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[TenTec] D-104 Modifications

To: <tentec@contesting.com>
Subject: [TenTec] D-104 Modifications
From: paulc@mediaone.net (Paul Christensen)
Date: Sat, 2 Oct 1999 11:51:25 -0400
Both of my D-104 mics contain this modification and it costs less than $2.00
to complete.  It consists of one MPF-102 FET, two resistors and two
capacitors.  The revised circuit is so simple and effective, that it can be
built on a 0.75-inch piece of square perfboard in a few minutes.

The theory behind the revised circuit is as follows: the D-104 crystal
element takes on the function of a high-impedance voltage generator, whose
output has an effective series capacitance of only a few hundred pF.  The
low-end response of the microphone begins to suffer when it is loaded by
anything less than 10 meg-ohm, due to the low series capacitance inherent in
a crystal microphone cartridge.  Astatic's solution to the problem is their
well-known two transistor preamp.  Nevertheless, the input impedance to the
preamp represents approximately 100K-ohm, far too low to realize a low
frequency response from the crystal element.

A better solution simply involves connecting the element directly to the
gate of a FET transistor who's input impedance is approximately 11 megohm.
The resultant circuit is a voltage source follower with a slightly negative
gain just less than 1.0.  According to Astatic, the  preamp functions as an
impedance matching device, not to introduce gain.   Nevertheless, gain
resulted in the design and a control was added, which became loved by so
many CB operators.  The  FET source follower presents a near unity gain
device, has an extremely high input impedance, and a low output impedance,
determined by the series resistor in the FET's drain lead.  R.F. has never
been a problem on my mics, regardless of power and frequency.

-Paul, W9AC


----- Original Message -----
From: JEFF S JOHNSON <aa8ve@juno.com>
To: <tentec@contesting.com>
Sent: Saturday, October 02, 1999 10:02 AM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] D-104 Modifications


>
> Gadzooks for 75 bucks it should dance the mombo and make breakfast!   8-)
>  -Jeff-
>
> On Fri, 1 Oct 1999 13:23:01 -0700 (PDT) Carl Hyde <cshyde@yahoo.com>
> writes:
> >
> > As promised here is the URL for the company that
> > modified the Astatic D-104 to sound like a real ham
> > radio microphone.  The site is interesting just for a
> > good explaination of mic response.
> >
> > http://www.angelfire.com/ma/electroservepro/d104.html
> >
> >
> > =====
> > Carl S.HYDE
> > W2CSH
> >
> > Eagles May Soar, But Weasles Never Get Sucked Into Jet Engines!
> >
> > Politics: From the Greek word Poli, meaning many and
> > the word tics, meaning blood sucking parasites.
>
> >
>
> ___________________________________________________________________
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