"Ladies & Gentlemen...... let's get ready to r*mble...."
In this corner, we have the returning heavyweight AM/SSB champion of the world, a (1990's?) side mic Cobra 148GTL. TX section consists of a 2SC2166 driving a 2SC1969. Mods include: resistor mods for increased audio output on TX, volted final, 2SC2999 RX transistor, Schottky diodes for NB and AM product detector, TX and RX alignments. Power output: AM DK 4 watts peaking near 20 under modulation; 18W SSB PEP 2 tone audio test.
And, in the opposite corner, we have a 2005, made in Malaysia, Galaxy DX-949 which has upgraded audio and regulator transistors, heat-sinked 2SC2166 driving dual 2SC1969 finals, NPC-RC mod (on AM), 2SC2999 rX transistor, Schottky diodes for NB and AM product detector, 'Super Ears' RX mod. Power output (on High Power): AM DK 8 watts peaking near 25 under modulation; 30W SSB PEP 2 tone audio test.
AM Transmit Audio quality and modulation (FACTORY STOCK mics): with OEM coffin style dynamic stock microphone the 148 GTL is clear, crisp, articulate & LOUD. The stock mic included with the 949 however (especially on a factory stock radio) makes the audio slightly 'mushy'. Forward swing however, especially when the variable RF power is decreased, makes the 949 the better choice for running an external amplifier; you can turn that puppy down to 1/2 watt if you choose. But, for fidelity, articulation, brilliance, and frequency response to the male and female voice(s), +1 point for the 148 with the factory stock mike.
AM Transmit Audio quality with (various) amplified mics including D104, 575-M6, Turner +3, 1104C, and Cobra Power Mics: The Galaxy (no doubt due to the NPC-RC mod) begins to lead the Cobra. +1 point Galaxy 949.
SSB TX Signal: Every single DX-949 and DX-959 ever obtained, new or used, required alignment of BOTH the USB and LSB freq slugs to get them on the proper freq. AND, the 949/959 chassis apparently noticeably changes frequency in response to ambient temperature, requiring an open clarifier mod in order to get yourself back on freq EVEN AFTER ALIGNMENT FROM THE FACTORY, or via a technician. This is especially troublesome if you live (like me) in the Northeast corner, and want to use a rig in the mobile. During the winter, the rig gets REAL cold at night, then you fire up the engine, turn on the heat, and your 949 changes freq (substantially) as the cabin/radio heats up. W/O open clarifier, you couldn't work SSB until your rig came up to temperature. 148 on the other hand is much more robust and temperature tolerant. Also, the tuning ferrite tuning slugs are much sturdier and less subject to shock/vibration. You could even melt wax into the 949's to stabilize them after alignment and they (eventually) would still (slowly) lose their alignment. +1 for the Cobra here.
SSB Receive: Both before and after upgrades, the 148GTL has a much more pleasing AGC response. Better signal-to-noise and adjacent channel rejection. Hook this puppy up to a filtered (or DSP) external speaker and you get better ears than ANY Export and even most ham rigs. A modification was even made to the 949 to slow the AGC on receive and it still didn't compare to the 148. With the RX modifications made the 949 might even have a slight edge in sensitivity/gain in the receiver, but there never was a station I could hear on the 949 that I couldn't on the 148. The only redeeming factor of the Galaxy is the GNF (Galaxy Noise Filter). While the GNF is something that most folks find useless, I did find a time where it came in handy. I was using a wireless keyboard/mouse setup in the shack that gave me RF on Channel 15. The Cobra had no way to attenuate the noise acceptably. The GNF all but removed it, but at the sacrifice of clarity/intelligiblity of the received audio. Other than that one freak incident on that one channel, both base and mobile, the Cobra is a better SSB receiver. Score +1 point for the 148.
Raw AM/SSB TX POWER: Factory variable output power, plus the ease (relative) to dual final and/or MOSFET upgradability, give the clear edge to the DX-949. +1 Galaxy.
AM Receive Sensitivity: Well, this too will be a somewhat 'unfair' comparision as the Super Ears mod was made to the DX-949. Both receivers have 2SC2999's and Schottky diodes, but the 949 can pull an S1 signal up to an S5 or S6 with little (if any) noise when Super Ears is activated. So, give the 949 it's point on AM. +1 Galaxy.
AM Receive Selectivity / Adjacent Channel (splash) Rejection: +1 for the Cobra. I've got a couple of locals who run power, and one KW mobile who likes to shoot skip on channel 6 AM. I'd better not be using the 949 (especially with Super Ears activated) when he keys up or my receiver is toast. Also, even w/o any rx mods, the 148 is less subject to rx overload. +1 Cobra.
Looks/Appearance: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Both rigs have the approximate same dimensions. The Cobra 148 is chrome faced and the Galaxy 949 is flat black. I find the meter on the 949 more functional and more pleasing to the eye(s). The 949 has variable dimmer control whereas the 148 is merely a bright/dim switch. I like them BOTH equally; but will give neither rig any points due to the subjective nature of this category.
Functionality in the Mobile Environment: Not including the dual function knobs (knob within a knob), there are 6 knobs + 1 channel selector + 4 switches on the 148 vs. 7 knobs + 1 channel selector + 5 switches on the 949. The 148 is much easier to use in a mobile environment, especially in the dark or if switching back & forth between AM/USB/LSB, whereas one must take his/her eyes off the road to navigate the face of the 949. +1 for the Cobra for ease of use.
Features: The 949 has lots of features lacking on the 148 including: Galaxy Noise Filter, Variable Talkback, External Freq Counter jack on the rear, Modulation Meter, Medium Tone position, Switchable Roger Beep, variable RF output power, and SWR measuring w/o the need to calibrate. 949 easily scores +1 over the Cobra for added features.
Dislikes/Negatives: There's really nothing I don't like about either radio, so I'm not gonna deduct points from either. If I had to nitpick, I'd say I really don't like the side mic jacks on either radio (solved by recent editions of the 148 and DX-979 rigs), I don't like the 5 pin mic on the 148 (I had to use an adapter for all my 4 pin wired power mics to run them on the 148), the GNF feature of the 949 is barely useful, the 949 has SSB stability issues which may only be addressed by getting inside of the radio. Finally, the most SSB power I was ever able to get out of a 148 (or Grant XL or TR-296) was 25W PEP SSB, whereas (with dual finals mod) I've gotten 949 and 959's upwards of 45W PEP SSB, and MORE than 25W on a single final. The negatives are really MINOR with both of these 'classics', so there's no deductions for either chassis.
Final Score: Cobra 148GTL = 5 Points; Galaxy DX-949 = 4 Points.
The WINNER, and still "Heavyweight Champion of the CB World".... the Cobra 148GTL.
Someday, (when I've gotten my hands on the NEW front mike mounted 148GTL and a new Galaxy DX-979) I hope to do another comparision.... BUT, based on what I've read, seen and researched, I'm quite sure the winner in that fight will be Galaxy.
In the meantime, I've got a 2003 Galaxy DX-919 AM only that's been worked to pit up against an equally vintaged (albeit MOSFET'ed) Cobra 29 LTD Classic to compare in a later writing.
Till then, I'd be real interested in anybody's comparisons, especially between newer radios, (i.e. NEW DX-979 vs NEW 148's).
In this corner, we have the returning heavyweight AM/SSB champion of the world, a (1990's?) side mic Cobra 148GTL. TX section consists of a 2SC2166 driving a 2SC1969. Mods include: resistor mods for increased audio output on TX, volted final, 2SC2999 RX transistor, Schottky diodes for NB and AM product detector, TX and RX alignments. Power output: AM DK 4 watts peaking near 20 under modulation; 18W SSB PEP 2 tone audio test.
And, in the opposite corner, we have a 2005, made in Malaysia, Galaxy DX-949 which has upgraded audio and regulator transistors, heat-sinked 2SC2166 driving dual 2SC1969 finals, NPC-RC mod (on AM), 2SC2999 rX transistor, Schottky diodes for NB and AM product detector, 'Super Ears' RX mod. Power output (on High Power): AM DK 8 watts peaking near 25 under modulation; 30W SSB PEP 2 tone audio test.
AM Transmit Audio quality and modulation (FACTORY STOCK mics): with OEM coffin style dynamic stock microphone the 148 GTL is clear, crisp, articulate & LOUD. The stock mic included with the 949 however (especially on a factory stock radio) makes the audio slightly 'mushy'. Forward swing however, especially when the variable RF power is decreased, makes the 949 the better choice for running an external amplifier; you can turn that puppy down to 1/2 watt if you choose. But, for fidelity, articulation, brilliance, and frequency response to the male and female voice(s), +1 point for the 148 with the factory stock mike.
AM Transmit Audio quality with (various) amplified mics including D104, 575-M6, Turner +3, 1104C, and Cobra Power Mics: The Galaxy (no doubt due to the NPC-RC mod) begins to lead the Cobra. +1 point Galaxy 949.
SSB TX Signal: Every single DX-949 and DX-959 ever obtained, new or used, required alignment of BOTH the USB and LSB freq slugs to get them on the proper freq. AND, the 949/959 chassis apparently noticeably changes frequency in response to ambient temperature, requiring an open clarifier mod in order to get yourself back on freq EVEN AFTER ALIGNMENT FROM THE FACTORY, or via a technician. This is especially troublesome if you live (like me) in the Northeast corner, and want to use a rig in the mobile. During the winter, the rig gets REAL cold at night, then you fire up the engine, turn on the heat, and your 949 changes freq (substantially) as the cabin/radio heats up. W/O open clarifier, you couldn't work SSB until your rig came up to temperature. 148 on the other hand is much more robust and temperature tolerant. Also, the tuning ferrite tuning slugs are much sturdier and less subject to shock/vibration. You could even melt wax into the 949's to stabilize them after alignment and they (eventually) would still (slowly) lose their alignment. +1 for the Cobra here.
SSB Receive: Both before and after upgrades, the 148GTL has a much more pleasing AGC response. Better signal-to-noise and adjacent channel rejection. Hook this puppy up to a filtered (or DSP) external speaker and you get better ears than ANY Export and even most ham rigs. A modification was even made to the 949 to slow the AGC on receive and it still didn't compare to the 148. With the RX modifications made the 949 might even have a slight edge in sensitivity/gain in the receiver, but there never was a station I could hear on the 949 that I couldn't on the 148. The only redeeming factor of the Galaxy is the GNF (Galaxy Noise Filter). While the GNF is something that most folks find useless, I did find a time where it came in handy. I was using a wireless keyboard/mouse setup in the shack that gave me RF on Channel 15. The Cobra had no way to attenuate the noise acceptably. The GNF all but removed it, but at the sacrifice of clarity/intelligiblity of the received audio. Other than that one freak incident on that one channel, both base and mobile, the Cobra is a better SSB receiver. Score +1 point for the 148.
Raw AM/SSB TX POWER: Factory variable output power, plus the ease (relative) to dual final and/or MOSFET upgradability, give the clear edge to the DX-949. +1 Galaxy.
AM Receive Sensitivity: Well, this too will be a somewhat 'unfair' comparision as the Super Ears mod was made to the DX-949. Both receivers have 2SC2999's and Schottky diodes, but the 949 can pull an S1 signal up to an S5 or S6 with little (if any) noise when Super Ears is activated. So, give the 949 it's point on AM. +1 Galaxy.
AM Receive Selectivity / Adjacent Channel (splash) Rejection: +1 for the Cobra. I've got a couple of locals who run power, and one KW mobile who likes to shoot skip on channel 6 AM. I'd better not be using the 949 (especially with Super Ears activated) when he keys up or my receiver is toast. Also, even w/o any rx mods, the 148 is less subject to rx overload. +1 Cobra.
Looks/Appearance: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Both rigs have the approximate same dimensions. The Cobra 148 is chrome faced and the Galaxy 949 is flat black. I find the meter on the 949 more functional and more pleasing to the eye(s). The 949 has variable dimmer control whereas the 148 is merely a bright/dim switch. I like them BOTH equally; but will give neither rig any points due to the subjective nature of this category.
Functionality in the Mobile Environment: Not including the dual function knobs (knob within a knob), there are 6 knobs + 1 channel selector + 4 switches on the 148 vs. 7 knobs + 1 channel selector + 5 switches on the 949. The 148 is much easier to use in a mobile environment, especially in the dark or if switching back & forth between AM/USB/LSB, whereas one must take his/her eyes off the road to navigate the face of the 949. +1 for the Cobra for ease of use.
Features: The 949 has lots of features lacking on the 148 including: Galaxy Noise Filter, Variable Talkback, External Freq Counter jack on the rear, Modulation Meter, Medium Tone position, Switchable Roger Beep, variable RF output power, and SWR measuring w/o the need to calibrate. 949 easily scores +1 over the Cobra for added features.
Dislikes/Negatives: There's really nothing I don't like about either radio, so I'm not gonna deduct points from either. If I had to nitpick, I'd say I really don't like the side mic jacks on either radio (solved by recent editions of the 148 and DX-979 rigs), I don't like the 5 pin mic on the 148 (I had to use an adapter for all my 4 pin wired power mics to run them on the 148), the GNF feature of the 949 is barely useful, the 949 has SSB stability issues which may only be addressed by getting inside of the radio. Finally, the most SSB power I was ever able to get out of a 148 (or Grant XL or TR-296) was 25W PEP SSB, whereas (with dual finals mod) I've gotten 949 and 959's upwards of 45W PEP SSB, and MORE than 25W on a single final. The negatives are really MINOR with both of these 'classics', so there's no deductions for either chassis.
Final Score: Cobra 148GTL = 5 Points; Galaxy DX-949 = 4 Points.
The WINNER, and still "Heavyweight Champion of the CB World".... the Cobra 148GTL.
Someday, (when I've gotten my hands on the NEW front mike mounted 148GTL and a new Galaxy DX-979) I hope to do another comparision.... BUT, based on what I've read, seen and researched, I'm quite sure the winner in that fight will be Galaxy.
In the meantime, I've got a 2003 Galaxy DX-919 AM only that's been worked to pit up against an equally vintaged (albeit MOSFET'ed) Cobra 29 LTD Classic to compare in a later writing.
Till then, I'd be real interested in anybody's comparisons, especially between newer radios, (i.e. NEW DX-979 vs NEW 148's).
