mk1 cobra 148 gtl-DX
- fidelity1000fm
- Super Member
- Posts: 157
- Joined: 10 Nov 2010, 15:25
Re: mk1 cobra 148 gtl-DX
By the time you add an expensive mic, change components and add a big burner it's hardly the same rig really is it?
- wheel bender
- Veteran
- Posts: 3265
- Joined: 11 Feb 2009, 11:18
- Location: in a fridge in a shed
Re: mk1 cobra 148 gtl-DX
Once you have a good antenna and power supply, and a decent mic that fits all your radios then a realistic comparison can be done. What stands out to me is the tx audi tone and rx receive. If both are reasonabley good pleasant to listen to then it's got to be a good radio.I've had requests from local breakers to put my adams on complete with bleep? Because in their words "they could listen to it all night". The only radio that isn't getting much use at the moment is my petrusse pacific 160 but I got really good reports with that last time on my bench. With copies into wolverhampton on a comtron VIII from Stoke I'm quite happy with my setup. I just hope my latest antenna repair has fixed my comtell ar 5/8. I might run my mk1 off against the pacific this weekend?
Wheel Bender 1982-88/ 2007- ???
27+ countries since 2007
keeping the older radios on air. Not in the cupboard or the past.
80ch legal- America on ukfm- CB radio can be better 2nd time around.
27+ countries since 2007
keeping the older radios on air. Not in the cupboard or the past.
80ch legal- America on ukfm- CB radio can be better 2nd time around.
-
- Regular
- Posts: 41
- Joined: 08 Jan 2014, 11:07
Re: mk1 cobra 148 gtl-DX
iv just got hold of a 148 gtl dx and im not sure if its a mk 1 or 2.how can you tell????reading through,it seems like the mk1 has a lazy rf needle,the one i just got is a lazy one.seems normal with a pre amp on,but its the norm.it seems to have a mod done to the channel 9 switch as when you put it on the channel display,ie,channel 33 high band,flick the 9 switch and it goes to channel 39.if you go in to the 20's and flick the 9 switch it goes to 29 and so on.it does go somewhere cos the signal and noise changes.iv yet to try and find it usin another radio.....any ideas anyone.its also had a roger beep put in it but i cant find how to turn it off.any ideas?????.i took the bottom off to have a quick look and there is a green box screwed to the side with 2 thickish wires comin out of it and it dissapears under the the channel selecter.i also found 2 different tone wires that were cut.again,usin the tone switch,flick it and it goes somewhere else.its doin my head in and i cant get to my other radios for the next week or so to find out where the hell these switches are takin the radio to.....as ever folks,any help is welcomed......
- Mudslinger
- Legend
- Posts: 7493
- Joined: 28 Jul 2010, 07:11
- Location: Oxfordshire
Re: mk1 cobra 148 gtl-DX
The most reliable way to check is to take the cover off and have a look at the board.
PC-879 is Mk1 and PB-010 is MK2
Mk2's generally have the serial number starting 130 Mk1's have 030, but as serial number plates are easy to swap this isn't always a reliable way to tell.
The layout of the holes in the back panel is also different on both of them.
If could be that it has a UK40 Eprom on the channel 9 switch. Most of the time the band selector will need to be in the Mid position for it to work. If you switch on the UK40 eprom whilst the band switch is in the Hi or Lo position you will end up on some odd frequencies.
PC-879 is Mk1 and PB-010 is MK2
Mk2's generally have the serial number starting 130 Mk1's have 030, but as serial number plates are easy to swap this isn't always a reliable way to tell.
The layout of the holes in the back panel is also different on both of them.
If could be that it has a UK40 Eprom on the channel 9 switch. Most of the time the band selector will need to be in the Mid position for it to work. If you switch on the UK40 eprom whilst the band switch is in the Hi or Lo position you will end up on some odd frequencies.
Mudslinger - Simon
26TM274
26CT612
There is no such thing as a Fidelity 1000 which is too good to scrap.
26TM274
26CT612
There is no such thing as a Fidelity 1000 which is too good to scrap.
- PoisoN
- Top Poster
- Posts: 1820
- Joined: 28 Jul 2009, 01:08
- Location: Great Yarmouth,Norfolk,
Re: mk1 cobra 148 gtl-DX
You can short either D7 or D8 (but not both) that should cure the lazy needle it did on mine.. now getting my mate 30 mile away at 7-9db depending on what power he's running. Which is the correct signal for him. Before I shorted D7 I couldn't get him over 3db. I think the Mk1 sounds the best on ssb on receive. But find the tx audio a bit bassier than the Mk2.
26-TM-266
Handle PoisoN
Handle PoisoN
- cb4ever104
- Legend
- Posts: 6564
- Joined: 28 Jul 2011, 21:26
- Location: España
Re: mk1 cobra 148 gtl-DX
The mk1's better just for the beep alone
30TM060
Paul aka "Sammy". (108) PY60 Old Paisley DX Group (RIP Rab Markie)
Ex GM0 , now EA5 .
Handle "Fortune Hunter" back in "the day"
Radios ....? Anything that says "TAIWAN R.O.C" on the back.
Paul aka "Sammy". (108) PY60 Old Paisley DX Group (RIP Rab Markie)
Ex GM0 , now EA5 .
Handle "Fortune Hunter" back in "the day"
Radios ....? Anything that says "TAIWAN R.O.C" on the back.
- Mudslinger
- Legend
- Posts: 7493
- Joined: 28 Jul 2010, 07:11
- Location: Oxfordshire
Re: mk1 cobra 148 gtl-DX
The AM RX isn't very good on the Mk1, it sounds a bit flat like on a Jackson or Lincoln 1
Mudslinger - Simon
26TM274
26CT612
There is no such thing as a Fidelity 1000 which is too good to scrap.
26TM274
26CT612
There is no such thing as a Fidelity 1000 which is too good to scrap.
- Ashtec
- Legend
- Posts: 9156
- Joined: 30 Dec 2009, 23:12
- Call Sign: M6LTD
- Location: Uk
Re: mk1 cobra 148 gtl-DX
Odd old radio i loved how the FM was an afterthought.......
- cjay
- Top Poster
- Posts: 1775
- Joined: 06 Jun 2013, 21:21
- Call Sign: cjay
- Location: Manchester
- Contact:
Re: mk1 cobra 148 gtl-DX
How so? With it having the silk screen and copper for the FM demod and TX components I'd have said it was designed to have FM.Ashtec wrote:Odd old radio i loved how the FM was an afterthought.......
If it'd had one of those FM boards like the Madisons, Ham Viking Mk1 or the many Midland 'AM' rigs then it would be an afterthought
- Ashtec
- Legend
- Posts: 9156
- Joined: 30 Dec 2009, 23:12
- Call Sign: M6LTD
- Location: Uk
Re: mk1 cobra 148 gtl-DX
Well as you put it like that its not as bad as some i just didn't like the little PCB's all over.. Didn't the little PCB's carry the FM varactor diode to inject the FM Mod to the VCO....cjay wrote:How so? With it having the silk screen and copper for the FM demod and TX components I'd have said it was designed to have FM.Ashtec wrote:Odd old radio i loved how the FM was an afterthought.......
If it'd had one of those FM boards like the Madisons, Ham Viking Mk1 or the many Midland 'AM' rigs then it would be an afterthought
-
- Super Member
- Posts: 328
- Joined: 03 Mar 2010, 16:32
- Call Sign: BPO6O
- Location: Gloucester
Re: mk1 cobra 148 gtl-DX
I have just got a mark 1 mint untouched undecided weather to keep it or look for a swap or sell I like the ss3900 or Jackson
- 163TM847
- Veteran
- Posts: 4145
- Joined: 16 Mar 2009, 19:30
- Location: S.Wales
-
- Legend
- Posts: 8666
- Joined: 23 Jan 2010, 19:26
- Location: Bristol-ish
Re: mk1 cobra 148 gtl-DX
Not many untouched minters around!
Swap you for a Harvard Good Buddy radio??? Lol
Swap you for a Harvard Good Buddy radio??? Lol
- Mudslinger
- Legend
- Posts: 7493
- Joined: 28 Jul 2010, 07:11
- Location: Oxfordshire
Re: mk1 cobra 148 gtl-DX
The Mk1 is better on SSB and FM than the Mk2 IMO
But the early 3900's and 5 Band Jacksons are very good as well.
But the early 3900's and 5 Band Jacksons are very good as well.
Mudslinger - Simon
26TM274
26CT612
There is no such thing as a Fidelity 1000 which is too good to scrap.
26TM274
26CT612
There is no such thing as a Fidelity 1000 which is too good to scrap.
- astradyne
- Moderator
- Posts: 11033
- Joined: 14 Jun 2010, 09:28
- Location: Dunny On The Wolds
- Contact:
Re: mk1 cobra 148 gtl-DX
A rarity indeed. I truly believe that a completely untouched 148 will outperform any that have had extra bands added (even the Jentec's). It's nice to flick the Ch9 switch and the radio goes to channel 9 instead of God knows where.
Never, ever, ever....bloody anything ever!
Far too many radio's to list here. But I do own a legal one...
Far too many radio's to list here. But I do own a legal one...