President Dwight D. CB Base Resto-Mod Part 1
🎙️ Resurrection of a Classic: President Dwight D. CB Base & Astatic D-104 TUP9 Resto-Mod!
Stoked to finally crack open my President Dwight D. CB Base Station! This rig, a decade-long resident of the garage, fired right up a few years ago and was technically working. Now it’s time for a proper restoration and revitalization to ensure this classic rig lasts!
My plan focuses on preservation, performance, and a critical deep-dive into its legendary companion, the Astatic D-104 Power Mic on the TUP9 stand.
🔎 Phase 1: Internal Inspection & Component Audit
Before replacing any parts, I need to know the radio’s precise configuration and history of modifications. This is crucial for future component sourcing and tuning.
- Board Identification: The President Dwight D. came with two main boards. I’ll open it up to identify the Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) chip:
- PC198AA Board: Uses the AN-858-PLA U PD858 PLL.
- PC 407 Board: Uses the U PD2816 PLL.
- Modifications Check: I’ll be looking for any evidence of “Super Mods,” specifically if the clarifier has been clipped or if any modulation tuning has been performed.
- Capacitor & Resistor Inspection: I’m taking the “don’t fix it if it ain’t broke” approach with a major exception: vintage electrolytic capacitors degrade over time. I’ll be inspecting and selectively replacing these key components for long-term stability and optimal audio coupling.
🎤 Phase 2: The Astatic D-104 TUP9 Resto-Mod
The Astatic D-104 on a TUP9 base is an iconic combination that deserves the full restoration treatment.
1. Cleaning and Maintenance
- Deep Clean: A thorough cleaning of the mic head, chrome, and the heavy TUP9 base to remove years of dust and grime.
- Contact Cleaning: The Push-To-Talk (PTT) bar mechanism and the volume potentiometers (pots) inside the TUP9 stand will be cleaned with high-quality contact cleaner (like DeoxIT). This is essential to eliminate static, scratchy audio, and intermittent keying.
2. Cord Replacement & Wiring
- The old microphone cord will be replaced with a new, high-quality cable.
- Crucial Step: The new cord must be correctly wired to mate the D-104 (Audio, Ground, TX/PTT, RX) with the President Dwight D.’s mic jack (in this case a 4 pin GX16 aviation connector). Getting the pinout right is essential for it to key up and transmit audio properly!
3. Performance Upgrades (“Resto-Mod” IF required)
- Amplifier Board Upgrade: The internal pre-amp board in the TUP9 is a common point of failure or weak performance. I may replace the vintage board with a modern, low-noise amplifier kit tailored for the TUP9 base to provide cleaner, more punchy modulation.
- RF Filtering: D-104s are notorious for picking up stray RF (Radio Frequency) energy. I will check for and potentially install a small, simple RF suppression network (capacitor/resistor) on the audio line to keep the signal clean.
🛠️ Phase 3: Final Tune-Up & Reassembly
With the internal components secured and the D-104 revitalized, the final steps will bring the entire base station back to peak condition.
| Task | Detail |
| Pots & Switches | Clean all remaining potentiometers and switches in the radio (RF gain, volume, squelch, channel selector). |
| Cord Replacement | Replace the old, stiff power cord (not just the mic cord!) for safety and a fresh feel. |
| Alignment | I will check the radio’s frequency and perform a basic tune-up and alignment to maximize its transmitted power and receive sensitivity, ensuring it’s right on-frequency. |
Wish me luck on this fantastic project! I’ll be posting updates on the board type, any mods I find, and the transformation of this classic rig!
You can find President Dwight D. CB Base Resto-Mod Part 2 HERE.