Gooseneck mics

Post by **wavetar** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 3:45 pm

Any suggestions for a source for gooseneck style mics that'll work with a Maxtrac/GM300 style radio? We have a customer with a bunch of these no-name home brew looking boxes in their cranes, with gooseneck mics, interfacing to Maxtrac/GM300 radios. Several have physically broken, with the wires ripped out & the elements missing or broken up. Of course, nobody seems to recall where the heck these things came from, or who they're made by. We tried bringing in a Shure mic which was supposed to work, but didn't as it was the wrong type of mic element. So, anybody have dealings with this?

Todd

Tom in D.C. · Post by **Tom in D.C.** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 3:59 pm

The Maxtracs and similar units usually, but not always, used a condenser mic and it's hard
to find a condenser element in a gooseneck unit with the 5/8-27 thread as these
units from Shure, Astatic, and others are almost always dynamics. You need
to contact a reputable pro sound company, at least that would be my
recommendation as the easiest way to solve the problem. I always had good luck working with Astatic, but it's also a fact that Shure has the wiring all laid out for all of the Motorola product cables.

One other method might be to call Shure and get one of their guys on the phone
and see if they'll make up the unit you need. Their customer service has
always been the best, IMHO.

Al · Post by Al » Wed Nov 30, 2005 7:09 pm

I've seen gooseneck mics in one of the M accessory catalogs, I just can't remember which one but I'll check tomorrow and advise. I also have customers with the same types of 'cabs' that you're describing and gooseneck mics on consoles in them, but as of now they're all dynamic and being used with the old Kenwood mobiles. Sooner or later I'm going to have to change them over to electrets when we put narrowband-capable M mobiles in them. I'll be interested to hear what you finally settle on for mics.

n5tbu · Post by **n5tbu** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 10:27 am

I have used Shure gooseneck mics on maxtracs,using the 16 pin connector,and it worked fine.
I used to get them from TESSCO,but I just looked online and in their catalog,and they quit selling them.
Shure has at least 3 different type mic heads,dynamic,electret and carbon.
the electret and carbon should work fine for you.
mod

Post by **wavetar** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 12:16 pm

Got a link to the info on their website? Shure used to be good, but the past several years seem to have moved almost completely away from the radio side of things & concentrate totally on audio electronics. Their website now sucks to find anything useful in it...and the people I've talked to on the phone aren't much better.

All the gooseneck mountable mics they list here have dynamic mics, with no options for electrets.

http://www.shure.com/microphones/instal ... efault.asp

Todd

jackhackett · Post by **jackhackett** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 1:02 pm

We did some buses that used a gooseneck mic for both the PA and Maxtrac radio, as I recall they were Shure mics with an amplifier built in, and they came from Motorola.

MetroMan · Post by **MetroMan** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 5:27 pm

I think there was a gooseneck mic available for the Desktrac line but don't know if they're still available.

CPI also has a gooseneck on their 40 series remotes that has mic bias supplied to it. Don't know the length but might be worth a shot. Site is http://www.cpicomm.com and you can see a photo of the gooseneck at
http://www.cpicomm.com/trlit.pdf

Post by **wavetar** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 5:27 pm

jackhackett wrote:We did some buses that used a gooseneck mic for both the PA and Maxtrac radio, as I recall they were Shure mics with an amplifier built in, and they came from Motorola.

How long ago?

jackhackett · Post by **jackhackett** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 6:23 pm

wavetar wrote:
jackhackett wrote:We did some buses that used a gooseneck mic for both the PA and Maxtrac radio, as I recall they were Shure mics with an amplifier built in, and they came from Motorola.
How long ago?

I'd say somewhere from a year to two ago. We didn't do the original installs, they'd been in there a few years before we got to them, but we did order a replacement mic or two.. I might be able to find a part number if one of the road techs still has one in his truck.

Of course what you could do is use a standard dynamic mic and add an amplifier circuit, such as the amp out of an old motrac era mic, or even home brew something.. would probably only need a few parts.

Post by **wavetar** » Fri Dec 02, 2005 1:02 pm

jackhackett wrote: Of course what you could do is use a standard dynamic mic and add an amplifier circuit, such as the amp out of an old motrac era mic, or even home brew something.. would probably only need a few parts.

Yep...that's what I ended up doing. Used an NTE123AP transistor in combo with a 470K resistor & .22uF electrolytic cap...mounted onto a small board for neatness sake & it worked like a charm. Thanks all for replying...and I'd still like that part number if you can dig it up Jack, as a factory solution is still my preferred way to go in the future.

Todd

jackhackett · Post by **jackhackett** » Fri Dec 02, 2005 1:43 pm

Wasn't able to come up with the number, from what I've been told Shure disavows all knowledge of such a mic (even though their name's on it), and I would guess that they're either no longer available, or will be soon enough.

If you've got a circuit that works with a standard mic, that would be the way to go, as you'll have a much easier time getting the mics, and a stock Shure mic would no doubt be less expensive.

Post by **wavetar** » Fri Dec 02, 2005 2:34 pm

jackhackett wrote:Wasn't able to come up with the number, from what I've been told Shure disavows all knowledge of such a mic (even though their name's on it), and I would guess that they're either no longer available, or will be soon enough.

That's the same story I get from them too..."What? You used a Shure mic on a radio...don't know anything about that...sure it wasn't a P.A. system?"

I'll stick to building the circuit, I guess.

Alan · Post by **Alan** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 11:06 am

Wavetar:

I am interested in what model of mic you used. Also a quick escrition of the way your circuit is wired.

Thanks

Post by **wavetar** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 3:23 pm

Alan wrote:Wavetar:

I am interested in what model of mic you used. Also a quick escrition of the way your circuit is wired.

Thanks

I don't know the model of mic...it was some dynamic mic elements we had in a box from god knows where. They were about 150 ohms, I think...I reused the physical gooseneck...just pulled out all the wiring & rewired it from scratch. I cut up some cords from junked Startac home chargers for the wiring. It was perfect, with three wires plus a shield. Here's a picture of the circuit, I found it with a google search:

Worked great...I didn't even have to mess with the 470K resistor to adjust the amplification, it worked as is. You might find differently though.

Todd

Will · Post by **Will** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 10:15 pm

I remembered that there was a gooseneck mic option for the Comtegra and ran accross the notes on the mic.

The /\/\ part number is TDN 9916 kit.
The condenser mic is 4616-84863-69 at Giatronics. and AT857/SW from Audio-technica. The mic includes the goosneck and a built in amp that matches the Maxar, ect, mic input circuit.

Post by **wavetar** » Sun Dec 11, 2005 7:58 am

Thanks Will! Any idea how long the gooseneck was? Sometimes those console mics are just little 6" shorties. I could always extend them, I suppose.

Todd

Will · Post by **Will** » Sun Dec 11, 2005 1:43 pm

You are welcome, sir.

The goosneck and mic was more like 11 to 12" overall.

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