Hi Bob,

OK, that's right, XLR, I knew that. :-)

Well I'm about convinced that the easiest shortcut to getting this going right would be to just get another W2IHY box, because when all is said and done, I might want to be able to tweak the audio characteristics anyway.  Unless a Berringer mixer would magically solve the balanced/unbalanced issue, which I'm guessing not.

In which case, maybe I'll put the whole thing up for trade: Boom mic, shock mount, phantom power -- for a Heil Pro headset.  Wacky?

Yes, I should have mentioned that I already have the phantom power.  That's all set, and I had this working quite nicely using a W2IHY unit and my last rig, which was the IC-746.  Coming from the phantom supply is a studio connector, but I supposed it could as easily be a DIN or RJ-45 for that matter.  Probably I'd have to plug the Heil switch into the rear to key it, though.

http://www.mxlmics.com/condenser_mic/mxlv67g/mxlv67g.htm

Here's another pic.  Sure is a nice looking mic, ain't it?  So it has an impedance of 200 ohms.  The input for the 706 is 600 ohms, so probably need a 3 to 1 transformer of some type?

There are mini equalizers short of a W2IHY, yes?

I work in computers so should be able to finagle a RJ45 somewhere and pigtail it!

Thanks for all the thoughts on this.

-Chuck

So I have in my shack this mic:
http://www.eham.net/data/classifieds/images/202951.jpg

It is a studio mic, a Marshall MXL V67.  Pretty flat response.  Coming from it is one of those three prong studio connectors (from the phantom power supply).  Also using a Heil footswitch for keying.

Short of just buying a W2IHY box to connect the mic to the rig, is there some relatively inexpensive way to adapt this to the IC-706?  

Thanks for any suggestions!

Chuck

So then, let me flip the question.  If it needs a decent counterpoise, what would that say about using this antenna for mobile operation?  Say 20m?

I guess the decent thing about it is that you have coverage for 6 and 2 as well as HF bands.  Still it looks like you'd have to pull over and do the manual band switcheroo for a major QSY.

-Chuck

Okay, so I have my eye on one of these that is available to me "gently used."  I've heard good things about it, but I wonder how it would compare, say roof mounted, with a Hustler or Butternut vertical (with adequate radials)?  Would the Outbacker be significantly inferior on the low bands?

Thanks for any thoughts,

Chuck

I've noticed a pretty consistent high-speed RTTY sounding signal, quite constant on 3.783.5  Any idea what it is?  I hear it every night.

Thanks for any wisdom!

73,

Chuck

I guess what I'm wondering is whether my SB-200 with these 572B's would see significantly better performance using the 240 volt line as compared to the 120.  50 watts?

Just got it today, and I knew it had problems.  I don't see anywhere in the documentation what it means when the entire display goes in blink blink mode and stops receiving...?  

Seems I can "reset" it by pulling the power and letting it sit for a while, so it is perhaps a CPU seizure of some sort?

Thanks for any suggestions,

Chuck

Off topic followup that shows my age:  Is there some standard approved "study guide" now?  They've probably got this thing down to a "memorize the questions" deal now, I imagine?

I recall having to learn a good bit about triodes and amplifier classes... that was in 1978.  I guess gone are those days!

73,

-Chuck

Wow, shows how long I've been out of the loop!!  I guess I would be tempted to upgrade only because I'd like the extra frequencies on 20/15 meters.  Unless of course they have changed that too!

No problem, Jim, I think I was too quick on the trigger on my response, I agree that people are too easily offended.  With this electronic communication, we have the problem of not knowing what the emphasis is, things escalate needlessly.  My own apologies!

On the PSK stuff, I guess some people do some level of QRO, though rarely.  Seems reasonable that it could potentially be unfair to others in terms of the bandwidth usage.  I'm grateful to have learned about that in this thread. Seems like a neat mode anyway, I've now had a handful of QSO's, since this weekend.

You'll have to fill me in on the "SLO-code" form of extra, as I'm a grandfathered Advanced Class, who should upgrade one of these days, but never seem to find the time to get back into CW.

-Chuck

No shooting involved.  Only commenting on tone, not content. :-)

My implied point was simply that when someone asks an innocent question to begin a reply with "Surely you jest" is akin to "You've got to be kidding!" and is the kind of condescension that makes the hobby appear elitist and arrogant, and certainly unattractive to newcomers.  I'm speaking as someone who, though licensed since 1977 has been away from the hobby for 10+ years.

I mean we are in fact talking about a fairly archane topic here, eh?  OK. nuff preaching.

In any event, I've done more listening about on 14.070 and thanks, yes discovered the low power nature of the mode.

Thanks & 73,

Chuck

Thanks for your humble and helpful response, much appreciated.

I'm finally trying PSK31 and wondering about using my SB-200 at all, and if so, what is a reasonable drive level?  This mode is obviously more continuous that SSB, even though using SSB audio input.  Not sure if those 572B's are designed for that kind of service!

Thanks & 73,

Chuck