Radio: Cobra 19 Ultra 6
Antenna: 4' Firestik FS
Location: 2003 Tacoma Ext Cab 4WD
Power Filter: Workman NF-4 Bandit
External Speaker: 4" cheapo with noise filter and mute
After discussion in this thread the general opinion is that this is a trash radio and there are definitely better options for not much more - unless you have a restrictive size constraint. I could find no radio small enough to fit in the space shown, and even so it has to "stick out" more than I'd like. 1/4" larger in any direction and it would never fit. The CS-47 mentioned by @niceguy71 is the only other option if you can deal with all the controls being on the handset. I may upgrade to one later, but I could tell just in cruising around with this one it is far too distracting and I only fiddle with controls when stopped or parked.
That being said, as a newbie I find this radio to be exactly what I need as an entry radio. You can pick one up online for as little as $55 or $70 in-store at Wal-mart. I even broke my cherr- err- made my first radio check contact today!
This radio appears to be a rebranded Cobra 19 mini with some improvements. It is also so new you won't find a proper manual for it online.
- Solid heat sink case - the entire body of the Ultra 6, like the mini, is made of metal and is one huge heat sink.
- ASQL - Automatic Squelch setting, I'm finding setting this around 5 gives the best noise filtering. The advantage of ASQL is it automatically turns itself off when a signal comes in, leaving the cabin quiet until a transmission is received.
- SQL - Using ASQL, I find turning this off completely gives more clear signals without losing more faint ones.
- Mhz Display - nice touch, it also shows RF gain settings, AM/FM
- Audible Roger Beep, Key Beep - turn on/off in menu
- VOX - both level and delay controls to activate without the PTT (off ATM)
- RF Gain - I found having the RF gain high and all squelch controls low seems to work (still fiddling with it and I do not know jack.
)
- No engine noise - See below. The location is directly above the truck's ECU and was worried it may throw a lot of interference but it didn't. I'd previously tried a Cobra 29 LTD Classic and the engine noise was horrible. With the Bandit and ferrite cores I get ZERO engine noise.
As you can see here it fits into a very tight space and as mentioned it was a bit like putting socks on a rooster. It still sticks out more than I'd like but acceptable. As it is, although the bottom of the trim covers the speaker I could have easily ran with it without an external speaker. One of the complaints about this radio is poor audio, but it's definitely "good enough" without the external speaker. Don't even need a mike hanger, it goes right where you see it and doesn't get in the way.
I 3D printed the bezel.
Power is supplied by a fused direct to battery connection. The actual wire is heavily loomed in plastic loom but not taking any chances. Ground goes to frame under the trim piece.
I went ahead and used the Bandit but probably didn't need it. The Ultra 6 has internal noise protection. If you mount the filter like this - be sure not to wrap the zip tie around the heater mechanisms (red arrow.) It is just wrapped around the heater vent.
The bumper mounted 4' Firestik. As for range, FireStik says 3-4 miles as opposed to 7-8 with a whip but I will find out. Setting up the Cobra 29 as a home station so I will test it myself.
Firestik mount, HD spring, mount grounded to frame. I suspected I didn't really need the SWR meter and I was correct - out of the box this antenna gives me SWR of under 1 across the band.
External 8 ohm 4" speaker - super cheap, mounts to the same trim piece as the radio. Not too much in the way for passengers (rare occasions LOL)
Overall I really like it for the investment, it works and played with it for a few hours today. There are far better radios and antennas out there, but my first contact today has me jazzed.
Antenna: 4' Firestik FS
Location: 2003 Tacoma Ext Cab 4WD
Power Filter: Workman NF-4 Bandit
External Speaker: 4" cheapo with noise filter and mute
After discussion in this thread the general opinion is that this is a trash radio and there are definitely better options for not much more - unless you have a restrictive size constraint. I could find no radio small enough to fit in the space shown, and even so it has to "stick out" more than I'd like. 1/4" larger in any direction and it would never fit. The CS-47 mentioned by @niceguy71 is the only other option if you can deal with all the controls being on the handset. I may upgrade to one later, but I could tell just in cruising around with this one it is far too distracting and I only fiddle with controls when stopped or parked.
That being said, as a newbie I find this radio to be exactly what I need as an entry radio. You can pick one up online for as little as $55 or $70 in-store at Wal-mart. I even broke my cherr- err- made my first radio check contact today!
This radio appears to be a rebranded Cobra 19 mini with some improvements. It is also so new you won't find a proper manual for it online.
- Solid heat sink case - the entire body of the Ultra 6, like the mini, is made of metal and is one huge heat sink.
- ASQL - Automatic Squelch setting, I'm finding setting this around 5 gives the best noise filtering. The advantage of ASQL is it automatically turns itself off when a signal comes in, leaving the cabin quiet until a transmission is received.
- SQL - Using ASQL, I find turning this off completely gives more clear signals without losing more faint ones.
- Mhz Display - nice touch, it also shows RF gain settings, AM/FM
- Audible Roger Beep, Key Beep - turn on/off in menu
- VOX - both level and delay controls to activate without the PTT (off ATM)
- RF Gain - I found having the RF gain high and all squelch controls low seems to work (still fiddling with it and I do not know jack.
)- No engine noise - See below. The location is directly above the truck's ECU and was worried it may throw a lot of interference but it didn't. I'd previously tried a Cobra 29 LTD Classic and the engine noise was horrible. With the Bandit and ferrite cores I get ZERO engine noise.
As you can see here it fits into a very tight space and as mentioned it was a bit like putting socks on a rooster. It still sticks out more than I'd like but acceptable. As it is, although the bottom of the trim covers the speaker I could have easily ran with it without an external speaker. One of the complaints about this radio is poor audio, but it's definitely "good enough" without the external speaker. Don't even need a mike hanger, it goes right where you see it and doesn't get in the way.
I 3D printed the bezel.
Power is supplied by a fused direct to battery connection. The actual wire is heavily loomed in plastic loom but not taking any chances. Ground goes to frame under the trim piece.
I went ahead and used the Bandit but probably didn't need it. The Ultra 6 has internal noise protection. If you mount the filter like this - be sure not to wrap the zip tie around the heater mechanisms (red arrow.) It is just wrapped around the heater vent.
The bumper mounted 4' Firestik. As for range, FireStik says 3-4 miles as opposed to 7-8 with a whip but I will find out. Setting up the Cobra 29 as a home station so I will test it myself.
Firestik mount, HD spring, mount grounded to frame. I suspected I didn't really need the SWR meter and I was correct - out of the box this antenna gives me SWR of under 1 across the band.
External 8 ohm 4" speaker - super cheap, mounts to the same trim piece as the radio. Not too much in the way for passengers (rare occasions LOL)
Overall I really like it for the investment, it works and played with it for a few hours today. There are far better radios and antennas out there, but my first contact today has me jazzed.
