[Elecraft] The old mic question for the NEW KX3 owner..Sorry

[John Lawrence]

First of all, the KX3 is a sweet radio and have it running quickly with only small adaptations using my old 70 yo memory
bank from 5 years with the K3 and K2.


Now that I've read all the historical material debating the alternatives to the MH3 hand mic

I'm still not sure how to get my trusted K3 Heil with a cable adapted to work with the KX3..
Yes, I'd like to be able to interchange the Heil GM with the HC5 cartridge between the K3 and
the KX3.


Using the KX3 I don't care about the up/dwn buttons but do want PTT. So, this mic jack with
tip/ring/ring/sleeve I would like to make up an entire new cable to go from the bottom of the
mic with a four pin 3.5 mm jack on the other end to plug into the KX3.


Is there a pre-made solution available or what is the cleanest/simplest way to make a cable? Looks like
Heil doesn't have one.


Did I miss the end outcome summary for this transition to KX3? This OT with interconnects in my life
since 1959 is getting too old to tease my brain on interconnect details. Instead I prefer the bigger subjects like JT65 stability for the XV-144 local oscillator. Any Elmer's with the answer out there?


Thanks, John Lawrence, W1QS

[David Shoaf]

Hi John,

This should get you going:

MENU Set ups for the older Heil versions of the MH3 with dynamic mic
elements:

- MENU: MIC BTN = PTT (not PTT up dn)
- MENU: MIC BIAS = OFF

Wiring:

On KX3, use a 1/8" (3.5mm) plug. Don't worry about the 2nd ring on the
picture shown in the KX3 Owner's Manual - the 2nd ring is for the up/dn
buttons. This means we get to use the more common 1/8" Tip-Ring-Sleeve
(TRS) plug.

MH-2 pin -------> KX3 pin #
--------- ----------

1 (MIC) Tip

2 PTT Ring

7,8 GND Sleeve

So, you'd need the standard 8-pin socket to match the MH2's 8-pin plug to a
1/8" TRS plug (Radio Shack has those) and you're there.

As for someone to make up a cable for you, here's an eBay vendor
<http://stores.ebay.com/W7YENs-AMATEUR-RADIO-HELPERS?_trksid=p2047675.l2563>
- I have no experience with him - who appears to be able to do this for you.

Cheers,

David



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[Nr4c]

I think is try one of two ideas.
1> amazon has available a 3 or 4 foot cable that has a rt angle TRRS plug on one end and a straight TRRS plug on the other. Cut one end off and connect the cable to an XLR 4 pin plug to plug into mic.

2> use above TRRS cable and just cut off the rt angle plug and graft it to a Heil cable.

As I recall the Amazon cable was pretty inexpensive, thin and red.

Sent from my iPhone
...nr4c. bill

Post by John Lawrence
First of all, the KX3 is a sweet radio and have it running quickly with only small adaptations using my old 70 yo memory
bank from 5 years with the K3 and K2.
Now that I've read all the historical material debating the alternatives to the MH3 hand mic
I'm still not sure how to get my trusted K3 Heil with a cable adapted to work with the KX3..
Yes, I'd like to be able to interchange the Heil GM with the HC5 cartridge between the K3 and
the KX3.
Using the KX3 I don't care about the up/dwn buttons but do want PTT. So, this mic jack with
tip/ring/ring/sleeve I would like to make up an entire new cable to go from the bottom of the
mic with a four pin 3.5 mm jack on the other end to plug into the KX3.
Is there a pre-made solution available or what is the cleanest/simplest way to make a cable? Looks like
Heil doesn't have one.
Did I miss the end outcome summary for this transition to KX3? This OT with interconnects in my life
since 1959 is getting too old to tease my brain on interconnect details. Instead I prefer the bigger subjects like JT65 stability for the XV-144 local oscillator. Any Elmer's with the answer out there?
Thanks, John Lawrence, W1QS
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[John Lawrence]

Bill


Thank you for your information. These TRRS plugs and cables are often hard to work with
due to the fine wire used on the computer interconnect business. I'm going to explore the XLR 4
and TRSS with plug sources. Up here outside Southern Maine it's all about over the Internet sourcing.


John, W1QS