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Can A Person Install A Frequency Counter In A Cobra 29

blake25537

Active Member
Mar 10, 2019
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I have a good talking Cobra 29-LX-Max radio with extra channels and the whole 9 yards. It's a real good talking radio but the backlight went out and now I can't see the channel display. The display is working good it changes channels and all but can't see what channel I'm on. Can anyone point me in the right direction on how to install a frequency counter? Oh by the way I have a Galaxy FC-347 counter I'm wanting to install in it.

Thanks a million for Your help....
 

I'd say just replace the channel display led for starters. The frequency counter could just be an add on for your added frequencies. That channel display is not hard to attain, it's a common anode display. All over ebay and maybe even Amazon
 
I'd say just replace the channel display led for starters. The frequency counter could just be an add on for your added frequencies. That channel display is not hard to attain, it's a common anode display. All over ebay and maybe even Amazon
I like to have the counter on it. I've done a lot of searching on it but can't find anything.
 
I'd say just replace the channel display led for starters. The frequency counter could just be an add on for your added frequencies. That channel display is not hard to attain, it's a common anode display. All over ebay and maybe even Amazon
where did you get the new display?
 
A full-time frequency counter-type display uses the radio's PLL for its input. Does the arithmetic for that frequency's "offset" from the channel frequency and displays the sum (or difference) of the two numbers. In all the Galaxy/RCI/Connex-type radios, the PLL frequency is the same for receive as it is for transmit.

Just one problem with the Cobra 29-type radios. The PLL runs at two different frequencies. One for transmit, one for receive.

You would need a frequency display that can handle two offset numbers. One for receive and one for transmit. And a way to tap into the radio's transmit/receive switching and use that to choose the correct offset number.

Not something I have a fleabay link for.

73
 
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the FC347 will work on receive but it will be off frequency on transmit make sure the FC347 is setup for a Galaxy radio and not for a cobra radio
 
Hmm, I just now caught the LX part so the channel display part is out the door. My apologies. So how about an Inline dosy style frequency counter? It won't tell you rx but will show tx.
 
A new one is $150 - I wouldn't bother with the freq counter which is going to be a $50 -$100 venture. Might as well just get a new one.
 
A full-time frequency counter-type display uses the radio's PLL for its input. Does the arithmetic for that frequency's "offset" from the channel frequency and displays the sum (or difference) of the two numbers. In all the Galaxy/RCI/Connex-type radios, the PLL frequency is the same for receive as it is for transmit.

Just one problem with the Cobra 29-type radios. The PLL runs at two different frequencies. One for transmit, one for receive.

You would need a frequency display that can handle two offset numbers. One for receive and one for transmit. And a way to tap into the radio's transmit/receive switching and use that to choose the correct offset number.

Not something I have a fleabay link for.

73
Can I wire it up for receive only? I don't really need it for transmit.
 
How about just buying a new backlight and save the hassle of not ever getting the right answer...

To help you out, older Frequency Counters used in the Galaxy, Uniden and Cobra sets, per what @nomadradio was making a suggestion to, the IF of each radio a Frequency counter that uses the IF - TRANSLATES that IF into a number, being your Frequency.

Problem is, many radios used a different loop frequency, until just recently - when most are now stabilized to the 10.240 MHz standard although a few outliers like those from President. They made rouge versions of the Cobra 148 GTL - but called it DX.

As you will find out, that counter was pretty versatile.

The counter you are using now, from Galaxy that FC347, is Pre-programmed - it won't work on your Cobra very well. Why? The loop the FC347 uses is based upon a 13MHz Crystal, so it's loop frequency is a DIFFERENCE between the PLL IF loop and its' own loop - with the "base" loop of another set. IT's Galaxy's way of doing things...

So they do offer the FC347 but when you use it in Cobra or Uniden, you'll need to set some jumpers on the board so it knows how to sample, count and calculate properly.

To help if you do your research on the FC347 - yes, IT SHOULD work, but you'd still be better off using the main faceplate unless you've done away with it and want to use a Frequency counter with your Delta Tune as a Slider - well I can't blame you for trying - Good Luck!

You might want to try Para-Dynamics PDC-356 instead.

Wanted to give you a piece of history though, the Para-Dynamics Offered a Frequency Counter that used BCD switch setup to alter the count the Sampler did, for its' calculations - a Rotary BCD switch set of 4 were used in this old fossil ... PDC-256...
upload_2021-2-8_21-29-53.png

PDF Attached...
 

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on the galaxy FC347 do not mod it for a cobra radio it needs the 16mhz input i need to look for the info on hooking it up in a 29
 

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