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Administrator
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 24, 2001 - 4:04 pm: | 
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Rate this product. Receive, Transmit, Ease of Use, etc. |
bulldog
| | Posted on Friday, May 04, 2001 - 9:01 pm: |
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I have hade bothe of the cb's and out of the two the 29LTD is the best and steel is to me |
Vernon Ott
| | Posted on Friday, May 18, 2001 - 7:23 pm: |
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In my own opinion their are no new Cobra radios up to the task of stroking for any length of time.Cobra is now building throw away radios,use them until they quit and scrap them.If Mr.Ping ,head man behind Ranger,Galaxy,etc.ever buys the rights to Cobra we will be introduced to a Cobra like we remember years ago.I used Cobra since 1975 until they started using cheap boards and sales gimmicks like sound tracker.Sound tracker works okay if you're talking to someone else on a sound tracker.Not bashing the radio just explaining the facts.I could argue with half the drivers out their for years and not convince them that the new Cobra is junk.73's,Greenhornet |
david
| | Posted on Friday, May 18, 2001 - 9:13 pm: |
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Mr Ping??? can you elaborate on this? |
Vernon Ott
| | Posted on Friday, May 18, 2001 - 11:04 pm: |
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David:Mr.Ping, Export Radio magnate.Fined millions several years ago for producing & selling export radios already converted and super tuned.Greenhornet |
david
| | Posted on Saturday, May 19, 2001 - 10:16 am: |
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Let me guess...he learned how to make them while he was away at 'sommerkamp'? hehehe....
seriously, is any of what you are saying in print somewhere? |
Vernon Ott
| | Posted on Saturday, May 19, 2001 - 5:29 pm: |
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In a court of law I couldn't prove anything I've heard about Mr. Ping from the ham show vendors and export distributors,nevertheless I still stand by my personal opinion that new Cobra radios are junk.That is one of the few things an american can still do,give his opinion on anything.Many of the larger companies won't even market them.Yes, you can buy a truck load of them from truck stops all over the country and small town butcher shops will be happy to sell as many as you like.Cobra radios are being sold strictly on their reputation from the past.I love the old Cobra radio and hope someday see some company restore them to their former glory.Greenhornet |
Anonymous
| | Posted on Thursday, May 24, 2001 - 3:18 pm: |
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I HAVE AN OLD COBRA 29XLR THAT IS STILL TICKING TO THIS DAY. BOUGHT THE RADIO IN 1994 AND DEFINITLY HAVE NO PROBLEMS WITH IT........ ANON.... |
vernonott
| | Posted on Thursday, May 24, 2001 - 5:12 pm: |
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Fellow Radioman : I apoligize to you all for bashing the new Cobra radios so hard.It's a known fact that their are more Cobra radios in service than any other brand.Talk on whatever you please.I have not yet failed to give a guy a break because he was talking on a Cobra. |
Copper_Fan
| | Posted on Thursday, May 24, 2001 - 9:54 pm: |
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I HAVE A OLDDDDDDD COBRA 29 its a 23 channel ,,,,,,atleast i think its still in my JUNK pile in the garage hmmmmmmmm well i wonder if i can peak it any?????? |
vernonott
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 30, 2001 - 5:16 pm: |
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There must be a minimum of at least three million Cobra 29 LTD radios in service .Come on guys let us know what you have and why you like it so much.Tell us about the time your 29 made it to another state and your neighbors Ranger couldn't.How about the time your pickup burnt to the ground and the old 29 was still receiving after the fire department left.Seriously ,I want to know the rest of the story. |
KF4GMH
| | Posted on Sunday, June 10, 2001 - 7:50 am: |
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Bottom line. They don't mak'em like they used too. |
vernonott
| | Posted on Sunday, June 10, 2001 - 11:45 am: |
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AMEN ! |
chode
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 22, 2001 - 2:18 am: |
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i have a 29 ltd. it is a great rig, and transmit and receive are excellent. modulation, and wattage has stayed the same since day one. |
Jyd
| | Posted on Saturday, December 22, 2001 - 7:42 pm: |
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there is nothing wrong with 29 ltd classics,i have 1, it works great they ar made cheaper these days that dont mean they ar junk.what just because they dont have all the gadgets does not mean they are junk and they are one of the most used radios out there.my freind put mine on his black cat scope 22 to24 watts modulation perfctly round never had any trouble out of it.vernonott i think he either thinks he above the rest of us or he is getting old and seenile.i was always told if you dont have anything good to say dont say anything at all!!!!!! |
Jyd
| | Posted on Sunday, December 23, 2001 - 12:14 am: |
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and if you want to talk about radios the biggest part of 2950s,if you put them in a car or truck after bouncing around the boards crack and i have seen alot of that.every radio has its flause so dont knok them because every brand is not perfect at least 50 out of every 200 radios has something wrong with them just read all the posts in the forum thats what its for to help us all with are radio problems and to learn from the techs that are so generous to help us,what i am trying to say is there is too much negitive additudes in here.just like one guy taking it out on 307 for not ansureing his post,i think everyone should remeber they are helping us for free!!!!!! be positive dont cut down radios cause someone has 1 of those radios your cutting down. |
Vernonott
| | Posted on Sunday, December 23, 2001 - 10:31 am: |
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Jyd:I respect your total right to voice your opinion,never the less I believe the new Cobra is of inferior quality.I'm not asking you or anyone else to accept my opinion so don't try to take away my right to voice it.73 |
Jyd
| | Posted on Sunday, December 23, 2001 - 1:34 pm: |
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i am not trying to take away your right,but the way it looks you are puting down everyone who has one of these radios including copper they sell them,mine works perfect.everyone cant afford a ranger or galaxy.i know alot of people who have these radios and they are some good sounding radios.they will take a beating and still talk with the rest.i am done,i just am not one for negitvity.if i see somone driving a ford pinto i dont say those are junk.i went to a cb shop this morning with a freind and i ask the guy which brand is mostly brang in for repair he said galaxy and superstar.i rest my case. |
Vernonott
| | Posted on Sunday, December 23, 2001 - 8:03 pm: |
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Jyd:If you can't take the heat move away from the fire .I'm not putting anyone down.I am putting down what used to be a fine radio.73 |
bruce
| | Posted on Monday, December 24, 2001 - 2:52 am: |
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vernonott I agree with you( GASP WE AGREE ) i did not buy a cobra BECAUSE it is not the radio it use to be. My choice was the DX-959 which has turned out NOT to be a good on and will be my last galaxy |
Jyd
| | Posted on Monday, December 24, 2001 - 3:21 pm: |
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well,what ever you say.you well my new cobra talks just as good as the one i use to have from the phillipines,and those wer great.anyway opinions very. |
Vernonott
| | Posted on Monday, December 24, 2001 - 9:24 pm: |
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bruce : I have not been impressed with the 949 or the 959.However I have owned and enjoyed the 66v,77HML,DX88,and the DX99.There is one major concern when reading my opinions of the above radios as I do not ever use SSB on them and have them setup for blistering AM performance.While I am on the subject I'll fill you in on what my neighbor did last year.He bought a new Cobra 29 LTD-ST for $85.00.After two weeks he had it peaked at a cost of $35.00.A few weeks later he had extra channels put in at a cost of $35.00.A month later he had variable power put in for $35.00.A month later he had talkback put in at $25.00.That's a total of $215.00.For $225.00 he could have bought a Galaxy DX-66V,had all of the above plus roger beep,10k switch,echo,SSB & clarifier.I made an attempt at explaining this to him before he bought the radio but he said and I quote-My granddaddy owned a Cobra,My Daddy owned a Cobra and now I am going to own a Cobra. |
Taz
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 25, 2001 - 2:53 am: |
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hahaha |
bruce
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 25, 2001 - 10:31 am: |
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My 959 is at best a poor second to my old radio shack it cost 160 then i put in a channel guard changed the audio driver voltage regular and diodes for the reciver result i just had more money in the radio .... that is it too much money for what i got
bruce |
bruce
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 25, 2001 - 11:26 am: |
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My brain has kicked in on this one one more time Vernonott you know i have own a very large aray of radios over the last 40 years. The old cobra 148 was a fine radio and built for many years very dependable some have been out here for 20 years and never in the shop. Aside from the illegual modifications what else do thoes who build these radios have to look at. They look at what has happened to the CB industry the sales are way down and the cost are up so how do you make money you cut cost. Look at the old radio shacks i still have 5 of them built in the late 70's. I ran one in each of my cars untill i pulled them to make room for my 100 watt all band hf ham radio they had outlasted 2 cars. Radios are like cars your right my dad had a ford so by golly im going to have a ford but maby dads ford wasnt build in japan either. I bought the dx-959 because of what i had heard on the cb band and because they did look like they were fine radios and was very disapointed. On SSB at best it is unstable and the audio quality even with the mods is not what i would have expected form a radio costing this much. My ranger on 10 meters is not much either but is far beter than the 959 and is so much more veristal that it is easy to see why so many of them are bought and modified for cb use... if the 959 is the best galaxy can do. Beleve it or not both the ranger and 959 are simular circuit wise some mods will work on both but the ranger wins out easly at just a few dollars more. Maby i have a poopy 959 but ive heard too many others complain about this radio too so i dont think im alone. The old radio shack still cuggs along on ch 20 in fact Harry bought it for me for one buck back 20 years ago it didnt work seems someone cut a PLL circuit transistor while tring to cut the mod limiter out 69 cent fix that has lasted 20 years
bruce |
Scrapiron63
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 25, 2001 - 12:41 pm: |
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I have tried the 959 and 949, I don't like the radio, they have the same board as the Texas Rangers, and the little galaxy DX2547 base, I think they would compare to the later Cobras more so than the other Galaxy radios. If you wanted to just talk 40 channels with 4 watts, they might be ok, if you want other channels and a little more 'swing' power, its a problem. I have bought/owned/sold dozens of the Galaxy, Ranger and other export radios, I perfer the Galaxy over the Ranger, many Rangers have 'noise' on the receive even with no antenna. I've seen more problems with the Rangers, expecially running them in big trucks, they don't take the abuse as well as the galaxys. Both radios have cold solder joints sometimes, with the heavy models, they are damaged in shipping, I remember the first Galaxy Saturn Turbo I ordered in 1991, they had just come on the market, very disappointed when I plugged it up and it would not work. I happened to know enough about equipment to find the loose wires from the power supply. The big heavy radio was not well packed. I also like the old Galaxy Saturns, or 2980's better than the later model 2517's, to me, the 2517 is more like the Ranger 2950 on receive, more noise. But this is my opinion, like you said, some people like fords, some chevys, thats why they have different cars and radios. I ran Cobra radios for many years, I loved the old 132 mobil and 135 base, they were the same radio, and easy to convert, add another 23 channels with just one crystal. When the Cobra 2000 came out, I ran them for years, thought they could not be beat untill I set the first Galaxy base beside it for a while. I still like the old tube Browning radios, although I have sold some of my collection in the last year. I still keep my favorite, the Mark III, just to 'ping' with sometime. Speaking of Brownings, someone just bid 1625.00 on a Mark IV, unbelievable!!! and if it has not had the chip change, it might quit the next time its powered up, it was the worst Browning made for problems. The Mark IV-A was much better, with a different TX. Merry Christmas everyone. ScrapIron |
bruce
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 25, 2001 - 3:44 pm: |
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scrapy i got one thing to say on your bid GASP!
must be a real nice radio for your use for that kind of money. The most i ever spent was in 1970 i bought a entire drake station r4b, t4xb, l4b, tc-6, tc-2, sc-6, sc-2 the cc consold and all exteras including the watt meter 4000 dollars in 1970. I haited it got rid of it in 3 years bought a yaseu and never bought a drake again. I still have and ues the yaseu. |
snoope
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 25, 2001 - 9:07 pm: |
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For an all around radio have you thought about the superstar 3900 gold?They have everything you asked for and once warm do not drift.Price was right on also.this is only my opinion.
SNOOPE |
Santa
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 26, 2001 - 6:36 am: |
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Well what about the President Lincoln/2510? ssb good ya,am so,so but with a power mic. This isn't Grandpa's Olds any more lol.
73's Santa |
Scrapiron63
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 26, 2001 - 9:26 am: |
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Snoope, I'm with you about the SS3900 gold, I think its the best buy that Copper has right now in a mobile radio. It's basically the same radio as a Galaxy 77, without echo and talkback. I don't like the loud roger beep, but it can easily be cut out or put on a switch. Most people like to run a power mike anyway, so get one with echo, if you like echo. I like a variable power on a radio, but that can easily be added to the 3900. Let's get back to the Cobra 29 discussion, what's the difference in the price of these two radios, about 60 bucks, just to get 80 extra channels in the 29 will cost that much, and you still have half the channels and half the power of the SS3900 gold, then add the fact the 3900 has SSB, to me, that makes it worth twice as much as the 29. BTW, the 77 is my favorite Galaxy mobil, it has all the 'extras' of the 88 except the freq display, and a couple of bands you don't need, and the 77 bands are on one switch, like the Saturns, makes it easier for mobile operation. I have an 88 right now, just happened to be a bargain, but I had just as soon have a 77. Scrapiron |
Vernonott
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 26, 2001 - 11:07 am: |
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snoope:The 3900 is a good buy.I personally have a passion for black & chrome with Galaxy on the front. |
Highlander1588
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 26, 2001 - 10:39 pm: |
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For the most part the new line of cobra with the sound tracker and night watch isn`t worth buying. I have had several friends buy the new night watch and then bring it to me complaining of a whinning noise on receive. Well in the new 29 if you peak it it does a fine job on the meter and sounds pretty good on air, but the receive has such a god awful whine it is pittyfull. You have to turn the dimmer all the way down to get rid of it. I urge my friends that want to spend as little as possible to get the Ranger TR296 for $129 from Coppers, better power better sound better quality and for less money than the 29`s around here go for. |
jyd
| | Posted on Thursday, December 27, 2001 - 1:35 pm: |
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cause you cant clip them,if you do their just not right,i got the reguler ltd classic works great.very clean on a scope with a astatic 575-m6 |
Brandon Tackett
| | Posted on Sunday, July 27, 2003 - 10:00 pm: |
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I am looking for a power tweak for a new model cobra 21 LTD ST mobile. I would like to get about a 15 watt swing out of it, but I don't know what to look for inside. I know what to look for in the 29 LTD and a few other models, but I dont' know if the 21 LTD would be similar or different. |
Adshar64
| | Posted on Monday, July 28, 2003 - 3:15 am: |
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Cobra 29 LTD (Uniden-made, PC-900AC board).
The conversion steps: Change the final to 2SC1969. Remove D11 and R55.
Put a slug and the little piece of rubber that keeps the slug tight
in L16. Add 100 pF across C62. Tune L14, L16, L17, L18, L20
and L21 for maximum peak power.
Optional steps: JP-36 mod. Jumper D8. Jumper R58. Bottom
out L11. Add 100 pF across C57 and slightly stretch L12 (this
mod increases the average power but it lowers the peak power).
Results: The results depend on the combination of mods. Best
peak power was 55 (10 watt dead-key swinging up to a maximum
average output of 12 to 13). Best average power was 15 (13 dead-
key swinging up to a maximum of 15 average and 45 peak).
Part values along the RF amp chain: The values given are what
was in this particular radio. The numbers in paranthesis are
what is listed in the Sams schematic if they are different.
If your results are not the same as mine, differences in the
values of some of these parts could be the reason why.
R58 10 ohms; R59 should be gone, but if it's there it's listed as
33 ohms; C126 180 pF (82 pF); C62 220 pF (250 pF); R56
22 ohms; R123 1 ohm; C60 .0047 uF; C59 330 pF; C58 220 pF
(200 pF); C57 82 pF (33 pF); C56 47 pF (68 pF); C203 should
be gone, but if it's there it's listed as 9 pF.
-- |
Kc0gxz
| | Posted on Monday, July 28, 2003 - 9:34 pm: |
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Adshar64
Not meaning to start an argument, but I sure am curious to know what kind of meter you are using to get the 45 and 55 watt readings you got from that Uniden-made Cobra 29LTD.
Looking at the specs of a 2SC1969, it's maximum output is 18W at 12 volts at 30 Mhz. The results on your radio are 3 times more than the 2SC1969 final is capable of. Dual final SSB radios with a pair of 1969s won't even show that kind of power into a load with a zero SWR.
I have had a few people from time to time in my shop claiming that their dual final radios will do 50 watts!!! When asked how or where they see this wonderful power, I usually get the same answer. It's from a Dosy, PDC or simular peak reading meter. My next question to them is, "Are you checking this power into your antenna or into a good dummy-load with a flat SWR?" No further explaination is needed.
Adshar64, I am not questioning or attempting to insult your intelligents. I have but little faith in "peak reading" meters. Just about everyone of them will show wattage readings above the capabilities of a final. It's an ego trip for 95% of the CBers.
In my experience, that "peak" wattage means absolutely nothing unless it is a sideband wattage you are reading. BUT, that high power DOES sell radios and it DOES sell meters.
Getting back to this Cobra 29LTD, I have to admit, the 45-55 watt peak reading that you obtained from that radio is the HIGHEST I have ever heard anyone claim to have gotton from a single final radio. Most single final SSB radios will usually only peak to around 18-20 watts but I have seen a few hit 22 watts on sideband. And if your obtained readings are even near to being possible, then there is no reason why a AM dual final radio such as a Connex 3300HP couldn't do 90 to 100 watts "peak" power with a pair of 2SC1969s.
Something doesn't ring quite right here. Or am I missing something?
--------------------------------------------
Peak Reading Meters.....
Most, if not all "peak reading" meters WILL show a upwards power swing whether you really have it or not. However, there is a little-known trick you can do with those meters to find out if you actually have upwards power or downwards power.
For those of you that are really interested to know if your radio is truely doing a upwards power/modulation swing, let me know and I'll post it. I'll show you 2 ways to prove it to yourself. There will be no question in your mind. Anyone up to the challenge?
73s
Jeff, kc0gxz.
PS: For you guys that love working and experimenting on your own radios, I cannot stress enough the importance of having AND using a good dummy-load. Off air readings are the only way you are going to get true readings. |
bruce
| | Posted on Monday, July 28, 2003 - 9:54 pm: |
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Jeff im with you NO WAY a 1969 will give 45 watts UNLESS you dry ice cool it! |
Adshar64
| | Posted on Monday, July 28, 2003 - 10:52 pm: |
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The test set up: Supply voltage 14 at the supply. The signal
from the radio's output goes into an MFJ 949 tuner, then to a
Bird sampler, then to a Palomar PW 5000 powered peak-reading
wattmeter, to an Avanti switchbox, and finally to a sealed DC
to 3 GHz dummy load. The tuner is used with an MFJ-259B
to tune out the impedance bumps in the line so that the radio
sees a purely resistive 50 ohm load. The Bird sampler feeds
the scope, frequency counter, and spectrum analyzer. The
wattmeter will track with a Bird 43P in the peak-reading mode.
In the average mode it reads average power as referenced to
a scope using the formula that converts PEV (peak envelope
voltage) across a 50 ohm load into power. That measurement
is significanly lower than what a Bird 43 will read because the
Bird scale is in RMS rather than average power. The switch-
box switches the signal path between the dummy load and an
outdoor base antenna. A 4-pin mic plug with numbered wires
is used to connect a switch and an audio frequency signal
generator to the radio. The switch is used to key the radio.
The generator is set to output a 1 kHz 100 mV signal. |
Adshar64
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 29, 2003 - 3:23 am: |
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I guess it does seem over the top when you look at a 2SC1969 rating spec. I know there are a variation in 2SC1969 performance depending on the batch. On the cobra 2000 with a mod to L38 reduced to 3.5 turns and the driver to final coupling changed to 670pf with a new final we get 28w pep on a revex w502 meter which is pretty well on the money.Before this with standard components broadband mods and the pre-driver mod max was 22w with standard peak tuning. The big thing is the heatsink connection. High quality mica with good heatpaste and a tight connection make it sustainable so far.
I guess try it out and see the difference and compare. |
RCI 2990
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 10, 2003 - 2:58 am: |
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Geeeeezz zow!!! you guys and your meter swing arguments!!! Get freaking real! All i give a darn about is if the guy on the other end can hear me and that i can receive him!!!!! Meters, and swing, and dual finals, and all that other high tech garbage is just that!!!! garbage!!!!!
BTW i run a Dosy PM 2001 TS meter that i have had for 6 years and it works fine for me.. |
Crafter
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 10, 2003 - 8:24 pm: |
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Hey I got a dosy 4002 and mine tells the truth most of the time but have learned not to hold it with 4000 watts going through it, Just not shielded enough. I got you beat too I've had my dosy since 88. I'm with ya. |
RCI 2990
| | Posted on Thursday, September 11, 2003 - 1:05 am: |
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I know some of the guys like to diss the Dosys but thats all ive owned since ive been into CB. Cant afford or want a Bird so i settle for less....... |
anonymous
| | Posted on Thursday, December 25, 2003 - 8:53 pm: |
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I think it matters who does the tuning on your cobra 29ltd I have a 2000 model and it has been peeked & tweaked with turbo and puts out 60 watts with a 5 watt dead key also use a silverstreak kicker and haven't had any problems for three years and no one believes that I'm talking on a cobra |
Cm3885
| | Posted on Thursday, December 25, 2003 - 10:17 pm: |
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I Have a old pre 1997 cobra 29 LTD classic and it works and talks like a real champ!!! id never own a new Cobra 29 LTD. the new ones use cheap parts and labor. IMHO i think Cobra will get out of the CB business because no one is buying their radios like they were when they made them before the soundtraker deal. many a times i see used(that are in a sense new) Cobra radios setting on the used shelves in CB shops and the radios are almost new! its because the guys will buy one and have it a few weeks and find out it doesnt work that great and trade it off on either a galaxy uniden or connex. In those same shops ive seen older Cobra radios that are sold as used and the CB shop owner will have one a few days and sell it!! One guy i know told me he cant keep the older radios more than a few days because they are in such high demand!!!! |
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