I had a TYT TH-9800 that crapped out after a few months. I was able to get a refund on the radio, but I was now stuck with a TYT DESKMIC1 and nothing to use it with. When I got the Anytone AT-5888UVIII to use in my shack for 222Mhz, I was bummed to find the Mic was not compatible (why would it?).
There is an Anytone QDM-01 desk mic for the AT-5888. It is physically exactly the same as the DESKMIC1 except: The Anytone uses an 8-pin RJ45 and the TYT uses a 6-pin RJ12 connector. I didn’t want to spend another $60 for something I already had… I was determined to make this Mic work with the new radio.
Unlike the radios in the article Not All CCRs Are Cheap... I do believe both these microphones were made in the same factory. Probably a Chineese company that focuses on these types of accessories.
So, I went on Amazon and got a couple of breakouts to cross-wire it all up. After a few quick, test QSOs, I was getting reports of low audio. That’s when a google check revealed that the TYT Mic was intended for use at 9 Volts… The Anytone only puts out 5 Volts. No worries, for $9 I got a 9V Buck converter, and a hobby-box to stick it all in.
I know, I know… sloppy job. But I was slapping it together to finish in time for a 220 Net that night; I wanted to try it out. I even screwed the cover on before testing it. When I logged in to the Net, I was pleased to hear that my audio was full copy, with the gain right where it should be (about 1/4 turn from max).
So for about $25 in parts, I avoided spending $60 for a second Mic, and was able put that paper-weight TYT Mic to good use. I’m glad it worked… I felt like a chump for buying a TYT Radio every time I saw that Mic sitting around just collecting dust.
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