Microphone for PC when remote

Phil N3ZP · May 2020

I will be using my HP laptop for remote operation. It's been fine for FT4 and FT8 but I'd like to do some SSB also. I tested a set of cell phone ear buds, Bluetooth audiophile headphones and a wired pair of audio headphones and all of them seem to need the mic gain set almost to max to show much movement on the dB scale. I tried various equalizer settings and also use the + 20dB mic setting. I use a set of Radiosport headphones for my 6400 and they work very well. I am considering getting the Radiosport RS55SL lightweight headset to use with the laptop. Anyone using them with a PC that can comment on them? I don't have any other cellphone or other headsets to try and don't want to buy another set of cellphone earbuds or pc headset that my not work any better than mine.

Thanks,

Phil
N3ZP

Phil N3ZP · May 2020

I haven't tried using the laptop mic. I also have an iPad. I may have to give the internal miss a try.

Thanks,

Phil N3ZP

Tim VE6SH · May 2020

Phil

The Radiosport set have worked well for me. Lately I have found (from using Zoom and Teams in the lockdown) that muyBose Q35IIs work very well using the iOS app on the iPad and with windows (although you do have to play with the equalizer settings).

73

Tim VE6SH

KD0RC · May 2020

Hi Phil, Amazingly, I got very good audio reports from my laptop built-in mic as well as from my cell phone. I did build a mic profile for each. I know you are looking for a good headset, but if you set up a profile for the laptop mic, you will have a way to operate if the headset fails or gets forgotten.
73,
Len, KD0RC

Bob KC9RF · May 2020

Phil
I use a PC, Maestro or Ipad when operating remote. The same mic is used for all. Mic used is a Heil Proset 4 headset with HC6 element.

Using the PC Remote I use a USB Sound card that is slightly larger than a standard USB A connector.
The 2 pin (Heil) mic connector inserts into a 3 pin to 2 pin adapter then is inserted into the USB sound card Mic input. The (Heil) headset cable to USB sound card uses a standard 3.5 mm stereo plug input. Email me ,good on QRZ for pictures info etc for more info.

Noise gating for the PC. I use Noise Gator software to act like the DEXP on Smart SDR
The noise threshold can be set to eliminate ambient noise in the area that your doing your transmitting. Eliminating things like a dog bark this won't do but for most areas it really helps.

For the I pad I have a split cable adapter plug for the Heil Headset Mic and headphone inputs.
Operating the IPAD- Connect the Ipad to Smart link or local Flex on the network press menu Icon on left top select audio and Adjust Mic Threshold or use DEXP available with SSDR for Ipad to eliminate ambient noise.

I get great audio reports using either Ipad or PC running remote. I then save a profile for PC remote and Ipad remote so it's easy to change over regardless of what client I'm using.
Bob

John Konrad · May 2020

I do a lot of audio video work and the problem is that nearly all consumer headsets have excellent headphones and really bad mics so buying another headset is not a good option. I have two setups. SETUP 1 (easy, low cost): A Rode smartLav+ which is clipped onto Sony MDR7506 headphones... both plugged into a Sabrent USB audio adapter. SETUP 2 (expensive, steep learning curve, pro quality sound): Sound Devices MixPre-3 Audio Interface Shure SM7B Vocal Dynamic Microphone There are many options in between but I believe it’s important to have a separate mic and not use a headphone with a mic built in.

Phil N3ZP · May 2020

Thanks for the suggestions. I do have a Sabrent external sound card so that would allow me to use a headphone with a separate mic. I'll experiment a bit more before I make a big expenditure .

Phil N3ZP

Microphone for PC when remote

Best Answer

Answers

Leave a Comment

Categories