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Cobra 148 gtl cosmetic mods

Don , on the 148 I plan to add lights to has the poor man's freq expansion the switches on the front high and low tone and bright /dim are repurposed as freq switches That way you don't have to install additional switches.

Yes I remembered back in the 80s I had a 148 with the switches for the xtra freqs up front where you said. I found a source for new case lids and would like to get this radio looking factory so will consider removing the side switches to the front. Doesnt look too hard, have you done it or sent it out?
 
Yes I remembered back in the 80s I had a 148 with the switches for the xtra freqs up front where you said. I found a source for new case lids and would like to get this radio looking factory so will consider removing the side switches to the front. Doesnt look too hard, have you done it or sent it out?
Don , no I haven't but the one I have I got from ebay and it was already done.Mine only has some of the uppers and only uses 2 of the front switches. I'm thinking of possibly getting an external freq.counter as well.
 
If its not too bad of a fix I will most likely do it myself. Just wondering what to do with the original wiring from the switches up front. If I can knock this out I will start working on the outside of the radio to get it up to snuff. I have a Cobra 29 with blue LED channel and meter, maybe take them out and put them in too (or better yet source a new set from online).

I also need a Freq counter but thinking on the Dosy TFB-3001-S to use a shack meter. My mobile (Stryker SR-89MCV2) already has a freq counter on the meter, and I am not thinking I will need a mobile Freq counter for some time. We have a Ham break coming in 2 weeks, so hopefully find a good deal on that Dosy.
 
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Bought 2 different Freq meters but have not started this as I am currently working on another project. (2nd battery and amp into a truckbox) this project is becoming a pain in the ass as I am doing it by myself so there is some trial and error.
 
Well I hate blue LED's and nitro knob's and back-lite face plate on mobiles does that count. I actual like to turn my radio on and drive at the same time at night time even!

I think the Motorola Razor was first consumer electronic device to use the blue led's after they figure out how to make them.

The reason lab equipment used red and green led's mostly is becasue it is easy to look at with out hurting your eye's, is easy to document with a camera and does not destroy your night vision! That is the same reason why most radio's used those colors for a long time too. Green is very soothing to the eye according to research.

I respect peoples rights to toss their money away as they see fit but I also respect my right to have an opinion about anything someone opens up.

Nothing says white trash like blue led's installed on radio's and amplifiers. Color changing face plates likewise are so gimmicky as to be silly and a complete turn-off.

So many people have done the blue LED thing that is tired and old now. This industry is so low on substance they have to pander to gimmicks.

The only thing worse than blue led's on radio's and amplifer's is the stupid aftermarket lights people install in car's and trucks that blind you on the road and do an inferior job of providing light in the usable spectrum down the road!
 
The reason I went to blue on my 148 was different. This 148 was a $20 flea market basket case special, as it had many failures/problems. Including a bad ch LED and TX/RX diode. So it was just as easy to replace it with a blue ch LED. I did have to scrounge around on ebay until I finally found the red/blue TX/RX diode. Already had the blue LED's for the meter. Didn't do the nitro knobs - tho . . .

Radio is sound as a pound - now . . .
 
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I have some of all 3 colors of the channel led's myself. also a bunch of different meter led lights. I can use either and it does not make any difference to me. just what a person likes.
 
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Blue was OK back in the 80's when we changed early Lincoln soft blue so they looked like the realistic 2003 scanner display,

the blue led thing folk do today is hard on most peoples eyes, maybe the worst colour of all, i remember well following my buddy foxhunting with a crazy 1.75 million candlepower magnum 257, looked like a blue glowing ufo going down the road,
blueblocker glasses would improve the look 100%

don't get me started on blue meters, can't stand em or understand em, its comparable to wearing pink shoes,
I get the long lifetime vs pita bulb changing, if they did led's that looked like incandescent yes sir al have some of that, but id rather have no light & use a torch than blue led in a meter, its far less embarrassing when your mates see it,

bright white is Shiite too, give me the soft easy on the eye glow of an incandescent bulb even if they do pop now and again,

your mileage may vary
 
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A person can do what they want to their radios. the reason the vendors went to blue is because most people wanted blue. do not know how many I converted for drivers to blue 10 years ago before you could buy blue. vendors only do supply and demand. that is the color most wanted starting a good 10 years ago. if 8 out of 10 want blue what do you think they are going to put in them at the factory.. just like cars, in the 70's and 80's air conditioning was a option. now all come with AC and some car lines do not offer heater only as a option. most people wanted AC in their cars.
 
Here is what I find most amusing, the thread has the word "cosmetic" in the title..
Yet people feel the need to come in and express their opinion on why cosmetic mods...

pander to gimmicks.
What I should tell the next person who paints their car with a custom metal flake, they are "not correct" because they like to stand out in a different way?...
Oh and my custom built (assembled) computer has blue LED's in every fan, and I like when things match so I got a blue meter light and ONE clear "nitro knob" for the channel select.
 
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