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#374645 - 28/06/2025 00:32 Microphone conversion?
Ladmo
addict

Registered: 04/09/2004
Posts: 536
Loc: Oklahoma
I recently obtained a D-104 non-amplifed microphone at a yard sale for $3.00 USD! I had one of these Microphones during my young CB radio days. I thought it would make a nice Retro Microphone for the computer when dictating. (I'm old, and reliving my youth) Ha!

The problem is I have no idea what it will take to convert the D-104 to a computer mic.
If all else fails I could just get a cheap microphone on amazon and install in the D-104 after stripping out its guts, but would rather keep it as original as possible.

I know almost everyone here is smarter than me when it comes to wiring and figuring these type of things out, so I am hoping someone can help me out with some info.
Thanks
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#374646 - 28/06/2025 21:43 Re: Microphone conversion? [Re: Ladmo]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31626
Loc: Seattle, WA
Googling... Hey that's a very pretty microphone.

There's a "instructables" page which describes the conversion process but don't follow that one. It's terrible because it's just gutting the mic and putting a cheap plastic computer mic in place of the original D104 innards. I mean, that would work, but then it's not a D104 any more, just a shell with a lower-quality piezo mic inside.

I'd rather figure out how to adapt a D104 to a USB audio interface. I don't see anything on that topic yet, but it seems these mics are popular and I'll bet someone's done it somewhere.
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Tony Fabris

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#374647 - 28/06/2025 21:56 Re: Microphone conversion? [Re: Ladmo]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31626
Loc: Seattle, WA
So far, I'm seeing some things on the internet which are homemade interface boxes which convert a 4-pin CB-radio mic plug into something you can then plug into your computer. Such a thing would work for any CB radio mic, not just the D104.

There are two components to such a box: The audio output (sometimes via a 1/8" jack which goes from the box to your computer mic input), and then also the push-to-talk button (via a USB connector going from the box to your computer).

The push-to-talk also requires having software on the computer which takes advantage of the button press (which is usually a USB-serial interface). But the push-to-talk might not be important to you.

I still haven't found a particularly nice and easy pre-made box, most of the stuff I'm seeing is very DIY.
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Tony Fabris

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#374648 - 28/06/2025 21:59 Re: Microphone conversion? [Re: tfabris]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31626
Loc: Seattle, WA
This guy seems to think that you simply need to hook up pin 1 and 2 directly to the 1/8" microphone jack:

https://adafruit-playground.com/u/delchi/pages/cb-microphone-for-your-pc-breaker-breaker-any-takers

So if you didn't care about the push-to-talk feature, you could just wire up a 4-pin to 1/8" plug and try that. Dunno if the mic impedance would actually be correct or not.
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Tony Fabris

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#374649 - 28/06/2025 22:04 Re: Microphone conversion? [Re: Ladmo]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31626
Loc: Seattle, WA
Hm, other pages think otherwise, indicating that CB mics are electret microphones which need power applied to them when in "talk" mode: https://www.epanorama.net/circuits/microphone_powering.html

Not sure which one is the truth.
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#374651 - Today at 01:36 Re: Microphone conversion? [Re: Ladmo]
Ladmo
addict

Registered: 04/09/2004
Posts: 536
Loc: Oklahoma
Tony,
Thanks for the info!! I have schematics for several versions of the D-104. The one I currently have is the G model.
Just a bit of info, the Model # D-104 pertains to the 'head'. The stands are noted differently Mine is an early, non-amplified one (which is the 'G' model.

I have a bunch of info I have gather on the subject of these Awesome Microphones, if you like I can email them to you.
I have Schematics for the amplified and the non ampllifed ones. It seems that most of the 104 'heads' are the same, it is the wiring of the stand is the difference.

But I am in agreement with you. I would much rather keep the mic as close to original as possible. If I were to just slap a hacked modern mic and put it in, it would just not be the same.

I am a bit of a purest at heart, which is why I still have a Commodore 64, even though I do use the WinVice emulator on occasion.

Let me know if you want the info I have on the D-104's.
And if you find one at a yard sale or thrift shop, let me know!

David
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