Settings for MD100 or MD200 Mikes by VE3UW


1. Connect the rig to a dummy load, then POWER on.
2. Set the voice processor (PROC button) off.
3. Set the METER VCC/MIC button to MIC. This will display the audio level in the transmit audio circuits.
4. Speak into the mic using your normal "radio" voice. Set the MIC gain control so the bar graph just hits the right-hand side on occasional voice peaks. Leave the MIC gain at that setting unless you change your microphone. (On my MP with a Heil Pro-Set HC4 mic, this puts the MIC control at 9 o'clock) 5. Then adjust the RF PWR control so the PO bar graph just hits 100 watts on voice peaks. (On my rig this puts the RF PWR control at 3 o'clock)

With those settings, indicated power out (PO) should average 25 watts or less, and just make it to 100 watts on peaks. Your ALC readings will just make it to the right-hand side of the red bar on peaks. All will be well...
you will have excellent audio quality and no splatter (unless you start shouting).

I know that 25 watts average sounds depressing, but a 6 dB peak/average ratio is typical for normal speech.

So what about the voice processor? As you know, it's function is to compress the dynamic range of your audio so as to increase average power. Like all good things, that comes at a price... with too much compression, fidelity and intelligibility suffer.

I like to use a little processing... just enough to help the ALC limit drive when I shout, but not enough to degrade audio quality. With the above settings, my setup is:
6. Set the PROC button to on.
7. Set the PROC control to maximum counter-clockwise 8. Set the METER ALC/COMP button to COMP 9. Talking in your normal voice, increase the PROC control setting until you get no more than 2 or 3 dB compression on voice peaks. (On my MP this puts the PROC control at 10 o'clock)

Once the mic and processor are is set up that way, I never have to change them. I get lots of "great audio" reports, and never a splatter complaint.
BTW, I've found that using more compression is NOT productive in DX pileups... having a clean crisp signal seems more effective than a louder-but-muffled one.

Rod Elliott VE3UW