Electret microphones with Flex6600

Villelintervo

I'm new to the Flex and having difficult times with getting a standard 2*3,5 mm plugged headsets working with Flex6600. I am kind of puzzled whether I am doing something wrong as I fail to get the MIC -connector (on the back of the 6600) to accept standard PC electret microphones. None of the electrets I have is working that is...

I have bias on (Radio settings>Phone/CW settings) and MIC selected on the phone settings panel.

The supplied microphone (dynamic) is working ok. I am also able to use the PC -mic hooked up on the station computer.... but none of those requiring Bias directly hooked to the 6600

Any ideas on this ?

73, Ville oh1jd

Tim K9WX

When I first got my 6600, I could not get either of my electret mics to work with it. I eventually found that the bias voltage provided by the radio was applied to the tip and ring of the radio jack while both mics wanted the bias voltage on the tip and sleeve. I made an adapter cable that I can use with either mic to reroute the radio's bias voltage. See

https://community.flexradio.com/discussion/comment/19992412#Comment_19992412

and

https://community.flexradio.com/discussion/comment/20249066#Comment_20249066

In the second thread, DM5HF reports using a stereo to mono adapter and that it works for his electret mic.

Tim K9WX

Villelintervo

Thanks Tim,

This worked fine, though I have difficulties to comprehend why Flex has decided to deviate from pretty much standard implementation within the computer world.

73, Ville oh1jd

Mike-VA3MW

We deviated at the request of a few headset builders who felt it was time to move forward to a more common and universally available connector.

There are hundreds of CTIA headsets available worldwide that use that connector and it allows operators to not be stuck with a headset built only by 1 or 2 vendors.

As an example, I have a computer gaming headset that sounds awesome on the air. But, that is just my personal experience.

Villelintervo

Just to give a heads-up on this topic, the same gaming headset that does NOT "plug and play" with the 6600 rear mic connector works flawlessly with the Maestro C providing excellent audio.