Astatic D104M6B Amplified Power Microphone CB / Ham Radio + Audio Modification

[@paulgrodkowski3412]

Hey there CB radio magazine. With a little help from my mother, I am reaching out to comment here and say thank you and express my gratitude for your making this video here as I see available on KZbin. Just quickly, I do not want to waste your time or interfere with your activities but would like to leave a little bit of my experience. An uncle of mine and then latter my Dad had a mobile CB radio in his Oldsmobile. So I would turn it on and talk and sometimes ask for radio checks. Once I heard what sounded like some who had louder audio than others so i asked them over the air, "how did you get so loud sounding" and the answer I got was, "I am using a power mike". So that was my very first time hearing a power mike over the air. It is indeed interesting sounding to hear someone talking on a power mike over the CB radio airwaves. It was quite some time ago. Well, now I have stumbled upon this video and have learned that there are power microphones out there available! At first, word of mouth, I learned that a power mic may require a battery. I immediately thought to myself that it is a little bit cumbersome having a battery for the power mic because I am not sure when the battery is getting weak and if the audio, in turn, is getting softer. Unless of course there is a way to monitor the audio like through a talk back speaker. Just some of my thoughts. By the way thank you for showing how the tone can be adjusted by changing the resistor value in the microphone.😀👍

[@n4lq]

I clipped the resistor and the FET went into cutoff and disabled all audio. I then soldered in a 10 meg resistor in series with the 270k and now it sounds great with much better lows. Apparently the results vary due to varying internal resistances of the mic. element and at least some resistance is needed. I also noted that the schematic for the Astatic Trucker II mic uses the same circuit but uses a 15 meg resistor instead of the 270k. Now that makes more sense.

[@PhoenixRising251]

I really appreciate this tidbit of info. I've used the M6B for nearly three decades in my mobile set ups. I'll definitely be giving this a try in the near future. Always love your vids.

[@bobbywummerphotography9798]

Thanks I tried this and it really does add more bass and not so much twang and treble. Street Sweeper south Florida - thanks for the tip

[@thestonerguy5276]

There are a couple other mods I recall seeing where the resistor is replaced by one of a different value to add bass to the microphone audio, and yet another where the fixed value resistor is replace with a variable (too much work for me). I hadn't heard about this one, and it's sure a lot easier than the other two - Thanks for documenting your results with this video 👍

[@arconeagain]

The resistor just needs to be of a rather high value or even open. This circuit has a 270K ohm resistor, when a lot of the other Astatics have a 1.5M ohm. And this affects the tone because of the input impedance. There is a mic that has a variable resistor pot in place of this as a sort of tone control.

[@orange70383]

Clipping the resistor did result in more bass.

[@monstersdoexist]

I experienced a weird phenomena by clipping that resistor. I would be talking and after a minute or two, the modulation would start dropping rapidly until there was nothing but carrier. I thought the battery was going out, but checked it and it was still 100%. I Tried a factory mic to be sure it was not the radio experiencing some issue, and all was good. I then put a 1 meg ohm (brown, black, green) resistor back in the empty holes and got super nice audio results. Still experimenting, but for now, I believe by clipping that resistor out of circuit, it may be overloading the transistor and causing it to shut down. Just a thought, and I am not yet conclusive on this.

[@jgmopar]

In the 90's I remember the guys running the D104M6B mics always sounded really good. i like the sound clipped resistor

[@Fox250R]

I keep my d104 on 1 and my gain on my 955 wide open and people say it sounds loud and clear.

[@rh3309]

Just did this mod a few nights ago and it worked as advertised.

[@williamcolvin3609]

Surprised no-one is making an Inline Amplifier Module to use with any Stock Microphone - the parts to build an Amplifier for a Microphone are dirt cheap - yet the Microphone Manufacturers are charging a fortune for them. The Schematics for the Old Turner and Astatic Microphones are still available for anyone to build their own Custom Circuits by varying Resistors and Capacitors to your own desired Frequency Response.

[@rodlink6258]

Seems better base when clipped. Now going to clip mine!!

[@Puahole]

Way better modulation 👍

[@williamcolvin3609]

Superstar T747 Microphone Tester - works great for wiring your own Microphone Cords and allows you to hear the sound of the Microphone. This is a must have for anyone checking to make sure their Microphones sound right and prevent Radio Damage from a Microphone that was wired Wrong.

[@justinmaas5834]

Nice to see you back at it! Have you tried the W2ENY replacement element for the 104 desk mic?

[@cbradiomagazine]

I haven't tried it out yet, funny you mentioned it because I was actually on their website last week. If I pick one up I will definitely make a video!!

[@justinmaas5834]

@@cbradiomagazine Heil also makes a replacement element. I have tried the W2ENY but not the Heil. Another interesting experiment for powered mic's is using a zinc carbon 9v battery vs. an alkaline and how that can change tone. I came across that from their use in guitar pedals. I like Danelectro 9 volts. Cheers and I look forward to more of your videos.

[@street_legal_go_kart7356]

I got one makes lot bad noise sometimes on picking up the sound of the button on key up Any help to stop that ?

[@davids9139]

That comparison between the ca-73 and the d104 has me sold on a d104.

[@MK116Alex]

I just got mine delivered this morning. If I touch my lip to the mic screen it will squeal pretty bad. Is that normal for a powered mic?

[@fullmoonwhite1]

I got the same problem, my finger touches the screen she squealed likes stuck pig 🤦‍♂️ I would like to try this mod but if I do it may squeal even though my finger isn’t on the screen. I’m going to try to coat it in clear fingernail polish let it dry and see what happens. I do know I get some hell of an audio of its cranked up if I don’t touch the screen of course and that’s what I want to actually do.

[@Fox250R]

@@fullmoonwhite1 well first off you don’t need the mic up to your mouth it’s not built for that and secondly turn the gain on your d104 down and that rf squeal will go away.

[@fullmoonwhite1]

@@Fox250R I tried that and what I really need are chokes on the speakers inside the rig. I tried to turn it down and the audio was barely working, tried turning down the box but who talks on boxes turned down below 50%? Right now the only mic that allows me to talk with maximum power and and produce minimum feedback is a Wilson and so I think I may have to strap a capacitor across the mic leads.

[@Fox250R]

@@fullmoonwhite1 what radio are you using ?

[@fullmoonwhite1]

@@Fox250R Mc Kinnley

[@veedubistjlbx3446]

Simple and right to the point! Thanx for the info! 👍

[@ABCABC-ui2bx]

I know this is kinda old but I just recently came across it and decided to try the mod. Well I clipped the wire at the top of the resister and lost audio. Any ideas? Thanks

[@bigshowradio_550]

Mine vanished as well so had to solder it back

[@DiamondJim2023]

Sam here. It worked on one I had a year ago, but no mod so I soldered it back.

[@PL-fc6hm]

Thanks for great video. I have a radio that only accepts RJ45 plug so I need to fit one of those to this microphone. do you happen to know which coloured core in this microphone does what so I can wire mine correctly please? I have looked online but unsuccessful. many thanks

[@arconeagain]

Bear in mind that the clipping of the resistor also increases output level. For whatever reason, Astatic chose to use a much lower value resistor for this model, it's usually a 1.5M ohm. They were probably preventing rfi by over modulating. The ceramic likes to see a high input impedance in this fet circuit for a natural tone and transfer of energy.

[@michaelanderson2177]

How come when you key up you get feed back on the d104 handheld

[@Team-fabulous]

I have a few of them... Good mic but that square PTT gets sore on the fingers after a while.

[@alexandruichim7397]

Hi there, i need some help...how i can make the microphone from Anytone 6666 to sound thiny...has to much bass...thanks

[@kalbar83]

I have the same with Magnum s9. A couple of people are trying to kill me for what this microphone is doing. Top gun modulator and this microphone is something amazing. I will never sell it

[@bobbywummerphotography9798]

I agree - Street Sweeper south Florida

[@SDS-1]

Sweet vid. Always gotta get some xtra bottom.

[@williambowman7244]

I been looking for good close up of the wire harness snap clip my wires got pulled out from the snap piece I hope as a standard color pattern they use same and I can get those re attached it was the best mike response on my Galaxy 99v2 but as I said some how cord tugged out of plug

[@butterbean4195]

has anybody had a issue with the cable rotting and falling apart? it isnt just a simple go in and re-soldier a new cable it has a plug on the inside of the mic and astatic wont sell the replacement to joe smoe you have to be a "CB" shop! anybody had any luck replacing the cable?

[@bobbywummerphotography9798]

Yes the cables will fall apart I own several

[@butterbean4195]

@@bobbywummerphotography9798 have you tried to replace the cable if so how?

[@arconeagain]

I have seen replacement cables on eBay. As much as one may complain about the cable arrangement, it makes sense in that there's no soldering involved. You can replace a cable on this mic in under five minutes.

[@butterbean4195]

@@arconeagain o cool ill keep a eye out

[@14KiloWhisky]

Yes it's junk cable 😢 kzbin.infoJU3CG7vZ1mU?feature=share3

[@dw8840]

What's the difference between the D104M6 vs the D104M6B? (other than the B)?

[@midnight-xpress1136]

I own an M6 Silver faced mic, it has a pivot button like most mics. Runs on the 7.5v cylinder battery. The volume knob can pull out of the back. Inside there is a board and more p2p wiring. M6B, while don't own one, as you can see in the video uses a standard 9v, and everything seems to be board mounted, then there is the PTT button vs. PTT lever. As for audio difference, never had an M6B to compare against each other.

[@jetcyclezero8907]

5/12/21 Very suttle to no differance .You should try the gain at 6 or 7 for a better comparison.But thanks I did not know about this mod.I might try it with a veriable pot.I have two of these that I put heavy duty cords on and scanniing bottons .One for a Uniden 5pin Lincoln2510 and one for a 6pin Ranger2950.I also have two of the hard 2 find Astatic575's that have a tone control that works very well.Also the desk top1104c has tone controll. l

[@Sky1]

I had one a long time ago, it was a D104 MB and had a push bar not a little button

[@JoeR203]

I have an Astatic 575-M6. I was going to sell it with my RCI RG-99 but then I saw what the mic is selling for on eBay and decided it won't go with the radio. :-)

[@petemcconn2524]

These are $35 used

[@cbradiomagazine]

Yeah the 575-6 is a great microphone and getting really hard to find now. They are selling used for $100+. One on eBay is at $145 today!

[@JoeR203]

@@cbradiomagazine I saw that. And in the UK they're asking over $200.

[@williamcolvin3609]

@@cbradiomagazine sounds like someone needs to design a circuit-board that fits into their microphone with the upgraded circuitry to give it more bass sound. The Cobra Power Microphone had the same problem where the Capacitor Value was changed for a Lower Frequency Response.

[@zukispur5493]

The m6 is a proper mic. This one He's on about ain't worth a light. Rubbish

[@Fox250R]

I got this mic from D rail and he did the mod for me. Locals say my mod is loud clear and more bass

[@mred3660]

Is this the same resistor mod for the rd104

[@benpatsy2076]

Absolutely hated those microphones. I've had 2 of them and I took out that spring metal bar because the PTT button killed my thumb. Very tinny sounding and the PTT switch soon started to rustle in both of them. Loved the Road Devil though. Although the Road Devil was slightly tinny on FM, it sure did shine on SSB on my Dirland Superstar. I would buy the RD again.. 👍

[@Joe_HamRadioGuy]

I still have an original hand held d104 m6b not made in China. It's a great little mic. I switch between that and my Xtreme 2018 road noise

[@denisrossi6525]

Hi, I need a information, is made in USA o China??

[@jeffsheets9389]

Did sound better clipped 👍

[@ALFREDUNIT21-t9z]

Many have complained the on the new ones the PTT as it's being pushed creates a scratchy sound , I have found out that with a few drops of oil directly into the switch its seft will fix this . Other than that it's a real good mic , 73s unit 21 NYC ch 22

[@MrSupertim996]

What type of oil?

[@bigdEnergy666]

Has anyone tried this mic on the Lincoln 2+?

[@kevinwilliams482]

Did this and my locals say its the best sounding mic I have and I've got d104 silver eagles and a turner +2 and they say it sounds better then those

[@cmritchie04]

since cb radio channels are NOT used that much, what about a modification for VOX? VOX so you can hook it up to a computer and use for SSTV, or any other digital mode(s) used in the ham radio.

[@TwoFeatherChannel]

sounds better.

[@danetibbetts5302]

I did this now mine isn’t working?

[@Fox250R]

lol did you fix it ?

[@buzzsah]

The D104M6 and M7 are good microphones but are tiny without a small mod.

[@14KiloWhisky]

I have one and I don't like how it sound

[@buzzsah]

@@14KiloWhisky I hear that, the 6 wire amp was tinny , it didn't give the punch like the D104 4wire.

[@martykoger1465]

It works for a little while then you have the ptt switch on the board needs to be replaced

[@vsmichael1]

I didn’t hear any difference from inline & out.

[@butterbean4195]

as of now 3 23 24 i havnt found a plug and play replacement cable for the m6b. i ordered one from ebay that said it was for a yaesu because it looked so close but nope not even close. so back to 2 m6b`s with rotted cables.. ive been buying turner mobile mics screw astatic ill sell the 2 for a few bucks and be rid of the crap..if anybody has a working turner + 2 or +3 mobile and wana trade the 2 m6b`s let me know

[@robertusa1611]

The new astatic mic's are terrible don't throw your money away, get an older one on eBay in good condition and you will be a lot happier

[@fullmoonwhite1]

I can here the difference when my phone that has two speakers are turned sideways.

[@brettcaporale8031]

my experience of over 30 years those microphones have been troublesome piles of s*** the new Switch on them tend to be all scratchy so they sound like s*** as well

[@chris2crazzy]

Clipped a bit louder

[@charlessalard4636]

Didn't hear no different.

[@gem1967]

I heard a difference. Not more bass, more rasp.

[@flhusa1]

THE ORIGINAL VERSION IS WAY BETTER

[@roberthague3711]

That's crazy lol

[@miker8379]

I didn’t notice enough difference to talk about

[@arconeagain]

I have changed the resistor value on several of these microphones, the first about ten years ago. With that there was a big difference in output, and the bass was increased significantly. Some later ones I modified did not necessarily change the tone as much. This could be due to the batch of ceramic cartridges used, bearing in mind that the supply and choice of manufacturer was likely limited.

[@VictorVictor-hq7ui]

Arrrdio! 🤣

[@rivercitycommunicationshig2312]

Switch on these mics are terrible

[@zukispur5493]

I don't rate these mics at all. Absolute rubbish. 575 m6 teardrop is the way to go. Job done right

[@BOB12349307]

nope sounds exactly the same

[@arconeagain]

It does not sound exactly the same.

[@BOB12349307]

sounds exactly the same just louder@@arconeagain

[@arconeagain]

@@BOB12349307 the human ear is complex, and no two hear the same. In saying that, not everyone has an ear.

[@kelseywedge7167]

Big deal

[@arconeagain]

What do you mean by big deal? Elaborate for us.

[@adonikam1]

EXCELLENT EXCELLENT EXCELLENT VIDEO!!