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View Full Version : Suitable base mic!


MM3XXW
Fri 9th Oct 2009, 15:45
Looking for a bit of advice regarding a half decent 'base' mic for my IC-761 that won't break the bank :!:

Currently I use a simple hand-mic, the HM-12, and do receive unsolicited comments on the audio - "very natural sounding, wouldn't have guessed you were using a hand-mic!" was one comment. Well at the moment I'm quite happy to continue using the HM-12 however I'd really like to put a base-mic on to free up my hands for the PC (logging, cluster etc).

I've read some of the eHam reviews concerning various types and apart from the obvious (SM-6, SM-8 & SM-20) there seems to be very few really suitable to Icom. Certainly reading the reviews one the Heil mics I'm not too sure if I want to go down that route, they don't have a great reputation when attached to an Icom!, so I was left pondering what other Icom owners have done to overcome this issue.

Of course my 761 is of the 'older' variety (an 'elder statesman' as I like to look upon it :roll: )and I was wondering whether anyone had managed to successfully couple any other types of mic to a radio of this genre?
Despite me having just forked out £350 for a new internal psu & service the radio is getting on a bit and in all honesty probably only worth circa £500ish so I'm not looking at mics in the £200 region however I would like something that would compliment the radio & my beautiful deep husky voice (mic or magic wand :roll: :wink: :roll: )

If anyone has any advice or suggestions (keep them clean :wink: ) I'd be very happy to receive them.
m0lsx
Fri 9th Oct 2009, 17:14
I can't remember exactly why, but I have been warned to take extreme care when using any non-standard mike on any Icom.
It has something to do with one of the wires on a microphone carrying voltage or not. As I remember it using the wrong microphone on an Icom can result in terminal damage to the radio.
MM3XXW
Fri 9th Oct 2009, 17:24
I can't remember exactly why, but I have been warned to take extreme care when using any non-standard mike on any Icom.
It has something to do with one of the wires on a microphone carrying voltage or not. As I remember it using the wrong microphone on an Icom can result in terminal damage to the radio.

Yes, you're spot on Alan and I have no intention of inadvertantly damaging my radio by trying to wire an unsuitable microphone :!:
So where else would I go for advice :!: :wink:
m0lsx
Fri 9th Oct 2009, 18:48
The Icom mikes come ready wired to use with Icom radios & are nice mikes.
It was what I was advised to get when I wanted a desk mike for the radio I use for special event operating.
It's also what I got when ordering equipment for the school radio club I run.
K7KBN
Fri 9th Oct 2009, 21:33
Every time I've ordered a mike from Heil, I specify what radio I'll be using it with, and they attach the connector. So far, that little courtesy hasn't cost me a cent. Send them an email and ask.
5B4AJB
Sun 11th Oct 2009, 07:47
You could always use a graphic equaliser on the mic circuit if it isn't
beautiful deep husky voice enough.

Lots of H.F. operators do and some with newer sets have the options within the radio's menus.

Here's an interesting read:-
http://www.seed-solutions.com/gregordy/ ... ophone.htm (http://www.seed-solutions.com/gregordy/Amateur%20Radio/Experimentation/Microphone.htm)

In my experience it's not just the mic level, but the frequency response of the mic insert that makes the most difference.
I have a tray of "old" mic inserts, tried pretty much all of them out for a (Icom handeld) mobile handsfree I made, but only a few actually sounded useable over the air - try experimenting.