CB Base Station Hybrid

[Riverman]

..with a 148GTL DX behind it.
A project on the back burner. The Hallicrafters has been salvaged, savaged and striped for parts beyond repair.
The 148 was in a fire but still works.
Marriage made in hell you think ?

Got this baby on the tradin' block yet?

 

[TM86]

There was a Cobra 2000 GTL listed on ebay a few weeks back where someone had attempted to do this by ripping out the innards of a Cobra 2000 and stuck what I think is a Cobra 29 board inside...didn't work out too good if you ask me, but it did sell for close to $200 with shipping...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Cobra-2000...m43663.l10137&nordt=true&rt=nc&orig_cvip=true

The back of the 2000 looks like the DAK with a 148 inside. Just cut a hole. Makes me wonder if the 2000 was the prototype for later abominations.

 

[kopcicle]

Got this baby on the tradin' block yet?

just a figment of my imagination so far . (borrowed pic)

 

[Riverman]

just a figment of my imagination so far . (borrowed pic)

The sound you hear is the air leaving my balloon.

Probably just as well. The bidding war was going to get crazy.

 

[Dmans]

This Range Gain was given to me by a neighbor whose father bought it new in the 60's. It turns on but needs a major 200,000 mile overhaul. Translation, $$$$! Not sure I wanted to put that kind of cash into it.
So I have had a wacky plan for a year or so to "merge" a 148GTL/TR-296 into the Regency Range Gain case.


First things first....had to make the 148GTL function. Well that part is almost done. There are still a few obstacles to overcome-such as to get the scratchiness out of the audio, get output power stable etc...As time permits, I have poked around the inside of it a dozen or more times but never had a good hour or two to dig in hard. It has been re-capped, replaced the clarifier pot and CT3 (I believe?) trimmer.

After taking a further look at the two, it appears the 148GTL board is about the same size as the Range Gain chassis. Little room left for a power supply and limited front panel "Real Estate" to accommodate all of the pots and switches to make the 148 circuit board fully functional. Time for another plan.

The same neighbor gave me a Realistic Pro-Niner. I did re-cap this radio and it functions as new though it just sits on the shelf and collects dust. Since it already has a 12v supply, maybe this is my "Base Station Hybrid" project. It does have the "On the Air" and "Modulation" indicators on the front panel, the large multi-function meter (with SWR scale), large front panel "Real Estate" with almost enough potentiometers already there to incorporate the 148GTL circuit board.

The plan is set! Granted, this is not a highly sought after Base Station platform (Tram, Browning, Demco, etc) but will be a learning experience and not an average ordinary, run of the mill Galaxy, RCI either. This will not be a quickly completed project but one of those projects to do "just because I can" and when I can!


73's
David

 

[Riverman]

This Range Gain was given to me by a neighbor whose father bought it new in the 60's. It turns on but needs a major 200,000 mile overhaul. Translation, $$$$! Not sure I wanted to put that kind of cash into it.
So I have had a wacky plan for a year or so to "merge" a 148GTL/TR-296 into the Regency Range Gain case.
View attachment 28464

First things first....had to make the 148GTL function. Well that part is almost done. There are still a few obstacles to overcome-such as to get the scratchiness out of the audio, get output power stable etc...As time permits, I have poked around the inside of it a dozen or more times but never had a good hour or two to dig in hard. It has been re-capped, replaced the clarifier pot and CT3 (I believe?) trimmer.

After taking a further look at the two, it appears the 148GTL board is about the same size as the Range Gain chassis. Little room left for a power supply and limited front panel "Real Estate" to accommodate all of the pots and switches to make the 148 circuit board fully functional. Time for another plan.

The same neighbor gave me a Realistic Pro-Niner. I did re-cap this radio and it functions as new though it just sits on the shelf and collects dust. Since it already has a 12v supply, maybe this is my "Base Station Hybrid" project. It does have the "On the Air" and "Modulation" indicators on the front panel, the large multi-function meter (with SWR scale), large front panel "Real Estate" with almost enough potentiometers already there to incorporate the 148GTL circuit board.

The plan is set! Granted, this is not a highly sought after Base Station platform (Tram, Browning, Demco, etc) but will be a learning experience and not an average ordinary, run of the mill Galaxy, RCI either. This will not be a quickly completed project but one of those projects to do "just because I can" and when I can!
View attachment 28466

73's
David

Outstanding.
You're the Thomas Edison of CB!
Heck, you're Columbus!
Keep us posted!

 

[walterjn]

There was a Cobra 2000 GTL listed on ebay a few weeks back where someone had attempted to do this by ripping out the innards of a Cobra 2000 and stuck what I think is a Cobra 29 board inside...didn't work out too good if you ask me, but it did sell for close to $200 with shipping...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Cobra-2000...m43663.l10137&nordt=true&rt=nc&orig_cvip=true

Someone destroyed a 2000 gtl to put an AM on 29 board in it? That person should be told to not do drugs, & then drawn & quartered!

 

[Dmans]

On CL in the Atl metro area for a mere $500.00!



73’s
David

 

[NZ8N]

There was a Cobra 2000 GTL listed on ebay a few weeks back where someone had attempted to do this by ripping out the innards of a Cobra 2000 and stuck what I think is a Cobra 29 board inside...didn't work out too good if you ask me, but it did sell for close to $200 with shipping...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Cobra-2000...m43663.l10137&nordt=true&rt=nc&orig_cvip=true

Wouldn't that sort of had made it a Cobra 1000GTL? It was basically a Cobra 29GTL in a Cobra 2000 style case.

I once hooked a Glen 326G VFO into a Cobra 1000GTL for a customer in '84 when I was working at a CB shop in Ohio, the PA/CB switch was used to switch from internal channel selector to the external VFO, and when in the PA position, the channel display blanked out, and it was on the VFO. I wide banded the radio so it would cover the range too. The customer was very happy with the work.

 

[Riverman]

On CL in the Atl metro area for a mere $500.00!

View attachment 28802

73’s
David

Ah!
I like it!
Can't afford it. But like it.

 

[w9cll]

I like the looks of it except for the 70's label maker looking label on the top front.

 

[Dmans]

I find it odd that the channel display reads "19" but the frequency display shows something very different. Below is the full text from the ad which is still up. (I added the bold font. Really?)

DAKOBRA 148 GTL SPECIAL this is a dak with a cobra 148gtl radio inside adjustable variable power, echo freq.counter lights in meters are out but I have 4 bulbs for the meters will go with the radio.the cobra 148 is stock no golden screw drivers. everything work on radio .Just ran across 4 extra meters and knobs that goes with sale. just drop the price don't have room for it

73's
David

 

[jessejamesdallas]

Wouldn't that sort of had made it a Cobra 1000GTL? It was basically a Cobra 29GTL in a Cobra 2000 style case.

I once hooked a Glen 326G VFO into a Cobra 1000GTL for a customer in '84 when I was working at a CB shop in Ohio, the PA/CB switch was used to switch from internal channel selector to the external VFO, and when in the PA position, the channel display blanked out, and it was on the VFO. I wide banded the radio so it would cover the range too. The customer was very happy with the work.

In a roundabout way yep...He turned a 2000 into a sloppy-copy of a 1000...and managed to sell the thing for $158 + shipping!

 

[Blackcat630]

I find it odd that the channel display reads "19" but the frequency display shows something very different.

This was the 1st thing I noticed. So channel 19 is actually channel 13.. but NO golden screwdrivers.. ok gotcha.

 

[Dmans]

ok gotcha