Hi all and many thanks for your replies regarding this question. I've heard
confession is good for the soul, so here goes. I forgot to make a connection
from the negative of the microphone to ground. That's all it was. The
microphone works fine without a preamp. None of your answers were in vain
however as I will use the information in the not to distant future. Thanks
again and sorry about that.

Steve Ridley
Blue Ocean Telecommunications
Sydney,  Australia