| Author |
Message |
    
Maxgain
Junior Member
Username: Maxgain
Post Number: 38
Registered: 3-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, September 20, 2007 - 10:30 pm: | 
|
Does the current generation Cobra 148 use the same circuit board as any other radios ?
What circuit board does it have?
Might it be an EPT-069610-Z ?
Thank you! |
Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 3946
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Friday, September 21, 2007 - 9:27 am: |
|
it's a cobra 148 as always....just made in china using an rci8719 & other parts costing less then those used when made in the phillipines.... |
Maxgain
Junior Member
Username: Maxgain
Post Number: 39
Registered: 3-2007
| | Posted on Friday, September 21, 2007 - 4:04 pm: |
|
I wonder how well the new 148's do after being peaked?
Any input there? |
Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 3949
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, September 22, 2007 - 9:34 am: |
|
last one i personally did was almost 2 years ago & it sounds fine still, after being in a dump truck the whole time. i don't remember exactly, but probably 3 watts swinging 15 or so-it was set up for a texas star 350, but i think has a 667 now. sounds fine with a power mic, maybe an m575-don't remember.
have heard others, all sound fine. |
Maxgain
Junior Member
Username: Maxgain
Post Number: 40
Registered: 3-2007
| | Posted on Saturday, September 22, 2007 - 2:29 pm: |
|
But are you refering to just the channel chip "RCI-8719" , I need to know what the whole main board is designated as if possible.
Thanks |
Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 3953
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Friday, September 28, 2007 - 4:28 pm: |
|
a current china-made cobra 148 is a malaysia-made cobra 148, made in china, with cheaper parts. it looks the same, sounds the same, modifies the same, etc etc etc. it uses an rci8719, not an mmb8719, or mb8734, or any other non modifiable chip. so it may show a couple watts less PEP then an original, noboby will EVER know. my XL ONLY shows 15-16 PEP, not 20+ they are allegedly capable of. trust me, nobody can tell.  |
Cbblackbeard
Intermediate Member
Username: Cbblackbeard
Post Number: 215
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, October 06, 2007 - 12:56 pm: |
|
Why do people talk bad about the NEW 148's if they are almost the same as the older ones? |
Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 3963
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, October 06, 2007 - 2:48 pm: |
|
mechanical parts that were once made of metal, are now made of plastic. the components used by chinese manufacturers are perceived to be of lesser quality then components used by manufacturers in taiwan, japan, the phillipines, etc. the quality control in chinese factories is assumed to be poor. any validity to any of those statements? component makeup, well, yes, everything else-probably just a matter of opinion. i've heard where the new china-made 148's are 'nowhere near as loud' as the old ones. i have NOT found that to be true. i personally prefer the grant xl to the cobra 148, partly due to 'looks', & partly, YES, there WERE some slight differences. the grant is perceived to be a bit better. would i buy a NEW china-made cobra 148? NO, but only because i have a stockpile of XL's, LT's, TR296's, etc, NIB. |
Dx_freak
Junior Member
Username: Dx_freak
Post Number: 40
Registered: 2-2007
| | Posted on Sunday, October 07, 2007 - 9:12 pm: |
|
Here is what I have to offer on the subject. I have a new 148 and out of box it did 5watt dead key and swung like 7 or so. I went in and did the NPC MOD and after say 30-45 minutes of time my6 results were 1.5 watt deadkey and oh say 18 watt swing with heavy talking into the mic. Not much better result at all. I figure if you plan to buy and mod a radio, well just go buy a ranger or a galaxy or something. After all, you get what you pay for and the end result of every thing you do to a radio is your transmit. Like it or hate it, basicly, I have a cobra 148 doing lesser than a cobra 29ltd classic that has usb and lsb, which I never use. I got a 148 and did this to the radio just to see what the out come would be, and there you go. Although the radio sounds good on air clean and clear and linear ready, it still has no other usefull thigs as roger beep, additional bands or echo, and if all added, wel you have exceeded the price of a more quality radio with lots more things as echo, rb, extra bands, freq meter, and not to mention, all you still have is a cobra. Just my input. Good luck.
Richey
DX freak/Mad Dog/Puppet Master
CEF#885
I can only do the best I can with what I got.
|
Unit199
Advanced Member
Username: Unit199
Post Number: 548
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Monday, October 08, 2007 - 5:09 am: |
|
If you are getting a 18 watt swing,I would say it is real good. That is about as good as it gets unless you do mods to it and then you may as well buy a ten meter radio to begin with.
HARVE
UNIT199
CEF210
CVC#18
|
Kabar
Junior Member
Username: Kabar
Post Number: 49
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Monday, October 08, 2007 - 1:07 pm: |
|
Get a Texas Ranger TR-966 similiar to the Cobra 148gtl but a much better radio.
Made by Ranger. |
Dale
Senior Member
Username: Dale
Post Number: 1191
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Monday, October 08, 2007 - 6:52 pm: |
|
absolutly right
dale/a.k.a.hotrod
cef426
cvc#64
|
Cbblackbeard
Intermediate Member
Username: Cbblackbeard
Post Number: 218
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 10, 2007 - 5:49 pm: |
|
Thanks everyone.
I have a TR 296 and a TR 966 and I love both. I've never had a 148gtl so that's why I was wondering. My 16 year old neighbor just got in to CB and he was asking me which radio he should buy for sideband, I suggested the Texas Ranger. |
Perrym1962
Junior Member
Username: Perrym1962
Post Number: 41
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 10, 2007 - 7:22 pm: |
|
I have 2 of the new 148gtl radios. I like them both. Also have a Texas ranger 966. I like them all... |
Biggerbear
New member
Username: Biggerbear
Post Number: 1
Registered: 2-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 10, 2007 - 9:27 pm: |
|
ok I got a stock one of these radios and it works but needs a tune up.Can any one tell me what to adjust to make it a good radio not just a avrage dead head like it is know.Thanks for any help.The radio is not a new one but has not had much use.Rex |
Dx_freak
Junior Member
Username: Dx_freak
Post Number: 41
Registered: 2-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, October 11, 2007 - 4:13 pm: |
|
A very good reliable lower cost radio that is a quality radio and is very stable on ssb, get you a $200.00 voyage vr 9000. Mine is going on 3 yrs old and after recent problem, well it is still going great and the fix for getting it back on the air, maybe a $4.00 repair doing it myself. Oh, do not forget to do the mod on it prior to using it though. Although it will perform well non modded, it really performs well when modded and it is not hard to do. If you wish to get one with a few more options and a nicer looking apperence and blue led's and such, go with the ss158 edx. Only a few bucks more than the voyage.
Richey
DX freak/Mad Dog/Puppet Master
CEF#885
I can only do the best I can with what I got.
|
Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 3970
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, October 13, 2007 - 10:39 pm: |
|
out of box it did 5watt dead key and swung like 7 or so. I went in and did the NPC MOD and after say 30-45 minutes of time my6 results were 1.5 watt deadkey and oh say 18 watt swing-i always add variable carrier power as opposed to 'RC'-reduced carrier-in that mod, to KEEP 5+ watts dead key available. 7 swing to 18 swing is about 4.5 db increase, in PEP, good for possibly 1/2-3/4 of an S-unit. maybe noticeable. some see 22+ PEP out of that radio, MAYBE another 1/4 S-unit. who cares? nobody will ever know. so, Not much better result at all-i strongly disagree. ranger or galaxy vs a uniden 8719 chassis? no contest at all. you certainly do get what you pay for, 8719 hands down. the radio sounds good on air clean and clear and linear ready-what more could there possibly be? you've obtained perfection.
the average, & higher then average, freebander is more then satisfied with the frequency expansion available to the 8719 chassis, it'll get you down to 26.815 & all the way to the bottom of 10 meters-where you want to stay away from. hardcore freebanders, & those that go lower towards 26.000 mHz prefer HF rigs to exports every time. added bands down to 25 mHz & up to 32 mHz serve absolutely no purpose, other then to ask for trouble. as for beeps, echoes and the rest......NAH.
while the TR966 is a decent radio, it is far from being a much better radio then an 8719 chassis. a TR296 in fact IS a clone of a 148 and another fine radio. unfortunately, they too went the way of the rest of the 8719 radios.
i have seen several ss158's & agree with DX freak on them. they are nothing more then re-badged connex 4800/cobra 148fgtldx radios, far less costly, with a bit higher output, and BLUE lighting....looks nice, but hard to drive with. those that i've seen/heard sound really nice, though 1 was quite a bit out of alignment, with XMIT & RCV being 2 kc apart. 1 is still on my list before THEY go away.
the original question, & CBblackbeards', were about new china-built cobra 148's. like everything today, they WERE cheapened by the manufacturer to keep retail costs down, but they are still more or less the same SUPER radio of years gone by. a VERY broadbanded export radio is not going to outperform a well designed, much more narrow banded radio-in this case a CB using the 8719 chassis. no matter how hard they want folks to think that. |
Radioreddz
Member
Username: Radioreddz
Post Number: 63
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, October 14, 2007 - 1:26 pm: |
|
i have tried the new cobra 148 and the results i must say are not bad. you can't tell a whole lot of difference between the new 148 vs. the old 148's,grant xl's or 2950 dx's. with a proper peak,alignment and tune it's a fine talker. add a little amp like a klv 501,put in some extra frequencies and a freq. counter and go dxin. belive it or not i like the receive on the new 148 better than the 2950dx much more quieter. price is right and you can talk anywhere radios costing 3 times as much talk and trust me i have them all & love them all but you won't go wrong with the new 148. |
Hotwire
Senior Member
Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 2412
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, October 14, 2007 - 5:21 pm: |
|
I have bought a few of the China made Cobra 148gtl's and a couple 148 soundtracker as well. I have not had one out of box that was acceptable on SSB, AM was fine but could of been better. After a tuneup and componets change from a very good tech the recieve was much much better and SSB turned out OK but not the greatest. The Uniden made 148's did not need this much work to recieve well. Transmit is just about what you get out of any proper tuned Cobra clean and moderatly loud.
None of my China Cobras come even close to my Connex 4800 or similar export rig in the SSB mode.
Just your average cheap run of the mill SSB cb radio.
My oldest china 148 was about 3 years old before things started happening like meter light burnout and switches not working, performance has seemed to go bad after 3 years of Indiana weather.
You get what you pay for and sometimes it is just best to pay more for something better!
Cobra has just been putting out some sad rigs nowadays. You should NEVER have to go in and rebuild or adjust a brand new radio so it will perform right! Besides adjusting deadkey internally that should be it.
KEEP IT REAL!
Kenny
cef491(27.115lsb)
2sf491(27.555usb)
Indiana
|
Dale
Senior Member
Username: Dale
Post Number: 1209
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Monday, October 15, 2007 - 6:23 am: |
|
hate to say it i also had similar problems
but i didnt change parts.had a 148 st and ssb
power was only 8 watts on a bird meter and 6watts pep on a bird.took it to my shop after
about a 1/2 hour he got it donig
dk2 watts 8-10 pep
ssb=10-12 watts pep
outy of the box this radio didnt impress me at all
dale/a.k.a.hotrod
cef426
cvc#64
|
Biggerbear
New member
Username: Biggerbear
Post Number: 2
Registered: 2-2007
| | Posted on Friday, October 19, 2007 - 3:14 pm: |
|
I have a 148gtl and have had for years .I love the sound of that radio on low tone.Is there a simple was of making harsher high tone radio sound that way.May be even a filter? |
Mtn_man_754
Junior Member
Username: Mtn_man_754
Post Number: 17
Registered: 2-2007
| | Posted on Sunday, November 04, 2007 - 12:01 pm: |
|
I just bought a new china made 148 . Out of the box it dead keyed 7 swing 13 ..after a power turn it did 10 swing 15 . The 2 mic line resistors are 10 K on all the older 148's - in my new one they seem to have done the " mod" at the factory, that some of us do any way .. the R 124 = 7.8k and the R 126 is 3.8k - i use a little bit smaller values in mine but it seems thay are trying to beef up the audio a bit ..I still need the specs on the audio amp regulator- TR 41.. its marked C 4369 on it . The old ones were marked D 1135 , any one have any info on this part? Any one know where i can get a texas ranger 296 new or used??? Maybe Pat wants to sell one of his over stocked ones ?? |
Mscott1212
New member
Username: Mscott1212
Post Number: 5
Registered: 12-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, November 18, 2007 - 11:29 am: |
|
Does anybody know if I buy one of the Cobra 148 GTL's from copperelectronics.com and get the Align + Tune option does that also open the Clairifier and do the Channel Mod? If so what is the Cobra 148 GTL's channel range? 26.815-28.045?
Thanks, Mike |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 14686
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, November 18, 2007 - 11:31 am: |
|
Mscott1212
Sorry but No, the Copper Tech will not do any modifications that could or would void your factory Cobra warranty.
Lon ~ Tech808 ~ N9CEF
CEF#808 ~ CEF HAM#001 ~ CVC#002
Tech808@copperelectronics.com
|
Earl68
New member
Username: Earl68
Post Number: 1
Registered: 1-2012
| | Posted on Sunday, March 11, 2012 - 6:30 pm: |
|
I have a newer 148gtl with 4 pin mic and cant get any correct readings on swr/power/modulation meter, checked meter with several radios and it works correctly.I know there has been a erf2030 mod done on the radio.Any help? |
Earl68
New member
Username: Earl68
Post Number: 2
Registered: 1-2012
| | Posted on Monday, March 12, 2012 - 7:45 pm: |
|
I figured it out, it was a bad cap but thanks anyway. |
