Where do you set your 'mic gain' dial?

Discussion in 'CB Radio Forum' started by Jeffro115, Mar 26, 2009.

  1. Jeffro115

    Jeffro115 Bobtail Member

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    Dec 11, 2008
    Pittsburgh PA
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    I know of some people that will constantly fiddle with their mic gain on their radio. I generally leave mine in the middle. How do you know when to turn it up or down?

    If I'm not getting any response, sometimes I'll turn it up some so that I'll be heard a little further out. I've never been told that I'm coming on too strong or been asked to turn it down.

    That dial is kind of useless to me. Most other radios that I have owned and used don't even have that adjustment.

    Does anyone else use it often? Where do you leave yours set?
     
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  3. FriedTater

    FriedTater Keeper of The Snakes

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    Mar 25, 2009
    United State of Texas
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    Depending on the radio and the tune,and if its done properly.
    One should be able to run everything WFO.
    I cant remember the last time I had a radio that couldn't be operated
    in such manner.Even dead keying an RK56 right on top of the external speaker. PROPER TUNES don't produce negatives.

    You can generally tell how a radio has been tuned using this simple test
    Turn your RF and Mic Gain all the way up,dead key your mic while its "touching" your external speaker.
    You get squeal ? you need a better tune.
     
  4. JSmitty

    JSmitty Light Load Member

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    Feb 22, 2009
    Midland Tx
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    Yeah, kinda depends on the radio, and for sure the microphone. I run mine full throttle, but I never get bad reports either. Everyone says it's nice, clear and loud.
     
  5. Winchester Magnum

    Winchester Magnum Road Train Member

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    Jan 4, 2009
    Alaska highway
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    "full throttle" LOL. Yeah I do the same, and always leave it there.

    Can I get a radio check?.........(grin)
     
  6. JSmitty

    JSmitty Light Load Member

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    Feb 22, 2009
    Midland Tx
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    I'm a huge fan of these Galaxy 99's, and to get one new out of the box, crank it up, and put on an Astatic mic, they're going to squeal really bad. I did a talkback mod on mine, but doubled up on the resistors that are used in the mod, and man, I never have any issues with it. Some radios you can, some you can't.

    I don't run the ones you can't ;)
     
  7. Rat

    Rat Road Train Member

    Well it all depends on the persons voice and the setup. Many times I hear people trying to talk on the radio, their voice is not clear and is hard to understand. I aske them if they have the mic gain turned all the way up and the answer is usually yes. I tell them to back it off a little at a time till they are clear and easy to understand.

    Most the time my mic gain is at between 12:00 and 3:00.
     
  8. clantonman1983

    clantonman1983 Light Load Member

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    Mar 24, 2009
    clanton, al
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    Well hell, I'm just going to start turning mine up too then... I have been leaving my RF gain turned all the way up and my "dynamic" just a tad over half way, but if turning it up gets me out further, then i'm just going to turn the #### thing up. lol I didn't realize it could make your signal go out farther.
     
  9. PharmPhail

    PharmPhail Road Train Member

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    NC
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    I doubt it gets you out further. It's how much in-cab noise you want it to pick up. If you chew on your mic while talking keep it low, if you have it more than 6" away in normal use, tweak it upward.
     
  10. Red Fox

    Red Fox Road Train Member

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    Jan 26, 2009
    Acworth, Ga.
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    I use an Astatic 636, so it has gain on the mike itself. So I turn the mike gain all the way up on the radio, and adjust the modulation with a meter and the dial on the back of the mike until it bounces around 100% when I'm talking 2-3" from the mike in my usual position. This way you can't "accidentally" overmodge the output and you're always very clear, but still loud and proud.
     
  11. Rat

    Rat Road Train Member

    I have been running Astatic 636 mics for 10 years and not one of them had a dial on them. I think you are talking about the red devil powered mic.
     
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