cbradiomagazine... - Following up our 138 XLR overview we take a look at the base version Cobra 139 XLR. Fun talking on a 40+ year old radio and getting great audio reports with a stock microphone on this classic from 1977-78.
Beautiful radios. I have a 142 that my grandparents got new back in the day. Handed it down to my dad. Then he gave it to me. Was using it for a good long while here in the Portland Oregon area going by junior. Still have it sitting and waiting for the day she receives again.
Thank you, It's great to see some of the old radios. I got into CB's back in about 1971. My first base was Midland 13-877 23-channel and I still have it.
I started cb radio in 1977 my first cb was a Cobra 138XLR mobile. I think I paid around $150 brand new. I still have it. It still works too. Imagine having all the money we’ve spent on cb radio equipment from then to now 06/17/2021. Wow id be able to buy a big radio. Lol. I currently run a Competition built Galaxy Saturn Turbo. (Not a slop box) (The amp board has been replaced with a 2x 2879 Toshiba’s amp board) #12 Watkins Glen new york wavin. 73’s.
Great video. I picked one of these up a while back with a Cobra Dynamike Plus. Today I collect CB radios I couldn't afford back in my teens when these were popular. My first radio was a Midland 13-882B on a power supply with a Turner Plus3 going into a DX Magnus. I rigged a remote key and could easily talk from the other side of the room, or house. My CB nerd friend and I would communicate our Timex Sinclairs over the air...just long enough to say we did it. Great times!
I have a mint 139 23 channel in the original box. I turn it on and use it once in awhile to keep caps and other components in great working order. Nice video thanks for sharing. #12 Watkins Glen new york wavin.
I picked one of these up for 25 bucks with blown finals. Super cheap to repair, and it works great. I actually like it better than my 2000GTL. GLAD you are doing videos again, I still have the Stryker you sold me a while back. 73, Brett
I got a Cobra 139 crystal radio of eBay and it has 40 channels from the factory, I think it was was a stopgap until the 139xlr came out , interesting thing is the crystals are on a board on the back of the channel switch and the ones on the board are empty slots, I’m sure it’s a real deal and rare !
It's exactly like the 142GTL that i had. I did some good DX with it, for example Barcelona, Spain or Paris France with a half wave ( or 5/8 wave i don't remember well) Radio Shack's Archer vertical antena from Montevideo, Uruguay, my call was CVC 2082 with it, later CVC2083 with a Galaxy Pluto
my brother bought the 139 thinking it was a 40 channel but was a 23 channel. gave me the 23 channel and bought the 142 gtl 40 channel radio. so we have both.
I had Cobra 139 XLR radio had a Side Car Box for extra channels went from 26.070 to 28.505 plus in-between channels on CH.1 to 40 even open Voice Lock even switch box for flick 0 to 5 had frequency counter with 2 knobs to make channels 26 to 27 to 28 channels plus another 3 position switch for 26 to 27 to 28 to ! Wattage for am 10 and 25 on ssb tune up too and lots modulation! Also had big transform Square power supply to handle all and radio was excellent condition till got wreck by someone broke in my radio shop and wack on floor from table flip over years ago ! Then got to shop put back only Channels 1 to 40 with open Voice Lock so sold radio to someone afterwards bought other radio ! I got radio off my God father John in 1994 then I sold in 2004 ! I had Cobra 142 GTL Base radio in 1992 to 1994 plus a Turner Plus 2 desk mic radio had clarifier open 10 for + side and 5 for - side also open for extras channels on Squelch knob had 5 modes of 40 channels to use 26.805 to 28.805 plus Channels 1 to 40 plus 5 splits and road map was confusing to ! But Guy lend to me till want back so gave back and never heard radio again! But lots great base radio out there and one but in 1990's if find hold on to a rare it called Panasonic Power Plus 40 only am but strong TX/RX even modulation for stock power plus set from Factory to ! I had one when seen think a one speaker ghetto blaster to and had one for long time!
Just bought one of these brand new in the box for $80. It was my very first radio my dad bought me when I showed an interest, and has a ton of memories behind it.
Increible ver aun en el 2020 un radio que ronda los 40 años y que un amigo mio tenia uno y hacia DX's a toda america latina, australia y españa e italia si las condiciones estaban perfectas, lo habia modificado y tenia 160 canales y le habia puesto un amplificador de 25 watts con una antena ARCHER de Radio Shack .64, increibles experiencias de radiodifucion, yo tenia un realistic trc-480 pero no le llegaba ni cerca a esta superbase de Cobra. Gracias por mostrarnos tan excelente radio, no sabia que aun se podian conseguir en tan excelente estado.
The 142GTL used a single conversion 8719 chassis. (2000GTL & 148GTL double conversion 8719) Cosmetically the 142 added RX/TX LED's on either side of the channel selector. The mode switch goes LSB/AM/USB. (139 goes AM/USB/LSB) also the bottom front bezel where the mic plugs in is chrome on 142.
Enjoyed watching this to see inside the unit! I have one of those 23 Ch 139s with the dial; it powers up but does transmit. Repair dude says it's not work fixing. Thought it would be fun to stuff it with internals from another radio because it looks so cool. Maybe too hard. Thanks for the video!
I have a cobra 139 23 channel base station the only thing wrong with it is the USB and lsb and cb know is not working right we're can I get a new know so that the am and USB and lab to work right
FYI, a Cobra 2000 knob will fit on a 135 or 138 nicely. The shaft is the same size. All you have to do is make the hole round and not D shaped. I used a drill bit and some Vice Grips. Easy as pie and looks great too. Too much black on those old radios. Plus the 138 still uses a mobile knob. Yuck.
Hello, Could you help me please, l am the owner of a NOS Uniden Grant 40 channel am/ssb mobile cb radio. It has bever been used it is from my brothers deceased estate. Could you advjse me if it is suitable for mounting in my Landcruiset, l live in Australia and know nothing about cb radios. Thanks Noel
No need for amplified microphone on these love built-in compressor circuit stock mike sounds like D104 on ssb guess that's the why japanese radios are sooo much better than Chinese junk...
