RD104E - a dud

[snippits75]

My Road Devil is being returned. It lasted about four hours of talk time over 18 days.

I could deal with the loose and rattling sound of the PTT button...just as long as it sounded good, and it did. But I can't deal with the key up scratching sound it developed. Not even going to try and clean it or what ever. It's going back where it came from for a refund.

I lucked into a good condition Astatic T-UG8 D104 yesterday, and it sounds top notch on my CB base station. Wish I had bought one long time ago.

 

[Handy Andy]

My Road Devil is being returned. It lasted about four hours of talk time over 18 days.
Not even going to try and clean it or what ever. It's going back where it came from for a refund.

​

I lucked into a good condition Astatic T-UG8 D104 yesterday, and it sounds top notch on my CB base station. Wish I had bought one long time ago.

​

 

[codeman]

My Road Devil is being returned. It lasted about four hours of talk time over 18 days.

I could deal with the loose and rattling sound of the PTT button...just as long as it sounded good, and it did. But I can't deal with the key up scratching sound it developed. Not even going to try and clean it or what ever. It's going back where it came from for a refund.

I lucked into a good condition Astatic T-UG8 D104 yesterday, and it sounds top notch on my CB base station. Wish I had bought one long time ago.

I had the same scratching problem with mine. I took it back to Clay's and he lubed up the switch. It has been fine ever since. Granted, the microphone should have given me no problem in such a short time. Other then that it has been a great microphone.

 

[Riverman]

I had the same scratching problem with mine. I took it back to Clay's and he lubed up the switch. It has been fine ever since. Granted, the microphone should have given me no problem in such a short time. Other then that it has been a great microphone.

Mine also had the scratchiness. A couple of drops of silicone garage door lubricant from Home Depot took care of that. Works great now.

If one can live with or remedy the sloppiness and scratchiness as I did, these mics apparently are a great match for the 980. Everyone says my modulation is loud and crystal clear.

On a side note, I run mine at 75% of wide open. Everyone agrees that's the perfect setting for my voice.

 

[Eldorado828]

I just got one and although the build seems kind of lacking in quality, it's doing ok so far. Hopefu9the ptt switch does better tha9what I've read so far.

Have any of you fellas modified one of these to power from that radio to do away with the battery?
I think I have 12 volts from pin #6 so one would figure you could supply from there.

 

[Handy Andy]

In fewer words, er, no, that 12V is a trickle power - won't light up a bulb...It's for (this is going to sound dumb but) if you remember the old days of TTL drivers, they needed "tri state" levels to know what is a 0 from a 1 - the 12V is really a reference voltage for the data port and if you have one to plug into the mic jack - a Channel Selector or even BT .Mic's . But it's current limited for a reason. The Handset will need to "regulate" or parse down that voltage - and some radios use that pin to see if there is a compatible device - it uses a process called VRDP A Voltage Regulated Data Port - so it can try and use BT (like Cobra will try with your Smartphone and BT devices) - just not a lot of current to power much thru it.

• The 906 works the way it does because the power it needs is in the mW - so if the Rod Devil Handset can use something of a 5V battery power source and still amplify you're all set - but again current draw thru that buffer in the radio is our problem

Electrets and stuff like that will do just fine, they are high-impedance loads (Read: Hardly any current draw when powered) so they need a Resistor divider and filter combo to work and most handsets are using than method now - just the power draw thru that wire into the Handset lowers the 12 volt high-impedance (its' buffer resistance appears as about 3.3K to 4.7K but no load) as a source of voltage to below 5 volts in use.

Now what I have been looking into is setting up a "capture" of that 12 power and then dump charging a simple NiMH battery, but the battery requires a bit of current to even accept a charge - pulse can work, but the RFI noises it can make may turn people away from the idea. (The Beercan 906 idea, back in the CB Tricks days - because it uses a cradle but no provision for charging - you have to use a separate USB cable to charge the handset.)

Linear is out of the question as far as a using a typical 78XX series, there's too much draw thru the resistor for it to be effective.

But, there may be hope...

​

However, there is a separate USB plug for charging phones on some of the radios out there, what would be interesting to see is; if the "pigtail" from the Mic Jack and that USB plug, can be put together for a power source to the Mic element. You'd get 3.7 to a much as 5 volts - about 1 amp (although more, it's enough already) so there's power there for Electrets but not meant for 9V power sourcing but that doesn't mean it can't be done.

 

[2NC995]

I just got one and although the build seems kind of lacking in quality, it's doing ok so far. Hopefu9the ptt switch does better tha9what I've read so far.

Most of the issues I had with mine appear to be a product of trying to use it with a 4-6 pin adaptor, and with a 4-5 pin adaptor. No idea why without digging into the weeds of the wiring (I already have enough microphone projects).

I've since dedicated it to a 4 pin radio and have no more issues.

I do think it feels a little cheap....but the mic sounds great, IMO.

 

[Eldorado828]

Most of the issues I had with mine appear to be a product of trying to use it with a 4-6 pin adaptor, and with a 4-5 pin adaptor. No idea why without digging into the weeds of the wiring (I already have enough microphone projects).

I've since dedicated it to a 4 pin radio and have no more issues.

I do think it feels a little cheap....but the mic sounds great, IMO.

I spoke too soon my friends...
I went south towards the Dallas area today and had a running buddy so I really got to key down heavy and what do you know... the dreaded scratchy ptt switch reared its head on the road devil. It was working well on the occasional key down but continued use showed it's true colors. As soon as I can get to take it apart it'll have to be cleaned with some lubes. Hopefully that'll clears it up because it's pretty scratchy

 

[Slowmover]

I spoke too soon my friends...
I went south towards the Dallas area today and had a running buddy so I really got to key down heavy and what do you know... the dreaded scratchy ptt switch reared its head on the road devil. It was working well on the occasional key down but continued use showed it's true colors. As soon as I can get to take it apart it'll have to be cleaned with some lubes. Hopefully that'll clears it up because it's pretty scratchy

What Larry Hankey keeps on the bench at LARRYS CB. His reply to my question about this very problem as brought up in 2NC’s thread:

CAIG DeoxIT X10s
Precision Instrument Oil

CAIG LABORATORIES

For delicate fine parts like electrical switches, watches, etc

See further description their webpage.

$12.95

I was there he went whipping thru all the dials and controls on that beauty of a 1943 HALLICRAFTER a few times, . .

and one never heard, felt or even sensed an attogram of resistance
in The Force.

.

 

[Eldorado828]

View attachment 35640

What Larry Hankey keeps on the bench at LARRYS CB. His reply to my question about this very problem as brought up in 2NC’s thread:

CAIG DeoxIT X10s
Precision Instrument Oil

CAIG LABORATORIES

For delicate fine parts like electrical switches, watches, etc

See further description their webpage.

$12.95

I was there he went whipping thru all the dials and controls on that beauty of a 1943 HALLICRAFTER a few times, . .

and one never heard, felt or even sensed an attogram of resistance
in The Force.

.

A little isopropyl, some compressed air, a little oil, and then some more air to get it all in the switch and remove the excess. I used a little dielectric grease on all the moving plastic parts, seems to have cleared it up so we'll see how long it lasts.

 

[Slowmover]

I went ahead and got this ordered with the Oiler shown above.

“Building” supplies and support tools, gear, etc, hurts in the short term.

But sure is nice to reach for “that item” in the not-distant future.

Automotive, Household and RV was one thing: done over decades.

Electronics is turning into fast & furious.

Hopefully, tools/supply of this sort delays me from reaching for that 3-lb engineers hammer.

Seriously, I’ll be damned if I’m defeated by a switch or a contact. Not without a fight.

.

 

[Redbeard U812]

As soon as I can get to take it apart it'll have to be cleaned with some lubes.

Install a simple zerk fitting top of mic. Get out that grease gun.

 

[Slowmover]

Weekly: Kenworth kingpins and Astatic mike.

Now, that’s funny!!

.

 

[Cam Tetzlaff]

These are nowhere near the quality they used to be. Infact all Astatic stuff has really gown down hill in recent years. Someone bought them out. Road Pro or Workman or something.

 

[Slowmover]

Mine also had the scratchiness. A couple of drops of silicone garage door lubricant from Home Depot took care of that. Works great now.

If one can live with or remedy the sloppiness and scratchiness as I did, these mics apparently are a great match for the 980. Everyone says my modulation is loud and crystal clear.

On a side note, I run mine at 75% of wide open. Everyone agrees that's the perfect setting for my voice.

This is the post I have in mind every time I think about a mic for Mobile with the 980. Others wind up sounding dull or flat.

Assuming I can find it to try the R-man formula.

.