| Author |
Message |
    
Grumpy
Member
Username: Grumpy
Post Number: 86
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Monday, August 14, 2006 - 9:51 pm: | 
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I just got a grant xl what can you tell me about the radio
the one I got is vary clean and in good shape |
Kid_vicious
Senior Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 1977
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Monday, August 14, 2006 - 11:57 pm: |
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they are one of the best CB radios ever designed, in my humble opinion.
there is a TON of info on this radio all over the forum.
try this:
look to the left of your screen, and click on "search".
search for: grant XL
keyword options: "and" match all keywords
match method: whole words only
match case: case insensitive (does not matter)
look in: subject lines
you should come up with lots and lots of results, and you will learn alot.
matt |
Bruce
Senior Member
Username: Bruce
Post Number: 3989
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 15, 2006 - 6:45 am: |
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I have a LT it is almost the same radio LOVE IT ... |
Yankee
Senior Member
Username: Yankee
Post Number: 1280
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 15, 2006 - 9:04 am: |
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I've owned several of the original Cobra 148-GTLs, which is very close to the same radio as the Grant XL, my base radio is a Grant XL and my mobile is the original model of the Cobra 148-GTL made by Uniden for Cobra.
In my own honest opinion, there is not a finer radio made for sideband use, they have the same electronics as the Cobra 2000-GTL or the later model of the Uniden Madison, and a very few others in this elite group of fine radios.
Yes, the Grant LT is very close to being the same radio as the Grant XL. The production changes between the Grant XL and LT are very minor. I've had both models open side by side.
If one can't find an original Cobra 148 GTL, 148F GTL, or Uniden Grant XL, the Grant LT is just as good. |
Jbird
New member
Username: Jbird
Post Number: 5
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 15, 2006 - 5:52 pm: |
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I have two. One in my car and one as a co-base with my Washington. I would throw my Washington in front of a bullet to save my Grant without a second thought. |
Vanillagorilla
Advanced Member
Username: Vanillagorilla
Post Number: 773
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 16, 2006 - 5:32 am: |
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GRANTXL...there is none finer 
Boatloads of modulation, quality componants throughout, easily modified and/or upgraded, excellent receive and the best of its kind on sideband.
If you know the early Cobra 148GTL then you know the Grant.
Makes you wonder why they don't make it anymore.
Hank CEF559 |
Hotwire
Senior Member
Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 1651
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 16, 2006 - 7:38 am: |
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Ya know Hank I have wondered that same thing myself. These days if a guy wants reliable SSB off the store room shelf he is better off to get an export. Maybe its just because of a decline of cbers demanding high performance cbs? Not enough Grants being sold back then and building them like that was not profitable enough to Uniden. I wish they still made'em. I would buy 2! |
Grumpy
Member
Username: Grumpy
Post Number: 87
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 16, 2006 - 1:23 pm: |
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there is a one of a kind cobra 148 on an internet aution site with 108 ch in the display i want to do this mod to my grant xl
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Keithinatlanta
Advanced Member
Username: Keithinatlanta
Post Number: 785
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 16, 2006 - 2:19 pm: |
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Grumpy, I have a Grant XL. It is the best cb am/ssb radio I have ever had. Great receive, easy to operate controls, wonderful 'CLEAR" modulation too.
keith in atlanta
cef 150 |
Vanillagorilla
Advanced Member
Username: Vanillagorilla
Post Number: 777
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 16, 2006 - 5:31 pm: |
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Grumpy...I've seen radios like that. Believe it had the "mod" conversion. Usually blue display and found on more than a few Grants and 148's.
HOTWIRE...yea I hear ya. I know the real reasons but don't have to like it. Just me being selfish again.
When I first made my appearance on this forum and stated that I owned a GrantXL Mr Carl aka "Yankee" said..."Its as good a radio as you'll ever need". Truer words have never been spoken and after a few great radios and test driving a few others I have to agree.
I have others I love and use a lot but the truth remains. The Grant was the best I would have ever needed.
All the exports did was save me from modding my virgin Grant
Hank CEF559 |
Yankee
Senior Member
Username: Yankee
Post Number: 1286
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, August 17, 2006 - 8:05 am: |
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Hank, Thanks for the kind words. Ah yes, the Uniden Grant XL/LT or Cobra 2000 GTL, newer Uniden Madison, original models of the Cobra 148/148F GTL radios, are as good as it gets and the radio that fits the highest demands of many AM or Sideband CB operators.
Carl CEF-357 |
Grumpy
Member
Username: Grumpy
Post Number: 88
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, August 17, 2006 - 6:31 pm: |
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I seen a 148 gtl on an internet auction site that has a 108 ch display with blue lights now thats a radio I would love to know who did that mod
that radio is tricked out nice |
Reddog355
Junior Member
Username: Reddog355
Post Number: 24
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, August 17, 2006 - 7:26 pm: |
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I been reading all of patzerozero raving about this radio and about a month ago i bought one.i did the power mod and have not yet got to the receive mod because i like the recieve the way it is at the moment.Within 2 hour of being in the mobile it already has proven itself.CH 26 AM 4 contact to north carolina and a bunch of other places up that way from neworleans.(with a texas star 667)The set up is soon to be changed as i am leaving the grant in the mobile but replacing the 667 with a davemade 6 pill and tx mod V to drive it.I love this radio.Not many toys like the galaxys but lets just say it gets out.(by the way did it mention that the Grant XL replaced a galaxy DX 66V....LOL) |
Grumpy
Member
Username: Grumpy
Post Number: 89
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Friday, August 18, 2006 - 5:48 pm: |
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just got my grant xl it has blue ch lights
butthey look to have a short the segments work some time and flicker others but other than that it's a nice radio |
Unit199
Intermediate Member
Username: Unit199
Post Number: 294
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Friday, August 18, 2006 - 7:15 pm: |
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I HAVE THREE GRANT XLS. ONE MODIFIED, ONE THAT IS NOT AND ONE NEW IN THE BOX. THE GRANT XL IS THE BEST RADIO I HAVE EVER OWNED. THE ONE THAT IS MODIFIED I HAVE HAD SINCE THEY FIRST CAME OUT AND HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT.
I HAVE ONE QUESTION, HOW CAN YOU TELL HOW GOOD A RADIO IS IF YOU PUT IT BEHIND AN AMP??? THAT DOESN'T PROVE ANYTHING.
HARVE
UNIT199 |
Vanillagorilla
Advanced Member
Username: Vanillagorilla
Post Number: 787
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Friday, August 18, 2006 - 10:20 pm: |
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Harve I hear what your saying and in some respects I agree.
Sometimes the radio behind the amp is the make or break of the overall signal and readability thereof. You can take nearly any radio and clip the limiter and strap on a power mic and hit a 6 pill and make a trip BUT I believe a quality radio will be heard without all those mods hitting the same amp. Even without the mods it'll outshine a basic cookie cutter radio in RX and in the driving that amp without a hack job OR pile of modifications. Some upgrade mods make it more user friendly (as you know )..open clar...variable pwr...out of band freqs and a few simple resistor swaps to an already great radio only proves its worth over other non modifiable rigs. These mods done to such radios are done for the operators self satisfaction...NOT because they are nessesarily NEEDED.
This ability of a CB to me is just one more way to measure the value of a great radio.
Again...I know what you mean. My Grant barefoot always got great reports in DX land. Only later did I decide to "enhance" an already Great radio with a little more mud busting kick.
We can say I took 2 pills and called in the morning  |
Yankee
Senior Member
Username: Yankee
Post Number: 1291
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, August 19, 2006 - 8:42 am: |
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Hank, I Like that. Take two pills and call in the morning, Sunday morning that is on 27.115.0 MHz., we'll have the radio on listening for CEF calls. I hear you about the radios the likes of the Grant XL doing great by it's self.
73, Carl CEF-357 |
Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 3148
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, August 19, 2006 - 11:56 am: |
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harve & reddog....i made more then a handful of BAREFOOT 2 watt dead key NO AMP contacts, to CEF members & others this past sunday during the 1st 30 minutes of the AM net. from my mobile, on an 86" predator antenna. a bit rough on 808's end, but CEF565 in MI & 178 in IN as well as a few others said i was getting right through the noise. & a few weeks back CEF491 had a real good copy on it barefoot, too. my slightly-modified-2 watt-GRANT XL in my mobile  |
Unit199
Intermediate Member
Username: Unit199
Post Number: 296
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, August 19, 2006 - 2:23 pm: |
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HEY PAT,
ALL I AM SAYING IS THAT THERE WAS A POST ABOUT HOW GOOD THE RADIO GOT OUT BEHIND AN AMP. THAT DOESN'T PROVE HOW WELL A RADIO GETS OUT. I'M NOT SAYING THAT ANYBODY CANNOT GET OUT WITHOUT AN AMP. I USED TO RUN AMPS ON BASE AND MOBILE AND I HAVE SEVERAL AMPS NOW THAT ARE FROM 175 TO 1500 WATTS, BUT I CHOOSE NOT TO USE THEM NOW. I DO NOT CARE IF PEOPLE USE AMPS, BUT I JUST DO NOT WANT TO HEAR HOW GOOD THEIR RADIO GETS OUT WHEN THEY ARE PUSHING AN AMP, BECAUSE THAT DOES NOT IMPRESS ME AT ALL. I HAVE BEEN THERE AND DONE THAT. I HAVE BEEN IN CB RADIO ON MY OWN RADIOS FOR 44 YRS AND TALKED ON MY DAD'S BEFORE THAT. THE CONTACTS I HAVE BEEN MAKING ON CEF NETS HAS BEEN MADE ON A 2 WATT DEAD KEY, SWINGS TO ABOUT 18 WATTS. HAVE A NICE DAY AND MAYBE WE WILL MAKE CONTACT ON NET SUNDAY.
HARVE
UNIT199
CEF210 |
Hotwire
Senior Member
Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 1663
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, August 19, 2006 - 4:02 pm: |
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When you have good conditions any barefoot radio can be heard as long as the antenna is qaulity and tuned right. If a 2 watt Grant is making a 1000 mile contact then on the same antenna a 2 watt flea market special can do the same. Mother nature can't tell the difference. What difference can be noticed by the cber is the qaulity of audio between the radios. Like a good cup of coffee! Any radio can be loud but only a few have that clear rich full bodied mellow sound with no distort. When you don't have to listen because you hear it so well. Thats what I like!
As for me running amps. I have made many contacts barefoot. With all the competition its not so easy to be heard barefoot. There is just so much noise to get over at times. Running an amp just makes it easier. Plus its fun!
When Pat was talking to me with 2 watts I heard him pretty good but if that day the noise level was high maybe not so good. Clicking on the Dave just makes Pat or Anybody be heard better over all the noise and then sometimes thats not enough! So what do you do? Stay barefoot and keep trying? Or turn on the amp and increase you chances? I like to make contacts! My amp stays on! |
Reddog355
Junior Member
Username: Reddog355
Post Number: 25
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, August 19, 2006 - 7:44 pm: |
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yes the grant is great by itself but the amps always help.especially around here were everyone has one and most of the time their amps are bigger than mine but they all use galaxys and a few cobra 29s.(not nocking a 29 at all)All the drivers out here went nuts when i put it in the mobil and removed the galaxy.They said what did u do to that radio,I replied I changed it(lol)Audio quality with the grant is excellent with just about any set up i have had it in,with or without the box.And no i am not useing a power mic, more like a RK56 and sometime a 636L,would use a stock mic but dident get one with the radio when i bought it.Any way out with the boxes it is a great radio,i have modded it the way pat posted,but have not done the 2999 receive mod yet because like i said earlier I like it the way it is right now.And second i dont have a 2999 trans to put in it yet.any way all in all i like the radio talks great,receives great and allways makes someone ask what kind of radio are you talking on,that thing is smoking,and can you make mine do that.
Later reddog |
Unit199
Intermediate Member
Username: Unit199
Post Number: 298
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, August 19, 2006 - 11:47 pm: |
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I MAKE CONTACT ABOUT EVERY SUNDAY WITH PAT ON MY AMPLESS RADIO ON AM AND LSB, SO I MUST BE GETTING OUT AND SOUNDING OKAY. AS I SAID BEFORE, ALL MY NET CONTACTS ARE MADE AMPLESS AND THAT IS THE WAY I PREFER TO DO IT. HAVE A NICE DAY.
HARVE
UNIT199
CEF210 |
Kid_vicious
Senior Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 1991
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, August 20, 2006 - 2:56 am: |
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grumpy,
that mod is called "the mod", and as lon said, we have a yahoo group dedicated to discussing and enhancing it.
right now, we are beta testing our first run of PC boards and looking for bugs.
if you want to do this mod, it must be hand wired, and takes 15+ hours to complete.
you can see pics of my 2000gtl in the MEMBERS PICTURES area under KID VICIOUS.
also check out GUMPIT1 in the pics area.
in a few months we will most likely start turning out kits for this mod.
slowly but surely!
best of luck to ya,
matt |
Grumpy
Member
Username: Grumpy
Post Number: 90
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, August 20, 2006 - 1:46 pm: |
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thanks that mod is the coolest thing i have ever seen the 148 on e bay just looking at the pics of that radio and man my grant xl would be a one of a kind radio with that mod when you find some one that does that mod let me know let us all know when I layed me eyes on that 148 on e bay with that one of a kind look i was in love |
Kid_vicious
Senior Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 2003
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - 5:58 pm: |
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grumpy, i know the feeling.
i did the one in my 2000gtl myself, and let me tell you; it is TEDIOUS!
it took me over two weeks to finish it, and even then i had a few bugs to work out.
it was totally worth it though, i love not having to switch anything and can just spin the dial to get where i want.
last night i talked to someone on 19A that was in the flatlands of Kansas at about 11pm pst, and i live in las vegas, NV!
if i would have had to flip an extra switch to go up 10Khz, i would have passed it right by and missed a very rare contact.
join the yahoo group; there's a lot of good guys in the group that can help with this mod and this chassis.
good luck,
matt |
Mrclean
Member
Username: Mrclean
Post Number: 81
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, October 28, 2007 - 2:49 pm: |
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I have a question. If you dont use an amp why dont you raise your DK to say 5 watts. When I run barefoot it always seems to help me get out better with alittle more DK. Is the a reason for the lower DK. I know this is a old post but just wondering. |
Woodstock
New member
Username: Woodstock
Post Number: 1
Registered: 11-2009
| | Posted on Friday, November 06, 2009 - 8:03 am: |
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I also own a grant xl and I love it.Everybody tells me that it sounds great and the recieve is very good. |
Mrclean
Intermediate Member
Username: Mrclean
Post Number: 134
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, August 22, 2010 - 7:38 am: |
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I dont have a grant anymore. I have three of them LOL! |
Dale
Senior Member
Username: Dale
Post Number: 1626
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, August 22, 2010 - 2:40 pm: |
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i own [2] grant xls love them both
dale/a.k.a.hotrod
cef426
cvc#64
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Keithinatlanta
Advanced Member
Username: Keithinatlanta
Post Number: 891
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 05, 2010 - 8:57 pm: |
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Hey guys, if you look up near the top, I had posted about my Grant XL. I still have it and still love it. And it still does what I said above.
Keith in Atlanta
CEF 150 |
Chris142
Intermediate Member
Username: Chris142
Post Number: 119
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, May 08, 2011 - 6:30 pm: |
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I horse traded with a guy and got a Phillippines made Grant XL is great condition and unmodified. I must have gotten a bum one.
SSB is so far off freq that I have to turn the clarifier all the way to the left and people are barely understandable.
Recieve on AM is pretty bad. It picks up every power line I go under and if I squelch out the noise the incoming RX gets chopped up.
I have not found a tech locally that wants to try to fix it. |
Onelasttime
Junior Member
Username: Onelasttime
Post Number: 20
Registered: 8-2011
| | Posted on Thursday, August 11, 2011 - 7:17 pm: |
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I bought one for myself that I latter loaned to my Dad when he needed a new radio all of a sudden for his big rig. Before he could give it back to me it was stolen out of his truck locked up at the yard.
It was a philipines model and bought through Copper. It was always rock stead on SSB after it warmed up. A lot of people in Michigan hot glue a wheat lamp to the SSB Crystal filter so it stays at a steady temp since it can get down to -30°F at night time in the winter this helps with SSB stability.
Most of them with 99%-100% modulation will easily peak out to 29-36 watt's when they swing. Not uncommon to have a 10-14 watt dead key swinging to 29-36 watt's cleanly. The audio was great and the receive was good. They where easy to expand with Expo kit and very very durable. The Grant XL and Cobra 148 GTL where identical inside.
In fact I wish that Cobra and Uniden would bring back the old design. If I had to use a CB and only a CB a Grant XL would be on my short list especially if one was not going to break the law and operate outside of CB band. I am not a huge fan of any of the radio's that have built in linear outside of a say a two final rig. I do not like to lose the use of two devices at the same time. If you have to send one of those Monster 400 watt Export radio's in for repair not only do you lose your radio for the length of time it takes to repair it but you also lose the use of your 400 watt linear at the same time.
Due tot he age though now of this model it get's harder and harder to find them in like new condition and with out any golden screw driver action or clipped components etc..... |
