The Cobra142GTL Base Station. A True Classic SSB Base From The Era That Still Rocks! 

The "A" switch is for your Alpha Channels. Alpha Channels are the in-between channels 3A, 7A, 11A, 15A and 19A. It is essentially a 10kc switch like you would find on a Galaxy Saturn or Mirage 88 Export Radio... That 142 is a nice radio, had many of them in my past. I currently have a "Teaberry" Stalker XX Base (Export Version with Factory FM) and has the Poorman's 192 channel MB8719 pll modification in it. Glad to see folks still using these great radio's! Cheers!

Is John the "evil" twin of Erik??? Lol....

Yay 👏👏, an old classic base video !! Haha thanks for the shout out man but no special mention needed ,, was glad to donate it to your cause and the channel . It is a handy tool though when you get a mystery radio 👍

My grandpa, bought a Cobra 142 brand new in mid 80s. After he passed away, I ended up with it in 97. Both of the meters stopped working but radio still works

had a Cobra 142GTL back in the 80's and was/is my favorite cb radio...

When I got my 142, it would not transmit or receive. The band selector switch, aka mode switch, was so dirty inside that it would not make contact. Several generous shots of tuner cleaner and some working back and forth, and she came to life.

Saw an old CB base station at the flea market that had SSB on it, and I thought it was obsolete. I've never been happier to be proved wrong. Wish I'd bought it now....

I have a 142 and had it since I was in high school. I have all of my old radios and antennas. Pdl II, Radio Scrap 1/2 wave, my sigma 5/8” was thrown away, when the did my parents roof. I have a lot of goodies and want to set up a base station again. Thanks for the motivation.

I bought one several weeks ago for 20.00. Carried it to my local CB Shop, had it tuned up and aligned. People say it sounds better than my General Stonewall Jackson.

Ok John , nice radio ! It may have been modified to use on 10 meter or to use on the “ underground “ channel’s I have a frequency counter specifically for 11 meter , used it on the Uniden Washington I picked up that had been modified. 73 s. Erik :)

I was telling a friend yesterday about this rig. Said I wanted to have it downstairs in the house on all the time. Thought putting a desk mic on it. Would give it a classic look.

Just got into cb. Came across your videos. Thanks for the great info. I'm really new so my knowledge is limited.

Saw you today at the hamfest in Raleigh. You were talking to someone so I didnt want to bother you. Then I found a deal on a 142 , not a scratch and made in the phillipines. took it home and it works like a charm . I have a 2000 but see the video I just posted on the 142. tks Mack

Dude ur Rad. I got another one for 75 bucks with an awesome paradynMics meter! Works awesome. I've never owned a president. My 1sT base was a 142 new when I was like 18.... Best radio ever dude. Best.

I've had the Washington before it was a nice radio. I recently picked up a Madison. The Madison is my favorite unit and I have MANY on the radio tower including the president Lincoln 2 plus, president McKinley, president Ronald, president Bill, uniden 980ssb connex 3300hp and many more. The Madison just had an amazing sound quality and terrific reciever. And the nostalgia of the radio of course.

Well, let me just say the bug has bitten, hard, hard mister Far Point Cb video man! ... I had gotten to fooling around with some of my grandfather's old stuff, a Palomar 300a and a channel cat 23 channel with usb/lsb and and old cobra of my own... I wound up finding on ebay, a 142gtl, brand new in the box still, when it came it was still wrapped in plastic as well, along with all the fasteners and such. I started with a 102" whip atop a 10ft stick of rigid emt. I could listen to skip from Las Vegas to Chicago to Colorado and to North Carolina. I cannot seem to get any confirms on a radio check, I found a cb radio shop south of Grand Rapids, Mi called "131CB Shop" (if anybody needs a great old school shop), had my stuff tested, it is all working pretty well. The Palomar is from the 70's as I recall my grandpa using it then. But needless to say, I left that shop with a Solartron 99 and am in the process of getting it atop of 20 ft of rigid emt which should put the top of the antennae at 40 feet (i made brackets to mount to a fence post cemented in the ground). I also found a real nice cobra 2000 gtl on ebay with speakers and a mic (the bugs fangs, if you will). Still awaiting delivery of the 2000 but working on the antennae for now. What is the best way to reach you by CB (or to try and reach?) the other bug was signing up for a ham class and licensing... oh the education so far this year!

I knew a guy back in the day that set this radio up as a mobile... He always said a big truck needs a big radio! 👍 Great video

I really appreciate the videos!! Thank you! I'm retired and living in the Philippines 4 years now. Long time ham radio operator. But, my roots are firmly planted into CB radio. Back in the mid 80s I was jumping PLLs and pumping up the modulation on CBs I was acquiring through local yard sales. 40ch into 120ch pirate rigs. I was able to get them into the hands of truckers. R95 interstate passing through Southern New Hampshire. I often had them sold over-the-air before reaching the the truck stop. They were in high demand hahaha 🤪

Erick had my Cobra 142 GTL since 1987. Been a hell of a Workhorse there's a couple tricks you can do the audio amplifier to get more modulation out of it run a d104 on it that's the way you want to run at 142 gtl. alright 73

The CB and A Switch goes into the Amateur Radio Band 28 mhz

Glad to know someone is having hamfests. Not around here though....

That's a great looking radio! Looking forward to finding out more about those extra channels. Love that classic 70s woodgrain look! Since I'm a seventies kid, I enjoy seeing the old gear that we salivated over back in the day. I had a Cobra 139 23ch SSB that powers up but doesn't transmit. Bought it knowing it would need help, and someday it will get fixed. Enjoy that 142!

Hello, this brought back a lot of memories I had a Cobra 🐍 142 GTL and I lost it in a house Fire 🔥 back in 04 and have never found another one. Still miss that radio. Thanks for another great video Eric. I just wanted to add you can use these for a mobile radio it's got the hook up for the Plug in the back of the radio.

i love the pre 1980 units they had the pop in crystals

I've been looking for a reasonably priced 142...good score!!

One of the best radios to mod! Super Power House

Good morning John. Nice piece of vintage cb station you got there. Keep up good work and happy easter. 73's de Uncle Günter

Good one. But the relay sticks, and needs a diode mod.

I think this is the radio the sheriff uses at his house in the hit supernatural Netflix series “stranger things”. It takes place in the 80’s

Eric this is ironman in Alabama I can't wait to get my cobra 142 gtl with 2 switches

Nice tash John 😉

Wow! That is a nice looking unit.

John/Erik - keep the videos coming

Coming from the UK and hearing you say the SWR is a little bit "wankey" cracked me up! Nice radio and thanks for showing us....

Got a 142....works good so far!!

I bought one 30 years ago was a dang good radio

I own this and a realistic trc458, love both of them

Eric, I own one to a 146 pretty much the same thing. "updated version" Mine is made in the Philippians. It does just above 26.00 mhz to 28.00 mhz. The mod board is wired to the noise blanker switch. The nose blanker are permanently wired on. The A switch on yours is for 25.00 mhz to just above 26.00 mhz. Also for the in between channels such as channel 19 a. They were for remote control devices back in the day. Your radio covers 25.00 mhz - 30.00 mhz. If you have your ticket you can use it on 10 meters. Just does not have a FM board in it, so it will only do AM and side band.

Is John, Erik's twin brother?

If you haven't taken care of it those meters can be fixed take it out slice the tape . pull the cover off use a few drops go acetone or brake clean on the red glue on the screw work it back and forth a little till it frees up. don't remove the glue let it re harder tape it back up and re install should work for years I've done many of those even my 142GTL good luck

I had the cobra two thousand and I went all the way up as far as it would go. the top was twenty eight five.

I still have mine and it still works. Just had it cleaned up oh yeah.

I have an 135XLR wood case surrounding steel case great old unit

this is the radio from STRANGER THINGS

Barkett Electronics sells the meters for the 142. Costs about half of what you paid for the whole radio. I put one in my 142 a few years ago. I had to reuse the scale plate from my bad meter.

That is a cool cobra 142gtl

John, wait what? Where is Eric? Oh I get it now. You prankster you 😂

They all shared the same circuit boards. Same radios, different boxes. The boards even have Uniden printed all over them.

i have all 3 love them KODIAK CENTRAL MICHIGAN.

I had a "mobile" (goes in the car) Cobra with a "station" kit so I could use it in my room back in 1980-1983

The Cobra 2000 Lite, or direct front runner to the 2000 GTL. I just purchased one last month. I own the 135 and 139 XLR, the 142 and 2000 GTL. These were great radios with lots of channel capabilities. My uncle dressed his up to look like a 2000. I was going to feature all of my 40 channel SSB cobra bases on my channel soon.

Nice radio...just because the girl at the massage parlor calls you "JOHN", doesn't mean that's your new "AKA". Ha, Ha....Happy Easter!

I run a Cobra 142 I have 2 of them both have extra channels as we run 26.905 and 26.915 but they are my preferred radio since I can’t afford a Cobra 2000 or Uniden Madison

Sadly I only have the 89. Same unit with no side band. She still sounds and looks great though!

Ha Ha, Ruled the Roost ? I thought your name was Eric. Back in those days there was plenty of good radios on the market. Not to mention Browning, and Tram.

My 2000 GTL and it's grandpa the 135XLR laugh at your 142.😉

Nice one Erik April fools ha ha ha

I got one that does 140 above 140 below with a 10 Kc slide pristine

I still have my 142, haven’t turned it on in 35-40 years. Would love to get an antenna and see if it still works.

The rf gain may have been changed to variable power or to set your dead key. $40 is a steal. What a great deal and find.

John aka Erik? I'm confused 73 Rob

I have a Cobra142GTL, i painted the Insert where the 2 Meters are the the Channel Selector and Display is with "Brush Aluminium /Silver" to match the bottom front, i also added a Digi-Scan for extra channels, it had a Blue Channel Display, so i changed the meter globes to blue/white LED's, look nice not a butchered job

So I currently own the midland 75-822 and the president randy fcc and use them as handhelds,do you know what the best antennas would be for them?

so now im torn, do i get a newer mobile unit, like your blue Uniden? Or do i go for the oldschool Cobra 142...? the Uniden will be cheaper it looks like, those 142's are holding their value. Which is a better buy? which will be more powerful? thanks!

I run a cobra 142Gtl Texas star killer bee and A99

I got 2 great working radio

I’ve been wanting to get a base station set up in my home but I’ve not a single clue where to start with that. Do you have any suggestions?

I own have owned a 142 GTL since new it needs some work now.

Now all you need to find is a Galaxy DX-2547. I think that's the last base cb you've not gotten your hands on.

Eric , Igot a 142 gtl base radio to its a good radio

I'm sure you've answered this before but who sings that intro song ?

Eric did you ever check out rooster CB I think he can help you with the questions you have about your base

i got both radios they work like new

I have a cobra 2000 gtl need to get it redone

Sup John?

Do you know Whear the wiperside of the volume control is, I want to put a .168 ferad capacitor in for noise reduction static control noise

In your opinion, what is a fair price for a 142gtl? Found a seller with multiple units but they claim they all "need attention." Thanks for the info!

John!? Who's John and what did you do with Eric?

New to the cb world. I want to get base cb. Do you recommend a modern or vintage radio. Thanks

Did you change your name to John?

Does anyone still make a base station CB? I see people use a mobile with a power supply as a base but I haven't seen a currently built base CB in years..

I just bought a 142 gtl and maybe this month i can afford an antenna for a base right now i have a wilson magnetic base antenna stuck to my air conditioner which barely gets out but i need to find someone who can adjust and peak this radio and inevitably ill have to build an antenna tower .... its mostly for talking skip here since cb may have truly died in washington state

John?

Thought your name was Eric

Don't they both have the same boards in them?

Cobra and Uniden kissing cousins. LOL Thanks for the video. 21 in S.C.

Still have my 142 gtl with extra channels

I have a cobra 142 gtl ssb

RU-vid channel Mike's radio repair recommend contacting him he may have the answers

Nice pickup for $40 bucks...

I have a cobra 142 gtl and two cobra 25 Ltd for sale

Check out rooster CB on RU-vid he may be able to punch you in the exact right direction what you want to know about that bass station he's always messed with all things like that he just did a CB fest last week in Cleveland Tennessee that might be the man you're looking for just tell him Thomas gave you a heads up on it or as I know as in the CB world for about 38 years horseshoe

$40 ??? You paid $40 ???