Pumped and Bummed all in one shot

[KC9ECI]

My *new* all mode 2M rig arrived. A vintage Kenwood TR-9130 with BO-9A base. I can't wait to get going on 2M SSB. Gotta get up to the antenna and make a couple of changes but it isn't quite cold enough out yet for that.

Anywho, who would have thunk it?!? All mode doesn't include AM! Guess I'm going to have to look at a 2M Gonset or Heathkit for next year, much to the wife's dismay.

[W9AFB]

If you want an old Gonset 2 meter radio, I know where one is at if you like tinkering...

[KC9ECI]

I'll have to let you know about this time next year...the XYL isn't going to let me sneak another rig in the door for a while now.

How much tinkering?

[K5USS]

Tom,

You are going to LOVE the 9130. That is what I run for 2m SSB and for simplex ragchewing on FM. I have a Mirage 3016 attached to it for 145 or so watts out. Good receive on it and I found a little trick. If you replace the stock hand mic with a D-104, w/ amplified base, it really makes a difference in your audio. There are a lot of contacts that I have made that did not believe I was running a 9el yagi in the attic and only 140w with this set-up.

Since we can't seem to hook up on 6 maybe we will get a little tropo action on 2m SSB one afternoon.

Charlie
K5USS

[ai4ep]

...a " d-104 " on 2 meters FM ?

I suppose it had to happen sometime.

[W0LPQ]

What is wrong with a D-104 made to work with any radio? Nothing.

Bill, W0LPQ

[ai4ep]

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

naw naw naw

I was always told that if you had a Yeasu radio, you used a yeasu desk mike...icom radio in the house you used an icom desk mike...kenwood radio / kenwood mike { dont know where the HEIL and SHURE mikes fit in ?? }...etc.

Now you folks mean to tell me that the local folks who told me what is in the first paragraph are WRONG ?

WRONG ??

....(sigh ) oh well. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[K5USS]

I guess some are just destined to be equipment operators

[KC9ECI]

I used to have a D-104 many years ago. I won't say what I had it hooked up to though...

Guess I'll have to surf Ebay for one. Those big old lollypops always did look cool sitting next to the radio.

I had an Astatic hand mic on that Ranger 6M rig I used to have and I always got good reports with that.

[K5USS]

I have had several people call me a liar when I have told them I was on the D-104 and not the Heil mic. #It seems to add a little punch to the audio that the stock mics just don't have. #On the SB-101 is where it REALLY shines! #The tubes along with the mic have made a few ask if I was running an amp before I got one!

One of the things I have learned about radio, just because it has one of the "Big Three" names on it does not mean it is worth a dime...The Astatic mics were on amateur radio LONG before they were on the CB base stations...

Charlie
K5USS

[K9STH]

The D-104 microphone has been advertised in the ARRL Radio Amateur's Handbooks from the 1930s.

As for Heil microphone cartridges:

There have been "blind" experiments run in which all sorts of cartridges (from ones from Radio Shack costing less than $1) to the Heil "top of the line". In virtually every test the "cheap" microphone cartirdges got as least as "good" sounding reports as the Heil cartridges and often got better audio reports. These tests were run with all different models (and manufacturers) of equipment (including "boat anchor" to the "latest and greatest"). Several microphones would be tried, one after the other, and the comments of the receiving station tabulated.

But, the end result was that even the really cheap cartridges sound pretty darn good in most cases.

Glen, K9STH

[w8cbc]

I keep getting told that the cheesy-looking little electret hand mic that came with the 751A sounds wonderful. I'll not quibble with that. As I've said before, I heard it via LDE and it does sound rich and warm, much nicer than most of what I hear.

Question: Can you unbalance the modulator and screw around with the filters in the 9130 and make it produce AM that way?

[W0LPQ]

BSR: I'll not even go there. If the radio was DESIGNED to do AM ... leave it alone.

As Glen has said numerous times ... there is NOTHING wrong with a D-104. Just watch what you are doing.

Bill, W0LPQ

[K9STH]

And if something does go wrong with your D-104 just replace the no longer available cartridge with the 25LM022 which costs $3.54 in single quantities from Mouser. That cartridge normally sounds even better than the original one.

Glen, K9STH

[KC9ECI]

I'd like to know whatever happened to my D-104. I found the head off it in a box of stuff at my parents, but never did find the base. No one was able to tell me how they got seperated, but I suspect my young nephew might have had a golden screwdriver at one time.

[KC9AFN]

Hmmmmm. I've got 7 D104's in the shack. 5 working and 2 for parts. Using them on my ICOM 745, Tempo 1 (yes it has 10 meter xtals! hi hi http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif ). and on my Cleg 22 er for a 2 meter am net we run every night. I've liked them for every radio.

[WA2ZDY]

Quote[/b] (KC9ECI @ Dec. 17 2005,11:33)]Guess I'm going to have to look at a 2M Gonset or Heathkit for next year, much to the wife's dismay.
A Gooney box with a magic eye. You're taking me too far back now.

You'll have fun listening to the airliners as they pass overhead too! What a great two for one bargain that'll be.

[KD8CHM]

Well thats a bummer http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif Hope you enjoy your new rig though!

[k5phw]

I have owned a 9130 for many years as a daily driver.
Good solid rig. Enjoy!
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

[KC9ECI]

I will enjoy this. I'm having fun with it right now this morning already. Seems it's a few Hz low on the transmit side so I'll have to find someone with the proper equipment that will lend me a hand adjusting this thing back into spec. I'm not too worried about it at this point as I don't expect to use it on FM for very much, and on SSB I have a little more lattitude with the VFO.

[KD7WHQ]

I have a D-104 that I still need to hook up to the soundcard to check out.

(Is the element supposed to read open?) lol. I think it worth checking anyway.

I'll check the Mouser site, and see if there is a LOW impedance solution anyway..

--edit--

12K is as low as it goes.

Ah well, I could always bury an electric condenser in it..