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| Reviews Summary for W4RT Electronics "One BIG Punch" |
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Reviews: 24
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Average rating: 4.9/5
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MSRP: $49.95
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Description: One BIG Punch (OBP) is a custom add-on accessory for the Yaesu MH-31 microphone commonly used with many Yaesu amateur radios such as the FT-817. The One BIG Punch is an AF-based speech compressor specifically configured to provide remarkable increase in talk power while maintaining good audio quality (articulation) for communication purposes. The unit can be mounted inside the MH-31, requires no additional electrical power, and can be turned on or off by using the MH-31's TONE switch. The One BIG Punch can also be install inside the FT-817 and then no modification to the MH-31 is required.
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More info: http://www.w4rt.com
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write your own review of the W4RT Electronics "One BIG Punch".
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WV4I
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Rating: 5/5
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May 4, 2007 12:04
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AB5N Yaesu MH-31 Mike Mod
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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This mike mod provides up to 5db transmit audio level boost, and is wholly contained in and powered by the MH-31 mike and circuitry. It is turned on/off by the 1-2 switch on back of mike. This is a fairly tedious mod to do yourself, and you should be very comfortable working with, soldering, desoldering, 24 gauge wire or smaller. I would recommend a lighted flex arm lamp of some sort with a built in magnifier, as well as 15w fine tip solder iron. The instructions must be downloaded and need to be printed in hi-res. I get good audio reports using my modded MH-31 with both my FT-857D and new FT-450. On the FT-857D, I noticed it really picked up the average power output driving a 400w amp on 2m SSB. Worth the $$ and install time.
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HA5X
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 21, 2006 02:44
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what a DIFFERENCE
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I ordered (paid) the unit at HAM Radio in Friedrichshafen via Waters&Stanton. Unfortunately it was not on stock, so I had to wait a month and a half or so to get the unit by post. Maybe the timing was not perfect due to summer holidays...
The unit looks nice and professional. A friend of mine installed it in my MH-31, as he is more clever with his hands :) He says it was easy to install it.
Then came on-air experimentation with both my FT-817 and the FT-897. All people I interviewed saw or felt a significant improvement in SSB signal strength, reports were 1-3 S units in favour of the compressor. On FM a weebit of distortion was tangible with the compression on, but speaking softer it was gone. But who cares: the unit is not meant for local FM chatting, and can be turned off any moment.
I played around a bit with my FT-897. While venting a "mmmmmmmmmmm" at a constant level I switched the unit on and off. The external RF power meter showed an average of 5W, but when I switched the OBP on, the needle immediately jumped to almost 30 Watts! Wowww.
Certainly it will take some time to experiment with this gadget on air, but the first evening signal reports already showed an improvement I had not expected. It is now time to get a second one. Maybe that one should come with the Heil microphone? Can that option be of any further gain?
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VA7CPC
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Rating: 5/5
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May 3, 2006 21:37
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Cheaper than an amp!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I had W4RT install the One Big Punch on my new FT-817 -- "same-day" turnaround!
Every audio report I get confirms the superiority of the "compressor ON" setting. "Full, not thin", "went from 50% readable to 80% readable", "much more punch" are typical "off/on" comments.
It works as advertised.
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W2MSK
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 5, 2005 13:36
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A requirement!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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The OBP adds significant "talk power" to the FT-817 rig. It is very easy to see the improvement with any Bird meter and I've received many excellent voice reports all preferring the OBP position over the stock mic. This is a must have mod to a fun rig.
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IV3EPO
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 26, 2004 00:41
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Very, very good !!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Ralph N5DOI did a great job with this stuff !!
There's a tremendous difference with it on or off also in FM.....now I can have full power and good audio quality with my FT-817, 897 and 857D.
Not very expensive, good costumer service and easy to build by yourself.
Well done !!
Thanks Ralph
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N1KSN
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 24, 2004 10:07
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Excellent
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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With the One Big Punch I have completed "tricking out" my FT-817 with the W4RT Big Three: The OBP, the One Board Filter, and the DSP HEAR IT Inside unit.
I just finished testing the One Big Punch on the air with a THP 50 watt linear hooked up to the FT-817, and my evaluators say the OBP sounds great compared to the unprocessed audio, which by comparison is "thin." I am very satisfied, and the installation was no problem for me.
I can recommend this item without reservation.
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KG0WX
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 7, 2003 13:36
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A must have for HF work!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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When you only have 5 watts max, you need every advantage you can get. I had the "max punch" option installed (both the HC4 & 5 elements).
To test the compressor, I hooked up my QRP meter and a dummy load. In USB on 14.250 mhz I keyed up and spoke a long "ahhhhhhhhhhh" while switching the selector on the back of the mic and watching my meter. With the OBP off I was getting about 2 watts and with it on I was getting nearly 5!
W4RT's service was excellent - I mailed the radio via priority mail on 11/1 and got it back UPS ground this morning! That's 6 days, folks!
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KF6QPC
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 14, 2003 19:39
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Great Product & Service
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I ordered the One Big Punch early
hours on Thursday and received the product in the mail that Saturday! I
installed the One Big Punch on my Yaesu MH-31 microphone using W4RT's
high-quality documentation and had successful results. I made a couple of
contacts on Sunday asking them if they noticed any difference. They told me
the tone switch number 2 setting on my microphone, which enables the One Big
Punch, really made a difference in both my tone and clarity.
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KE6VG
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Rating: 5/5
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May 7, 2003 19:56
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1 "S-Unit" Gain
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I installed this in my FT-817 last night and checked the output with it on and off. I receive a 1 S-Unit stronger signal with it on than with it off. I have a stock element in the mic. Audio sounds great. First contact with it was TX4PG on 18.140. 5-9 from his DX spot in Marqueses Islands. Got him first call with a dipole at 30 ft. The installation was not that difficult. Installing a CW filter in my FT-100 was much more involved. I would recommend this if you like SSB. 6 db gain and I'm still considered QRP. Great service from W4RT also!
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K6USN
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 14, 2003 13:21
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This WORKS!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I own an FT 817 and recently added the One Big Punch. The on air results have been very impressive. I work a lot of DX on HF SSB that I didn't before. I get some S-1, Q-5 reports, attesting to the 'punch' the audio has for my miniscule 5 watt signal.
I have just added the OBP to my Icom IC 706 Mk II
and have noted similar improvement in my audio. Although not as pronounced as with the 5 watt FT 817,there is a significant improvement over the stock HM 36 hand mike on the '706.
The customer service support at W4RT has been exceptional. I sent in a HM 118TN (the Icom touch tone accessory mike) for the OBP retrofit,and Bob, N4BK, went so far as to contact Icom and track down the schematic for this mike to make sure that the OBP was compatible. (This was the first HM 118TN they had seen). He then tracked down an IC 706 and tested the retrofitted mike to make sure all worked well.
Price is reasonable, turn around time outstanding, and customer service is excellent.
Above all, this product produces an immediate and very noticable improvement in my broadcast audio.
I recommend W4RT Electronics and the OBP most highly.
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