1. Compact & Beefy

The MH-73A4B speaker mic fits the bill when paired with the VX-6R. As a package when paired with the radio the thing weighs 441 grams (15.6oz or just under a pound). This heft adds confidence for the user by knowing that they need not worry about the setup. With its weight it actually is quite small and unobtrusive to the end-user.

You’ll see that I tend to attach the microphone to the stock antenna of the Yaesu. Thankfully the antenna is also quite busy so the setup works well. This arrangement is probably not the best for radio reception but it does make it quite a compact EDC.

2. Waterproof Connection

I wanted to spend a moment focusing on the waterproof connection from the microphone to the radio. If you notice there is quite a beefy connection. It’s almost the size of the base of the antenna and requires a screw-in connector when inserted. Granted it’s not the easiest to set up but once it is in place I have complete confidence in the connection keeping the water out.

Top Tip: when inserting or removing the microphone connector I found it is much easier to remove the antenna so that you have better access to the purchase on the microphone cable. Without removing the antenna it is actually quite hard to screw in or unscrew the microphone’s connection. I see this as a benefit, not a detriment because I know that once it is in place, the cable is not coming free.

3. Solid PTT Button

I know it may seem silly to focus on the PTT button, but if you focus on it you’ll notice that the button has a rubberized feel, not just any rubber. You can depress it with your fingernail but you’ll notice that after about a millimeter you engage the PTT button. This is important because it looks pretty robust and likely not something to fail I have also used these with gloves and fingerless gloves in frigid weather. In both cases, I found it quite pleasant to use the PTT button and have always been able to find it without looking.

4. Rotating Clip

OK, so this is one of my favorite features of the microphone. The clip rotates 360° allowing many different orientations of the microphone to be attached to anything with a lip. I use it for my jacket where it sits in its current position; I attach it to the color of my jacket.  I like to rotate it up into the 90° position so that I can hang it from some Paracord in my vehicle. I will leave it rotated to the 270° position so that it easily mounts onto a book or something with a vertical lip, like the top of a clipboard.

What’s interesting to note is that it is not a free spinning rotating clip, it has indents that are very solid feeling. I know that if I rotate it into the 90° position or even to the 0° position it is going to stay and it will take quite a knock to rotate out of that position. This is helpful when using your memory reflexes to grab the mic and start talking. You have full confidence that the mic will be in the position that you placed it unless a very significant bump has occurred.

5. Legit Coiled Cord

The coiled cord of the MH-73A4B is almost as thick as the connector itself. OK, that’s a bit joking, it is probably about 50% aesthetic but still, if you look at the non-submersible version or even a speaker mic from another manufacturer, the cable is probably only a quarter of the thickness of this cable.

I have tried uncoiling it, and while it is possible it is not easily done. I know some hams will sit on the couch and try to uncoil these things but, this one I don’t think you want to spend the time doing so.

You can see where your money is going when you touch the cord and even consider that if the cord got wound up and something I don’t think anything would happen to it.