Astatic D-104 lollipop mic questions

[Shadetree Mechanic]

1104c was my favorite. Used one for years.

Welcome!

 

[357magnum]

Welcome Vox ! Enjoy the forum , lot's of Great info & smart people here ! Me not being one of them !

 

[Cutlass327]

CB , I had a local on Ch 21 do mine . Problem is I was told I can't take the head off any longer . IDK if that's the way all the conversions work ?

I wonder if one of the pins broke, so they fixed it but not in a true repair way.

 

[Cutlass327]

Ok, now that I have figured out the multi-quote feature...

CB , As been said on here before , not all mic's sound " Great " on all radios . Sometimes the cheapest mic might work for you ? I use an Astatic 636 on my old Cobra 140 GTL mobile , it works but doesn't sound as good as my old Turner + 2 ? I had the conversion done to my Astatic Silver Eagle , it took all the " Tinnynest " out & have gotten nothing but compliments on my audio since , just had it done 2 weeks ago .

I've been eyeballing conversions and upgrades lately, just curious one what one you did.

CB, I'm using a D104/MC320 with the "poor mans EQ" circuit and I'm quite pleased with it. It does take a 9 volt battery.

Same here, what upgrade did you use?

I'm asking because I've seen everything from a cap/resistor style replacement, to a full FET based component replacement, to a prebuilt board costing anywhere from $24.99 to $60+ depending on whose board.

The $25 board I heard on YouTube is available on eBay, and it has a bass and treble adjustment and replaces the OEM 2 transistor preamp.

 

[357magnum]

Cutlass , I'll have to ask him . All I know is it added a little more clarity/bass & he charged me $ 30 parts & labor so I don't think the kit he used was very much $ . I do know everyone says I sound much better & he runs a Cobra 2k like myself & just about the same setup & I like the way he sounds .

 

[Shadetree Mechanic]

I found this mod for the d104 a while back.


https://www.worldwidedx.com/threads/d-104-modification-by-n9wb.237919/#post-654834

 

[Cutlass327]

I found this mod for the d104 a while back.


https://www.worldwidedx.com/threads/d-104-modification-by-n9wb.237919/#post-654834

That's one of the ones I found last night. There's a guy, Harvey Roman, on YouTube that has a 2 part video doing it, but they aren't the best videos. It shows him tearing it apart and putting the new parts in, but no comparison of before/after or even a sample of the "after".

 

[500kpot]

Same here, what upgrade did you use?

I used the FET (MPF102) version with separate bass and treble controls. The PCB was home brewed. The schematic is freely available.

I've been wanting to try the 2sk170 instead of the MPF102.

 

[Mudfoot]

Cb , also if you plan to talk SSB , try & find one w/ the 10-DA head ( harp head ) they sound better ( IMO )

I liked those. I scored a really nice one a few years ago. Got great reports, but sold it. I'd like another.