Microphone noise

K3SLS

I've been getting reports of a loud wind/rushing sound coming through my mic on the M1KE. Some have described it as a passing locomotive! The noise appears to come through between spoken words where there is no voice input and also when dead keying with no voice input. I've tested on several D* Echo modules and yes, it's there and quite annoying. Several other ops I know are also experiencing the issue. I've not tested on other than D* connections. I installed the latest firmware (V33) with no improvement, but I can't tell you exactly when this issue began. At an ops suggestion who experiences this and claims this corrected the issue, I've done a factory reset and retested with no correction.

All ops I've spoken with have their audio settings at default values. I did also try reducing the gain to D* networks, but no help there either.

I guess one question is did a previous firmware update do something to increase the microphone sensitivity?

I'm at a loss as to how to correct!

KelloggKid

Steven I just saw your posting and am wondering if what you are experiencing may be similar to my issue that I reported earlier.

https://forum.sharkrf.com/d/8282-m1ke-transmission-issues-multi-mode

I just emailed an audio file recorded off of a Dstar reflector where you can hear the sound my M1KE is making. I sent it to the address shown for you on QRZ. I'd be curious if this is anything like what you are hearing.

My M1KE was not doing this until after I upgraded from 26 to 32. Upgrading to 33 did not help.

K3SLS

I recorded a test using a D* echo module. The first 7 seconds is my voice direct to the recording device. Starting at 8 seconds is the playback from the echo module.

Click here to listen

KelloggKid

Mine sure sounds a lot like yours except I also am hearing a funny digital squeak at the end. See if this doesn't sound familiar. I recorded this off of a DMR Parrot...

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/8ecd08e029pwamvf92y4j/M1KE.m4a?rlkey=gtp360hug5s00ctl08c7o1n6a&st=nomrood8&dl=0

K3SLS

KelloggKid They do sound similar and apparently not protocol dependent. Mine was done in a dead quiet room, so it appears either something internal is getting into the mic circuit or maybe the mic preamp default level was changed in a recent update. It's like the sensitivity increases with a lack of input and then drops down when it's hearing louder input.

HA2NON

Turn off or reduce loudness on the Mic settings page.

K3SLS

HA2NON Done…and zero difference in an echo test. The loud rushing sound returns as soon as the op stops talking and then ceases when speech resumes. It really sounds like the mic sensitivity is dynamically changing as it senses changes in input levels.

I'll post a recording with that setting change if needed.

KM9Q

The biggest complaint that I hear on DMR about the M1KE is that the receive volume is not loud enough, even at 100 percent. Usually these are older hams with some hearing loss. People have learned that by increasing the loudness percentage, there is a side effect on making their RX volume louder. But the bad thing about this is that people listening to the M1KE hear a loud swishy noise on their signal, especially in between words or in moments of them not speaking. I am relatively young, only 60, and don't have much hearing loss, so I keep my settings at default and find that this sounds best. Default settings can be found in the online user manual if you have changed yours and forgot what they were. And yes there is a short moment of data noise that can be heard by listeners when unkeying the M1KE, heard most often if listener is using Anytone dmr radio with a PiStar hotspot.

KelloggKid

I just disabled Loudness and am still getting both the swishy sound as well as the squeak on both DMR and Dstar. This may be a total coincidence but it I don't recall having this issue until after I went from firmware 26 to 32.

Is there any way to back rev the firmware? I'd love to go back to 26 and do some testing.

HA2NON

If you mean the received audio then you can turn off audio level compression by disabling Loudness on the Settings page, Speaker settings section.

K3SLS

HA2NON That helps! I had received audio boosted to 20%. Lowered it to 10% and the rushing noise is tolerable. Of course that lowers the overall volume which I boosted for vehicle travel and road noise. But this works! I guess the received audio circuitry is trying to level the output.

Thanks for the feedback!

KelloggKid

My issue is not with the received audio but rather with what is being transmitted. If I hold the PTT button down without speaking there is the swishing noise that gets transmitted and ever few seconds a distorted squeak. This has been verified with a DMR Parrot and fellow hams listening on DMR and Dstar.

maltedmike

KelloggKid I wondered if you achieved a resolution to this problem. Brand new M1KE received yesterday and I have an identical problem . . It’s as if there is aggressive audio AGC in the mic that can’t be turned off. I can suppress the background noise a little by turning gain down but at the expense of the amplitude of my own voice. This issue existed out of the box with the default settings. I’ve been unable to satisfactorily remedy with adjusting the various settings pertaining to the mic. My experience pertains to DMR. I’ve not yet tried any other modes.

KelloggKid

maltedmike I have a partial resolution. After spending hours troubleshooting this issue, which is occurring on DMR, dStar, and Allstar, I finally determined that it only happens when I'm at home. Anywhere else and I have no problem. My M1KE used to work great at home so now I'm faced with trying to figure out what changed. It was suggested that I turn off my WiFi and run the M1KE via my phone to see if the WiFi is the culprit. I am unable to do that because we do not have cell service here so I have a microcell on our home network to provide cell service. If I turn off the WiFi router I will also kill my phone. Also, my WiFi hasn't changed in 18 months so that doesn't seem to me to be the likely culprit. So for now I am relegated to simply reserving the M1KE for use outside of my home.

KC2UGR

Has there been any resolution to this? Have a similar issue and waiting to hear back on what to try or do from support.

It is pretty bad and the unit is not usable.

maltedmike

KC2UGR I too am anxiously awaiting an answer on this. I agree it’s not usable for me either. All my QSOs are with people complaining about the background noise, or how soft my voice is if I turn the gain down.

KC2UGR

maltedmike did your firmware update to v37? Lacking any response i’m grasping at straws. I never tested audio after the update since i was focused on setup. New unit also.

maltedmike

I’ve had some success in remedying the background noise and poor mic audio. Not sure if the FW v37 upgrade helped or not, but here’s what I’ve done to make my TX-audio sound much more normal on DMR.
Here what I’ve done, YMMV:
-Installed FW v37
-Reset profile to factory defaults
-On the Mic tab:
Disable ‘Loudness’
Set ‘Gain to DMR Network’ to 14dB
Set ‘Mic Gain’ to 3dB

Again, this is what has worked well for me. Night and day difference actually.

I do hope this helps.

KC2UGR

maltedmike

Thanks for taking the time to respond.

I used your settings and the voice volume improved but I still have a nasty static that has not improved.

SharkRf contacted me and I'll be sending in the unit for inspection.

Vk4my

maltedmike
Hi, are your settings:
Gain to DMR 14dB or -14dB
Mic Gain 3dB or -3dB

Just clarifying the figs before making the adjustments to my M1KE
Best 73
Mike

maltedmike

Vk4my sorry for the slow reply
Yes, those figures are indeed positive:
Gain to DMR: +14dB
Mic Gain: +3dB

I know I’m stating the obvious but be sure to echo-test to your satisfaction - those settings work well for my device and speaking voice - am sure there will be some user-specific variations. Let us know here how you go!

73,

Mike