Ever in search of a cheap and light weight microphone solution for the KX2, I have adapted and tested a common two prong speaker mic as well as an earbud mic. They work great, get good audio reports, have PTT and the earbud/mic only weighs about 1.5 oz.
Click here for description, more photos, wiring diagram, and construction notes.
http://www.w0cp.com/2018/03/adapting-two-pin-speaker-mic-to.html
Hi walt,
Great job! But I would call wgat you used a “hands free mic and earbud” not a speaker mIc - I understand a speaker mic to look like this:
which is probably larger and heavier than the Elecraft microphone!
73 Ed.
Ed, thanks for the comments, but you’re wrong on both points. If you follow the link, I explain why I chose the earbud/mic for my final build, but the wiring diagram and assembly applies equally whether you use a speaker mic or earbud mic for the project. Moreover, the speaker mic in your photo is significantly smaller and, at about 80 grams, lighter than the Elecraft mic and would be a good choice if you are willing to use the rig speaker or plug earbuds into the jack on the bottom of the speaker mic. The Elecraft mic, though much larger, doesn’t have a speaker, so for those seeking a lightweight alternative, the speaker mic could be attractive even if the speaker component isn’t used. As I state in the article, the headphone output on the KX doesn’t quite have enough output for me through the speaker mic, but your mileage may vary. Again, the plan is for adaptation of a speaker mic or anything that has two pins.
I’ve adapted a Heil headset for Kenwood HT (2 prong) to my KX2, I love it.
Thanks for the clarification Walt, that your solution will work for either the Speaker/Mic unit often bought extra to a HT or the “earbud / microphone” which normally comes included with the HT.
Anything we can do to reduce weight while retaining acceptable audio quality is a plus when climbing summits.
73 Ed.
Amen, Ed, Colorado’s steep slopes and high altitudes have made some of us a bit fanatical about weight. Shaving ounces becomes a fun challenge. 73
The Heil sounds like a great solution. Since there are a lot of mics out there with two pins and a paltry few compatible with the Elecraft, it makes sense to adapt some of them to field use - especially since the Elecraft mic is way too big, about half the size of the KX2!
As you said volume is an issue from the KX2/3, I wonder what the earpiece impedance is and what the output of the KX2/3 expects. Perhaps some matching will help to get the audio level up a little?
73 Ed.
Hi Walt
FB!
While I’m an almost CW only operator (99.99% of the time) I bought a cheap 4 pin to stereo adapter and use a phone earbud (iphone, samsung, you name it).
I used this for AM contacts (KX’s AM modulation is very good) or FM (kx-3 transverter)
Earbuds works FB even on windy summits.
73 de Pedro, CT1DBS/CU3HF
Hi Pedro. That’s exactly the same setup I have been using previously. Works fine for me, too. I actually have a writeup on it on my blog w0cp.com, if anyone wants more info. The only downside I found is that I have to use the xmit button on the radio, since the phone earbuds don’t have PTT. PTT is really why I developed this solution. I often have new activators or friends along with me and I watched them struggle with the Xmit button. Having PTT on the mic is a convenience, but your solution works well, too. 73, Walt
Impedance doesn’t matter very much for modern audio amps.
The KX3/KX2 “Phones” output is 100 mW, so not really enough for a speaker.
You can use amplified speakers, like the Chill Pill ($7).
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B001K33QSO/
Or you can use an external audio amp. At home, I use this $11 amp at home (12V, stereo 15W).
wunder
I guess the KX2 could be modified to put the speaker output on the “phones” jack or some such trick. The speaker wires are in my face every time I recharge the battery. I may do that one of these days. I really like the idea of using an HT speaker mic with the KX2. It just seems to be the right size for that rig and it gets the speaker up close so you can hear it (instead of underneath the radio). 73
One nice feature of the FT-817 is that you are able to switch the jack between speaker and earphone output, I haven’t seen that on other rigs (I’m sure some will have it but I’ve only seen it on the 817). It’d be a nice mod for the KX2/3.
73 Ed.
A standard stereo to mono splitter will break out the PTT from the microphone. It can also give cleaner mic audio because it splits the noisy logic bias off from the clean mic bias. I wrote that up here:
wunder
Hi Walt
Thank you for your reply.
Your are absolutely right!
The very few times I use voice on the KX-2 or the KX-3, a PTT on the mic was considered a very useful feature.
After some time, on the KX-3, I used a small pressure switch and a 2.5mm plugged to ACC2 (set to LO=PTT). FB!
73 de Pedro, CT1DBS/CU3HF
I realise that I am resurrecting an old thread but I thought this may be of use to someone. I have recently written instructions on how to convert a headset to a mini microphone for SOTA use with a KX2. The details can be found here:
https://www.dundee-amateur-radio.co.uk/club-matters/files
Best regards, Richard.
2M0NEG
The link does not work anymore. can you please post again?
Of Course. Here is a link to the page. There are two lots of instructions for microphones suitable for the KX2 here: Dundee ARC (GS4AAF) - Files
Hey Pedro, that sounds like a good solution for me. Wiring the pressure swich or ant other should be quite simple, but can you add more info to this please?
OK4SU 73
