[AMRadio] D-104 modifications

[John]

Bob said the Astatic engineer made this statement....

"The preamp is to make the terrible new crystal elements sound good"

This warrants a question.  At what point did they start using the "new 
crystal elements"  ?  I have a much older D-104.  In fact, it has a 
very plain stand, no ptt on the base of the handle.  Not sure when it 
was manufactured but I imagine it was well before the 1970s.  It sounds 
great into old speech amp gear that has hi-Z input.

Apparently the question is not that simple due to the variations in 
D-104 crystals.  However, I can certainly assert that the older crystal 
elements do great into a Hi-Z input typical of most older boat anchor 
AM equipment.

John


-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Peters <rwpeters at swbell.net>
To: 'Discussion of AM Radio in the Amateur Service' 
<amradio at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Thu, Aug 26, 2010 6:43 pm
Subject: Re: [AMRadio] D-104 modifications


I am going to disagree on this John... I talked with the engineer at 
Astatic
years ago when Astatic was a real ham radio company... He said " The 
preamp
is to make the terrible new crystal elements sound good" He also said 
that
since the mid 80's you cannot find an element that will really make the
d-104 sound great. Now to the end of a great sounding preamp better 
then the
astatic preamp K7DYY up in Seattle has made in my book the best sounding
D104 pre that I have ever heard ... I have one and I love it.  Just my
nickels worth...I have been an Astatic dealer since the 80's and not any
longer. In my business now I use all Shure and Heil...

Very Best 73's
Bob Peters
W1PE

ARRL, QCWA, AM FOREVER

Money is only temporary, Radio is forever
>From The Old Dog




-----Original Message-----
From: amradio-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:amradio-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of John
Sent: Thursday, August 26, 2010 4:51 PM
To: amradio at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [AMRadio] D-104 modifications

What's there to modify?  Just bypass the dumb preamp and use the Hi-Z
crystal directly into your Hi-Z input speech amp and you have a GREAT
AM mic!


-----Original Message-----
From: Phil LaMarche <plamarc1 at verizon.net>
To: 'Discussion of AM Radio in the Amateur Service'
<amradio at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Thu, Aug 26, 2010 2:57 pm
Subject: [AMRadio] D-104 modifications


I've lost the call and email address of the ham who modifies the D-104
for
better AM audio.  Can anyone share, please?

Phil

Philip LaMarche

LaMarche Enterprises, Inc
Phil at LaMarcheEnterprises.com
www.LaMarcheEnterprises.com <http://www.lamarcheenterprises.com/>

727-944-3226
727-937-8834 Fax
727-510-5038 Cell

www.w9dvm.com <http://www.w9dvm.com/>

K3 #1605

CCA 98-00827
CRA 1701
W9DVM


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