There are some high output (e.g. -28, -30 or -32 dB ) electret cartridges that I've had good success with (and can be found in the WIKI) but a mic that has worked well for me is actually a powered (amplified) CB microphone:
It is $25.? ?You'll either have to build an adapter for its CB plug, or snip that off and replace with a 3.5mm stereo plug (either way works).? ? The CB wiring diagram is straightforward and you can map out which pin goes where on the? tip and ring of the 3.5mm stereo plug.
Listening to the transmissions created by this particular microphone seems to have more energy in the midrange than the electret cartridges and it has a bit higher average power output for the same voice, as a result.? ?Others like the way it sounds when I use it on my sBitx.? ?When listening in on a monitoring receiver, it like it also.
Of course, you could achieve the same outcome by manipulating the source code since it gets mapped into the frequency domain, but just buying the $25 microphone is a lot less work!
