upgrading cobra 29 ltd classic

Don't get me wrong Cobra's are great work horse radios w/ a good noise. cancelling mic I use a DC Shure single ear headset, but I also like the RK56's for the money. (I dod run out and buy the DC I had it let over from a build.) Turns out to work great in a big truck, small being designed for a fire engine.

I would add a amp to the Cobra before I spent several hundred on having a hack destroy the insides.

Connex, General Lee, Galaxy are all very good radio as well. Get you HAM ticket and go 10 meters for that matter.

 

But an RFX'd 29 will destroy a GL that is limited to 50 watts peaked.
The Cobra has a better receive (with a good antenna) then the GL.
Granted it doesn't have the channels(nobody talks on) but it hits hard and
will likely last much longer(subjective I understand,but MPO )

But! at Sparky's price the GL is a solid purchase,picking up a 2-4 pill
box isn't that hard if you look around.

That 3400 is a gimmick "toy" radio and wont likely be around in a year or two.
Connex dropped the 43/400 for slow sales,dont think they wont drop that 3400 for less of a reason.

Its Your dough,blow how you see fit

 

Why can't you USE FM? I have made many European contacts on FM on the UK40 and CEPT CB bands from here in New York.We chatlocal using FM from time to time as well.

 

CONNEX 4300 TURBO ZX HIGH POWER


MODE: AM/FM
FREQUENCY RANGE: 28.065-28.505 MHZ �UNMODIFIED
FREQUENCY TOLERANCE: .005%
FREQUENCY STABILITY: .001%
13.8 VOLTS DC POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE GROUND
BLUE ILLUMINATED METER INDICATING RELATIVE OUTPUT POWER & RECEIVER SIGNAL STRENGTH
BLUE LED CHANNEL SELECTOR
OUTPUT POWER: AM/FM----------LO------ 4 WATTS
HIGH---35 WATTS
HIGH & LOW LEVEL CLASS B MODULATION
RECEIVER SENSITIVITY: AM------0.5 MICRO VOLTS FOR 10db
FM------1.0 MICRO VOLTS FOR 20db
IMAGE REJECTION: MORE THAN 60db
ADJACENT CHANNEL REJECTION: 60db
SELECTIVITY: AM/FM�6db # 3KHZ.
AUDIO POWER 4 WATTS
CONTROLS:
ON-OFF/VOLUME-SQUELCH, MIC/RF GAIN, MODE, BAND SELECTOR A-F, ECHO EFFECT, ECHO TIME, CHANNEL SELECTOR, NB/ANL, RF POWER, HI/LO BAND SWITCH, ECHO ON/OFF SWITCH, TALK-BACK SWITCH
AMENITIES:
VARIABLE OUTPUT POWER CONTROL, ECHO WITH VARIABLE TIME AND DEPTH, TALK BACK, EXT SPEAK JACK, STANDARD 4 PIN MIC JACK, HEAVY DUTY HEAT SINK, SINGLE 2SC2290 FINAL, PA JACK
NO FREQUENCY COUNTER NO SWR SIZE: 2-3/8 H, 7-7/8 W, 9-1/4 D DIMENSIONS ARE IN INCHES

[FONT=verdana,arial]A Sideband rig with a frequency counter and
two Toshiba 2SC2290 output transistors.​

Noteworthy features include :

• A High-Performance output circuit that uses two Toshiba 2SC2290 power transistors to generate 50 watts for AM/FM and 150 watts for SSB operation
• Chassis incorporates a solid aluminum finned rear section as a heatsink
• Additional heat sink on the bottom of the radio with an internal Micro cooling fan increases the radio height from 2.5 to 3 inches
• Same main circuit board as our DX 2517, DX 93T, DX 48T and DX 45MP
• "StarLite" faceplate is matte black with all lettering backlit in green and blue
• Switchable sixth digit provides five or six digit frequency display
• Our exclusive "SuperSlider" circuit maximizes frequency control by switching the Fine clarifier between Receive/Transmit and Receive Only operation or completely out of the circuit with one slide switch. The Coarse clarifier operates on both receive and transmit unless the SuperSlider switch is off. When switched off, both clarifiers are out of the circuit.
• Retro-look red modulation lamp (with On/Off switch) flickers like the old neon lamps of the Fifties and Sixties
• Front mic jack
• Variable power output control
• Red channel and frequency digits
• Heavy duty DC power cord

Strange and Unusual Features:

• The echo has internal controls only. It is our famous dual control echo circuit without any controls on the front panel. The On/Off switch is there, but to adjust the echo sound, the bottom cover must be removed. Locate the rectangular metal box containing the echo board. Do not open this box. Use a small plastic tuning tool to gently adjust the trimmer pots inside the holes marked "ECHO" and "TIME." These pots are somewhat fragile so it is best not to use a metal screwdriver.
• A single slide switch controls both the Echo and the Roger Beep. They can both be off, but they cannot both be on at the same time.
• Changes To DX95T-2 There is now a receive gain pot in place of the variable talkback control and the 40dB pad switch has been changed to a Low / Med / High Talkback switch.

The DX 95T also has the following standard features found on most other Galaxy radios :

• Large, easy-to-read meter with 4 scales:
  1. "S" meter indicates up to 60dB over S9
  2. Modulation percentage scale for use on AM
  3. Calibrated power scale
  4. SWR scale
• Automatic SWR circuit (No complicated calibration procedure required)
• LED's light red to warn of high SWR
• NEW Low / Med / High Talkback switch
• NEW Variable RF Gain control
• Variable dimmer control pot
• On/Off switch for frequency display
• Roger Beep circuit
• NB/ANL circuit
• Meter glows red during transmit
• Two year limited warranty

​

[/FONT]

 

Not sure exactly what he did but he didnt charge me for it, he charged me for the parts and 50 for a total install and tune in the truck. He said something about the modualtion being clipped and bleeding over on different freqs or something.....i guess if i got ripped off live and learn the radio sounds great and gets out well now. Like i said this is going to go in my jeep and im going to get a better radio when i have some extrta cash floating around...probably going to get a striker or a magnum next

 

Ok there are a few truckstops that have a guy working in them that will tune and upgrade ur radio from the factory 4 watts to up to 50 watts so you do not need an amp "waste of time & money"!!! The best one that i know of is Bozzelmans flying j on 80 in Des Moines IA!! I had the same radio & took it there & the guy was awesome!! He tuned it & i bought a great antenna so he tuned & hooked the whole deal up for for just over $60 but now im pushin analmost 50 watts & it sounds great & can hear for miles!!! Any questions email me a agoodfella222@gmail.com!!! Hope this helps!!!

 

Would have to see the 50 watts on a meter to believe that.....not out of a stock Cobra radio with just a tune.

 

Yeah sorry that wasnt just a tune it was a tune and peak & i dont think it was 50 watts exactly but it was up to 40-50 watts!!! The guy really knew his stuff & what antenna to use with what radio!! There were 6 of us in a convoy & when we stopped there all 6 of us got everything tuned & peaked & new antennas if needed & everything was 10 times better to Casper WY & back!!! Hope this explains alittle better!!! Thanx

 

I have seen maybe a 15 watt swing out of a stock Cobra....did they change the finals?
Some of the radio gurus should chime in here.

A good setup radio at even 10 watts will talk very well with a matched antenna and everything tuned right.
Even 200 watts with a bad coax or antenna and bad SWR won't get out very well at all.