CB Detectives Season 1 - Solving the case of the mystery CB radio

[@jdmcradio4436]

We ran a shop for decades. this was a precursor to the 148 GTL DX. Later on they added the DX to the front of the radio and even added the extra bands to the front as well.

[@richb.4374]

One of my first jobs when I was just a young kid was working in a CB shop back in the 70's. My boss was a distributor for Cobra, I actually got to tour the Dynascan factory and even see the assembly line. It was pretty cool seeing the radios lined up on a long table being assembled and tested at the end of the production line. Back then the radios were built in Chicago, but I believe as time went on, they just imported the boards and assembled them in house instead of building the entire radio. Try and find a Cobra 148DX, one of the very first "export" radios that trickled out of the factory to the streets. I had one of the very first ones in Chicago.

[@greenswithEnvyHomestead6392]

I was born in Rockford, small world

[@greenswithEnvyHomestead6392]

My video of my 138

[@clyde1406]

To me this is cool. Great video. Thanks!

[@stevemazz3121]

I have a 2510 with a chip switch installed. It will do more things than anyone needs. Taken a few years to figure out all the features it came with. Best CB, 10 meter radio I have had. And I have had many many radios with all the mods known to man.

[@greenswithEnvyHomestead6392]

I have a 138!!! Unbelievable side band with uppers and lowers, early connex board, along with about30 vintage radios

[@JoeR203]

I got a Texas Ranger TR-966 off eBay a few weeks ago. The FC-347 does work with it.

[@Chris-Ould]

I had a Cobra 148 modified to tune continually thru till 28.000Mhz. It had a CRC-100 frequency counter bolted to the top and the wires fed thru a grommet on the back of the radio. When you turned the channel dial it actually continued counting past 40 ! 41, 42, 43, ect. all the way to 99. The clarifier worked in sync with tx with a sweep of 10 Khz

[@subaquaticsleepwalker7240]

I would have liked a scope and receiver comparison on all three to compare the ranger against the Phillies 148. Please and thank you.

[@24nov67]

over here in the UK the older Taiwan ROC built 148 gtl dx/superstar 360fm from the late seventies and early eighties are more sought after

[@phantomscaler]

here in the states also, i have a mrk2 148 and 3 mrk 2 360fm superstars, i have always felt the orginal superstars had a better qc then galaxy,ranger connex etc even tho all were made by ranger

[@miketaylor2197]

After uniden no longer made radios from Cobra, Cobra had their radios made my rci. Hence the rci frequency counter plug on the back

[@phantomscaler]

correct! the last made side mics were rci made same with the cobra148gtl-F

[@drsysop]

Cobra 148 GTL a great radio can be tricked out with loads of frequencies etc. That is a Ranger export version of the 148. It will go on 10 meters out of the box & have to be modified for CB.

[@sp02za]

Interesting. I am working on a 148 vintage 1994 made in the Malaysia model side mic that has a Ranger board in it Like the TR296. No frequency counter port and the radio has the FCC plate. Its an EPT014811Z board. You can use the older 148 service manual to do repairs or you can use the TR296 service manual. This radio had the Fujitsu PLL in it. Lots of golden screwdriver mods i am trying to get rid of to get it back to stock. Not quite done with repairing it but on what's working now radio works as well as any of the other 148's

[@Tastauer]

Can you make a comparison of the receiver of stability of each radio?

[@jtrocktree5409]

Best radio man I ever dealt with was at exit 203 I 40 in New Mexico set up a galaxy 33 for me in 1998 , still working , he new how to make them broadcast and receive, was hard to get in the place, he was one of the best .

[@clayharris7814]

I have fellow cber that told me what I learned in this video but I have personally never seen it this was very informative.

[@davidgarris5440]

I would love to see more videos About what radios are the same or very similar internal components And maybe your thoughts on quality Comparison..

[@geralddalpiaz3138]

I once owned one of these mystery 148's and yes in a box as sold as a cobra...may still have it in storage.

[@greenswithEnvyHomestead6392]

Want to sell?

[@phantomscaler]

they were the very last sold by cobra before they discontnued the side mic version, ranger then sold them as the texas ranger versions, a few were sold as the superstar SS 148gtl Ex with a gold bezel, gold lettering and gold knobs with a black faceplate and a echo board factoy installed, only am and ssb mode no fm or band selector rodger beep like most exports ch 1-40 only

[@phantomscaler]

same radio as my superstar SS 148gtl EGK just has a black face and superstar branding in gold lettering gold bezel and gold knobs, there is a few differences with the rangers board, where the og 148 has test points to connect to the ranger version does not, they are listed on the board but not soldered in the superstar version also has a factory installed echo board there is no rodger beep, no band selector, am/ssb only, no fm 26.965 - 27.405 only, no unlocked tx/rx clarifier either

[@joohop]

Here In The UK The Cobra 148GTL DX Was An Awesome Radio I Don't Think There's Many Round Now . Bless Up Fella

[@plugnalong2186]

I have the Cobra 148GTL DX. Nice radio, I've had it since the late 80's or early 90's. Nice radio, planning maybe changing the capacitors and finals when I get time. I mean I them sitting here waiting on me.

[@joohop]

@@plugnalong2186 Fair Play Buddy My Dad's Friend Had One That Was EPROM'd For UK40 I Wish I Had That Radio Even Now ! Although I've Got A Few Pretty Decent Set's Still . Blessings From Birmingham England :)

[@richb.4374]

I wish I never sold mine just because of the rarity of them now.

[@lezbriddon]

i remember something about 2 versions, 3 and 5 crystals?

[@elliotspencer2648]

I got a almost new cobra 148gtl dx here,was given to me by a friend!!.

[@ProspectorsGhost]

I have been both in and out of CB Radio since the late 1960's. My first CB Radio was an old tube powered, crystal controlled, 23 channel Cobra "CAM-88" Base Station, with a "Super-Mag" Base Antenna attached to a 20 ft long galvanized 3/4” dia. water pipe nailed and baling wired up to the side of the trunk and sticking out of the top of a cottonwood tree out in the back yard, Not legal you say? Well, other CB’ers would tell me that it wasn’t legal. My response back was, always, “Pipe Down. Go back and read your Part 95 Rules and Regulations.” (part 95.107 (rule 8) FCC rules and regulations state, “(1) The highest point must be no more than 20 feet (6.1 meters) higher than the highest point of the building or tree on which it is mounted excluding towers, poles, masts etc. - or - (2) The highest point must be no more than 60 feet (18.3 meters) above the ground”). I later changed the "Super-Mag" for a “Starduster” base antenna mounted the same way, and in the same place. I can still remember my old CB Radio FCC License Call Number. I even still have most of my CB Radio Equipment such as my base antenna, and several mobile antenna's, along with my 2 SSB Radio's (one is the Cobra 148 GTL, and the other is a Uniden Grant XL). I also have a couple of Cobra 29's, and an old Base station. Never did ever manage to get a 5 pin mic for the base station (the original mic I gave to another CB’er because his broke). I even still have my old crystal controlled Marine Band Radio (which still has the crystals for the Great Lakes area around Chicago in it). I haven't used any of them since I retired from trucking, and got off the Road as an OTR Owner/Operator back in January of 2012. But of course unless I want to try to reach out and talk to truckers traveling along the interstate (about 30 miles from the one-horse town I live in), there isn't much reason to even bother setting them back up again. I've even thought about installing them in my vehicles, and my house for talking from our home base when either my XYL or I are traveling back and forth into the larger town (25 miles away next to the interstate), and in my tear-drop trailer for when we are out camping, but, alas, that never gets done either. I guess that maybe I have lost my interest in CB Radio after all the Idiot Moron's got on the CB Radio frequencies and started abusing both the channels, and those who try to use CB radio back when the Movie "Convoy" came out.. Since then, CB Radio has never been the same. Nothing more than a bunch of Bucket-Mouth Trash hogging the CB Radio frequencies now bad-mouthing everybody (it was always the worst on Channel 19). The last couple of years when I was still driving OTR I quit using the CB in my Semi Truck, and just kept it turned off all the time because of all the CB Radio channel abuse by those Idiot Morons who doesn’t give a Rat’s Tail Feathers about others trying to use the CB Radio Channels. I've even heard the Ham Radio Operators complaining about it as well, so I guess the Bucket-Mouth Trash Idiot Moron's are now branching out to the Amateur (Ham), bands as well. Sorry to see that a bunch of Idiot Moron's just had to come along and ruin the radio frequencies for everybody else. - CB Radio, and Ham Radio both used to be great hobby's for everyone to enjoy. Now that's all gone. - So Sad. ☹

[@ScottsRadios]

I'm surprised that radio didn't do better for Ranger. People always loved the Cobra 148 GTL before they came out with the front mic version.

[@ScottsRadios]

I was guessing it was a Superstar 3900. I had honestly never heard of that Texas Ranger model before.

[@bogoney]

That was my only guess . But then I have been in to radios for years . I like the 148 mods . I have a frequency counter that sits on top of mine I just key the mic to find out what frequency . With the unlock clarifier .

[@subaquaticsleepwalker7240]

Welp, my guess is a Cobra 150 or 200 guts modified to make a shenzen frankenstein 148 or someone did a mod. I have always thought the Connex radios were basically clones of the 148 but tbh I dont have a solid guess. Thanks for the CB radio vods!

[@buckrogers2828]

Got a Super Star 360 tucked away somewhere goes all over the place got it years ago done by John a guy many knew of in London that tweaked units he was from East London. Have others like a Uniden mids.Binatone 5 star.AM 40 channel.Static teardrop mic.morse key unit.and a big box of other parts.Did have a valve powered 1kw booster!.

[@mikeh.9266]

Pretty neat! Sometimes, just have to buy em, to find out! I was guessing a connex 3300 at first glaces. Nice score on all three BTW 👍

[@piterex7]

Everyone I speak to they say never buy BMW as long you got the montro fix it .friend off my works at the garage. But the radio looks decent !

[@seancorrigan]

Think? I know what I think, I think I should get back into CB radio 😁😁😁

[@cornbread2234]

The General Sherman was identical aswell. Great Video!

[@greenswithEnvyHomestead6392]

Yep that was my guess

[@wc4r]

What is the performance difference between the 3 units (if any)?

[@julianrosas4992]

Dynascan Corp was the name manufacture for these radios, great radio cobra 148GTL it was. I had one back in the 80's

[@shawnjarman9860]

New it was a clone, but didn’t know it be a Ranger, some one got screwed thinking they bought a 148

[@blainehartley9157]

The 148 and superstar 360fm were the exact same radio made in the same factory....had to be careful because you could get a 360 someone swapped bezels on or a 148 with 360 bezel on it....only difference was the serial plate on the back...and yes those got swapped out as well....I have a 148dx that I like but it needs some cosmetic work and finding someone to take the time to re cap it is a pain....they either won’t touch it or they will but almost a year wait time....I had I front mic that was nice but I tuned it up and my friend talked me out of it

[@chrisevansgardenservicesjo8093]

I’m from South Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 in the uk I had the cobra double blocker

[@alexblue6991]

I think CB dead in the UK from Alec from Scotland

[@paulsolfelt8452]

I'm looking at mine , it's a 29 wx nw st made in July 99 in china, it might be one of the last ones made? Do you know when they stopped making them? Mine was made in China so one of the newer ones after they changed where they made the boards!

[@SirBeauJangles]

Over here the mk1 148 GTL-DX used that 8719 PLL chip, so did the Pres Grant and the Euro clone of the 148 - the Superstar 360. All in mk1 form. None I've seen were sold with the counter connector. Later on the Ranger versions arrived (SS3900) with a cheapened board (not the PB010AA/AB) and those I've seen were Phillipines made. But the earlier ones -both the 8719 and Motorola 145106 chipped boards - were all Taiwanese made. Here it's the earlier Taiwanese rigs that get the cred and fetch heavy prices. Last week I saw a pretty clean unmodded 148 GTL-DX mk2 for sale at £550. Doesn't mean he got that silly price but that it was asked tells you something about the perceived values of clean examples.

[@dannyrichardson6319]

Good old days. I have a Royce. Cobras northstars Craig and connex. Love my radios. Truck safe drivers

[@marcussanchez4278]

I also had a Royce

[@TomTomIAm]

I have a radio which I would like to identify the manufaurer. Do you have an email where I can send pictures to ?

[@390WagonMaster]

And here I'm thinking late production run for cobra from Ranger, just before cobra dropped the ball. Hello front mic 148 warble monsters. Cheers

[@richb.4374]

They only warbled if some clown went inside and cranked the ALC wide open.

[@mtyhntr49]

Very nice, do you work on radios, like a galaxy mobile base ?

[@ctscantechnologist]

Wasnt the 148F made by Ranger too?

[@GarimpeiroPraiano]

Rádio cobra 148gtl um dos melhores do mundo parabéns amigo!!!

[@donmartin7460]

Sometimes you just have to buy those “ things that make you go...hmmm” 🇨🇦

[@crispychicken2743]

What about side band . My side band I can hear across the country

[@Dallas-Rife-UDX-347-Tennessee]

So is it going to be for sale ??

[@rodlink6258]

I have a 148GTL and my channel 20 guys say its still sounding good

[@darrenmcneilly6801]

These were sold in Australia under the President Brand with the frequency counter

[@crispychicken2743]

Love my cobra . Built into my Freightliner. 2 whips .

[@rayvelez3736]

Good Video, I still have the 148 it was tweaked some years back, the guy who did it put a knob in the back to kick it up a notch and modified it with side band. I wish I can find someone in NE Pa. who is good with Radios. Tks for sharing

[@leftlaneposse4817]

Where in NEPA?

[@rayvelez3736]

@@leftlaneposse4817 East Stroudsburg, Pat, Know anyone? five70 8five6 Two623 Tks.

[@leftlaneposse4817]

@@rayvelez3736 is Nick at the TA in Colombia NJ? I live in Allentown and drive truck all over but shops aren’t what they used to be if there is any. I have a guy in Alabama that’s awesome with radios, he does the warranty work for Bells CB in Florida. Email me at [e-mail] if you’d like his info.

[@MrFranksplace]

Hope u got a steal deal on them. I always shop yard sales as well looking for radios of any sort 73

[@LeeKirkman88]

Id love a 148F or the connex version

[@RaysLaughsAndLyrics]

Anyone know what a factory indash GM CB/AM radio in Mid 70's pickup is worth?

[@randydunaway9853]

THE OLDER COBRA 🐍 148 GTL AND THE 29 LTD CLASSIC ARE TWO BEST RADIOS.

[@andybibby342]

I don’t think the face plate has been changed. You can buy them brand new like that from Brazil.

[@cbradiomagazine]

I was under the impression the ones sold in Brazil were labeled as DX or INTL models with FM included and extra frequencies on the channel knob. I don't think they are using a similar Cobra 148 board in those radios. I haven't seen them sold for a number of years but if they are currently sold I'd love a link to look at them. Here the video of the ones I remember from Brazil kzbin.info/www/bejne/qWKYp2aMprKmj9U

[@andybibby342]

@@cbradiomagazine the one I saw was a Voyager Cobra 148. It was old school fronted and no fm, I checked because I’m from the UK. However it isn’t listed there now. Look through the various links here as they differ and go into further depth especially mercado. cbshopx.com/

[@rm3432]

I just bought a 148 GTL, but that one is made in China. It was brand new out of the box

[@tf7274]

None of the radios hold a candle to the Uniden Grant XL made in the Philippines...from the same era. I have both and the cobra needs something from the shop every couple of years.

[@ngawairangi3694]

Yes those was old day back in the 70 80 90 all the way to 2000 to 2o22 our first cb was 12 channel back in the 70 an 80

[@BipolarBear777]

My old Pace 8041, made in Japan doesn’t have a FCC plate either.

[@jeffreydavidconner]

I was hoping that you found out it had a crazy amount of watt output..

[@timgricesr.3778]

I stopped at min 3:44, I'd say it's a Connex.

[@kingjames8283]

Yep, my first thought was Ranger Radio.

[@jamesstafford9067]

I had a Cobra 148 GTL classic and I miss it

[@millsoutdoors8555]

I mean if you don’t need it send it my way 😂😂

[@mudpawsvoom6132]

Omg , I had one of them before and it was a great cb it was channeled out had excellent standing wave unlike other cbs I had and no standing wave any cb antennas I used it was just wow a lot of people did not believe me till I showed them I ended up selling it and wish I never did , and now more than ever.

[@brentludwick213]

The radio does not effect the standing wave. That is strictly a factor of frequency, antenna, feed line, mount and surrounding environment.

[@mudpawsvoom6132]

@@brentludwick213 well I guess I did something really right , I had hardly any standing wave that's what a very good Metter was showing , my friends didn't believe it till they saw it for them selves.

[@waltergralka]

The 148 is the same as a cobra 2000 just in a differnt box

[@notajp]

That same basic board was used in several radios over the years.. the earlier 858 chip version was the best! There were soooo many mods for that board.

[@AndrewHCann]

Lol I thought Cobra 148 GTL knock was 148 GTL F had Frequency counter in faceplate of a 5 digits green numbers to done at factory Lol! Also I remember 148 orgnail were on 40 cube channels read out were red in 1988 to 1998 then went green 1998 to 2006 for awhile then in 2006 change to red I seen ! I was going buy 148 but sold fast and in 2009 was Texas Ranger type also then 2010 on my Birthday got 02/02/2002 Uniden Grant XL in excellent shape too and still got it! Not give up and be offer lots money for it but not selling it!

[@rudyho3790]

The F was super kool...let it get away...Cobra 148F GTL (accidentally let an expander kit sneak in😉)

[@AndrewHCann]

@@rudyho3790 :) excellent

[@goldpipe2003]

Some form of ranger

[@samiam5557]

It looks like a superstar to me

[@southerncross3638]

The face plate looks like my Uniden that's a thousand years old, still works.

[@petesmith5092]

I was wondering if anybody was going to mention that. My Uniden Grant XL is the same thing as a Cobra 148 but then again Uniden is made by dynascan and Cobra is made by Uniden so I don't know I prefer a Uniden over a Cobra any day. But I love my Royce radios. But nothing and I mean nothing has ever came close to my General Lee

[@tinman2230]

I had one of these and it was stolen, I was very bummed.

[@iltonlopes1276]

Meu sonho e ter um deste de novo gtl 148

[@z00h]

Breaker 19 breaker 19, wassur20?

[@HamakuaDivebomber]

For sale? I’d buy

[@joselopezg7718]

Tengo dos cb radios pero creó que no funcionan 😢

[@javabeanz8549]

Got me, my guess was that it was a DX.

[@richardmcleod3577]

Here i thought it was going to be a chinese counterfeit copy of a cobra. I thought wrong lol

[@mitchh6702]

Superstar 3600?

[@jspears2549]

Wow your a Genius. Wow Primo..did you see it ,,Fruit jar 175 island park idaho.. anyone talking to idaho..

[@markpascoe7845]

Who is still alive that repairs CBs

[@greenswithEnvyHomestead6392]

Almost forgot,,, 73's!!!

[@piterex7]

I see an old tech inside

[@Mr.Modulation.StatenIslandMic]

Cobra 148 export or super star 3900

[@AwesomeMidnightDrags]

That's pretty cool...

[@mickysmith8851]

I was thinking a ranger or a superstar

[@azertydu80g.r.p.s]

The rear WRITING FC for FREQUENCY COUNTER ?

[@larryfields2652]

at first I thought it was modified to 10m band..be legal for me as I am a Ham

[@felixgarcianazco9496]

MIDLAN SUPERESTAR 2400/2900 /ROYCE/HAM/SONY/NATIONAL/SANYO/ETC...

[@Grantcolyer_psychic]

That's a superstar 3900

[@digitaldobbie]

Superstar

[@franciscolopez3229]

Looks like a Galaxy 949.

[@jjgr661]

Time to switch to VHF ON FREE CHANNELS

[@chrisevansgardenservicesjo8093]

Cobra are awsum I had one

[@danielj5665]

Mi Superstar 3900 es prácticamente igual a esas. Quién copia a quién

[@arthursexton3942]

i got galaxy 45 and 77...

[@kowalski363]

Great video

[@veggiepowered]

I'am Your Newest Subscriber Great Videos. I Like My DX959

[@TheWvJACK]

i used to have one until it was stolen.I

[@PedroRodriguez-dr6xu]

I love the mystery

[@M6JKW]

Cool vid thanks for posting 👍

[@udx-294tn5]

Superstar 3900

[@bandit4761]

it's a superst 3900 i got one

[@HamakuaDivebomber]

949, 3900 superstar

[@David-qf6ls]

Would You Sell One? 🇺🇲