a2phil
Member
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.
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.