alone. If it ain't broke, don't fix it....quote from my Step Daddy.
Hope to get some more contacts with the McKinley soon. So far so good......
Thanks Woody-202
my monetary pleasure Redbeard I was wondering what that microphone looks like inside (not I don't have to open one up). Also, the 6th pin in the middle uses a different voltage than a 980. I think the McKinley is about 2v higher and the clarifier mod is relatively easy if your hands don't shake like mine
I was wondering what that microphone looks like inside (not I don't have to open one up). Also, the 6th pin in the middle uses a different voltage than a 980. I think the McKinley is about 2v higher and the clarifier mod is relatively easy if your hands don't shake like mine
Took a picture....
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