FT-450D MIC Recommendations please

Hi all.
I've been getting some pretty poor reports that my audio is down / not good / no punch ect on the supplied standard Mic, both on FM and USB.
Can any of you guys tell me if the K-PO Power Mic would work well if I got a cross over lead? Or maybe I'll just buy another one
It works fine on my SS 6900N with excellent reports.
Or please recommend me an alternative.
On the 450d I already have the mic menu setting set to high, but I still get better reports when I'm on the 6900N with the K-PO (both rigs set at the same RF Power)
I'd be grateful for any help or recommendations.
Cheers
Dale

Hi Dale,

Strange how things seem to come together??
I was reviewing a video on this last night from Fred In the shed. He had a similar issue with the standard mic and replaced it with a desk model, although he did make a small difference by using the tone switch on the rear of the standard mic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7s00Uy4iZPc

Hope it's of some use.

Graeme

Cheers Graeme, I'll take a look.

I played around with the settings in the menu until i found the right one for my voice and with the mic setting on mid i found my audio pretty good but i was told about drilling a few small holes in the front of the mic to allow the voice to be less muffled..I took the mic completely apart to reduce risk of damage.

Works much better so ive been told but i also have a couple kpo nm532 mics here and with a converter lead i can use them but with the radio on low mic setting.Tbh the kpo is harsher but good for dx but the stock mic in all honesty is what i prefer for both dx and local chit chat.

Im naturally loud and can be as loud as i like in my outside workshop so no need to whisper..hi hi

Thanks for the reply Cozzmic.
I get the idea of drilling a hole in the front. Sounds like a good idea and a cheap mod, I'll give it ago at the weekend.
Cheers
Dale
26-CT-3550

You do not need a power mic on amateur radio gear not ever.

FM probably sounds quiet because it's on narrow FM which enforces a 2.5kHz deviation and most CB rigs have it wound up more than that. Set it to wide FM if possible and that'll make it well loud.

As for SSB, turn on the processor but you don't want it to be showing more than 10dB of compression on voice peaks. There is a MIC-EQ menu setting where you can alter the EQ profile. If you want to sound like the booming unintelligible rednecks on the superbowl channe; like it appears those you're talking to want you to then go into the MIC-EQ, set it to bass boost, wind the PROC and MIC GAIN up to max.

Beware though that this kind of audio the plebs are telling you you should have will mean that if you're a weak station to a DX station they're not likely to be able to understand a word you're saying and will just move on to the next.

Remember on amateur transceivers they have an ALC that actually functions so all that chucking a power mic on will do is guarantee that that ALC circuit does its job to limit the level of drive from the mic.

Thanks Starship, will take a look at the Adonis.
Northern Crusader, thanks for that, all taken in and understood. When I'm in a QSO with a fellow ham or on the local net, I don't get any of the comments I mentioned apart from maybe I'm a bit quiet, but that could be just me not having the mic close enough.
But with my freebander friends it's just as you say and as I've described. I'll have another look at the settings and experiment a little. But I'm certainly not interested in sounding like a boom box, I leave that to those on the muppet channel.
I pride myself on operating QRP, therein lies the challenge for me (and the rush when I make contact) and the fun. Let's face it anyone can put on 250 watts and get around the world, for me that would be no fun at all. I've recently QSO'd with Italy and Poland on 8 watts into a Dipole in the loft, and I was very pleased with my effort.
I love my new transceiver, I'm still learning what it can do, I certainly don't want to be pushing its circuitry and risk damaging it. Thanks for the sound advice.

Cheers
Stay safe
73's
Dale
26-CT-3550

The original microphone is fine just set the position to 2 on the back of the Mic.

Adjust the Mic settings in the menu

Deathproof wrote:

The original microphone is fine just set the position to 2 on the back of the Mic.

I'd forgotten about that setting on Yaesu HF rig microphones. Definitely try this as it alters the response frequency of the mic. The two settings are basically one for Japanese voices, two for European/USA.

I use setting 2 on the back. This is for deeper voices and mine is deep and growly so 2 works fine.
It is a Japanese rig. There is a joke that 1 is for East Asian voices and 2 is for western ..... hahaha.
Seems to be true in most cases I know where we use a Yaesu.

I have mine on setting 2 and not had any problems only ever good reports on audio quality.
My EQ profile is on mid i think it is can't remember but you can do a lot in the settings.
Have a look in the manual.