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When did the cobra 29 start to be junk?

groundwire

Sr. Member
Jul 19, 2014
1,370
1,829
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When did the cobra 29 turn lame? 29ltd classic, 29 night watch etc. Im gonna buy one but dont wanna get one of the junky series.
 

China side mic and front are not desirable imo. Phillipines and Taiwan are getting to an age now where they could use a little refurbishing in some cases, mainly new caps but those are the ones i look for.
 
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Sometime around 2006 the China front mics became even crapier, that’s when they switched to different audio chip that you can’t find anymore, so if the audio chip burns up the radio is junk.
 
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I have been waiting for a gtl for along time but no good ones are showing up. I wanna get a newer one because i dont want to go thru the hassle of refurbishing it. No one around to do it. Is The ltd classic side mic good? I see those around pretty often. The ltd chrome looks good too, i like the black face and blue led's
 
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This is a 2003 29 ltd classic Dale Earnhardt edition i have kicking around. I put a new channel display in because the old one was going out. The radio looks unmodified besides the talkback. I was going to mosfet mod it and keep it as a spare but i honestly shouldn't lol.
I put the decal on it because the original was worn and this is what i had on hand. It came with some aftermarket chrome covers that someone drilled holes in for 2 blue led's and im not too fond of the fit either so i have a set of nice black covers for it if need be. Id let it go for $60 plus the ride. If youre interested ill put it together and test it to be sure its working as it should. 20201103_132500_HDR.jpg
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Another option to the GTL is a Uniden XL which is a ssb 40 channel.
Tganks for the offer but im trying to buy as new and untouched as i can. What about 29xlr? I heard they are meh compared to a 29gtl etc.
Lol, i have a very clean Japan made XLR thats untouched my friend who passed away a couple weeks ago gave me last year. Id part with that also.
The newer you get in most cases the worse the quality gets. A newer radio that gets great reviews here is the Bearcat 980 which is a 40 channel am/ssb mobile.
Any other radios i might have in my goodies drawer???
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I’m happy with the performance of my new 29NW. The only thing I dislike about it is the encoder for the channel selector. If I find an old 29 parts radio I hope to swap that out. It works I just don’t like the action on it.

The QC is a little suspect on them but it did work. You could buy from a place that is easy exchange and roll the dice. If it sucks return it.
 
I don't have a 959. Yet. I believe it does cost more than a 29, but it also has side band. I think its kind of like the 99v but without extra channels and a single final. The big question is: How does Galaxy quality compare to Cobra quality for new radios? Is Galaxy getting cheap too?
 
I don't have a 959. Yet. I believe it does cost more than a 29, but it also has side band. I think its kind of like the 99v but without extra channels and a single final. The big question is: How does Galaxy quality compare to Cobra quality for new radios? Is Galaxy getting cheap too?

I’ve got three sitting here. I wouldn’t hesitate to buy another.
99v2, 979 & 86V. All bought 2014 or later. First two aligned/tuned at Clays. Last bought off member here (work already done).

A friend has the 959 I admire. Aligned/tuned and never touched after more than a dozen years in an oilfield Peterbilt. Have been able to converse with him at 10-miles out in West Texas. Same age coax and antennas.

.
 
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Several of the best Cobra 29s are to heard daily in metro Houston.

T-Bone Technologies

Skip rolling you will also hear them. I have, Nebraska to Maine and all points south. Mainly mobiles, some 16-pill. The airwave regulars can be heard 15-20/miles out daily.

T-Bone does a bunch of public service mobile work in Houston. Can be heard many evenings on AM-19.

I met up with him a few months back to buy some adaptors. He’s a ham with a fine-looking screwdriver antenna setup on his customized pickup.

The only reason I’m posting this is folks getting butthurt over their old favorite radio. T-Bone has mods of his own design. The radios sound great. It’s a steady business for him. 1+1 = satisfaction.

I never “liked” Cobra. Gave away the ones I had been given. Took a new chrome one a few years back in a trade and had Clays give it a peak & tweak. Son has it now. Sounds nice.

If I had to have one I’d get it from him.

(PM me, have his biz card).

My preference for Galaxy shouldn’t overshadow my comments about quality on ordinary 29s after T-Bone sets the gears. The man has HUNDREDS of local customers. Big trucks and all the rest.

There’s some joker near one of the SE truckstops can make them talk loud for a mile. If you’re a container-hauler out of the Port, slide on in there with your smokin’ Century Class.

.

 
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