[Kenwood] RE: Kenwood Microphones

Fri Sep 22 20:01:41 EDT 2006

These RJ-45 microphone connectors are a bitch to fix. I wish the joker who 
first came up with the idea to use these connectors on microphones would be 
infested with the fleas of 1000 camels!
Having said that, first you need an RJ-45 crimper, something most folks 
won't have in the shack unless they work with computer networking and do 
their own cabling. The crimper and die set from Paladin is around 50ドル as I 
recall.
The mic cable is stranded which is more difficult to work with then 
conventional cat5 Ethernet cable which is solid. I have repaired the 
connector on the mic used on my TM-V7. It took several tries and I'm 
accustomed to working with RJ-45's. Kenwood saw fit to not use the wires 
in sequence, but to have one or two trade places which makes it all the 
more difficult.
You can fix these microphone connectors. You need the connectors (cheap), 
the crimper, (not so cheap), and some patience. Make sure you are 
absolutely sure about the arrangement of the wires in the old connector 
before you discard it. It might be wise to cut off the old connector with 
enough spare cable so you can actually ohmmeter the old wiring scheme so as 
to be absolutely certain. I made an assumption when I did mine, only to 
have to redo it twice until I found my mistake.
de Rick, KN3C
PS: RJ-45 connectors are different for solid and stranded wire. Some are 
made to be used with both. Make sure you get the proper connector.
Hello all:
 Having fun with Kenwood Microphones...I have a Kenwood TM-261 
with the modular microphone connector (RJ-45?) and the mic cable is 
starting to pull out of the modular connector. I was afraid that would 
happen, is there an easy fix for this?
 Have a Kenwood TS-570DG and would like to try an MC-47 or 
MC-60/MC-60A. Does the MC-47 have the same element as the MC-43? If you 
have any of the above Microphones and want to sell or trade, lets talk.
73
Warren NOWF