Discussion:
[Elecraft] Icom SM-8 Mic to K3 Need wiring advice
Dean
2010-10-10 00:06:30 UTC
Permalink
I have a new condition Icom SM-8 Base Mic that I would like to wire to my K3. I have the wiring diagrams for both but the Icom diagram (and schematic) shows a separate mic ground and regular ground and I am not sure how to handle that.

If anybody has experience wiring this mic, your help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Dean
Don Wilhelm
2010-10-10 01:35:19 UTC
Permalink
Dean,

The Elecraft microphone pinout has 2 ground pins - both 7 and 8.
I believe it is conventional to connect the PTT return to pin 7 and the
AF Ground to pin 8.
In any case, it will make no difference with the K2 or K3 because both
pins 7 and 8 are connected to ground at the board.

73,
Don W3FPR
Post by Dean
I have a new condition Icom SM-8 Base Mic that I would like to wire to my K3. I have the wiring diagrams for both but the Icom diagram (and schematic) shows a separate mic ground and regular ground and I am not sure how to handle that.
If anybody has experience wiring this mic, your help would be appreciated.
Thanks!
Dean
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G. Beat
2010-10-10 16:56:44 UTC
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Dean -



It is not unusual for newer microphones to separate the microphone? shield/ground for Audio from the DC ground used for Push to Talk (PTT) switching.



Bob Heil's Heil wire (microphone cable) has a shielded conductor for the microphone audio and

outside that shield are a red and blakc wire for the PTT (red +; black for ground or -)

http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/parts/26454065.html



For your Icom SM-8 wiring project to your Elecraft K3, I would like to make one recommendation.

Leave the Icom SM-8 microphone connector as fac tory standard !



BUILD an adapter cable with an 8-pin female Foster (circular) connector to connector your Icom SM-8 and

an 8-pin male Foster (circular) connector for connecting Elecraft K3.

http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/parts/micconn.html



Heil Sound's quality 8-pin male Foster (circular) connector !

http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/parts/4065.html



Greg

w9gb



----- Original Message -----
From: "Dean" <ok at mytargets.com> ?
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Sent: Sunday, October 09 , 2010 07 :06 P M
Subject: Icom SM-8 Mic to K3 Need wiring advice

I have a new condition Icom SM-8 Base Microphone, that I would like to wire to my Elecraft K3. ?

I have the wiring diagrams for both microphone and radio,

but the Icom diagram (and schematic) shows a separate mic ground and regular ground and I am not sure how to handle that.

If anybody has experience wiring this mic, your help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Dean
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Jim Brown
2010-10-10 17:40:21 UTC
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It is not unusual for newer microphones to separate the microphone shield/ground for Audio from the DC ground used for Push to Talk (PTT) switching.
Yes, mics and mic cables are wired in a variety of ways. Some have four
conductors plus a shield. Some have two tiny coaxial cables plus an
overall shield. Some have only two conductors plus a shield. Some have
three conductors plus a shield.

When wiring a mic to a ham rig, we must figure out which of these we
have. To do that, we must get our words straight. The return for a mic
capsule is not MIC GROUND, it is mic RETURN or COMMON. The return for
PTT is not PTT GROUND, it is PTT RETURN or PTT COMMON. These points
will nearly always look the same with a DC Ohmeter, but at RF they may
have significant inductance between them, and that inductance creates a
Pin 1 Problem.

Cable shields can act as receive antennas, so they can carry RF current
(like from our transmitter). The ONLY proper connection for an overall
cable shield is the CHASSIS. If you connect it anywhere else (for
example, to a circuit board, where it wanders around and eventually
finds the chassis), you have a PIN 1 PROBLEM, which is an open door to
RFI (RF in the shack).

If you have only one cable shield, it MUST GO TO THE CHASSIS to prevent
RFI. Even though that shield may be used for mic RETURN and PTT return,
it still must go to the CHASSIS. Inside the radio, MIC return and PTT
return are connected to the chassis via circuit traces. Those circuit
traces are plenty good enough to carry mic audio and PTT return (DC),
but they MUST NOT CARRY THE CABLE SHIELD. That's a Pin 1 problem.

For more on The Pin 1 Problem, see http://audiosystemsgroup.com/RFI-Ham.pdf

73, Jim Brown K9YC
Frankie Hunt
2010-10-12 00:35:25 UTC
Permalink
I replaced one of these yesterday with one that I picked up from TenTec.



Although the mentioned Heil connector is of good quality, it is quite a bit
longer than others. I much prefer the shorter ones!

The length was enough to make a difference in my shack.



I think mine came on a cable I got from Julius (W2IHY)



Frankie

K4TEN







Heil Sound's quality 8-pin male Foster (circular) connector !

http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/parts/4065.html

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