Hi David,
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I have both the One Big Punch (20 years old now) and the SOTAbeams speech processor (labeled DYC-8x7).? The OBP is a real speech processor, not just passive components.? They both work.? I think the SOTAbeams gives a louder signal, from on-air testing with remote SDR's.? (There were some other mods floating around the internet to change components in the stock mic to implement a passive high-pass filter, but this is something separate.)
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The OBP suffers from RF getting into the speech processor in the mic, causing a feedback squeal.? Care needs to be taken to isolate the mic as much as possible, but this is hard in the field when the antenna is often feet from the mic.
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The SOTAbeams processor seems to be less susceptible to RF back into the unit.? But it has happened.? I tried using a flat cable to connect the mic to the processor to reduce bulk in the pack, and it was particularly susceptible to RF back into the unit.? The stock curly microphone cord has better isolation.? ??
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Care needs to be taken with both units in reducing the SSB mic gain setting on the FT-817/818.? My setting is around 30.? I listened to myself on remote SDR's to find the right setting.??
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When it is all set up, I get the effect of 1-2 s-units of gain from the SOTAbeams processor.? I concluded this by using 0.5 Watts with the processor on, compared to 5 Watts with the processor ff and mic gain returned to 100.? 0.5W with speech processor was still louder on a remote SDR than 5W without processing and mic gain set to 100.? Greater than 10 dB of effective talk power.?
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73
Mike N9OHW
