Kenwood EMC-3 Clip Microphone with Earphone | Unboxing and First Look Review

(see video link below)

Having recently returned to the world of Amateur Radio, I've been dusting off, tuning up, and in some cases restoring my old equipment to proper working order.

The Kenwood TH-D7A 2m/70cm dual band handheld radio has long been my go-to favorite. This well used radio is still running strong even though it has outlived it's manufacturing lifetime. Yes, the TH-D7A has been replaced by a newer model. In any case, my D7A has many years of useful service still left in it.

Kenwood TH-D7A and EMC-3

At some time in the past, I owned a convenient lapel mic which had a high quality earphone attached to it. This microphone, the Kenwood EMC-3, also sported a well placed push-to-talk (PTT) switch on the side of the mic. Unfortunately, this wonderful microphone could not be found no matter how deeply I searched my old bins and boxes. Alas, it was time to search the Internet for a replacement.

Transcontinental Shipping!

A quick look at the Kenwood Amateur Radio headset webpage revealed many newer model headsets (such as the KHS-26) that would certainly have met my needs. However, my hope was to find a replacement for my tried-and-true device. Although the EMC-3 is no longer available from the manufacturer, I was still able to order one from Amazon.com. The delivery took an unusually long time to arrive but this was really no surprise once I realized that the piece would be shipped from a supplier in Japan.

Amazon and the supplier were very proactive with regard to informing me of the shipping details, approximate deliver date, and tracking information. The item arrived in perfect working order and the packaging, by itself, was a real treat with it's international labeling. I'm not sure why I enjoyed the shipping labels so much but, for some reason, it was a joy to see a package from so far away arrive at my doorstep.

The mic and earphone connector

The TH-D7A has a fairly standard 3.5mm TRS (tip-ring-shield) jack for the combined microphone/PTT input. However, for some reason the earphone jack requires the smaller (yet still fairly standard) 2.5mm TR plug. The EMC-3 employs a sturdy combination connector which holds both of these plugs in a rigid piece of rubberized plastic. The plugs are perfectly spaced and snap into place in such a way that the cable rises upward toward the top of the radio. This helps to keep the cord out of the way and is a smart design considering that may users will have this radio clipped to their belt with the cord running up toward their ear and mouth.

In the linked video, you will see the first opening of the original shipping materials and experience the the first look at this device along with me. The viewer will also get a glimpse of the TH-D7A radio in action.

Although this particular model of Kenwood handheld Amateur Radio has been discontinued, you may still be able to find a used one online or at an Amateur Radio swap-meet. You might even consider purchasing one of the newer models (such as the TH-D72A with built-in GPS) and enjoy all the new features available on those devices. Either way, if you are interested in Kenwood handheld Amateur Radios and their accessories, check out the video and let me know what you think in the comments below.

Purchase on Amazon.com (affiliate)...
Kenwood EMC-3 Mic - http://amzn.to/2vscto7

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73,
KC7ZXY
Donald Watkins

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Source Links...
Kenwood EMC-3 at Amazon.com
Kenwood Headsets at Kenwood Website 
Kenwood Amateur Radios