Steve SWT01 using vintage Cobra 148 GTL-DX. +Talk about the AM Days

[@stevewatts7228]

It's funny fred but I thought my Audio was crap lol but may have been through listening to it second hand if u get what I mean, thanks again Fred catch u on the 305👍👍🤪

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Hi Steve. I think for a first set up you did well. Being radio guys we are never totally happy with our set ups and audio etc. I think you have improved since i made this one.

[@bobbyfontenot6782]

Just stumbled across your video. Very interesting, the video and the comment section. I just acquired a 148 GTL-DX today. I’ve heard of them but never used one. I guess that’s about to change.

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

NICE ONE. If you've got a well sorted example then they are hard to beat. Many nowadays need a re cap and tuning to bring them onto freq.

[@richardmillican7733]

Yup. First on 1980, neighbour had a Ham jumbo to a PDL 2. Got my first legal uk fm for Christmas 1981. Still have it! I'm now 54 years old, still dabble from Anglesey these days... mainly weekends, 163-FB-029

[@mindblast3901]

I had a PDL2 Wicked Antenna

[@ericdee6802]

Ive contacted people all over the World on my 148gtl, "Tasmania" from California on an old 5/8ths wave Groundplane was one of my coolest contacts, made dozens of European contacts, that Cobra kicks butt!!!

[@AnalogueInTheUK]

This radio brings back many happy memories for me. Back in the day, you had respect if it was known that you owned one of these beasts. I joined a local DX group in the North West and had many interesting contacts across the world with my half-wave silver rod on the side of the house and my Cobra running a 'massive' 20 Watts on USB. Great days.

[@BoB4jjjjs]

The AM days were a lot of fun, but we did watch where we transmitted, just in case of interference to other services. We were out in the countryside, so never bothered anyone. Only person I bothered was my neighbour, but he fixed TVs as a hobby, I think he has also been involved in radio at one time. He collared me one day and asked what I was using as it was causing his wife to miss Corry, Oh dear! So I told him it was a CB, he asked if it was 27Mhz, when I said it was, he went into his shed and dragged me with him. In no time he had a filter made up, wire wound onto an old ferric radio aerial if I remember correctly, He used a grid dip meter to check it, then he went inside, came out and told me to go and make a noise on the CB. That I did, there was a knock on the door, when I answered he was standing there smiling. "That fixed it, no more picture trouble and funny noise coming through the TV, where is your aerial anyway?" When I told him, he told me to run a wire dipole from the chimney can towards the ground. The chimney on my bedroom went up with the wall and straight up into a big chimney with four chimney pots on top, so it was no problem to attach a bit of rope with a dipole going slightly out from the wall onto a lean-to shed. In fact, he helped me build it, it worked a lot better than the DV27 in the loft! My other neighbour must have had a better TV, they never complained, but if they had, I am sure my other neighbour would have made a filter for it as well. He made on for my father's TV, it didn't suffer much, only when I keyed up, the picture rolled a bit, but then I keyed up a lot! It fixed the problem with it as well. A lot in them days was how you inter-reacted with your neighbours. He taught me quite a bit on fixing TVs, B&W ones, but still, I learned a lot from him. R.I.P Robert, your bark was a lot worse than your bite 🙂 You big softy!

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Robert sounded like a great guy willing to help a youngster learn. Nice story thanks.

[@mindblast3901]

I started back in AM days 1979 Good days Got my Full Ham now old CB,s Started It for me Had a few Cobra 148 Gtl Dx NATO 2000 super star 360 etc first ssb radio was a Major M 558 CB

[@hancecrawford]

Hi Steve in those days you would hear TVI 60 years ago I had a Cobra 148 GTL DX great chicken box, we had fun in those days

[@mattc3656]

Hi Fred, im your age, I was 14 when the knock on the door, I was at school and my sister wouldnt let them in. They said i had 1 week to take the antenna down. I had a 27' Sigma 4 on the house hooked up to a Ham International Multimode 3 and a 100 watt linear. My dad was happy he didnt have to do time for me !!!!!! Stay warm and cosy. PS. Am a licenced ham but still use CB

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Nice one Matt. Well done your Sis. Yes some Telecom really enjoyed their work back then.

[@stevewatts7228]

Cheers Fred injoyed that, was funny hearing myself and thanks for your time on your show. 73s 👍👍👍

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

My pleasure Steve. Glad to have you on the 305 mate.

[@stevewatts7228]

@@CB-RADIO-UK just one thing Fred The call sign is 26 STW 01 not SWT, easy mistake with the audio being a little crappy 🤪👍👍👍 cheers again Fred.

[@nickwatts1978]

still got my old avanti cb mag mount with a 6 ft stainless whip used an am rig they were good days remember the rubber duck quack quack

[@makarov138]

As of right now, in the States, I own and opperate two radios. Both are Cobra 148 GTLs in perfect operating condition and tuned to factory specks. One in my home and the other in my little Toyota car. I started way back in 1969 with a 5 channel Johnson Messenger tube-type radio in the floor of my old Ford Fairlane car.

[@brianzielinski2495]

Hello from the colonies. Love my 148 had it for years.

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Hi Brian

[@GrahamDade]

Yes good to see that the round table is still active steve I'm a old cb ere my handle is cobra i have a indoor twig hope to put my A99 antrom up soon maybe then i can talk on you channel all the best from graham 73s ......

[@zukispur5493]

Love my 148 GTL DX. more fine work bruva Fred. Keep it moving mate🌚👍

[@alangoulding4252]

Happy days Fred, I was fortunate to own a brand new 148GTL DX way back in day one and totally illegal and had a few close calls with Buzby, I paid then £175 in a sealed box and it was the best radio ever. The guy I purchased it from had a CB Shop locally but was also a pilot hence the means of getting this type of radio into the Uk..spoke all over the world on the set power.Wish I still had it :o( I still use cb and have many friends on 11 mtrs....I have my full amateur licence now but still love the cb bands....73s all.....

[@d3fenc367]

I got an enforcement letter from the DTI just after CB27/81 kit began appearing and pretty much stopped using my President JFK MK1 for good. I was out of work and couldn't really afford a whole new legal setup at the time. I was only using the JFK on the very lowest of its variable output (1watt if I recall) on both AM and the few legal FM channels I could get on the JFK's high band, but I guess my half wave DPA II aerial and Astatic Teardrop gave me away:-) I'm thinking of coming back after all of these years.

[@markhannam7144]

How interesting Fred , I too came on in 1981 invited by my late uncle Charlie “Bullseye’ and quickly was given the handle BenGunn!

[@vk5ukkklaus386]

When the skip was going I had a great time making contacts into GB EU USA with my President Grant great radio, sat for my licence working the band's with my Kenwood 250s, 12 months I sold up do regret it

[@simoncooney9268]

great vids mucka AM days were fantastic stay safe n sane

[@alanslade2319]

Sorry but I missed this one, but heard it all now, great accents , you should be on stage Fred, thanks for making me laugh and bring back memories. Hope to speak to you soon on face book soon about getting some information about a rig. Thanks again great show AKA Night owl from Leighton buzzard near Luton 👍

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Daniel-M7BCE]

I used to love the CB in the early 80's up to about 1991 when I gave up, just because of the potty mouths and music players (wannabe DJ's). Good video as always Fred.

[@Shill63]

Hi Fred great video ,had a cobra 19 in around 80 & upgraded to a 148 gtl I bought for £30 had it a couple of years & swapped it for a Chinese copy fender electric guitar, If only I'd known doh

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

I even bet some people just binned them when it got silly in the early 90's

[@raytowler2286]

Nice video Fred, I still use 'export' rigs, back in 88 I once contacted 'Chagos Islands' in the Indian Ocean on 27.500 on CW. (10w) On a borrowed mate's MK1 Cobra 🐍 148 gtl dx, key was a Hi-mound Hk-706 Morse key. Happy day's & still Qrv . Best 73 Fred. Ray 108 CT 324.

[@assistantto007]

I had many different rigs in the 80s, but I never had a cobra rig.. Too expensive then AND now lol. I remember bring impressed when I heard the audio from a 148 when used with an astatic mike.

[@technic7762]

Last week bank holiday monday i got my 1st contact this year from 26 division here in scotland on my old 148 he was also on and old 148.We had a lovely 15 mins qso talking about the 148 lol .I then thought 26 division coming in for the 1st time for me i will try 27.305 and yea 2 gents rob and tony brought me in that was a box ticked on my goal list lol

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Good old 148 ! Nice one.

[@christophersmith1155]

they were good for the 1970s and 1980s. it lacked RF power controls, but it did have mike control. it did 25 watts when peaked and tuned. a Stryker 955 would blow it away these days.

[@EntraVenuS]

i never had the 148 gtl for a while, but i had the radio that was identical . superstar 360 fm. everything the same but the roger beep was slightly different .. great radio

[@maninthevan53]

I believe it just for the nostalgic, if you have a 148 in mint condition you could get a good penny, I saw some on Ebay going for $ 799,, one is up right now for $620

[@TonyM7CVK]

Fred do you remember the WKS1001 had a frequency readout as the channel display back in the late 70s early 80s. As you say the Cobra was one of the best we had 2 both had the UK mod along with a K40 on the old man’s mobile and mum had a nice desk microphone and a BRMI BRL200 she used to monitor channel 9 ,Rambling Rose DT1253 back in the day

[@greggaieck4808]

Frid in the shed me and my cousin are going to a Swap meet in September 11 Sunday morning at 8 am in Milwaukee 2022

[@joerowland7350]

Ham radio outlet is in Milwaukee in the old aes building good hope rd thay have test ever few weeks n there a few ham fest in Milwaukee ever year I went from tec to amacher xtra in 3 week there over 25 years There is a monthly paper call the smoke signal it has all the ham fest in it in the state it put out by k9en 73 n good luck on the ticket N9prf

[@zukispur5493]

The stalker 9 will give a 148 a run for its money

[@48pluto]

I had once a PTT van close to my house but that was when i was running a 150W FM transmitter on a 11 elements Yagi. That was in 1985. I was just switched off for a QSO when i saw them, reflecting in a window.. Of course i didn't get back on air and they eventually left. Anyway i don't do FM 3 meters anymore and i'm just using a CB. 100W. Never had any problem. I also did other bands in the past.. I was a -pirate- experimenteer i suppose. Never Caught on anything. I was lucky. Some of my friends weren't so lucky. I missed the AM times on CB barely. Just a few years too young.. I got my hands on a AM CB porto when i was 12. But there weren't any stations. I got into CB and FM radio age 14. CB was just legal here in the Netherlands.

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Hi same age as me 14.

[@greggaieck4808]

Frid in the shed using vintage Cobra 148 Gtl - DX talk about the AM Days is cool

[@richardmillican7733]

You should try a "general" net Fred. . Pick a date and time, hopefully prop will be good, and let's all jump on... I'll be up for that!

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

The guys already have them going Rich. The weekly 35 group LSB net on a monday night is the biggest around here.

[@bassplayer3974]

Were ppl doing it before then, the old summerkamps

[@miker8379]

40 channel now considered vintage? LoL. Wish I still had some of my 23ch stuff

[@19TC504]

i got busted ones,but that was bc i was talking on ham bands without license,but there took my president jackson 1 also lol,i had to show for a judge,and a fine from 500€

[@ClickinChicken]

I have a Solocon Imaxx 2000 on roof. I wouldn't even know how to throw up Pirate Radio. I can use it DC. That's my end of the world set-up.

[@greggaieck4808]

Frid in the shed my hobbys are painting pictures and lisining to shortwave and ssb iam thinking about getting my ham license

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

You should do it Greg. Ham is a whole new world of radio.

[@zukispur5493]

Steve mate. You running a cob mk1 or mk2?

[@miker8379]

Wonder if that’s a class c amp with that distortion.

[@janetschwartz1790]

My mother passed away last October and I found two CB,s in her things. One is a cobra 148 GTL - DX and I ,m fairly sure it was one that was illegal back in the day. Both my parents were big CB users and I used one when I was in the USA. I've just installed it in my car and am looking for an antenna as I broke the mag mount that was with it. What worries me now after seeing your site is am I going to end up with my car window smashed when some one decides it's worth stealing ? Also should this radio work without any modifications if I get another mag mount or does it have to be adapted in any way ? I'm in the UK.

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Hi Janet. The 148 GTL would be worth stealing as they have become quite collectable. I would simply remove the mag mount from the roof and place it in the car over night. Most mag mount bases have a standard thread for the whip. It might be worth thinking of a new antenna whilst your at it. www.thunderpole.co.uk/mobile-cb-antennas.html

[@janetschwartz1790]

@@CB-RADIO-UK Thanks for getting back to me I really appreciate it. I will make a cover to go over the radio so that it will hide it it when I'm parked up. I've just ordered a mag mount antenna as I broke the one I had and will now look forward to using it ....if it works. I built a showman's wagon which some truckers are following and posting on Facebook and am getting a bit fed up of them flashing me with their headlights when they see me. Every time it happens I think there's something wrong with my car or wagon. I,m hoping that if they have CB,s they will use that instead of flashing me! Here's hoping anyway . Once again thanks. Janet

[@greggaieck4808]

Frid in the shed I am interested geting hand held CB radio with ssb

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Hi Greg. Handhelds only have a limited range bud so you need local people close by to talk too.

[@DAVIDGREGORYKERR]

Is Steve living in Northern Ireland or what as that name rings a bell.

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

No i dont think he was Ireland.

[@DAVIDGREGORYKERR]

@@CB-RADIO-UK The reason that he might be in Northern Ireland is that a black haired cousin of mine married a guy whose first name is actually Steve and is now a RSGB licenced Radio Ham maybe maybe not, he is not able to install an antenna as he is renting his pad, last thing I heard was that he had a small shack in the kitchen which he has to keep to one or two radios because of her indoors.

[@KevinOReillyswl]

OFCOM haven't prosecuted anyone for illegal radio use for many years. there have been several freedom of information requests that have shown this. Unless you are somehow interfering withemergency communications you can pretty much do what you like with radio.

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

It does seem that way Kev. I think if people keep the power down to a reasonable level they will leave alone.

[@charlieoscar09]

Hey they are not American Radios ,the Americans would have loved these they had the 148gtl (not dx) and the gtl 2000 The DX was an Asian radio made for that market and usually sold in the UK from the Docks

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Cheers Paul i never knew that fact.

[@TheOptimod]

Clarify him in properly and we'd hear the 148 audio a lot better.

[@miker8379]

Signal 2/ audio 5

[@Bilbo56]

I never understand why you don’t take your amateur radio license and technically your equipment could be made legal couldn’t it and if you think you haven’t got the nose to do it I think you probably have and then you could become more professional everybody who went into amateur radio whether they would tell you the truth or not started with CB

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Hi David. I prob will take the the plunge one day when ive got more time to enjoy and get right into the hobbie properly. Its on my list when i retire. At the moment iam really enjoying 11 meter SSB.