Proper Microphone Techniques  

                                             BY BOB HEIL K9EID 
It is so important to use proper microphone techniques so as to avoid extraneous background noises such as blower fans, TV sets in the next room, etc. Haven't you tuned across this big loud signal where the fan is louder than the stations voice? His explanation for the situation is usually that he is "running a lot of power" is certainly not the correct explanation of the situation. The problem is that he is usually speaking about a foot from the microphone with the un-equalized processor and mic gain cranked up - causing the background noise to be louder than his voice. 

Microphones for communications transmitters were designed and meant to be within two to three inches of the user's mouth - no further away. It is NOT proper to sit back away from a microphone and expect to have that commanding signal. The important mid-range frequencies are lost, the highs are diminished and there is very little dynamic range. What is left is the room resonance that overrides just about any audio present. 

To correct this and insure that your signal has that terrific mid-range punch, free from extraneous background noise, run the microphone gain as low as possible to achieve full ALC action and speak no more that two to three inches from your microphone. It is the accepted practice in professional communications and is the only way to achieve good solid transmit audio. One of the major culprits that allow the operator to stay away form the microphone are the usual 'desk stands'. The best fix for this is to use a microphone boom as used in commercial broadcast stations as well as recording studios. The boom allows you to place the microphone two to three inches from your mouth and at the same time give you back the desktop that was taken up by that silly little desk stand! Using a footswitch to control the push to talk line of your transmitter in conjunction with the microphone and boom set up gives your station 
that terrific hands free operation and with great articulation into the microphone. 

Paying attention to and practicing the simple science of audio at your Amateur Radio station will give you results you had thought not possible without spending lots of money when in fact great improvements can be achieved by simply applying the science. 

Bob Heil K9EID