Dawn
Member
We've already covered the amplified mics, which nothing appears to have changed since the early 70's in their desirability of conventional stock microphones.
Back then, anything but a 3/4 pin microphone with just PTT keying and maybe a make/break connection on the mic element was considered the optimum microphone. The seperate audio shield and system ground while usually tied together in most mics although some radios had a seperate audio input ground that pretty much was disregarded with the isolated chassis from vehicular ground towards the later 70's.
A "real" radio used relay switching, perhaps because the physical arrangement was easier to understand and electronic switching often meant more wires to make/break the receiver audio which in some cases required the mic to be inserted for local audio depending on the design. I had many requests to change the DIN connector on Radio Shack and Sears radios to 4 pin which at times was logistically impossible on front panel mounts especially with molded plastic front panels without a lot of surgery and in some cases standoffs, so I wouldn't do them. I really got tired of hearing that DINs pull out of their sockets. In normal mobile use or base use, that would be near impossible. People really hated those connectors which is probably the reason they've gone the way of the Dodo. It didn't help matters with some radios taking liberty with the pinouts by adding unfused 12V direct from the power input to pin 2 for direct powering of proprietary power mics which was common in Hitachi made chassis. Inserting a Midland/Cobra DIN blew that trace upon keying. Hitachi in some cases used pin 2 and pin 5 in radios that didn't need to break the rx audio for remote volume on the mic. That didn't help things either.
Much of that history in mics was understandable though. Folks find electronic switching abstract as well as mic impedance. The one I see now that befuddles me is what's the issue with condensor microphones? Most any commerical or amateur radio has been using them for years. I see this gray button/black button thing that doesn't appear to translate to mic PTT levers/plungers. Where did this terminology come from and what is with the problem with condensor mics as cheap junk in favor of a dynamic cartridge. If anything, it's the reverse that's true. Is the added bias on the mic line another problem that if not isolated prevents the use of a Dynamic? Is it the mass of the microphone being lighter? I find it amusing that commerical mics now put heavy metal plates inside the microphone to give the illusion of heft, but retain the condensor button on a circuit board.
Where did this gray/black button thing come from and what's the problem with condensor mics? They sound a hell of a lot better to me. With some added amplification, you get a self powered, power mic out of the deal too for a lot less, what's not to like?
Back then, anything but a 3/4 pin microphone with just PTT keying and maybe a make/break connection on the mic element was considered the optimum microphone. The seperate audio shield and system ground while usually tied together in most mics although some radios had a seperate audio input ground that pretty much was disregarded with the isolated chassis from vehicular ground towards the later 70's.
A "real" radio used relay switching, perhaps because the physical arrangement was easier to understand and electronic switching often meant more wires to make/break the receiver audio which in some cases required the mic to be inserted for local audio depending on the design. I had many requests to change the DIN connector on Radio Shack and Sears radios to 4 pin which at times was logistically impossible on front panel mounts especially with molded plastic front panels without a lot of surgery and in some cases standoffs, so I wouldn't do them. I really got tired of hearing that DINs pull out of their sockets. In normal mobile use or base use, that would be near impossible. People really hated those connectors which is probably the reason they've gone the way of the Dodo. It didn't help matters with some radios taking liberty with the pinouts by adding unfused 12V direct from the power input to pin 2 for direct powering of proprietary power mics which was common in Hitachi made chassis. Inserting a Midland/Cobra DIN blew that trace upon keying. Hitachi in some cases used pin 2 and pin 5 in radios that didn't need to break the rx audio for remote volume on the mic. That didn't help things either.
Much of that history in mics was understandable though. Folks find electronic switching abstract as well as mic impedance. The one I see now that befuddles me is what's the issue with condensor microphones? Most any commerical or amateur radio has been using them for years. I see this gray button/black button thing that doesn't appear to translate to mic PTT levers/plungers. Where did this terminology come from and what is with the problem with condensor mics as cheap junk in favor of a dynamic cartridge. If anything, it's the reverse that's true. Is the added bias on the mic line another problem that if not isolated prevents the use of a Dynamic? Is it the mass of the microphone being lighter? I find it amusing that commerical mics now put heavy metal plates inside the microphone to give the illusion of heft, but retain the condensor button on a circuit board.
Where did this gray/black button thing come from and what's the problem with condensor mics? They sound a hell of a lot better to me. With some added amplification, you get a self powered, power mic out of the deal too for a lot less, what's not to like?
