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Bought a Cobra 139 XLR with problems

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a2phil

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Joined
Mar 21, 2012
Messages
29
Location
Hudson, MI
I bought a Cobra 139 XLR at a garage sale for $20. The guy didn't have an antenna, so I couldn't check it out on the air, but all the lights lit up (except one of the meters, a $1 fix) didn't LOOK like it was subjected to the "golden screwdriver"(no extra switches or anything), and I've seen even the "It lights up, but I don't know what's wrong with it, so I'm selling it as is" ones go for $40+ on eBay, so I figured I couldn't go TOO far wrong if it WAS a "basket case"...

I got it home, and hooked it up. When I key up the mic, the lights dim and it makes a "click" noise (like radios usually do, but louder than what I'm used to) I've also noticed if I have it on more than 10 minutes or so it has a "burnt electronics" smell, and there is the tell tale sound of a ground loop (hum) when I turn down the RF gain and turn up the volume all the way...it receives GREAT, but haven't been able to make any contacts. I hope I didn't just buy a money pit, I want to see how many channels I can get out of that uPD 858 (I've heard around 300)

Any help would be appreciated.
 

Phreakin318

Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2012
Messages
186
Location
Ruston,La
I bought a Cobra 139 XLR at a garage sale for $20. The guy didn't have an antenna, so I couldn't check it out on the air, but all the lights lit up (except one of the meters, a $1 fix) didn't LOOK like it was subjected to the "golden screwdriver"(no extra switches or anything), and I've seen even the "It lights up, but I don't know what's wrong with it, so I'm selling it as is" ones go for $40+ on eBay, so I figured I couldn't go TOO far wrong if it WAS a "basket case"...

I got it home, and hooked it up. When I key up the mic, the lights dim and it makes a "click" noise (like radios usually do, but louder than what I'm used to) I've also noticed if I have it on more than 10 minutes or so it has a "burnt electronics" smell, and there is the tell tale sound of a ground loop (hum) when I turn down the RF gain and turn up the volume all the way...it receives GREAT, but haven't been able to make any contacts. I hope I didn't just buy a money pit, I want to see how many channels I can get out of that uPD 858 (I've heard around 300)

Any help would be appreciated.

dont key it up anymore till you have it checked out or you will definitly burn it up(if not to late) and never key it up without an antenna, now thats out of the way, i had a cobra29 ltd classic with echo board a phillpean model, i had similar problem and almost burnt it up, then i put a new mic on it and it worked fine, not saying this is your problem but alot of mics are wired different and will key up the cb when you plug it in, hum,and all kinda stuff, 1st try the mic and if thats not the problem different antenna, might even be the swr, make sure any echo boards are off to, if all those fail get a cb shop to look at it, but i am gonna say its probly a wrong wired mic,swr,or antenna,or possable bad coax hope this helps
 

a2phil

Member
Joined
Mar 21, 2012
Messages
29
Location
Hudson, MI
I know enough to not transmit without an antenna...that's why I didn't try to before I bought it...

I'll have to see if I have another Cobra mic in the junk box...I THINK I do, with all the Cobras/Unidens I had in the past...
 
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a2phil

Member
Joined
Mar 21, 2012
Messages
29
Location
Hudson, MI
I took off the top cover this morning, and I think it's the mic relay that's making that above average loudness "click" when I key up, could this be the cause of the other problems (bad relay)?

If so, any ideas on where could I get a new one?

No, I'm not joking....or at least a good one...

Seems like every time I buy an old radio somewhere...
 
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