| Author |
Message |
    
Johnny_be_good
New member
Username: Johnny_be_good
Post Number: 1
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, March 13, 2005 - 9:23 pm: | 
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I have an older cobra 135 xlr ssb can't find any info. on operating, almost seems like it really doesn't exist I've been all over the net no mention of it under any site.I am new and need to know what the "voice lock" knob and "forward-reverse" button do any help locating any info would be great.Has anyone even heard of it? If so is it a decent radio seems to work ok . Thanks John |
Kid_vicious
Intermediate Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 284
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Monday, March 14, 2005 - 2:38 am: |
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hey john, welcome to the forum. this site is the most helpful forum ive found. it may take a few days, but you will get answers on here.
i will look for some info on the 135xlr when i get home. check back tomorrow.
here's some stuff to get you started.
first off, that's a nice radio if it works properly. they're classics by now so dont go cutting parts out of it unless you're sure of what you're doing. the voice-lock knob is cobra's terminology for the clarifier. the clarifier's function is to vary the receive frequency in SSB mode so that you can understand what the person is saying. if you look at your radio, you will see a knob that says " LSB-AM-USB.
this is your mode switch. AM mode is for your normal everyday communication on ch.19 etc. think of it just like your AM-FM radio. you just dont have the FM cpability. LSB and USB (lower sideband and upper sideband), are a sort of "in between" channel, and each of the 40 channels has a LSB and a USB. in SSB mode, your radio only produces wattage out when you speak. try switching your radio to either LSB or USB and whistle into the mic. (antenna is connected right?) when you key the mic, your meter's needle will stay put and will rise with your speech. people generally use this mode for long distance "skip" communication. if you want to see what its like, turn your radio to ch.38 and switch the radio to LSB mode. do this during the early to mid afternoon, or when the sun is out. you will hear a bunch of donald ducks quacking. turn your voicelock control back and forth slowly until you "clarify" the person's voice. now you should be able to talk to them if the conditions are right.
the forward-reverse button is for measuring your SWR. (standing wave ratio) SWR is the measurement of how much of your signal is going out of the antenna and how much is being reflected back into the radio. do a search for "SWR" on this forum for the details and theory behind this. for now i'll just tell you how to measure the efficiency of your antenna.
put your radio on ch.1. turn the mic gain all the way counterclockwise (down). make sure you are in AM mode. there is a switch or button on your radio labled SWR/MOD or SWR/???. put this switch in the SWR position, put the other switch in the "forward" position. key the mic and hold the button down. adjust the SWR CAL knob until the needle sits in the CAL position. now, while still holding the mic button down, switch the "forward" switch to "reflected". look at the needle of the meter. it should be sitting below the number 2 on the SWR scale. if it is higher than that, unkey themic immediately and dont key it up again until you've posted your results here and let some of us help you get a more efficient antenna. you can damage your radio if you transmit with a high SWR.
hope this helps. feel free to ask any questions.
matt |
Johnny_be_good
New member
Username: Johnny_be_good
Post Number: 2
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Monday, March 14, 2005 - 8:46 pm: |
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Thank you kid vicious ! after weeks and many forums I finally get an answer to my questions I am familiar with swr just did't know thats what the fwrd. rev. did and the voice lock is new to me I have never had ssb but can't wait to try it now that I have some idea of whats going on. I did try the fwd-rev to check swr and it did just what you said but it checked at 2 ,I have an external swr meter on the back of my unit it calibrates good and reads 1 "good" When I try to calibrate with fwrd.rev.button using the meter on the radio it jumps around a bit and hard to 0 .I think it needs a little tuner cleaner as so does the vol.control.This unit has been sitting around a while. I did contact Cobra this morning about a manual and in 1 hour they responded and will mail me at no cost a manual for this old radio well I have to say Cobra is the way to go in my opinion as ther cust. support is great "Thanks Emily". Thanks again Kid vicious big help and answered all my problems I enjoy this forum great people |
Kid_vicious
Intermediate Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 285
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Monday, March 14, 2005 - 9:50 pm: |
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congratulations, you have a great old base there!
i did some looking this morning, and it turns out that your radio has the TC5080 PLL in it. you can add channels by grounding pin 8, or do a crystal switch. the info i found was in "secret cb" vol. 4, and also vol. 3, and vol.10. do a search for secret cb to find a place where you can buy a reprint. to get you started, the AMC is R134 (variable resistor, turn to max.) and tune coils T8, T9, and T10 for power increase.
glad to be of help, and i would trust the external meter over the radio's internal meter.
matt |
Cdn_superpower
New member
Username: Cdn_superpower
Post Number: 2
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, November 10, 2005 - 6:58 pm: |
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I too just bought the 135xlr from an internet site and I love it.
It's in mint, stock condition and would like to get .555 and unlocked clarifier.
Also any adjustment info would be great, thanks. |
Kid_vicious
Advanced Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 822
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Friday, November 11, 2005 - 12:50 am: |
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try to find a copy of "secret CB vol.3, 4, and 10.
they contain lots of mod info for this radio.
you can get extra channels and a 5khz switch.
very cool radio.
matt |
Cdn_superpower
Junior Member
Username: Cdn_superpower
Post Number: 42
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 1:08 pm: |
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I need those mods anyone care to post ? |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 10079
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 1:23 pm: |
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Cdn_superpower,
For adjustment information all you have to do is CLICK on the Modification List to the LEFT of the forum here under tools.
Tools
Mic. Wiring
Frequency Chart
CB & Ham Lingo
Modification List
You also might want to try using Search area also to the left of the forum here and typing in Cobra 135XLR or 135XLR or Cobra 135 to see if anyone has posted before on it.
Hope this help's,
Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9CEF
CVC#2 |
Kid_vicious
Senior Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 1684
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 5:29 pm: |
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also, most of the mod info is tough to decipher without the diagrams to go along with the instructions.
your best bet is to get the CD off of the auction site for 10 dollars. it contains scans of all 29 volumes of secret CB.
that and the sams manual are the only two places i know of to get the info you want.
matt |
Cdn_superpower
Junior Member
Username: Cdn_superpower
Post Number: 46
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, May 27, 2006 - 10:21 pm: |
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Hmmm I may have a better idea of where to find it, maybe. |
