| Author |
Message |
    
Kabar
New member
Username: Kabar
Post Number: 4
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Friday, July 14, 2006 - 11:34 am: | 
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Has anyone tried the newest version of the Cobra 200GTL DX now being released from the factory with talkback added and all problems corrected?
Some dealers are advertising this.
Can anyone verify that the problems have been corrected and the radio performs as it should. |
1861
Advanced Member
Username: 1861
Post Number: 532
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Friday, July 14, 2006 - 4:23 pm: |
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I KNOW SEVERAL WHO HAVE THE NEWEST VERSION , AND YES , THE EARLY PROBLEMS HAAVE BEEN CORRECTED . IF YOU HAVE AN OLDER ONE , YOU CAN SEND IT TO COBRA AND THEY WILL DO ALL UPDATES . YOU ARE ONLY OUT ONE WAY SHIPPING . |
Hotwire
Senior Member
Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 1572
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, July 20, 2006 - 1:06 pm: |
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Just the other day I contacted a guy in Kansas City who was talking on a 200GTL. In the AM mode he sounded top shelf! The audio was deep loud and clear with NO distort what so ever. By far the best sound from a 200GTL that I have heard so far. |
Mikefromms
Advanced Member
Username: Mikefromms
Post Number: 913
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, July 20, 2006 - 7:57 pm: |
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What kind of swing are these radios showing on the watt meter?
Mikefromms |
Ck29
New member
Username: Ck29
Post Number: 8
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 11:47 am: |
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I did all the updates on my 200gtl. and it still works great! as far as swing on the watt meter, this is what I show after a conservative tune up
am-low pwr, dead key 12 swing 70
am-hi pwr,dead key 65 swing 130
ssb-low pwr,35 pep
ssb-hi 150 pep
mod is tone generator set to about 110% using a dm-452 mic.
note: just retested with new astatic 600 meter. if you need more info please see my post under
radio reviews cobra 200gtl. 73's
ck29 AZ Mobile |
Mikefromms
Advanced Member
Username: Mikefromms
Post Number: 914
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 25, 2006 - 12:22 pm: |
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Thanks Ck29, for this little of money this radio has to be the best deal around to get some added power.
Mikefromms |
Ck29
New member
Username: Ck29
Post Number: 9
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Monday, July 31, 2006 - 5:36 pm: |
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Hi everyone, I have an update on my cobra 200 gtl-dx. I regret to inform everyone that my radio passed away on 7-28-06. It passed away in its sleep peacefully. When I turned it on there was no vital transmit signs on any modes. An autopsy was performed. The autopsy revealed a genetic abnormalitie in the design and creation of the RD16HHF1 Silicon Mosfet driver transistor. I have sent the unit to its creator to have judgement passed on
wether it will rise again or require final internment in the great radio junk
pile in the sky. I will keep you informed of any miracles or possible funeral
arrangements. My condolences to others with this same situation.
ck. |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 10686
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Monday, July 31, 2006 - 5:53 pm: |
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Ck29,
Sorry to hear of the demise of your Cobra 200 GTL DX but you expressed it’s final moments so eloquently about passing in it's sleep that I am still laughing. 
On a serious note I do hope that Cobra will get the paddles out and perform some CPR (Cobra Part’s Replacement) and bring it back to life for you again. 
Keep us posted on the Recovery of your Cobra 200 GTL DX.
Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9CEF
CVC#2  |
Vanillagorilla
Advanced Member
Username: Vanillagorilla
Post Number: 713
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 01, 2006 - 10:38 pm: |
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Dear Ck29,
We're all very sorry hear of your loss. My thoughts are with you and the radios departed microphone..each of which now stand alone with one common bond now missing. Being unable to get along without the missing link in your lives won't be easy....empty feeling I know.
We've all been there and will all feel that pain again at one time or another...its natures way of saying "buy the extended warranty".
Perhaps theres comfort in knowing its in a far better place right now...future or price to be paid unknown. Be happy knowing you'll all be together again..someday...one way or another.
Godspeed Cobra...Godspeed...you know NOT the pain you leave behind. Have mercy on Ck for without his watts will have no modulation or swing to behold...lest we NOT forget his mic for without a socket to snuggle securely is now in crying in the darkness that is Ck's top dresser drawer.
Hankster CEF FyFyNyn  |
Starface
Advanced Member
Username: Starface
Post Number: 773
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 01, 2006 - 11:33 pm: |
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Don't know rather to laugh with the humor or cry of the lose as I too last thruday lose a piece of my radio equipt.
Till next time
Starface
KI4NBE
CEF476
CVC14
HAM181
Southeast CEF Net Control
Auburndale,FL |
Diggerodell
Member
Username: Diggerodell
Post Number: 95
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 02, 2006 - 10:20 am: |
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i will help with the funeral arrangements i am a licensed funeral director/embalmer...
Diggerodell
now yo will have to send it to texas!!!! |
Mikefromms
Advanced Member
Username: Mikefromms
Post Number: 919
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 02, 2006 - 12:10 pm: |
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Whoa, we are getting deep here! As a part-time preacher I guess I could say a few words:
Cobra 200XTL your life was short but being dead yet speaketh: Buy a Magnum radio for long radio life and good service.
Seriously, I had high hopes for the Cobra 200.
Mikefromms |
Allan
Intermediate Member
Username: Allan
Post Number: 188
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 02, 2006 - 9:12 pm: |
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Majestically, a shooting star has but a brief lifespan in the limelight, for those who are lucky enough to witness its demise.....( I had to think of something deep enough for this strange thread)  |
Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 3133
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, August 05, 2006 - 10:47 am: |
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before i dispose of a set of severely dry-rotted 44" monster mudders, it would be my pleasure to run over your 200gtldx. or any 200gtldx. twice.  |
Ck29
Junior Member
Username: Ck29
Post Number: 10
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, August 06, 2006 - 6:54 pm: |
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Hi Everyone, well here is full scoop on the radio. about 10 days ago I was using my radio and it was working fine, when I got done I turn it off for about 2 days, then on 7/28/06 I turned it on to listen to some local giber jaber on the band about how someone here in the city got a swing kit installed in his S45 super. Well when I tried to key up my radio, my radio had little to no transmit. Boy did I look stupid! to tell this very
over modulated person that he got ripped off because the S45 already had a
very good top gun modulator installed from the factory. So I took my radio
to my tech friend and dropped it off, by the time I got home he already had left a message on my phone saying come pick it up. So I went back over there and said that was quick what was wrong? he replied the mosfet driver RD16HHF1 before the 2sc2290s is bad! so I replied how much$, he said the part needs to be special ordered and know one in the valley has it and I suggest since its still under warranty you just send it in. I called cobra the next day and they
gave me the address and phone number to there repair center in oregon.
so I sent it in 3 days ups and I called the repair center they said about 2 to 3 weeks turn around. so thats the whole story. Good news is I am using my 2510 as back up now... 73s and thanks for the support.
CK29 |
Ck29
Junior Member
Username: Ck29
Post Number: 11
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Friday, August 18, 2006 - 10:32 am: |
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Hi everyone, I got my cobra 200 back on Monday and hooked it up. did some tests
on the meter everything looks good. did some contacts and all were 10-2
looks like cobra's warranty center knows what they're doing! fast, relible and
professional, my hats off to them. Now this statement is for cobra. I like your radio but it's too bad I had to send it in so soon for a minor problem like a badly designed mosfet driver in that circuit.
Thanks ck29 |
Vanillagorilla
Advanced Member
Username: Vanillagorilla
Post Number: 792
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Monday, August 21, 2006 - 6:19 am: |
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I'm still trying to understand why the 2510 is the backup radio?
Seriously though...glad all is well. Seems Cobra didn't do enough R&D on this radio before releasing it. Hope it all works out for Cobra and its buyers. Sad to say this line is already getting a bad rap and Cobra has nobody to blame but themselves for that....gonna go down in history as one of the ones to "stay away from"....like I said..sad to say.
The idea was there and I had high hopes for it!
Hank |
Ck29
Junior Member
Username: Ck29
Post Number: 13
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Monday, August 21, 2006 - 5:52 pm: |
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Thanks Hank, well the 2510 is used in my mobile, when my cobra went down I put it on my base. in place of the 2510 in my mobile I installed a pc-244. I work at night so I remove the 2510 from my vehicle almost every day and put it in my house were its cool because my delta force lcd readout got damaged due to the very hot summers we have here in Phoenix Arizona. By the way its a cool 109deg today.
Take Care. ck29 Pat |
Vanillagorilla
Advanced Member
Username: Vanillagorilla
Post Number: 796
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - 5:28 am: |
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Eeeek! HOT!
Hey listen for me between Oct 25 and 30th. I'll be in Gilbert visiting my brother
With any luck I'll have him on the air with my old 89GTL and an Antron before I leave.
Best of luck with the 200..keep us updated.
Hank CEF559
Long Island NY |
Ck29
Junior Member
Username: Ck29
Post Number: 15
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - 11:41 am: |
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Hank Thanks we will be listening for you out here. I live just east of phoenix in east mesa by the Superstition mountains, the local call channel out here
were I live seems to be ch 14, I like it because there's all ways lots of drama on it, myself and the wife are always laughing. Yesterday around 5:00pm a heavy storm rolled thru here, very high wind heavy rain with tons of lighting strikes. So I fired up the Honda generator because the storm took out our power, phone, and cable in our neighborhood. The storm lasted about 3Hrs I was a little nerves because its been a long time since we had one that intense but the good news is my antenna and tower is still standing and some of the trouble makers on the band with there flimsy erected antennas got lost to the storm. Ha ha.. well got to go and pick up things blown around on the ranch and feed the horses. give me a shout when you get in town most people know me as ck. 73's |
Waverider
Member
Username: Waverider
Post Number: 58
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, August 24, 2006 - 6:35 pm: |
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Ck29, hay (yea we have horses too) sorry to hear about the problems with the Cobra. I gotta tell ya though I almost fell out of the chair laughing at your first post. Darn shame too cause I like many others had high hopes for this radio. Hope Cobra gets it right even with damage control. May your Cobra work well for you for many years. Well I have to feed horses and pick up some horse poop early tonight, bad weather moving in. Pat really hope your Cobra gives you as much fun as my old 148 has. |
Johnbrowning
New member
Username: Johnbrowning
Post Number: 1
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Monday, September 11, 2006 - 6:09 pm: |
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One poster mentioned that the problems have been fixed with the new Cobra 200 GTL DX. Are we talking about fixing it's poor chanel rejection and weak AM audio???? I only ask because I am interested in this radio due mostly to price. I do though expect it to be stable on SSB and have great audio on AM. Thanks guys!!! |
Ck29
Junior Member
Username: Ck29
Post Number: 24
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 12, 2006 - 9:53 am: |
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Hi Johnbrowning, Well all I can tell you is I have older cobra 200gtl dx with the 2sc2290s
and I had to do all the mods
( see my detailed posts for more info )
any way after doing all the mods I have very clean loud AM and ssb audio with a DM-452 mic.
The service center who did my warranty repair
on a bad mosfet driver told me they set the
dead key am low pwr to no more then 10w and high pwr to 45w, 10 will swing to 80 and 45 will swing to about 125 at just a little more then 100% mod. ssb low was set at 30 pep and high at
140 pep. These are the max settings that they think work the best for every day use. Maybe
someone else on the form that has the new release
200gtl can give you more info. 73s |
Revpo
Junior Member
Username: Revpo
Post Number: 36
Registered: 7-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 13, 2006 - 10:31 pm: |
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Since COBRA has fixed the problems, does anyone know of the serial numbers when they fixed it and serial numbers above will be good one's.
revpo |
Ck29
Junior Member
Username: Ck29
Post Number: 27
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, September 16, 2006 - 12:20 pm: |
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Well here we go again I have to send in my Cobra
200GTL dx back in for another warranty repair.
Background History for you new form members.
purchased radio on 3-9-06, sent in for warranty repair 8-1-06 for defective rd16hhf1 mosfet driver, radio returned on 8-14-06, tested
good, well from that time to now its been about
32 days and of that I only used it about 8 times
for a total radio on time of about 16hrs and only transmitting off and on for 5-15 mins at a time for a total of 4hrs aprox. last time I transmitted was last Sunday on ssb on low power for about 5 mins and also 80% of all my transmissions were on low power settings. This morning I turned on the radio and heard my friend calling me on ssb when I tried to answer his call the radio had no transmit. Once inspected I found no transmit signs of any kind on any modes so I called up my tech friend and told him what happen he replied with a laugh and said I told you that radio has a design problem around the driver circuit or the factory had a bad run in mosfets or maybe the bias is adjusted wrong from the factory. So I told him that I was going to call cobra on Monday and ask them to exchange my radio with a New unit, he said good idea and just get a S-9-175 when they come out. I also asked him I don't understand what happened the transmit did not fail when I was keyed down he told me mosfets and
transistors can fail by being shorted or by being open and its possible when it cooled down after you turn off the radio it failed and you never knew it. Well Cobra looks like you have a real winner here!!! NOT....
73s all, time to box up my radio and have it do the Willie Nelson. |
