Cobra 139XLR or Uniden Washington??

[CB590]

Found both online for sale. Both look clean and about the same price. I read they have 858 PLL usually. Both have been gone thru and work (whatever that means). Both have 5 pin mic jacks. Uniden listed as having additional mods though none are listed of see-able in the pics. Nothing on the 139XLR.

I missed the minty 142 (by 8 minutes helping my son with his electric in his room) and now I'm scrounging. Leaning toward the 139XLR

Wondering how this compares to the mighty 142?

Does anyone still service these and how rock steady are they as a base unit?

 

[Dmans]

CB590,
It is my personal opinion that the uPD858 SSB radios are the best performing CB rigs made. I have 4 or 5 of them.
I have better performing rigs but they are all HF transceivers.

73
David


And the flame throwing will begin in 5-4-3-2-..................................................................

 

[w9cll]

I could be wrong but I think there are both the same board.

 

[CB590]

Found both online for sale. Both look clean and about the same price. I read they have 858 PLL usually. Both have been gone thru and work (whatever that means). Both have 5 pin mic jacks. Uniden listed as having additional mods though none are listed of see-able in the pics. Nothing on the 139XLR.

I missed the minty 142 (by 8 minutes helping my son with his electric in his room) and now I'm scrounging. Leaning toward the 139XLR

Wondering how this compares to the mighty 142?

Does anyone still service these and how rock steady are they as a base unit?

Seller followed up. No mods to the 139. Just tune and alignment. Just noticed it has a 4 pin mic jack.

The Washington has channel mods and tune and alignment.

Pretty clean.

 

[w9cll]

My personal preference would be the Washinton because I think it looks better.

 

[CB590]

My personal preference would be the Washinton because I think it looks better.

this channel mod looks terrible in the headphone jack though.

 

[red97k1500]

My personal preference would be the Washinton because I think it looks better.

My choice would be the Washington also, unless I could actually inspect the 139 in person first.
I have never owned I 139 but I have owned a 858 president Washington before. I’ve read on here and other places the the circuit board cracks very easily on the 139 during shipping. So that is a negative in my opinion.
Another thing to keep in mind is who knows what’s actually been done to a radio this old, the seller might be honest he might not. Every single used radio I buy online I expect to have problems with it, or have poorly done mods to it.

 

[w9cll]

this channel mod looks terrible in the headphone jack though.

You could easily fix that

 

[autotuner]

I could have sworn that the Washington I had apart a while ago had an 8719...

 

[CB590]

Apparently this post was for almost nothing. both sold overnight.

At least I gained knowledge. Which is good.

 

[TIN_CAN]

My vote is for the 139xlr Have 1 myself so I am bias..lol

 

[Shadetree Mechanic]

Next time don't hesitate. Get them both, that's what I would do.

 

[red97k1500]

I could have sworn that the Washington I had apart a while ago had an 8719...

The first Washington’s were branded president, they have two push buttons underneath the channel selector knob.... and had 858 pll chips in them and I would imagine a very similar board layout to a 139. A uniden Washington has three push buttons below the channel knob, and is pretty much guaranteed to have a 8719 pll chip in it.

 

[unit_399]

The first Washington’s were branded president, they have two push buttons underneath the channel selector knob.... and had 858 pll chips in them and I would imagine a very similar board layout to a 139. A uniden Washington has three push buttons below the channel knob, and is pretty much guaranteed to have a 8719 pll chip in it.

Exactly correct. The PRESIDENT Washington is exactly the same as the Cobra 139XLR. The UNIDEN Washington was completely different (8719 pll) and wasn't even close in performance to the 858pll boards.

- 399

 

[Dmans]

The 139XLR is a great desktop radio. The Washington (uPD858) will work on a desktop or a shelf over the desktop.
Ergonomics!!
I’m with Shadetree, next time don’t hesitate. Get them both!
73
David