Cobra 200 GTL DX Repair Part 4 

Hi Chris, Yep it sure was a mission to sort it out and then just when I thought I had reached the end of the road only to find that most of the trim pots need replacing. The radio is now fully functional but it is unstable due to some flaky trim pots. I am planning to make a final video as it’s seems people want to see the alignment. Re your Kenwood I haven’t forgotten, I am having problems finding your email among all the others. Please send me a fresh email to m0xfx.channel@gmail.com and we can discuss this further and possibly you could send it to me and I could make a video fixing it. Best Regards

@@M0XFXUK I’ve sent the email over John 👍

Thank you for the comment. Yes absolutely, it doesn't take much to mess up these radios and it's a world of pain bringing them back.

Hi Chris, Thanks for the comment. Looking at all the responses to this video I think it would be rude not to make a final video going through the alignment, watch this space. Re the state of the radio, yes unfortunately there are some unscrupulous people out there passing off equipment in this state, it's really is sad. Normally this radio would have been destined for the scrap bin but I couldn’t let them win as it was a mate of mine who wound up with it. Best regards 73 M0XFX

Hi George, haha yes Lazarus sure has arisen in fact it is working surprising well all things considered. The only issue now is the trim pots as they are so unstable, they are so loose if you blow on them the radio goes into one. Judging by the responses I think I should make a final video aligning it hopefully next weekend if I can find the right size trimmers. Yeah I do think Mark would have appreciated the video and I like to add bits of humor in true Cobraman fashion. Best regards John

@@M0XFXUK indeed john. Make as many vids as you feel would be useful from it. You did very well to fix that pile... Ha ha ha....

@@GeorgeEI7KO Haha that’s exactly what Mark would of said. Thanks for letting me sort it out, I am glad it’s working too as it’s a real shame what happened to it in the past. The only place I could get a full set of trimmers was Digikey in the US. Anyway they are on order and should be here this week and hopefully it will be finished over the weekend. No worries on the photo as I figured it out, I was wondering about the diode in the bias (Diode not needed). Well the videos are getting good responses I think everyone was rooting for it to go again. Will chat soon mate…

@@M0XFXUK always loved your fault-finding videos John. Like the old 2955 vids. Keep at it mate! Well done on bringing the species back to life.

Hello Alan, I really do appreciate having people who have followed this channel from all those years ago and thank you for standing by the channel. It’s good to be making videos again, I am still trying to get back in the swing of it again. Looking forward, I am on the lookout for anything radio related that needs repairing that will make an interesting video. I glad you are enjoying the new videos. Very Best Regards John

Hi Dan, Thank you for your comment; I am happy you enjoyed the videos best regards.

Hi James thank you for your comment. It's great to be fixing radios agian after all the years since my first videos way back when. I glad you enjoyed the video. Best Regards

Hi Paul, thank you for your comment, yes it’s looking like I have to make another video. All thing being equal I should be able to have the final video covering the alignment out this coming weekend if the parts arrive in time. Best regards

@@M0XFXUK Great Stuff

Thank you for your comment, yes I agree I think it would be nice to see the final radio before I ship it back to Ireland. I will make a final video of this series. Best regards

Hi Houdi, I am glad that you enjoyed the video series; I am going to make one final video covering the alignment process as soon as the trim pots get here. I have more radios lined up so expect to see more repair videos and I also hope to make some C++ micro controller videos which will be radio related. Best Regards John M0XFX

Hi Gary always a pleasure to see you on the channel. I have to agree these radios are certainly not the best of quality. Not having much experience with this type of radio, I was surprised as I thought Cobra produced reasonably good quality equipment but I guess these are the exception. When I took on the project I had no idea to the extent of what was wrong with it, it certainly has been a journey sorting it all out however; that being said I think it's made an interesting series of videos. I am still trying to get back in the swing of making videos again. Take care bud best regards.

Hi Peter, It’s always a pleasure to see on this channel. Yes this one certainly has been a challenge. As soon as I felt I was making progress I would find more issues (The never ending story). That being said I think it has made for an interesting series of videos; I am still trying to get back in the swing of making videos again. Best Regards.

Thanks!

Thanks for the comment, Yep it’s the rig that just keeps on wanting. Normally something in that state would be destined for the scrap bin however a mate of mine wound up with it so I felt that I needed to sort it out. It was touch and go at times I have never fixed a radio even remotely close to the state this thing was in and trust me I have repaired some real crap over the years. Re Screwdriver experts they are out there. Best regards

Hi Mark, yeah I was wondering about that I thought it might have been an alignment issue. They seem a bit odd these radios, I'm not 100% sure how it is suppose to work. I also notice the frequency display goes up 7KHz in TX however the TX frequency coming out of the PL is correct , very strange but I agian have put this down to alignment, I hope that is all it is. Hope you are well mate, great to hear from you.

@@M0XFXUK Nope that's how they are.., no matter how much you align them they will be spot on read out and actual frequency at 12 o'clock but once you say come down to 550 the actual TX will start to go out so 550 will actually be around 551.3 or something, very badly designed and poor quality build.. but they do 100w and say Cobra so people go mad for them, i would never have another..

​@@CBRadioWayBack10-4 Hi Mark, Yep they certainly are a strange radio. I can’t disagree regarding the build quality; they must have built these on a tight budget, I also have my doubts about the electrolytic caps they have used. I have a feeling that the receiver will perform quite well but I will only really know the extent of this when I do the full alignment on the test gear. I will send you an email I need to ask you a favor.

Hi Paul, I don't have the radio to look at but I think they are Toshiba 2SC2290. Sorry I can't be of more help.