I use-- or try to use-- a Radio Shack cassette microphone to record tapes o n a Panasonic tape recorder. I don't need an expensive mic, but I want one that works and this one only works sporadically. I'm beginning to notice th at these Radio Shack mikes have a limited life span: they'll work great for a few weeks then die a quiet death. the one I have now is working, but I d on't know for how long; it may stop working for a week or more-- or it may not ever work again. Does anyone know why these microphones are so unreliab le (besides being cheap)? Or better still, a simple way to keep them workin g?
Panasonic tape recorder. I don't need an expensive mic, but I want one that works and this one only works sporadically. I'm beginning to notice that these Radio Shack mikes have a limited life span: they'll work great for a few weeks then die a quiet death. the one I have now is working, but I don't know for how long; it may stop working for a week or more-- or it may not ever work again. Does anyone know why these microphones are so unreliable (besides being cheap)? Or better still, a simple way to keep them working?
Ron wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@googlegroups.com:
Most of them consist of a FET transistor with the base floating, and picking up signal capacitively. So any static spark can easely destroy them, when you touch the connector. BUT, they are cheap, and sensitive. Handle with care.
on a Panasonic tape recorder. I don't need an expensive mic, but I want on e that works and this one only works sporadically. I'm beginning to notice that these Radio Shack mikes have a limited life span: they'll work great f or a few weeks then die a quiet death. the one I have now is working, but I don't know for how long; it may stop working for a week or more-- or it ma y not ever work again. Does anyone know why these microphones are so unreli able (besides being cheap)? Or better still, a simple way to keep them work ing? Ron
Okay... I see why they fail, but why the failure, then after a week or a mo nth, it works again for a while?
If it has a battery, corrosion in the battery compartment is the most likely cause. Whilst zinc-carbon batteries produce corrosion that is usually fairly obvious, the corrosion from alkaline batteries is sometime impossible to see. Luckily it is easy to remove with a cloth dampened with tap water or with a wetted nylon scouring pad.
Don't forget to clean the battery as well as the contacts in the holder. If that cures it, throw away the original battery and buy a good quality one.
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5 PM UTC-8, Ron wrote: >> I use-- or try to use-- a Radio Shack cassette mi crophone to record >> tapes on a Panasonic tape recorder. I don't need an e xpensive mic, but I >> want one that works and this one only works sporadic ally. I'm beginning >> to notice that these Radio Shack mikes have a limite d life span: they'll >> work great for a few weeks then die a quiet death. the one I have now is >> working, but I don't know for how long; it may sto p working for a week >> or more-- or it may not ever work again. Does anyon e know why these >> microphones are so unreliable (besides being cheap)? Or better still, a >> simple way to keep them working? Ron > > Okay... I see why they fail, but why the failure, then after a week or a > month, it work s again for a while? > > Ron Intermittent. Take one apart. Got VOM ? Greg
Not these days-- a sad story I wont bore you with. But if I had one, what w ould I be looking for? It's pretty certain that I'll buy one again, and it won't last any longer than an ice cube on a hot day. :-)
Ron
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Continuity. You should also hear clicking using a meter. Lightly pushing around the mic element might make the connection good for some instant, or it might temporally fix itself. Put leads on connector while doing this, and also watch meter. I would rather use an analog meter. The wires on the mic are very small.
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