How doI set up a Heil PR-40 mic for my 8600? Bias on or off? Set comp? etc

Pote2004

:(

Mike-VA3MW

It is possible the MIC cable on the Heil is the issue. Do you have a way to test it?

KD0RC

The PR 40 is a dynamic mic, so bias should be off.

Flex uses Controlled Envelope Single Sideband (CESSB), not audio compression, so you get a lot of punch without much distortion. If you turn on PROC and set it to DX+, you get a 2.8 dB increase in average power. That makes your 100 Watt rig as loud as a 200 Watt rig.

The most important thing to set correctly is the mic Level. Make sure that the peak indicator (the little square) does not go past 0 dB and turn red. You should adjust it to be somewhere around -5 dB on voice peaks. You may or may not need to enable the +20 dB button to get the level where you need it. On my Heil, HM-12 I need it, on my Yamaha CM-500 headset, I don't.

To make the mic level much easier to set, without having to transmit, enable Level Meter During Receive. Now you can speak into the mic at any time and the level will respond.

Finally, to get the most out of your mic, check out the YouTube videos by Ken, NM9P and Mike, VA3MW on using Full Duplex (FDX) to monitor your transmit signal as you set the TX Equalization. You can get the rig to sound the way you want it, not the way someone else might prefer it. You can even set up different mic profiles for different scenarios (DX - lots of highs, Ragchew - pleasant, natural sound, etc).

Mike-VA3MW

Nice write up Len.

Personally, I never ever remember what mic's take Bias and what don't. I just turn it on and off while watching the Mic level meter until I get Audio deflection. Then, move forward from there.

Lastly create your own Mic profile and delete all the ones you don't require.

KD0RC

Thanks Mike!

JonDMassaro

I have followed those steps above and can't get my radio to transmit. Even with the stock mic. Any thoughts @KD0RC @Mike-VA3MW

KD0RC

Hi John, can you post a screenshot of your SmartSDR? It may be something simple like which mic input is selected.

Also let us know what radio, software version, mic, and where the mic is plugged in.

JonDMassaro

Well it is a 8400 delivered today, software is 3.8.23 the mic is a Pr40 I am unable to post a photo for some reason. The mic is plugged in to the 3.5 mm port labeled mic with the foot pedal connected to the ptt rca jack.

Neil D Friedman N3DF

Do you have the PR40 plugged into the 8600’s balanced mic input or its pseudo-balanced input?

JonDMassaro

Opps sorry it is an 8400 no balanced input

KD0RC

Hi Jon, You need to select the mic input that you are using. On my 6400, the back panel mic connector is MIC. I'm not sure which one that is on the 8600. I set the mic level (slider next to the mic selection) so that on voice peaks, the little peak indicator stays just out of the red (-5 dB or so). If you can't get this value high enough with the gain slider, turn on the +20 dB Boost. Make sure that the DAX and +ACC buttons are off (not blue).

See my post above for how to enable the Level Meter During Receive function. It makes it much easier to adjust your mic gain.

JonDMassaro

Len, I have it all dialed in just how you described it but still no luck.

JonDMassaro

I have submitted a support request. Thanks guys.

KD0RC

Yep, that will be best. Flex Support will know what to do.

KD0RC

I just thought of one other thing... On the flag (on the panadapter, it shows freq, mode, etc) do you have TX selected? It should have a red background.

JonDMassaro

yes it is red

JonDMassaro

KD0RC

Well, that all looks good. You are sure that you have the foot switch plugged into the proper jack on the back?

Another thing to check is that you do not have PTT Inhibit checked on any of the bands that you want to transmit on. Go to Settings, TX Band Settings and look at the PTT Inhibit column.

Can you use the MOX button to get into transmit?

Mike Steventon

Here is a possibly **** idea. Connect a 3.5mm TRS plug into the back of the transceiver, with OPEN ENDS, no microphone. Then touch each wire with the finger(s) and see if you get a response on the level meter, (without, of course, setting transmit!!). This will at least show if the fault is in the rig itself…… If `all OK I would expect to see movement of the level meter, especially if you wind the level up to "full bore". That way, you can hopefully demonstrate that the PR 40 may be either wired incorrectly, or is indeed the faulty item.

Just an idea…..

73 Mike.

Mike Steventon

for **** read "silly!!!!!"

JonDMassaro

Ok guys here is the update. The cable I ordered for my mic was not a balanced cable. Working with tech support now, but i was able to change some settings for mic bias and get the factory mic to work. I am still having some issues with the factory mic it sounds like it has a short in the cable.

Ken Wells

The PR-40 is a dynamic mic, and is not a high gain mic.

You need BIAS OFF and +20 ON (Unless you are using an external preamp for the PR-40.)

I need my Mic Gain setting at about 85 for full output on my PR-22 which is a little more sensitive than the PR-40

JonDMassaro

Thanks Ken, I will start there.

Ken Wells

Also check out this document and the links it has:

Adjusting your Microphone Settings for Best TX Audio – FlexRadio

JonDMassaro

I am up and running. I will review and adjust accordingly later today. Thank you all.