Cobra 148 GTL with CR-577 mic
The Legend...
This radio has been a standard 'go to' radio of CB fans for decades. It has left a permanent mark on the minds of beginner radio operators and veterans alike. I can still remember hearing a Cobra 148 that left an impression on me back when I first got into CB's in the early 1980's. The guys who owned and operated these radios were the 'big dogs' of the airways. And sideband - aka 'SSB' - was their kennel.
Early in the 80's, I would go over to my friends house and listen to the DX banter chattering away on the 148. With just an external speaker, an Astatic D104 desk mic, and a decent antenna the audio received and transmitted was remarkable. I was amazed this little radio was capable of so much for just a mobile radio. One thinks of Cobra 2000GTL's as a bona fide base station. But this radio gave all of the 'base radios' a run for the money - and often won or at least matched performance tit for tat. Mobile operators using this rig were also top dogs when they teamed it with just a small linear amplifier and the right antenna and mic. It seemed that its reign could not be stopped nor matched. Even when being resold after years of use, they always demanded a high price and were hard to get. No one wanted to part with their trusted 148...
(Editors note: These photos were taken under low-light conditions. The front panel is a bright brushed aluminum color - like the pictures on the box)
Them changes
Originally built by Uniden and sold under the Cobra name, this radio had a 5 pin mic plug that was mounted on the left side of the radio - not on the front as you see pictured here. The move to the front of the radio was inspired by cost-cutting and by those who used it in a tight-fitting mobile application. But between these two points in time, a LOT has changed under the hood. Today, it is a mere shadow of its former self, since Uniden and Cobra had problems on agreeing for the cost of manufacture and production. Uniden hasn't built Cobra radios for the last decade or longer.
These radios can still be modified as past radios have. The scuttle among radio techs and forum gurus will reveal a weakness being built into these Cobras in the last few years. Which leaves this radio as a sore spot for those who sought it out for its stable and desirable SSB performance. The change from the 5 pin regulator that supplies voltage for SSB operation has been swapped out for a cheaper 3 pin version. Which has been detrimental to SSB stability and performance. This has become common knowledge to the gurus of radio and passed on. AM performance isn't lacking, but when one pays for a AM/SSB radio that will function on both levels, it is less than one paid for and would expect. It is clearly not what I would expect from Cobra when one considers their past. On USB, it was on frequency. On LSB, it was off a little bit. It was tuned by Cobra for this review. So it might have been out of adjustment slightly. But just not as strong when modulating on SSB as they used to. The true strengths of this radio has been a sensitive receive and strong modulation on AM and SSB.
The Box - front and back
The Front Panel
Little has changed dimensionally on this rig.
The front panel has seen a number of button functions both come and go.
The same controls for the most part are the same as past 148's have. The Noise Blanketer/Automatic Noise limiter ("NB/ANL") still works well. When shut off, any car that drives past my station will upset my receive until I turn it on. It does this fairly well - with only a minimal effect on the incoming/receive audio. No better or worse than any other radio that has the same function switch.
With the stock mic, the PA functions works fine. I seldom - if ever - use this function. For that matter, I seldom use the stock Cobra mics. I have a small box full of them and give them away upon request or include one with a radio that I might sell to make the sale complete. So do may other people that buy Cobra radios. However, these radios respond exceptionally well to Astatic D104 mics - a classic combo.
The SWR meter matched up with the same results as my Dosy meter did. It was pretty accurate in that regard. The receive meter was also spot-on, as was the SSB and AM output/transmit readings. I have always liked this kind of analog meters on the Cobras; easy and clear to read and fairly accurate if adjusted properly.
The radio has the regular gaggle of knobs: Volume, Squelch, RF Gain, SWR adjust, Dynamike, and Voicelock (or 'clarifier'). They all work smoothly and function as expected. The clarifier - is of course - 'locked' and will not transmit alongside the receive when clarifying. Oh; when will the FCC change this stupid and useless rule? ANS: when enough people make a big enough fuss about it to their representatives. It has always been up to the people. Trying to get radio operators to agree on any one thing in large groups is like trying to herd cats...
They have added a 'Dim/Normal/Bright' switch on the far right side next to the channel selector. Perfect location if one was to modify for a variable power knob - if one was so inclined. The tone selector switch would also be great to use for upper/normal/lower frequency selector if one was to modify its frequency ranges. I ran the tone switch in the 'Hi' position using an external speaker preferring that setting. Otherwise, the 'Med' or 'Low' tone position was just too muffled for my ears. Note: Modilfying CB radios is against FCC regulations.
Rear panel
This is only a test...
Since I cannot hear how well the radio is transmitting, I had three locals that I trust to make the test evaluations - Russ 222, Brian WR264, and Roger 238 (all members of this forum). As well as WR000, an unexpected help from South San Francisco - some fifty miles away. I only ran the stock mic for less than two minutes on AM, and previously ran it on SSB for five minutes. I used the RF Limited CR-577 mic and an Astatic D104/TUP9 for the rest of the remaining time. The stock mic is fine on SSB; but is less than desirable on AM mode.
After testing the radio for both AM, USB and LSB performance, they all agreed - unanimously - that from a scale of 0 to 10 it deserved a 7. The common complaint is that it was off frequency on SSB mode, and only improved slightly after thirty minutes of constant conversation back and forth. WR000 in SF said the same thing as well; although he could hear me with only 1 S-units in that distance. Not bad - when one considers a ~50 mile distance with LOTYS of urban sprawl in between! The AM performance was adequate and clear modulation was noted when using the CR-577 mic. This mic also improved SSB performance substantially as well. Perhaps if they included a Cobra power mic with this radio it would help them get more interest.
As well as receive goes; well that is another story. It is still a strong point on this radio. I can envision the receive modification making it even better that it does presently. The receive audio is still one of the best - as surprising as it may be to some who dislike this radio - I must be honest about what my ears tell me.
In Conclusion...
I would have to say that Cobra must see the need to improve the SSB capacity of this radio. They need to make it right in order to compete with Ranger and Galaxy radios in the same CB class. These radios all share the same price bracket and do not suffer from SSB maladies as the Cobra did. The Cobra 148 GTL is at an distinct disadvantage for this very reason.
For a first buy radio - or if it was a gift for a first time radio user, they will probably be happy with it on AM. I did use a D104 on it on AM and SSB, and it sounded OK with the crew who helped me evaluate the radio (thanks guys!) But on SSB, it won't take long before they hear complaints from other radio operators that cannot receive them - for being off frequency and just a little bit squirrely/weak/unclear sounding. I didn't unlock the clarifier for this review, but I was curious to see how it would perform with this modification. Maybe in the near future I will venture under the covers and give it a try. But the receive was nice - that is so.
Based upon those that helped evaluate this radio from their stations and what I can hear in this radio's receive, I would have to give it 3 1/2 stars out of a possible five. What is the point in buying this radio for the SSB function if it cannot measure up to the rest in its peer group of similar radios? Fix it please, Cobra. Put another $1.00 of the right materials where it counts the most. We want what the original Cobra 148 GTL can do. Other than that, the rest of the radio is fine.
To change this pervasive attitude twards this radio by the CB community at large, Cobra will need to make it a strong modulating radio once again. It is not beyond the realm of possibility. Perhaps it is because it has been so modified and adapted by so many that Cobra had to build limitations to keep its true potential muzzled by request from the FCC. That is pure speculation on my part - of course. One thing is for certain, that radio enthusiasts will still try to make it work as before. Or Cobra can spend a little and make it a "top dog" once again.
*This radio was provided by the mfr to the writer for the explicit purpose of review*
The Legend...
This radio has been a standard 'go to' radio of CB fans for decades. It has left a permanent mark on the minds of beginner radio operators and veterans alike. I can still remember hearing a Cobra 148 that left an impression on me back when I first got into CB's in the early 1980's. The guys who owned and operated these radios were the 'big dogs' of the airways. And sideband - aka 'SSB' - was their kennel.
Early in the 80's, I would go over to my friends house and listen to the DX banter chattering away on the 148. With just an external speaker, an Astatic D104 desk mic, and a decent antenna the audio received and transmitted was remarkable. I was amazed this little radio was capable of so much for just a mobile radio. One thinks of Cobra 2000GTL's as a bona fide base station. But this radio gave all of the 'base radios' a run for the money - and often won or at least matched performance tit for tat. Mobile operators using this rig were also top dogs when they teamed it with just a small linear amplifier and the right antenna and mic. It seemed that its reign could not be stopped nor matched. Even when being resold after years of use, they always demanded a high price and were hard to get. No one wanted to part with their trusted 148...
(Editors note: These photos were taken under low-light conditions. The front panel is a bright brushed aluminum color - like the pictures on the box)
Them changes
Originally built by Uniden and sold under the Cobra name, this radio had a 5 pin mic plug that was mounted on the left side of the radio - not on the front as you see pictured here. The move to the front of the radio was inspired by cost-cutting and by those who used it in a tight-fitting mobile application. But between these two points in time, a LOT has changed under the hood. Today, it is a mere shadow of its former self, since Uniden and Cobra had problems on agreeing for the cost of manufacture and production. Uniden hasn't built Cobra radios for the last decade or longer.
These radios can still be modified as past radios have. The scuttle among radio techs and forum gurus will reveal a weakness being built into these Cobras in the last few years. Which leaves this radio as a sore spot for those who sought it out for its stable and desirable SSB performance. The change from the 5 pin regulator that supplies voltage for SSB operation has been swapped out for a cheaper 3 pin version. Which has been detrimental to SSB stability and performance. This has become common knowledge to the gurus of radio and passed on. AM performance isn't lacking, but when one pays for a AM/SSB radio that will function on both levels, it is less than one paid for and would expect. It is clearly not what I would expect from Cobra when one considers their past. On USB, it was on frequency. On LSB, it was off a little bit. It was tuned by Cobra for this review. So it might have been out of adjustment slightly. But just not as strong when modulating on SSB as they used to. The true strengths of this radio has been a sensitive receive and strong modulation on AM and SSB.
The Box - front and back
The Front Panel
Little has changed dimensionally on this rig.
The front panel has seen a number of button functions both come and go.
The same controls for the most part are the same as past 148's have. The Noise Blanketer/Automatic Noise limiter ("NB/ANL") still works well. When shut off, any car that drives past my station will upset my receive until I turn it on. It does this fairly well - with only a minimal effect on the incoming/receive audio. No better or worse than any other radio that has the same function switch.
With the stock mic, the PA functions works fine. I seldom - if ever - use this function. For that matter, I seldom use the stock Cobra mics. I have a small box full of them and give them away upon request or include one with a radio that I might sell to make the sale complete. So do may other people that buy Cobra radios. However, these radios respond exceptionally well to Astatic D104 mics - a classic combo.
The SWR meter matched up with the same results as my Dosy meter did. It was pretty accurate in that regard. The receive meter was also spot-on, as was the SSB and AM output/transmit readings. I have always liked this kind of analog meters on the Cobras; easy and clear to read and fairly accurate if adjusted properly.
The radio has the regular gaggle of knobs: Volume, Squelch, RF Gain, SWR adjust, Dynamike, and Voicelock (or 'clarifier'). They all work smoothly and function as expected. The clarifier - is of course - 'locked' and will not transmit alongside the receive when clarifying. Oh; when will the FCC change this stupid and useless rule? ANS: when enough people make a big enough fuss about it to their representatives. It has always been up to the people. Trying to get radio operators to agree on any one thing in large groups is like trying to herd cats...
They have added a 'Dim/Normal/Bright' switch on the far right side next to the channel selector. Perfect location if one was to modify for a variable power knob - if one was so inclined. The tone selector switch would also be great to use for upper/normal/lower frequency selector if one was to modify its frequency ranges. I ran the tone switch in the 'Hi' position using an external speaker preferring that setting. Otherwise, the 'Med' or 'Low' tone position was just too muffled for my ears. Note: Modilfying CB radios is against FCC regulations.
Rear panel
This is only a test...
Since I cannot hear how well the radio is transmitting, I had three locals that I trust to make the test evaluations - Russ 222, Brian WR264, and Roger 238 (all members of this forum). As well as WR000, an unexpected help from South San Francisco - some fifty miles away. I only ran the stock mic for less than two minutes on AM, and previously ran it on SSB for five minutes. I used the RF Limited CR-577 mic and an Astatic D104/TUP9 for the rest of the remaining time. The stock mic is fine on SSB; but is less than desirable on AM mode.
After testing the radio for both AM, USB and LSB performance, they all agreed - unanimously - that from a scale of 0 to 10 it deserved a 7. The common complaint is that it was off frequency on SSB mode, and only improved slightly after thirty minutes of constant conversation back and forth. WR000 in SF said the same thing as well; although he could hear me with only 1 S-units in that distance. Not bad - when one considers a ~50 mile distance with LOTYS of urban sprawl in between! The AM performance was adequate and clear modulation was noted when using the CR-577 mic. This mic also improved SSB performance substantially as well. Perhaps if they included a Cobra power mic with this radio it would help them get more interest.
As well as receive goes; well that is another story. It is still a strong point on this radio. I can envision the receive modification making it even better that it does presently. The receive audio is still one of the best - as surprising as it may be to some who dislike this radio - I must be honest about what my ears tell me.
In Conclusion...
I would have to say that Cobra must see the need to improve the SSB capacity of this radio. They need to make it right in order to compete with Ranger and Galaxy radios in the same CB class. These radios all share the same price bracket and do not suffer from SSB maladies as the Cobra did. The Cobra 148 GTL is at an distinct disadvantage for this very reason.
For a first buy radio - or if it was a gift for a first time radio user, they will probably be happy with it on AM. I did use a D104 on it on AM and SSB, and it sounded OK with the crew who helped me evaluate the radio (thanks guys!) But on SSB, it won't take long before they hear complaints from other radio operators that cannot receive them - for being off frequency and just a little bit squirrely/weak/unclear sounding. I didn't unlock the clarifier for this review, but I was curious to see how it would perform with this modification. Maybe in the near future I will venture under the covers and give it a try. But the receive was nice - that is so.
Based upon those that helped evaluate this radio from their stations and what I can hear in this radio's receive, I would have to give it 3 1/2 stars out of a possible five. What is the point in buying this radio for the SSB function if it cannot measure up to the rest in its peer group of similar radios? Fix it please, Cobra. Put another $1.00 of the right materials where it counts the most. We want what the original Cobra 148 GTL can do. Other than that, the rest of the radio is fine.
To change this pervasive attitude twards this radio by the CB community at large, Cobra will need to make it a strong modulating radio once again. It is not beyond the realm of possibility. Perhaps it is because it has been so modified and adapted by so many that Cobra had to build limitations to keep its true potential muzzled by request from the FCC. That is pure speculation on my part - of course. One thing is for certain, that radio enthusiasts will still try to make it work as before. Or Cobra can spend a little and make it a "top dog" once again.
*This radio was provided by the mfr to the writer for the explicit purpose of review*
