And so it begins - Cobra’s “New” Generation Surface Mount Technology

[CbRadiosPRONTO]

Remember when you didn’t have to think much because you’d been inside a Cobra 29 13.7 thousand times? Hashtag “GoodTimes”

Well, it’s still the same basic setup and, strangely, still no mosfet. Here’s a peak at the Cobra 29LX.

Semantics?
Mosfet conversion?
Swing kits?

It’ll be fun watching people hurry to get to the bottom of some of these topics.

 

[Low_Boy]

They even look cheaper than the newer through hole. Even the capacitors are smd.

 

[cralt]

Is this something that is for sale now or a prototype?

 

[Eldorado828]

It's inevitable my compadres, I think we've all been holding our breath and now here it is on the Cobra models. It's just a matter of time before they're all doing it. Makes complete sense from their standpoint of making money....


At least we're still getting vr's and tuning cans that are through hole and adjustable. President has even done away with those on some of their models

 

[cralt]

It's inevitable my compadres, I think we've all been holding our breath and now here it is on the Cobra models. It's just a matter of time before they're all doing it. Makes complete sense from their standpoint of making money....


At least we're still getting vr's and tuning cans that are through hole and adjustable. President has even done away with those on some of their models

Im not electronics guy but to me this looks like just a SMDed version of the traditional 29 radio. It even seems to still have a traditional style DIP PLL chip. Maybe they moved the LX faceplate logic to the main board?

Cobra does have an application in for a new radio. 19 MINI
https://fccid.io/BBO19MINI
No public photo's until 2022.


Here is all their applications.
https://fccid.io/BBO
I have been watching for something with FM, probably can't submit those until the FCC officially changes the rules. But in that link you can see the photo's of the new C25. Notice it still has a real channel switch?



And the new C29 with its lame channel encoder


So its now or never if you want a new through hole Cobra. SMD is definitely coming. RANGER seems to be the last man standing for old school design.

 

[secret squirrel]

Change is inevitable. Like Thanos. I can remember not wanting a car with an ECM, and removing the insides of the catalytic converters. I can remember not wanting CDs, not wanting DVDs. I can remember saying I would never get a PC with Windows 95 installed. I can remember saying I would never date a married woman, she never told me she had a husband. I can remember saying I do not ever want an export radio.

 

[lonestarbandit]

SMD can still be modded lol just need the eyes of an eagle, better than truck stop joes soldering skills, extremely steady hands, and good information.

 

[nomadradio]

Ahhh,

Schematic?

Parts-placement diagram?

Parts list so you can ID parts too small to have their own ID marking?

Not holding my breath.

73

 

[TM86]

SMD can still be modded lol just need the eyes of an eagle, better than truck stop joes soldering skills, extremely steady hands, and good information.

Just waiting for CB's to become SDR's. That will be a whole new meaning of "hack job."

 

[unit_399]

SMD can still be modded lol just need the eyes of an eagle, better than truck stop joes soldering skills, extremely steady hands, and good information.

... plus you need the right tools and LOTS AND LOTS OF PRACTICE.

- 399

.

 

[Shadetree Mechanic]

Where is jp36?

 

[sp5it]

Nothing wrong with SMD if service manual or schematic is published.
Without that it's just disposable junk I don't recommend to buy.

 

[Robb]

... plus you need the right tools and LOTS AND LOTS OF PRACTICE.

- 399

.

. . . And a powerful, expensive microscope/camera and a computer with a relatively large screen.
. . . And, Lord willing, continued good eyesight - too.

If ever there was a case saying that obsolescence was being built in and taking place, it is certainly true now!

 

[secret squirrel]

So it may take a Da Vinci surgical robot to repair a Cobra 29. CB Shop may be doing prostate surgery on the side. That gives peak and clip a new meaning.

 

[unit_399]

I want to add-on to what Robb is saying.

A couple of years ago I bought an SMD soldering station and it just sat on my bench and gathered dust.

As almost everything electronic is SMD style now, I finally decided to get with the program and figure out how to work with it. I ruined a lot of circuit boards ( they were junk anyway ) before finally signing up for an SMD soldering class. Just learning how to properly adjust the temperature and air pressure on my soldering station for each type of component was worth the price of admission. The school is run one weekend a month by a group of electronic techs who work for a large electronics manufacturer here. There were 10 students in the class, and each student had a tech assigned to him so that each of us could learn at our own pace.

After the 2nd day, Andres, my tech, actually had me removing and replacing single components and multi-pin ICs with ease.

I found out later that the company the instructors work for sponsored the school, and paid the techs time and a half for running it. After the class, the company offered several of us jobs in their factory. I know for sure that three guys hired on, maybe more. I passed. I didn't retire just to go back to work again.

So ... the techs got paid their OT salary plus our tuition payments. The company got new workers with good SMD soldering skills, and guys like me learned something new.

A win-win for everyone.

- 399