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Tech Needed For Question
- Thread starter brash
- Start date
why not ask the question so someone will know what hardward mods are. bunch here that knows the radio.
what i'm wanting to do, if possible, is to add frequency counter to the face of the grant. can get rid of the switches i never use like pa 19-9 ect.... or if possible put a 148 or even a 200gtl face on it. i know its a lot of work, i know i could just buy a external counter but i would like the clean look.
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Two ways:
The easiest way is to find/get a Cobra 148GTL-F used.
It is all there; 100% Cobra 148/Grant XL inside.
The other is to forget about having it modified (useless and costly to be done) as you imagined. Best/easiest way is to add a freq counter to the existing radio and have a interface plug installed on the back. Velcro the counter to either the bottom or top - and Bob's your uncle - most people do it that way and it is by far the easiest, most efficient way to do it. In fact, it increases the value by NOT hacking it up.
I have a really hard time to molest these finer old radios. In fact, I've restored many 148's back to stock - fine as they are.
Snake Radio Customs likes to mod radios the way you've suggested; but then again not too fond of what he does, especially - how he does it, and mostly what he charges to have it done. So he is an option that I cannot really recommend . . .
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Two ways:
The easiest way is to find/get a Cobra 148GTL-F used.
It is all there; 100% Cobra 148/Grant XL inside.
The other is to forget about having it modified (useless and costly to be done) as you imagined. Best/easiest way is to add a freq counter to the existing radio and have a interface plug installed on the back. Velcro the counter to either the bottom or top - and Bob's your uncle - most people do it that way and it is by far the easiest, most efficient way to do it. In fact, it increases the value by NOT hacking it up.
I have a really hard time to molest these finer old radios. In fact, I've restored many 148's back to stock - fine as they are.
Snake Radio Customs likes to mod radios the way you've suggested; but then again not too fond of what he does, especially - how he does it, and mostly what he charges to have it done. So he is an option that I cannot really recommend . . .
I saw the snake do a light dimmer mod on a galaxy 99v2. A radio that he was not familiar with at the time. He didn't know that the 99v2 has a light dimmer function built into the radio from the factory. Not sure if the dimmer worked anymore after the mod.
Two ways:
The easiest way is to find/get a Cobra 148GTL-F used.
It is all there; 100% Cobra 148/Grant XL inside.
The other is to forget about having it modified (useless and costly to be done) as you imagined. Best/easiest way is to add a freq counter to the existing radio and have a interface plug installed on the back. Velcro the counter to either the bottom or top - and Bob's your uncle - most people do it that way and it is by far the easiest, most efficient way to do it. In fact, it increases the value by NOT hacking it up.
I have a really hard time to molest these finer old radios. In fact, I've restored many 148's back to stock - fine as they are.
Snake Radio Customs likes to mod radios the way you've suggested; but then again not too fond of what he does, especially - how he does it, and mostly what he charges to have it done. So he is an option that I cannot really recommend . . .
I agree!! These older radios are much more valuable with out mods. The Grant XL is one of the best radios ever made and radios like that should be left alone.
I also agree with your view regarding Snake Radio. He quoted me $300.00 just to look at my radio (before doing any tuning and alignment). Pretty ridiculous! I'm no tech but just watching his videos I'm left wondering if this guy is actually legit. I mean if he charges that much he should be able to afford a tone generator instead of yelling "aaaauuuuuudddddiiiiiooooo" in to a mic when working on a radio.
For that kind of money buy a real SSB radio. Get a used HF radio!! Screw $300 just to look at your radio as well. That's just Highway robbery!! Some people are just so fascinated by lights and such they get sucked into the snake radio snake oil!! Like Robb said too much work. Just find a 148GTL-F and be done. These radios are getting harder to find so look around. Prices will vary a bunch so don't be surprised if you see them for 200-300 dollars. For what you'll spend on one, you could add another hundred or 2 and get a used HF radio like a kenwood TS50, Icom 706, and so on. JMHO.
I just sold an IC-718 for $300. With that amount I did not loose anything.
For that kind of money you'd be foolish to buy an export if you talk SSB mostly. Or even and old classic SSB radio. They aren't in the same league IMO. But hey, to each his own I suppose. Just not what I would throw that kind of money into. Not with radios like the one you sold Binrat, floating around. Too good of deals for way newer and better radio.
Most of what you you want here is not realistic or even possible. And if you did find a tech that was willing to re-engineer the whole radio you might spend 500-800 dollars by the time he was done. Pretty foolish.
Best bet is to buy an export radio that has all the features you want. The Grant xl is probably the greatest cb radio ever built as far as recieve quality, clean crisp audio, and rock solid stability on SSB.
Some things that can be done to your Grant xl are, add extra channels, unlock the clarifier, add an external counter, and give it a correct alignment and that's it your done.
You might check out this guy http://customcbradios.com/ He does some pretty cool stuff.
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