Astatic 878DM desk mic scratchy PTT

[Tokin]

The mic looks brand new but the PTT is very scratchy when pressed.
Is this an inherent issue with these mics and is there a simple fix I shoud do before I try to fix it myself? My thought is to open it up and squirt the switch with Deoxit.
Is there anything else I should or shouldn't do while im in there?

 

[Riverman]

My Road Devil did the same thing. I cleaned the contact points with Isopropyl Alcohol (didn’t have contact cleaner) and the mic died. May it rest in peace.

 

[Tokin]

My Road Devil did the same thing. I cleaned the contact points with Isopropyl Alcohol (didn’t have contact cleaner) and the mic died. May it rest in peace.

That sucks. Im very careful what isopropyl I use. Most isopropyl rubbing alcohol contains other ingredients like minerals and oil. I trust denatured and some 99% isopropyls.
Deoxit is what the big time acoustic amp and guitar techs use to clean contacts and switches and works great.

 

[Riverman]

That sucks. Im very careful what isopropyl I use. Most isopropyl rubbing alcohol contains other ingredients like minerals and oil. I trust denatured and some 99% isopropyls.
Deoxit is what the big time acoustic amp and guitar techs use to clean contacts and switches and works great.
View attachment 37079

Yep. That’s what I needed.

 

[w9cll]

That sucks. Im very careful what isopropyl I use. Most isopropyl rubbing alcohol contains other ingredients like minerals and oil. I trust denatured and some 99% isopropyls.
Deoxit is what the big time acoustic amp and guitar techs use to clean contacts and switches and works great.
View attachment 37079

Sort of answered your own question.

 

[Tokin]

Sort of answered your own question.

Kind of. What I was looking for was whether this is a typical issue and/or what exactly others have done to fix the issue. My suggestion is just a thought of what might help, not what is already proven to solve the issue. Id rather fix something right the first time than throw ideas at the wall to see what sticks.

 

[Slowmover]

I bought this version. One for me and for son.

I’m impressed by change to telephone. Plugs I thought were okay really weren’t.

Helped with audio output on radio and at remote speaker. (RCA)

Have gone thru a few mikes I have with me.

The lube oil is next.

.

 

[Slowmover]

The mic looks brand new but the PTT is very scratchy when pressed.
Is this an inherent issue with these mics and is there a simple fix I shoud do before I try to fix it myself? My thought is to open it up and squirt the switch with Deoxit.
Is there anything else I should or shouldn't do while im in there?

DeOxit Cleaner
DeOxit Lube

.

 

[Tokin]

View attachment 37085

I bought this version. One for me and for son.

I’m impressed by change to telephone. Plugs I thought were okay really weren’t.

Helped with audio output on radio and at remote speaker. (RCA)

Have gone thru a few mikes I have with me.

The lube oil is next.

.

The deoxit gold worked but I need more deoxit products for sure. Thank you!

 

[Shadetree Mechanic]

A work around to the scratchy switch problem: put a solder bridge across audio pins on switch. This eliminates the scratchy sound. The audio is turned on and off with the mic amp turning on and off.

 

[Recon]

My Road Devil did the same thing. I cleaned the contact points with Isopropyl Alcohol (didn’t have contact cleaner) and the mic died. May it rest in peace.

Oh no! Another mic dies of alcohol overdose!