Astatic D104 M6C

[VA3GX]

http://radioproshop.com/astatic/astaticd104m6mic.htm

Would this mic be a good match (impedance/performance) on a Ft-101ZD?

[W9GB]

Vincent,

The microphone you have referenced (Astatic D104-M6 series) is the hand-held version of the D-104 desk microphone. It does have an internal audio pre-amp (e.g. CB jargon "Power Mic") powered by a 7 volt internal battery. You will need to find a source for battery replacement -- to fit the available compartment size.
The Batteires Plus retail chain can and will make a suitable battery from individual battery cells

Schematic diagram of the D104-M6 microphone.
http://www.barovelli.com/projects/ra...dioastatic.htm

You will want to turn your radio microphone gain DOWN (or bypass the pre-amp).

Amateur Radio equipment designs have high quality audio.
CB toys and audio gimmicks for cheap < $100 radios are NOT required --
and actually have far too much GAIN -- that will distort your audio -- which means NO contacts for you (no one can understand you) !

w9gb

[AG3Y]

I find that a rather interesting mic, Greg. Is it a modern mic with the "D-104" name carried over, in order to create more sales? Or is it actually the guts of a D-104, stuffed into a hand case?

I notice the element is listed as "ceramic" which is NOT the material that the original D-104s elements were made of.

Makes me wonder if the element would be interchangable with the desktop D-104, and whether it would be less expensive to replace the bad D-104 element with the one from this mic?

hmmmm. Lots of questions for those who love that mic!

[KC8VWM]

http://radioproshop.com/astatic/astaticd104m6mic.htm

Would this mic be a good match (impedance/performance) on a Ft-101ZD?

I prefer using this unamplified E.F. Johnson mic with my FT101. Impedance is fine and it performs very well. Very sensitive really. Doesn't have that D-104 screechy audio sound. Just sounds "bright" and warm. Always good reports.

[K3DAV]

I find that a rather interesting mic, Greg. Is it a modern mic with the "D-104" name carried over, in order to create more sales? Or is it actually the guts of a D-104, stuffed into a hand case?

I notice the element is listed as "ceramic" which is NOT the material that the original D-104s elements were made of.

Makes me wonder if the element would be interchangable with the desktop D-104, and whether it would be less expensive to replace the bad D-104 element with the one from this mic?

hmmmm. Lots of questions for those who love that mic!

Actually the D-104M6 is a very different mic from the base D-104 mic. The mic element is ceramic as you noted, and smaller than the lollipop element. It is also a lower impedance element. It may not have good gain put into a base D-104 head as a replacement.

The amp design is also very different. The lollipop D-104 uses 2 general purpose transistors on the amp board, and the D-104M6 uses 1 FET transistor to amplify the ceramic element, and a standard 9V battery to power it.

The surprising part is, they both sound 95% the same on the same radio. I had a D-104M6 I got years ago, and I have it packed away, still working in perfect condition. If these mics are adjusted well, they sound really great.

I have had a few D-104 base mics over the years. I never had one go bad. I still have a Night Eagle version with the black base and head, and chrome neck and PTT bar. The grille on the head is also chrome. Very pretty to look at. I replaced the PTT switch with a small relay, and can use the 8VDC pin on most ham radio mic jacks to power the amp and relay. I take it out every once in a while and run in on my 746PRO just for fun. There are very simple mods you can do to the D-104 to make them warmer sounding, and not as brassy.

But the D-104M6 was probably the best sounding and most durable amplified hand mic on the market. They have a 6 wire cable and switching that is compatible with most any radio. It is too bad that Astatic stopped production of the D-104 line. They were and still are a true classic communications mic.

[W9GB]

I find that a rather interesting mic, Greg. Is it a modern mic with the "D-104" name carried over, in order to create more sales? Or is it actually the guts of a D-104, stuffed into a hand case?

I notice the element is listed as "ceramic" which is NOT the material that the original D-104s elements were made of.

Astatic designers had to use a ceramic element for a mobile microphone -- the standard crystal (Rochelle salt) element would have died within a year
in the harsh mobile/outdoor enviornment --- just due to moisture absorbed by the Rochelle crystals!!

I though that you could get the ceramic element as an optoon on the D-104, with less output.
The FET amplifier reminds me of a 1980s design artcile by Doug DeMaw, W1FB(sk) -- that provided the low impedance for solid-state radios of that decade.

w9gb