Copper Talk » Open Forum » Archived Messages » 2003 » 07/01/2003 to 07/31/2003 » D104 Mods « Previous Next »

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armydude
Posted on Tuesday, July 08, 2003 - 8:17 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)
Does anyone know a any mods to do to D104s?? I have a very high pitched voice and want to make it sound better, I have heard of mods that you can do but cant find them, HELP!!!
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Highlander
Posted on Tuesday, July 08, 2003 - 9:34 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)
See if you can find a 10-DAL dynamic head for it. Make sure it is set correctly, overmodulation on a d104 makes radios have a "blaring" sound that covers up your low freq audio.
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Tech808
Posted on Tuesday, July 08, 2003 - 9:59 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)
armydude,

If you have a High Pitched voice my suggestion would be the Astatic 575-M6 Mobile Microphone.

It has a External Volume Control and Tone Control.

Please check out the link below.

http://www.copperelectronics.com/cgi-bin/checkitout/checkitout.cgi?catalogSTORE:CKIE:prodA70-05014+

I have sold a lot of these and everyone has been very pleased with them as they can adjust the Tone of their voice.

Just my thought's.

Lon
Tech808
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Viking
Posted on Tuesday, July 08, 2003 - 10:37 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)
An excerpt from http://www.qsl.net/w8cwe/d104/d104.html

"If the final output seems too tinny (not enough base in the audio), you may be able to experiment with different capacitor values added in-line with the audio wire. I actually discovered a different method for lowering the frequency response of the microphone. I had a couple of spare D104 element heads. I took one of these spares, opened it up and proceeded to punch a series of pin holes in the element foil. This seems to relieve some of the tension on the foil and results in a much warmer response. I’m sure there is a way to do this electrically (so as not to destroy a perfectly good mic element for future use), but I was unsuccessful in my attempts to do this. Since I had a number of spare elements to play with, I wasn’t inhibited in punching holes in the one I used."

The 575-M6 is a great microphone.
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armydude
Posted on Tuesday, July 08, 2003 - 11:54 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)
Any others?? I tried the 575-M6 but didnt seem to make any difference. I have had the local tech set the mod and all power levels and such, so I know that i am not over driving the radio.
The radio is a Melaka. I have better luck with an old stock mic, but it then it is low on output!!

Thanks
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Kirk
Posted on Tuesday, July 08, 2003 - 4:28 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)
Army,
You could try and external EQ....if you wanted to go that far. Both units they make will accomodate a D104. Just not sure how much $$ you want to spend but it's a thought.
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Kirk
Posted on Tuesday, July 08, 2003 - 4:33 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)
I agree with Highlander also...the 10-DA(L) head works well. I use mine frequently.
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armydude
Posted on Tuesday, July 08, 2003 - 11:36 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)
OK Thanks and I will try that
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de
Posted on Wednesday, July 09, 2003 - 12:10 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)
The horned one, viking, is right. If you put a cap in line with a mic you change voice quality. Experiment by placing various ceramic caps in line with the mic. When you find the right value your highs will be chopped off and more lows will be passed. But do not expect a miracle.

I might also suggest that you use a compressor circut rather than a pre amp circut. This way you can shape the vocal quality of the mic.

DE
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RCI 2990
Posted on Wednesday, July 09, 2003 - 1:03 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)
Or........ He could try a Turner plus 3 since it has a compression circuit... I have one and i love it!
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tech671
Posted on Wednesday, July 09, 2003 - 5:28 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)
In the past I have played with running a car stereo passive 10 band EQ inline with a D104 with neat results, you can pick up some of those EQs for about $30 used.
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Kc0gxz
Posted on Wednesday, July 09, 2003 - 1:01 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)
tech671

I also have experimented with auto stereo EQs on several occasions but have always ended up with uncontrolable feedback even with the 104 turned way down.

How did you bypass the internal amplifier and still have the EQ work?

Jeff, kc0gxz.
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armydude
Posted on Wednesday, July 09, 2003 - 5:25 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)
Wired a Turner +3b up to the Melaka!! WOW big difference!! Good reports from all around!! Some ppl didnt even know it was me!!

Thanks to all!!!
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Moderator558
Posted on Wednesday, July 09, 2003 - 7:11 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)
heres a idea for your D-104

http://www.heilsound.com/heilsketch4keyelements.htm

I would recomend the number 5 element

listen to this to compare

http://www.heilsound.com/Images/HC5_HC4.mp3
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Browningboy
Posted on Wednesday, July 09, 2003 - 7:41 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)
I've used them in my converted silver eagle with great results and if you have a junk bannana mike for your brownings it can easily rebuild the inside of 1 of those the audio is great no squeals even cranked up all the way converts easily to many applications and availible at your local ham shop well finally someone has heard of this besides me i tell other people and they look at me wacked till they hear mine BT634 John in R.I. on my birds and i'm out BrowningBoy
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Moderator558
Posted on Wednesday, July 09, 2003 - 10:06 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)
I put one in my stock president mic and people couldnt believe the quality of my audio with a 2510 I use a Goldline now on my Kenwood TS-2000
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de
Posted on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 12:48 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)
Re 2990

A fine evening to you.

I agree that a compresson mic is nice. However the original poster kind of implied that he much rather use the D104.

And you have to admit that the classic style of the D104 is very attractive.
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RCI 2990
Posted on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 2:21 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)
Ive heard of the mod too guys.. I was tempted to try it but got sidetracked on another issue and forgot it.. Hmmmm. wonder how it would work on a turner head??????
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Tech671
Posted on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 5:53 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)
kc0gxz,
I didn't bypass the amplifier, and did have to play around with it to prevent squeal. Forget running an amplifier! I'm sure it can be perfected but I never had time to do so...maybe one of these days!
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Highlander
Posted on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 7:00 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)
Mod558, how do you like that Kenwood? How is the receive on VHF/UHF?
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Browningboy
Posted on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 9:01 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)
mine is does not bypass the adio circuit amplifier board and works just fine i even added another front screen to the back and they say it inproved again and no squeal cranked all the way up into my tram/brownins Browningboy in R.I.
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Moderator558
Posted on Friday, July 11, 2003 - 11:28 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)
Highlander

The RX is great!!! I have been working alot of 2 meter and 70 cm sideband in fact.

I can hear that darn Champaign machine on the Chicago freq all the time and even can hit it on occasion I have been very happy with it
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Limacharly6
Posted on Saturday, January 17, 2004 - 7:16 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)
actually, my first good mic was a tug8 d104 which i use for my hr2510, but the mic was out in it, and i replaced it with a shure mic, it had a special mic in it though, with three leads, common, +low and +high, tried em both, and on +high i got super super sensitivity! with my d104 all the way up, and back off about a quarter inch! but the audio is great, close or far away, without too much background, just thought i might mention!