Yaesu FT8900 Mic Mod

[G0YAP]

Hi. I own 3 Yaesu FT8900s and these radios are fantastic but.... I kept getting reports that my audio was 'too sharp' and very harsh to listen to. This was found to be the case with all 3 of my rigs. I opened the mic up and after removing the mic head from its 'cup' I found a small plastic disc placed between the mic and the holes in the outer case of the mic. It was not bonded in so was removed just by tipped the case up side down. I re-assembled the mic and WOW!! what a difference!! The reports now are very good, the harshness has gone, the audio is just as loud but clearer. I have received a good many reports from other stations I work on a daily basis, and all agree my audio has got a lot better. I have now modded all 3 of my 8900s and everyone I know has now done the same. I,m not sure why yaesu put this disc in, but the audio is much better without it. The good thing is, if you don,t like it, just replace the disc and you,re back to the original spec. I should think the FT8700 and the FT8800 are the same as they use the same mic, but I do not own these radios so can,t be 100%..By the way, I am talking about the MH-48 DTMF mic, not sure about the non DTMF mic. Best 73s Ian G0YAP, Diss , Norfolk, UK

[W3NRL]

ok, took my ft 8800r mic apart and found no disc in the mic and i do have the MH-48 DTMF mic, maybe i am looking in the wrong place?
thank you

[G0YAP]

Hi Nick,

Remove the pcb board (3 silver screws and one little one holding the ptt micro switch) pull the mic head out, remove the rubber surround and the little black plastic disc should be under there, as it falls out, you should see right thru to the 2 little holes in the case and daylight. Hope this helps. Ian

[M0PZT]

Just done this on my MH-48 (used with FT-8800E) - helps a fair bit. This page may also help if you want to do a little bit of soldering: http://members.cox.net/wb1aex/8900.html