[Yaesu] Yaesu V67#8; D-104 Mic

Mon Nov 23 14:52:05 EST 2009

yaesu-request at mailman.qth.net opined  on 11/23/2009 08:51 AM:
> From:
> "Ken" <n5cm at rtconline.com>
> Date:
> Sun, 22 Nov 2009 12:18:10 -0600
>
>
> Hi Jim & Gang,
>
> A hearty agreement with you regarding the "legend", the Astatic D-104.
> Many years ago when 75 Meters was excellent with rag-chews all day
> and far into the night, a friend on the Gulf Coast would comment, "Ken,
> you sound like BBC!" while we were discussing something else!
> I was using the incomparable Central Electronics 100V and the
> companion broadbanded linear 600L with the mike.
>
> BBC was the British Broadcasting Company on short waves which came
> in strong and of course with "broadcast quality audio".
>
> Long live the D-104!
>
> Ken   N5CM
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Jim Hargrave" <w5ifp at gvtc.com>
> To: "Yaesu Mailman Reflector" <yaesu at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Saturday, November 21, 2009 7:41 AM
> Subject: Re: [Yaesu] FT2000 Proc
>
>   
>> While we are on Mic's, don't forget the trusted D-104. Its one of the best
>> sounding mic's for DX work. I have adapted mine to every rig I have had
>> since the 1960's. I currently use it on my FT-920 and have excellent results
>>     
>> with good audio comments. My son-n-law also uses one on his Icom 756ProIII.
>>     
>> I also occasionally use my Astatic DM-500, which is of the same vintage as
>> the D-104.
>>
>> Just because its new does not always mean better....
>>
>>
>>    * 73's Jim W5IFP *
>>     
>    >From: yaesu-bounces at mailman.qth.net
>    >[mailto:yaesu-bounces at mailman.qth.net]On Behalf Of Adam Farson
>    >Sent: Sunday, November 22, 2009 18:25
>    >To: Yaesu Reflector
>    >Subject: Re: [Yaesu] FT20Jim Hargrave <w5ifp at gvtc.com>00 Proc
>
>    /snip/
>
>    >My major concerns about the D-104 are that it looks so "hammy",
>    >and that its
>    >piezo element is vulnerable to moisture.
>
> Adam,
>
> I thought this discussion was about "Hammy" radio. I personally like the
> nastalgic clasic look of the D-104. However, its the audio quality that
> counts, not how pretty the mic looks.
>
> If you are using an overkill broadcast mic with the fancy spring suspension,
> I could not discern that if I listened to you on the radio. If it's for you
> own bragging rights, then go fer it. My main concern with using broadcast
> quality mic's is the wide bandwidth. I prefer that everyone would stick to
> good quality communication mic's that limit the band crowding. This is
> "Hammy" radio not Hi-Fi broadcasting.
>
> As for the D-104. I have had mine in continuous operation since the early
> 1960's. I wouldn't know about moisture problems, since I have never used it
> in the rain. Its not the most expensive mic you can buy, but it still has
> excellent communications quality. I am currently using mine daily on my
> FT-920. It has served me well.
>
> I'm not suggesting everyone go out and find a D-104, I was just adding it to
> the discussion on "Hammy" Mic's.
>
>    * 73's Jim W5IFP *
>      w5ifp at gvtc.com
>   
>
> Subject:
> Re: [Yaesu] FW: FT20Jim Hargrave <w5ifp at gvtc.com>00 Proc
> From:
> "Adam Farson" <farson at shaw.ca>
> Date:
> Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:30:16 -0800
>
>
>  Hi Jim,
>
> Leaving aside aesthetics, which are so much a mater of personal taste, I
> completely agree with you on the use of mics optimised for R/T comms.
>
> http://www.ab4oj.com/icom/ic756pro3/pro3notes.html#mics
>
> My current mics are a Heil PR781 and ProSet Plus HC-5/4. I also have a
> couple of British NATO mics. The PR781 is not in a shock-mount, but the DSP
> audio menus in my IC-7700 allow me to configure the system for a "comms" or
> a "slightly richer" sound.
>
> Cheers for now, 73,
> Adam VA7OJ/AB4OJ
>   
>
> Subject:
> [Yaesu] D-104. Nice sounding mic.
> From:
> "KD7JYK DM09" <kd7jyk at earthlink.net>
> Date:
> Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:13:39 -0900
>
>
> "My major concerns about the D-104 are that it looks so "hammy" "
>
> I always had an aversion to them because they looked too "CB" like.  In the
> late eighties, early 90's, every loud-mouthed, foul-mouthed music
> broadcasting whack job I visited in the CB world had a "D-104".
>
> I bought one in exceptional condition, an older "Eagle" model from the late
> 60's, doubt it was ever used for $2 from a junk shop.  It sat in a box, I
> couldn't even look at the thing, for about a decade at which point I sold it
> on ebay for $19.
>
> I tested it before I sold it, the quality was INCREDIBLE!
>
> Kurt
>   
>
> Subject:
> Re: [Yaesu] D-104. Nice sounding mic.
> From:
> KC3VO at aol.com
> Date:
> Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:51:31 EST
>
>
> Yes, the D104 can be nice mike, but some users terminate the crystal  
> element in too low of an impedance, which destroys its otherwise good frequency  
> response. If terminated with low impedance, the element loses ability to 
> provide  good low frequency response, and develops an annoying peak in the 
> upper  midrange. This mike was designed to drive the high-impedance grid circuit 
> of a  vacuum tube, typically over 300,000 ohms, so it is greatly mismatched 
> if  connected to a modern, solid-state radio, with its input impedance  
> typically in the 150 to 2,000 ohm range. Usage with such radios requires  a 
> matching transformer or intermediate circuitry for proper  performance.---73, 
> KC3VO-Bob Curry
>   
Another $.02--

I agree with Bob about the impedance, which fortunately, has several 
possible fixes, including some little FET boards that nestle in the 
base, and can be rigged to operate on the electret bias from many modern 
rigs.

Several such projects on the Web (Google is your friend), including some 
from Astatic; see 
<http://barovelli.com/index.php/2004/11/20/astatic_microphone_schematics?blog=3> 
for several versions they made...  Found that looking for lore on yet 
another we are dispositioning for an SK.

The susceptibility of the original (Rochelle salt) crystal to dissolve 
(not in rain, just in a humid climate) was addressed by Astatic at one 
point, with replacement ceramic cartridges, and if those are now $$!! 
unobtainium (haven't looked), Heil has some nice (understatement) 
replacement elements.

The chrome lollipop still makes a statement; your own experience may 
interpret that statement, but my memory still connects it to 40m and 75m 
traffic nets, BC-610s and KWS-1s (in my Novice Elmering at K6MCA, back 
in the day.)

-- 
'---O=o=O---'
73, Phil Barnes-Roberts WA6DZS < Mailto:pbarnrob at acm dot org >
"I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who 
has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has 
intended us to forgo their use."  -- Galileo Galilei