Old cobra vs newer stryker

Discussion in 'CB Radio Forum' started by TJB15, Aug 21, 2023.

  1. TJB15

    TJB15 Light Load Member

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    Full disclosure I know very little about cb radios. When I started driving full time in 1997 I bought a new cobra 148. In 2019 I bought a new to me truck( 2013 t660) and figured why not get a newer radio and bought a used stryker 497hpc from a friend. Installed new coax and antenna (single firestick 4') and ran the old cobra at first then switched to the stryker. The old cobra could hear for at least 10 miles with almost no background noise whatsoever. When I switched to the stryker it seemed as though 2 miles ish was the best I could hear and even then with a good amount of background noise. I am certain the stryker can be heard much farther as people could hear me much farther away than I could hear them. Just curious seeing as how everything else being equal is that a normal thing for each of these models of radio or is there more to the story that I can do to make the stryker perform better. If I could combine the transmit power of the stryker with the listening capabilities of the cobra life would be good.
     
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  3. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    Stick with the cobra, it is a better radio.
     
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  4. Night Stalker10

    Night Stalker10 Road Train Member

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    You should ask your friend if he ever had a a peak and tune done to the Stryker, and if so, who did it? It is hard to beat a cobra 148 radio, newer isn't always better.
     
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  5. TJB15

    TJB15 Light Load Member

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    I believe the stryker was worked on at the petro in Atlanta Ga. No clue exactly what year or what was done other than conversion. I appreciate the opinions. I have somewhat drawn the same conclusion. I hate that it is so old but will say it has been a great radio for many years. Figured it would be cool to try something new but so far has been a bit disappointing.
     
  6. Xcis

    Xcis Medium Load Member

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    If you are not experienced with radios for your truck, please consider the following following two points as rules to live by.
    .
    .1 If you are not capable of fully testing a used radio, either take it to a competent tech to check it out before you spend your money or just do NOT buy a used radio.
    .2 Leave the radio in stock unmodified condition. You are not required to modify a radio to get it to work. You didn't have to mod your cell phone to get it to work out of the box.
     
  7. TJB15

    TJB15 Light Load Member

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    Mostly was curious if the stryker would require any different setup than what the cobra worked successfully on. Appreciate the thoughts.
     
  8. PaulMinternational

    PaulMinternational Road Train Member

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    Have you tried a different antenna? Seems some folks I know don't like the firestick and have had to change it out.
     
  9. TJB15

    TJB15 Light Load Member

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    Have not yet. Figured a top load was best for
    I have not yet. It seems to me the low mirror mount on t660 kinda limits options. I may be wrong about that but have always thought it. Have considered moving antenna to top of headache rack to get it higher and try a different style.
     
  10. Night Stalker10

    Night Stalker10 Road Train Member

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    No, these radios are designed for a 50 ohm load. That's why the most popular coax to use is 50 ohms too. As long as you use an antenna designed for the frequency your talking on (along with good quality coax and ground plane), is the most important part for a good antenna system. The radios will be happy. The difference between your two radios is features, frequencies and power output.
     
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  11. craig_sez

    craig_sez Road Train Member

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    On the new to you truck i would go to k0bg.com and look up bonding.....Same thing on you tube how to bond.....A fella names jay rich or j rich i dont remember does a nice vid on a better ant stud mount for the kw 660..
    You can go with the back rack mount but it will have to be bonded to the frame or buy top loaded lo g fibreglassed ant like the longer firesticks or skip shooters....Both come as long as 7ft..
     
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