How To Set Mic Gain And Compression, How To Speak Into The Mic, You'll Be Gob smacked!

[@Frank_K4FMH]

You seem a bit stronger here, Jim. I pray that’s true! Thanks for a great video on a critical topic for phone. 73 de K4FMH

[@Stewart0494]

Jim, great to see you. Hopefully you're feeling a little better. 73 Stewie

[@timbacchus]

An excellent schooling. Very important. I have heard a few SSB vice signals with the correct settings and they sound like FM radio.

[@fm3340]

After our QSO the other night where you suggested that I watch this video, I did so. I was wondering if you were telling me to watch this video for a reason, but didn't want to tell me over the air that my audio needed some work. I watched the video and set my radio up just as you described. Believe it or not, the first QSO after the adjustment, I was told that I sounded great and don't change anything. This compliment on my signal was 100% unsolicited in any way, the compliment just came out of the blue. Karl N0KAF

[@basshorseman998]

God Bless you Jimmy, Thanks for everything. As you've said, have fun!

[@jackK5FIT]

Thanks for the great lesson Jim. God Bless.

[@johnbenson9848]

Thank you, Mr. Heath for your ongoing tutelage. I did hear you Monday evening speaking with the station in Moscow, Valery I think it was, from here in Akron, Ohio. I hope to speak with you on 20 sometime soon. 73 from John KA8GKG

[@RadioMattM]

I might also suggest that there is no contest to see how fast people can spit out their call sign. Slow down with it and try to use standardized phonetics.

[@rickhicks6833]

That's one of my problems. I used the standard phonetic alphabet for decades. I have a really hard time with people using their made-up phonetics. They make no sense to me.

[@goosecouple]

​@@rickhicks6833Florida, Sugar, Germany, ...

[@Joe-KN4IFI]

Great video Jim. Hope you are feeling better. You are looking great. Some real good tips on setting up the mic gain. One thing to add I wish new hams and old would stop using QSL when handing it back. But I quest its better then nothing :(. 73 Joe

[@davidk1579]

Thank you very much, so many people have said talk in to the mic.at an angle, now I know from somebody that talks like they know what they are talking about.. and no am not a ham radio operator, am one of those CB.ers. lol. But I learned in the military as an RTO. And I would like to act like someone with courtesy and common sense. Thank you again.

[@Coffeebreak6329]

Thank you Jim, as usual another very informative and useful video. '73

[@Stingmni]

What a great lesson. Thank you Jim.

[@vinniec5286]

Thank you for this. I will admit that I did not understand ALC/Comp settings very well before this.

[@kc8wvg]

Thanks, Jim, for another informative video. I always save your videos for reference material. You look like you are feeling better. Prayers that you stay healthy and have a great summer with your family. I hope that we can have a QSO sometime in the future. 73

[@kingduckford]

Having people record radio sessions is truly invaluable. You can show people the quality of their audio, or hear your own. No better proof, or chance to improve, then actually hearing what it sounds like.

[@ys1rs]

Excellent Video Jim!!! Thanks for teaching us the correct way. I've heard many Latin American stations using a lot of compression and echo to sound thick and big. I've also heard the comments of the hams in those QSOs saying "beautiful sound as always!" but in reality they sound awful and terrible. At the beginning, I used to think it was some kind of effect produced by their huge amplifiers but then, I realized they were doing it on purpose, it is some kind of "Fashion" for them to sound like this. Thanks again for teaching us how a pro communicator should sound Jim. Our job is to communicate clearly only. To listen to an over driven audio station puts a lot of unnecessary stress and tires you fast. Stay well, safe and pray for health for you and family. 73, Rob. YS1RS.

[@kingduckford]

It seems to be a bad habit carried over from CB. Echo boards are a big deal, mostly to total idiots. They are a "must have" according to people who "tune" radios, because the more parts and services they sell you, the more money they make. They are a big deal to idiots on CB, because "MOAR is better". Echo boards and over modulation are actually the worst parts of CB radio, more than amplifiers of insane power. Latin American CB operators are as bad as bad US CB operators, except they always seem worse. Painfully loud roger beeps, horribly distorted audio with high echo. The sad part is, you can tell the rest of their equipment is good, because when you hear them play music in the background, or hear their dog bark, they come in with clear and beautiful AM high quality. These people go far out of their way to destroy the quality of their transmissions, on purpose.

[@RadioHamGuy]

Great advice Jim. I just purchased a 7300 also due to my fading eyesight. Works best for me now.

[@alallan7584]

Excellent advice, Jim.

[@paulsmietan5527]

Sage advice from the best Elmer, W6LG. 73 ES CU on the air DE NT7PS

[@robertruth3281]

Thank you Jim. Your experience is much appreciated. Bob - AI5RR

[@WECB640]

Jim, thank you for adressing this problem. It's sad that hams need this type of instrucion at all. 73 OM

[@IZ0MTW]

All very good tips Jim, correct and pertinent. I really hope more people or new hams will follow your advice cause to me seems like there’s a generalized habit of pumping up everything as much as one could ignoring that the quality of modulation degrades and makes it more difficult to copy often times. Diego

[@RandallRash]

Thanks for great tips on the most important part or radio..."How you sound".

[@billcameron]

Morning Jim from VE8AP hope your feeling well keep the great video's coming

[@TheRenoir]

Thanks Jim, 20m is a particularly good example of the prevalence of mic gain warriors and many of them have decent linears to make it worse. That being said, I can also attest to some stations having strong audio that fits beautifully within the spectrum scope and I commend those enthusiasts for the effort they go to. If you use a ubeaute linear let it do the work and back off. If you are among the majority at 100w or so get that compression adjusted as strong and clean as possible to punch through the qrm.

[@K6ORJ]

I'm always surprised when I get really good audio reports in my jeep at 65 mph. . . it's quite loud inside. I set the mic at 20%, but I prefer 15% so the ALC is held about mid way rarely touches the end of the end of the ALC band. I don't use the processor. This is on the stock microphone that the socalled experts say is garbage, all while they tell me how good it sounds. It has been explained to me that 'processing' is adding audio in the audio stage, not terrible if done in moderation. ALC is trying to clamp down the audio stage, when the PA (transmitter) gets beyond its limits. This distorts the audio with IMD and the signal looks flat topped on an O-scope. I used used to go with the idea that I'm mobile, I need everything I've got to make up for my lack of antenna. Most of the time they're hearing me better than I can hear hear them. Clean audio goes much farther than the miniscule amount of power I'm going to get out by pushing the mic gain.

[@timgoad5750]

Good advice that needs to be observed.

[@jerryKB2GCG]

I use “over” a lot during my HF POTA activations even if it slightly slows down the rate, I find this helps a great deal on those tough qso’s.

[@ben2e0omr]

Sage advice, thank you Jim.

[@DK5ONV]

Tnx again for a neat Video, Elmer Jim. Happy Humpday into Rocklin / CA. 73 de Uncle Günter 💯👌🙋‍♂

[@n0vty873]

outstanding, thanks Jim.

[@boydmasonlake1995]

Nice show!

[@amateurshooter6054]

Thanks Jim

[@c.a.r.s.carsandrelevantspecs]

Thank you for this very helpful video with examples! ~ 73 ~ AC7WH

[@cwebs1000]

Hi Jim, I have two radios that I use most of the time. Problem is they both have three knobs lower left. Af and Rf gain and mike controls but laid out opposite to each other. I am always turning the wrong knob and have to reset the mike gain and compression. I may need to glue a needles to the knobs. HI HI

[@matthew.tamasco]

Jim. Should the gain and compression settings stay the same on different bands and while using different antenna systems? Is there a variable that will require me to change these settings?

[@ham-radio]

I'm currently in the hospital in Roseville California. The audio settings on the transceiver should be the same on every band. the band should not matter . once you correctly set the audio gain and compression everything should be fine. 73 Jim

[@Big_B123]

What happens when manufacturers contract inept companies to produce the manuals.

[@LIM_Khuan]

thanks Jim...fr 9V1

[@scasey1960]

ALC meter??

[@lt4324]

thanks for another great video Jim! Another thing I can't stand is when Hams use made up words or phonetics for their call sign! A lot of hams think this is cool or understandable BUT IT IS NOT! Sometimes made up words do not signify the actual letter whiles hams like myself can't misunderstand the meaning! PLEASE USE THE CORRECT PHONETICS when saying your call, there is nothing nice, cool or etc about made up words, and many who do this sound like FOOLS and or idiots! IMO

[@MM0IMC]

"Room echo" often heard on many mainland European stations, especially Italian.... 🙄

[@ahendrix9787]

...SO good to see you, Jim! this video was very helpful...and yes, i AM gob-smacked! 73! de AJ4D

[@KE6GRM]

Excellent video Jim. Ai6lz

[@scottkralph]

Thanks Jim, nice video! Good health to you VA3EKR

[@JayN4GO]

Trying to remember the last time I used a microphone hehe. Cul om