My plan is to use a Wyse 3040 and ALS3. I hesitated spending almost US$70 for a microphone, but David at Allscan informed me that the knockoff mics from eBay (20-25 dollars) are not worth the money and sound inferior. I already have a node number established. Wish me luck 
Yeah, the knock-off EMS-57's aren't worth the cable they come with. They sound muddy, they're unshielded, and they're just flat out bad.
That being said, I don't love the genuine EMS-57 that much, either. I find it mechanically way too noisy, kind of pinched sounding, and prone to plosives, even if you try to use it off to the side. I get why David recommends that mic, though. It's one of the few you can still buy that both generally works without fuss using this kind of setup, and has it's own DTMF generator that doesn't rely on a serial protocol. This is especially good if you're using it mobile, and care about DTMF entry.
I personally use an old Kenwood MC-48 hand mic with both the UCI-120 and my actual Alincco radio that came with an EMS-57 when I use a hand mic at all. Those haven't been made for years, but, at least in my opinion, that microphone has a much nicer sound, a wider, more open front area, so even if you are close-working it, plosives are much less of an issue, it's less awkward to hold for long periods, and the PTT switch isn't as noisy, at least after some lubrication of the pivot pin on these old microphones. The EMS-57 PTT switch comes out of the box pretty stiff, and the housing of the microphone is quite creaky. I wish they had included a tiny three-point suspension system to keep the condenser element better isolated from the chassis on the EMS-57. That would help with the mechanical transfer problem substantially. Then again, that mic is large enough already compared to other hand mics I use, and that would add to it's bulk.
Most of the time, I bypass the UCI-120's preamp entirely, and use a Shure SM57 through a DBX 286S dynamics processor with a footswitch for PTT, because I already happened to have that stuff. I turn both the low and high enhancement knobs on the DBX about half way up, which gives the SM57 a more present sound in the mids. Sounds much better on radios like that, especially with the PL filter in the simpleusb channel driver disabled.
I've used this setup with HamVoIP on rPi, ASL3 on rPi, a 3040 and an Intel NUC all without issue.
However, since ASL3's simpleusb currently doesn't have an optional delay line, you'll get a very audible click at the end of your transmissions from the EMS-57. It's not as annoying as some long squelch tails I've heard recently, so there's that.
Your comments prompted me to go look in my cardboard box of stuff that I'm not using at the moment. I found a perfectly fine AKG D5 supercardioid dynamic mic. From someone who knows nothing about audio or preamps, could I even use this?
It looks like I'd be able to use the AKG mic along with an Inrad desk mic stand and the Kenwood adapter cable. Hopefully.
The UCI-120 certainly has enough gain to use with a dynamic mic by itself. Noise floor is a bit higher than I would like with passive mics, which is why I use the DBX 286S preamp on the insert jack, but I'm really picky about my sound.
I have also used studio condensers with stand-alone phantom power modules with the UCI-120's on-board preamp. Still prefer using my DBX, especially because I can shape the sound a bit more, but it's perfectly usable as-is.
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FYI a few videos where I've tested about a dozen different mics with the UCI120:
https://www.youtube.com/@chc_media/search?query=mic
My overall favorites are Motorola TDN/HMN-series DTMF hand mics, or a Kenwood MC-60A or Sennheiser E935 for a desk mic. The Alinco is a bit brighter and has more handling noise though once it's sent over a VOIP codec and with good mic technique it does sound good. A lot of people have been very happy with them. A good desk mic such as the MC-60A sounds quite a bit better than even the best hand mics though, but they don't have DTMF and take up more space.
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I've used an E835, which is pretty similar to the E935. Without any kind of equalization, it's quite nice. I am currently using a Shure SM77 mounted on an arm over my bed (I spend a lot of time in bed) and a PTT footswitch. That works pretty well also.
The SM77 is a discontinued Shure mic that is styled much like the 57, but it's about half the length, has no transformer, and a different type of voice coil, but sounds very similar.
Some of the MC60's have a battery powered amp that can be switched in or out. Does that even matter? Apparently they don't need batteries to operate.
A battery would only be needed in an MC-60A if used with a very old transceiver that does not supply 5~8V on the mic jack. The UCI120 supplies this voltage and the MC-60A works perfectly with no battery needed.
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