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Tech808
Moderator Username: Tech808
Post Number: 6507 Registered: 8-2002
| Posted on Tuesday, August 02, 2005 - 8:45 pm: |
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Here is a TOPIC where everyone can discuss Old Cobra or Uniden SSB Radios or AM Radios. Lon Tech808 CEF808 N9OSN |
Yankee
Advanced Member Username: Yankee
Post Number: 783 Registered: 7-2003
| Posted on Tuesday, August 02, 2005 - 11:26 pm: |
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LOL, how old does the radio have to be to fit under this heading? I have several older sideband radios made by Uniden in my collection from the '70s and '80s and still in like new condition. Carl CEF-357 |
Tech808
Moderator Username: Tech808
Post Number: 6510 Registered: 8-2002
| Posted on Tuesday, August 02, 2005 - 11:33 pm: |
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Then they are OLD and Post away. Lon Tech808 CEF808 N9OSN
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Keithinatlanta
Advanced Member Username: Keithinatlanta
Post Number: 654 Registered: 3-2003
| Posted on Wednesday, August 03, 2005 - 7:08 am: |
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Then I will start it off. My Uniden is a Grant XL made in Philllipines in late 90's. This particular one is the BEST radio I have ever had out of all the radios I have had! It has excellent receive, and talks all over the place. It is CLEAR transmitting so when you hear, you can understand what I am saying. I would still love to get my hands on a new Uniden Washington Base station though. Also, my Uniden PC76XLW is the best AM mobile radio I have ever had. Then right behind them are my Uniden PC 66's. All of these are made in Phillipines from the 90's. I have had the newer ones, no comparison. I have had two Cobra's, one from Malaysia, one from China. they were good, but not as good. Never had a Cobra made by Uniden, so I can only go by what others say. Keith in Atlanta |
Ajm1571
Member Username: Ajm1571
Post Number: 63 Registered: 12-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, August 03, 2005 - 4:19 pm: |
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The best Cobra SSB radio I ever had was a Cobra 142. After bein tuned an peaked it was a good soundin radio on either AM or SSB. As far as Uniden goes I like my PC66a that I run in my vehicle. I have had Grants an Grant XL's but I really like my PC66a. Deadkeys about 2 an swings to around 18. All my locals say it's one sweet soundin radio. |
Strykertech
Junior Member Username: Strykertech
Post Number: 15 Registered: 7-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, August 03, 2005 - 5:44 pm: |
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Keith, You would love the President Grants that were made in Taiwan in the late 80's. Using a 2SC1306 driving a 2Sc1307. Were a very nice rig. |
Twowatt
Member Username: Twowatt
Post Number: 50 Registered: 7-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, August 03, 2005 - 11:06 pm: |
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i had 5ch & 10ch (combined 25 ch,) radios for years, but my first 23 ch base was a used B&K cobra cam 88, (paid $125 in 1974), made in the 60's. talked very good, 'till the transformer leaked out the magic smoke. 60-70 mile range, on good days, always 20-30. Heard their was a mod to make it dead key close to the whiteface (~20w), but never seen the mod. (pix can be found at woodys)
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Skipman
New member Username: Skipman
Post Number: 2 Registered: 7-2005
| Posted on Thursday, August 04, 2005 - 1:43 pm: |
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i must agree the Philp made grant XL, cobra 148 and old pba-0 board such as 148dx and superstar 360fm are sweet. As far as receiver goes the best.hands down, i mean really for receive sensitivity and channel rejection there is none better. Properly tuned and not clipped and molested they scream. You can have all the newer cheesy exports that are cheaply made...sorry all you rci fans they are..Leave the oldies for me.. |
Rob5mike
Intermediate Member Username: Rob5mike
Post Number: 169 Registered: 7-2002
| Posted on Thursday, August 04, 2005 - 3:02 pm: |
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I have a 142GTL and it is an all around good radio and my 148GTL(Malaysia)is one of my all time favorites.I know its not SSB but for a smoking AM radio my Uniden PC66a is hard to beat |
Turbogus
Junior Member Username: Turbogus
Post Number: 13 Registered: 7-2003
| Posted on Tuesday, September 27, 2005 - 12:08 pm: |
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My station rig is an ol 142Gl too, it was tuned up and so had a rheostat added to tune down for KLV 250 amp. this connected to a venerable A-99. This thing boogies |
1861
Intermediate Member Username: 1861
Post Number: 342 Registered: 2-2004
| Posted on Tuesday, September 27, 2005 - 1:22 pm: |
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I JUST HOOKED UP AN OLD PRESIDENT TEDDY R ( COBRA 29XLR ) MADE IN 79 . I ,VE HAD IT IN A PILE FOR LONG TIME . STILL HAS BEST RECEIVE OF ANY RADIO I,VE HEARD |
Xlaxx
Intermediate Member Username: Xlaxx
Post Number: 290 Registered: 4-2002
| Posted on Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - 11:58 pm: |
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The Uniden President Madison is a top shelf performer. Not as pretty as a 2000GTL but talks the same. XLAXX |
Beeker7104
New member Username: Beeker7104
Post Number: 4 Registered: 12-2004
| Posted on Monday, October 03, 2005 - 5:50 pm: |
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Now,I have owned a few sideband radios myself. I currently have on my test bench for everyday use is a Uniden Washington that has been slightly modified(without compromising its performance) it plays very nicely. I've never had trouble talking local or skip. I've also used(Which is now sitting on a shelf in my shop a Cobra 2000 GTL has the works approx. 300 channels. I love that radio but will not use it in the shop due to lack of space for it. |
Moderator136
Moderator Username: Moderator136
Post Number: 119 Registered: 4-2005
| Posted on Monday, October 03, 2005 - 9:31 pm: |
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Remember coming home from a close out sale with a brand new madison (858 Chip) also Uniden board ,I was real happy, That radio talked around the earth so many times the clock stoped at 12:00 pm never did move again, But i was still makeing contacts, Yep they was good radios!! But now we have the best technology and the boards are smt and they work wonders. The radios they make now is like comparing a model T to a hybird car. BIG DIFFERENCE. Also they are comeing out with better and new technolgy radios, SO STAY TUNED FOR NEW INFORMATION. But i still have good Memories of the older radios , But honest truth whats new is better! And hope they keep getting better! Moderator136 CEF136 kc0svc |
Wheelco505
New member Username: Wheelco505
Post Number: 9 Registered: 12-2004
| Posted on Tuesday, October 04, 2005 - 5:41 pm: |
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can anybody tell me anything about the cobra 26(not 25) it looks like a cobra 25,but has a black face.and it's a 23 channel.so it's old.BUT!! I'VE FOUND ONE BRAND NEW!!STILL IN THE BOX!!lucky me.does anybody know where it was made??? usa or other wise.help 505 |
Keithinatlanta
Advanced Member Username: Keithinatlanta
Post Number: 698 Registered: 3-2003
| Posted on Tuesday, October 04, 2005 - 8:23 pm: |
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Wheelco505, wow what a deal! HOW did you find something like that? And still brand new? Where would you find something like that anyway? Keith in Atlanta CEF 150
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Crackshot
New member Username: Crackshot
Post Number: 3 Registered: 10-2005
| Posted on Tuesday, October 04, 2005 - 11:15 pm: |
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I just purchased a older President Grant with the silver face a while back. Has all the mods and is a LOUD radio. I believe it is 1989 model made in Phillipines. Has a lot of audio swing to it and receives really well. Very sensitive rig. Paid 100.00 for it.I thought that was a fair price. I heard they have a good rep for being tough and won't shake apart. |
Wheelco505
Junior Member Username: Wheelco505
Post Number: 10 Registered: 12-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, October 05, 2005 - 1:29 pm: |
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good deal crackshot,and keithinatlanta i got it on the ebay buy(not the ebay auction)but can anybody tell me if it was made here or where??it is on the way here i hope ups is kind.any info about this radio would be helpful. |
Wheelco505
Junior Member Username: Wheelco505
Post Number: 11 Registered: 12-2004
| Posted on Friday, October 07, 2005 - 7:23 pm: |
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come on guys iam 55 and i've been on the radio since 1974,and i know that some of you cobra lovers are older than me.so somebody has to have seen or heard of the cobra 26. so at lease say yea or nay!!don't leave a guy hanging!!come on guy's |
Crackshot
Junior Member Username: Crackshot
Post Number: 19 Registered: 10-2005
| Posted on Saturday, October 08, 2005 - 9:53 am: |
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I know the President / Uniden Grant maks an LT and a XL models. What other models did they make in the Grant line? |
Dan_in_wa
Junior Member Username: Dan_in_wa
Post Number: 13 Registered: 9-2004
| Posted on Saturday, October 08, 2005 - 11:23 am: |
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Wheelco, I've been into radios since '73 and have not heard of it (or don't remember). I turned 48 last month.... is time accelerating? |
Yankee
Advanced Member Username: Yankee
Post Number: 958 Registered: 7-2003
| Posted on Saturday, October 08, 2005 - 12:26 pm: |
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Crackshot: The only other Grant in the line by Uniden was the first model Grant, it was known as just the President Grant, has the uPD-858 PLL chassis, same radio as Cobra 138/139XLR and many others that used the same uPD-858 PLL chassis. The sleepers in the family were the Realistic TRC-449,457,and 458. The Realistics were over looked by many people because they were being sold by Radio Shack and on average were much higher priced than the Cobra and President lines. The President Grant is nothing like the Uniden Grant LT/XL or Cobra 148/2000 GTL. Wheelco505: I'll be honest with you, after 43 years on the air and knowing of many Cobra radios, I've never heard of the Cobra 26. Just a thought, the Cobra-26 could be from another country such as Australia, as some of the radios from Australia were the same as the United States radios, but were blackfaced such as the Australian Cobra 148-GTL. Could be that your Cobra 26 is along the lines of the Cobra 23 channel model 25 radios from Australia. |
Crackshot
Junior Member Username: Crackshot
Post Number: 20 Registered: 10-2005
| Posted on Saturday, October 08, 2005 - 3:29 pm: |
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Mine is not a President Grant "classic" but looks exactly the same except it does not have FM. Has the push buttons on panel. It has been expanded. I have the original box and says Uniden on it.Also says made in Phillipines. The instructions have 1989 stamped on them. Is this a first type model or something? |
Tech808
Moderator Username: Tech808
Post Number: 7545 Registered: 8-2002
| Posted on Saturday, October 08, 2005 - 3:47 pm: |
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Wheelco505, The Cobra 26 was a Very Good Little Black Faced (front panel) 23 Channel Radio. It had 2 toggle switches; 1 for ANL/OFF 1 for CB/PA 4 Control Knobs Volume Squelch RF Gain Delta Tune and a SWR S/RF Meter I also have the Tune Up information for Cobra 26 listed in the Modification List Under Tools to the left of the forum here. Hope this helps, Lon Tech808 CEF808 N9OSN
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Yankee
Advanced Member Username: Yankee
Post Number: 960 Registered: 7-2003
| Posted on Saturday, October 08, 2005 - 10:27 pm: |
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I'm sorry, I wasn't aware of the second model Grant with the MB-8719. That had to have been about the era of the third model Uniden Washington coming on the market. The first two models of the Washington were President. The way to tell the washingtons apart, First model with the uPD-858 PLL had only the one red transmit lamp and two push buttons on the far right of the lower panel. Second model had a green receive lamp as well as the red transmit lamp and three push buttons, and the third model no longer had the President name on it, but was now the Uniden Washington and basics were the same as the second model with the MB-8719 PLL. |
Crackshot
Junior Member Username: Crackshot
Post Number: 21 Registered: 10-2005
| Posted on Saturday, October 08, 2005 - 10:35 pm: |
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Thanks Hollowpoint445. I do appreciate the info. So is 1989 the first year they made them? It does have a lot of frequencies on it and we all like having lots of frequencies! |
Yankee
Advanced Member Username: Yankee
Post Number: 962 Registered: 7-2003
| Posted on Saturday, October 08, 2005 - 11:31 pm: |
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Crackshot: the Grants go back a lot of years. It wouldn't surprise me if there wasn't a 23 channel Grant. The Grant of the late 1970s early 1980s is the one to look for, Same radio as the Cobra 138/139-XLR and can do close to 200 channels. It will have the President Grant name on it, has the uPD-858 PLL chassis. What is the frequency range of your Grant? It can do the same range as the Grant XL/LT. |
Wheelco505
Junior Member Username: Wheelco505
Post Number: 12 Registered: 12-2004
| Posted on Sunday, October 09, 2005 - 12:28 pm: |
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THANKS VERY MUCH 808!!(LON) IWAS BEGINING TO THINK I WAS TALKING TO AIR!! thanks for every thing,everybody got on that grant kick and wow!!it went through the roof.i've got a grant,and a 138 and the 138 is the loudest of the two(it seems the older the cobra the less it takes to mod it)the 138 will dead key max 10-13 watts and swing 20-28watts.i had to turn it way down.BUT I REALLY NEEDED THE MOD FOR THE 126. THANKS AGIAN!! 505 |
Beeker7104
Junior Member Username: Beeker7104
Post Number: 13 Registered: 12-2004
| Posted on Sunday, October 09, 2005 - 3:26 pm: |
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I have a Uniden Washington manufactured OCT. 1994 which I bought new for 225.00 at a local truckstop that has been peaked and tuned by my step-father(ham tech) it deadkeys 2 watts and swings to 25. The only thing I do like about the radio is the clarifier doesn't clarify enough on USB/LSB. I do however love the overall performance of this radio. |
Airplane1
Advanced Member Username: Airplane1
Post Number: 601 Registered: 5-2004
| Posted on Sunday, October 23, 2005 - 4:23 pm: |
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On my uniden grant XL with cover off bottom looking down at the parts inside, where are the l37-l38 parts located. I think i`m blind cause I cant for the life of me find them. AP |
Airplane1
Advanced Member Username: Airplane1
Post Number: 602 Registered: 5-2004
| Posted on Sunday, October 23, 2005 - 4:24 pm: |
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also, what does vr3 do, I turned it by mistake.
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Patzerozero
Senior Member Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 1753 Registered: 7-2004
| Posted on Sunday, October 23, 2005 - 5:26 pm: |
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vr3 is for squelch threshold. L38 is adjustable wound over coil form coated in wax. if that's what you're tuning, make sure you get ALL the wax out so the ferrite does NOT break when you try to turn it. it is located at rear most point of radio, 1 or 2 caps in front & to right of 2166 final transistor. L37 is the open copper coil directly to its right, the 1 that looks like a little springy thingie. be careful spreading that 1, it acts as a filter to eliminate harmonics, spreading it too far could be giving you 'false' watt readings.
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Airplane1
Advanced Member Username: Airplane1
Post Number: 603 Registered: 5-2004
| Posted on Sunday, October 23, 2005 - 6:16 pm: |
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Ok, thanks, I checked the squelch and it was off bigtime so I adjusted it back to where I thought it was at befor. Now I adjusted my DK to 4watts and now am trying to do the swing. I want it to swing to 10watts at least, it only swings to about 6watts now. so I should adjust L37-L38 but mostly spread L38 correct? I just want to get it right. To get more than the 60-70% modulation what should I do? I was thinking of clipping the Q24. Thanks, Ap |
Patzerozero
Senior Member Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 1754 Registered: 7-2004
| Posted on Sunday, October 23, 2005 - 8:43 pm: |
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everything works in conjunction with everything else, so you may end up having to re-tweak things more then once. 1st, you need to know if your wattmeter is reading peak/PEP or average/RMS only. that way you'll know if 10 watts is good or not. 10 watts swing RMS is REAL good, 10 watts swing PEP is, not bad but could do better. 15 watts PEP swing is a nice #. also, are you talking 6 watts swing on AM only? what is SSB swing? now, the BEST way to do this is to either hear it yourself or have a trusted 'radio check guy' tell you how things sound. 1st, you SHOULD change BOTH R124 & R126 for 4.7K ohm resistors. now, you should next see which way YOU like it better, clipping center leg on Q24 OR cutting the trace to the center leg & bridging it with a 1.5K ohm resistor. you MAY need to re-adjust mic gain and/or power mic when checking. then, you can TRY clipping R131. that will give you LOUD AM audio BUT can cause bleedover or just plain 'too much sound'. remember, adjsut mic gain/power mic & it WILL be tolerable but STILL LOUD. best used for skip or long distance. if that sound is acceptable to YOU, you can either remember to turn mic down when talking locally, OR put the resistor on a switch (bright/dim) so you can 'turn it up' or down. adjust VR11 for SSB swing. THEN, adjust L38 for swing. make sure you pick out all the wax first, or you make break tuning slug & then it's 'UH-OH'! ever so SLIGHTLY, spread the L37 coil for a bit more swing. maybe 1/2 to 1 watt-TOPS. too much & all your power will be wasted in harmonics. it'll show on the meter, but it won't be on the channel you're talking on . that alone, without major surgery should get you 12 watts swing PEP. you may also want to try backing down AM carrier once everything else is done. you MAY pick up more swing by backing down carrier. |
Outkast
Junior Member Username: Outkast
Post Number: 45 Registered: 9-2005
| Posted on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 12:47 am: |
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Hey Pat on another mods pager on here I believe it was you that posted the Grant/148 GTL mod, I am wondering if it was correct to put a 4.7K Resistor in R-131? Would it be worth the effort to put it on a switch for DX? Do you happen to know what the original value of R-131 was? Thanks, Outkast CEF 650 |
Airplane1
Advanced Member Username: Airplane1
Post Number: 604 Registered: 5-2004
| Posted on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 7:34 am: |
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It`s swinging about 12-15 watts SSB and DKing 4 watts swining 6-8 watts AM. I am afraid to spread the coil L37, can I just use L38 to get a bit more swing and let L37 alone? Do I need to do the resitor change to get swing or can I let all that alone and just adjust L38? I dont want to get into to much cause I`m not comfortable with all this changing of resitors but dont mind adjusting things like pots ect. If not then I might leave alone and just accept the 4 watt DK and 6-8 watt swing. AP |
Patzerozero
Senior Member Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 1759 Registered: 7-2004
| Posted on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 12:31 pm: |
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outkast, r131 is 10K. swapping to 4.7k is giving more 'oomph' to the audio, because you are removing 1/2 of the resistance to 'gain'. removing r131 altogether is giving ALL 'oomph' to the audio because there IS NO MORE resistance-it's all 'gain'.(gain=for ease of explanation) yes, i would put it on a switch, so it's 'out of circuit' for DX & long distance, but back in for local talking. or just turn mic gain/power mic way down. r124 & 126 are also 10 k that can(should) be switched to 4.7k. airplane, sure, you can try spreading L37 & see what you get. if you're not happy, just push it back tight together again. just make sure to remove all wax before trying to turn L38. i'd change the r124 & 126-resistors are not 'directional', so there's no worry of putting 'em in wrong. as for r131, just unsolder 1 end of it, push it out & put a piece of tape over it, then see what you get & how it sounds. |
Kid_vicious
Advanced Member Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 731 Registered: 9-2004
| Posted on Tuesday, October 25, 2005 - 12:54 am: |
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make sure you dont accidentally (or intentionally) adjust L36. it is your TVI coil and wont help your output at all. it will make your radio spew out harmonics something fierce. i dont spread L37 on my radios. ive just never seen enough of a difference to warrant the increase in bleedover. to each his own. (i have spread many a coil in my day) when adjusting L38, put your soldering iron on the ferrite slug for a few seconds (30watts or less) and adjust it before the wax sets again. pat is so right, if you break that slug, just hope that you have a junk radio lying around that you dont mind taking one from. (and your wattage out may still not be the same as it was) when looking for R131, look near TR26 (Q26) it is on the right hand side towards the front (component side up, radio facing you) right near L1 and L2. if you make a precise snip right at the top of R131, you can open the gap a little, check the modulation/ bleedover, and if you dont like it, just push the ends together and resolder it. its a little cheap and dirty, but its a big time saver. matt |
Moonraker
Junior Member Username: Moonraker
Post Number: 46 Registered: 3-2005
| Posted on Tuesday, October 25, 2005 - 8:42 pm: |
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Back when I first got into CB, I had an old radio, I can't remember what kind, but I adjusted the slug for max power. The slug was very close to the top so I just took it out and the power was still at max. The radio seemed to work fine, could this have caused a problem with harmonics or something else I wasn't aware of? |
Patzerozero
Senior Member Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 1771 Registered: 7-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, October 26, 2005 - 5:16 pm: |
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THAT particular tuning coil, no, not harmonics, but breaking the slug COULD have affected output, if that was the 1 that was removed...the 'filter' for harmonics is the 'springy-looking' one just off the SO239 connector... |
Kid_vicious
Advanced Member Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 738 Registered: 9-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, October 26, 2005 - 10:50 pm: |
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pat, i like the quotes on the word filter. LOL they sure leave a bit to be desired dont they! have you ever had a problem with mic feedback after changing the values of R124 and R126? BTW, not sure if this changes anyone's opinion, but i have R131 on a SPDT center off switch that gives me the option of having it open, or 4.7K, or 1K. when i switch it around and ask for an audio check, no one can tell a difference between the 1K and the 4.7K, but they can definitely tell a difference when it is switched out! when talking locally, i run a D104 silver eagle, i leave the limiter out of the circuit, i run the mic gain at 12 o' clock, and the mic i just turn up until the audio level is high enough to swing the mod meter all the way over. i close talk the mic, (about 3-6 inches away), and i have gotten more compliments on my audio then with any other radio ive owned. this is my 2000gtl we're talking about here, and the mods done to it were given to me by the venerable pat00 (ZERO ZERO!!!) and they are listed elsewhere on this forum. ive gotten so many compliments on the audio that this radio has that other people have been accused of kissing my posterior for saying so. (dont you just love making people jealous?!) later, matt |
Airplane1
Advanced Member Username: Airplane1
Post Number: 605 Registered: 5-2004
| Posted on Thursday, October 27, 2005 - 11:17 am: |
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Kid vicius, did you do all the mods that pat00 listed here in this thread? I will definity try the mods if it will make that much of better. I always hear the big radios and want to run with them. Patzeozero, Can I send my grant xl to you for mods? then I know it will be done correct. AP |
Airplane1
Advanced Member Username: Airplane1
Post Number: 644 Registered: 5-2004
| Posted on Saturday, November 26, 2005 - 3:35 pm: |
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Guess not Pat |
Road_warrior
Advanced Member Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 980 Registered: 7-2004
| Posted on Saturday, November 26, 2005 - 7:24 pm: |
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I like the Uniden Washington, Madison, Grant radios./ Didn't care for Cobras. But, i did like the Cobra 142. Jim/PA/CEF 375 |
Bidwell
New member Username: Bidwell
Post Number: 1 Registered: 3-2014
| Posted on Sunday, September 11, 2016 - 1:01 pm: |
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I was given an old PC-66 with the transmit stuck on. Turn it on and it transmits. Still have to press the mic button for voice transmission. A visual inspection shows no shorts near the mic jack. Is this a common problem with this radio? Here is the schematic... http://elektrotanya.com/PREVIEWS/45612216/23432455/transceiver/uniden/uniden_pc66.pdf_1.png |