The Cobra 142GTL. In production for a decade and a half, more or less. Just how old is this one?
First place to look is the serial-number plate.
The first digit of the serial number is the last digit of the year. First made in 1979, IIRC. The "6" first digit in this one should indicate 1986.
Tricky part is for one that starts with the digit "8". Uniden moved production to the Philippines either in 1988 or 1989. Gotta look that up somehow.
Best way to settle the ambiguity of a serial number is to look for open-date markings on integrated circuits inside.
The MB8719 PLL chip will have a four-digit open date code. Naturally if the chip has been replaced this date code doesn't tell you much. It's composed of two digits for the year, followed by two digits for the week, 10-52.
This one was made in 1983, so the radio can't be older than that.
The Siemens S042P transmitter-mixer chip will also usually have an open date code.
This one says the 46th week of 1985. Quite believable for a 1986 radio.
This should apply to other radios built with this circuit board.
That would include the Uniden Washington, Tram D300 and others.
Some other stuff got done for this radio, so film at 11. Or maybe tomorrow.
73
First place to look is the serial-number plate.
The first digit of the serial number is the last digit of the year. First made in 1979, IIRC. The "6" first digit in this one should indicate 1986.
Tricky part is for one that starts with the digit "8". Uniden moved production to the Philippines either in 1988 or 1989. Gotta look that up somehow.
Best way to settle the ambiguity of a serial number is to look for open-date markings on integrated circuits inside.
The MB8719 PLL chip will have a four-digit open date code. Naturally if the chip has been replaced this date code doesn't tell you much. It's composed of two digits for the year, followed by two digits for the week, 10-52.
This one was made in 1983, so the radio can't be older than that.
The Siemens S042P transmitter-mixer chip will also usually have an open date code.
This one says the 46th week of 1985. Quite believable for a 1986 radio.
This should apply to other radios built with this circuit board.
That would include the Uniden Washington, Tram D300 and others.
Some other stuff got done for this radio, so film at 11. Or maybe tomorrow.
73
