Astatic G-stand help

[crazy_cooter]

I need some ideas! I have a G-stand lolli-pop I use on my Mark III's that has a issue. It keeps the transmitter keyed when it is plugged in, as if there is an issue with something in the PTT contacts. The mic wiring is correct, in case someone thinks it is wrong. Pin 1 is Audio, Pin 2 is transmit, and shield is grounded to the shell. When the mic is plugged in to the radio, it immediately starts transmitting. If you actually key the mic, all that does is trigger the audio. I dismantled the mic, checked everything out, and nothing looks wrong. All the contacts make good contact, no wires are chaffed, crossed, ect. When the mike is dismantled, and the PTT is hanging loose from the neck, the radio doesnt key up when the mic is plugged in. As soon as I touch the PTT to the body of the mic, it keys up again without pushing the PTT. Any ideas? Im stumped on this one......should be so simple to fix, I don't know why I can't find the problem here. Thanks.....Cooter

[dirtyjob]

sounds like a short, have you tried unsoldering the shield and re soldering it??

[crazy_cooter]

I didnt try that. If it is unsoldered, shouldnt the mike not work at all?

[crazy_cooter]

ok I just unsoldered it and it doesnt key up at all, even when the PTT is depressed.

[Night Crawler]

It shouldn't the PTT switch in the mic puts the transmit wire to ground to engage the relay if the shield is disconnected there's no ground to switch it to.

[crazy_cooter]

Ok, I know this sounds weird, but I unsoldered the shield on the bottom of the mic, and resoldered it back on after I tested it with it unhooked.....now the mic works. WTF!!!!????? I did absolutely nothing to it but unsolder, and resolder!

[Nagant]

Check the cord and see if there is a short between the shield and another wire. You can use an ohm meter with some alligator jumpers to do this. Wiggle and pull on the cord to see if continuity is coming and going and so forth.

[crazy_cooter]

I gave that a try, I found nothing wrong with the mic, nor the cord as it is brand new. I use a 3 conductor microphone cable that I picked up at a local music store, and cut the 3 pin XLR plugs off. The mic works great now. It went all night so far without shorting out and keying the radio by itself. How it did this, is beyond my knowledge??!! I can't find any evidence as to how it did it. I thank you all for your help anyways.

[Night Crawler]

Most likely what happened is that a wire the size of a hair was sticking off of the braid and shorted to ground when you disconnected it and and resoldered it that thin wire was removed from ground.
I've seen stupid things like that happen that can drive you crazy.

[crazy_cooter]

Very good possibility. Man I thought I was losing it. Just a very simple, basic circuit.....and I couldnt figure it out! Man, you don't know how little I felt posting this thread! LOL