Cobra 19 Ultra 6 - A Newbie Review

[rocknbil]

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.

 

[WSAC829]

That’s a nice clean radio install.

 

[slowmover]

Can SWR Be Too Low?​

Yes.

.

 

[jcrmadden]

Can SWR Be Too Low?​

Yes.

.

What are these words and what do they mean?

Are you trolling me?

 

[slowmover]

What are these words and what do they mean?

Are you trolling me?

No.

A 1:1 flat response from 1-40 is a sign of a problem potentially.

An SWR curve is just that. Ideally lowest in the middle of the range which is 11M CH-20.

“Flat across the range”, means more testing needed. An internal SWR meter may show this, and the better (though inexpensive) external meter shows closer to the “true” curve (this is one example). 1.3:1 at either end with 1:1 in center given a meter of some accuracy.

When I see perfectly flat I know something may be off. Time to test, albeit in a different manner.

SWR and TRANSMITTERS - What is SWR all about? Making Sense of SWR Readings

https://www.arrl.org/files/file/Technology/tis/info/pdf/q1106037.pdf

I’m not trying to mess with anyone’s head. But I’m suspicious the OP is seeing 1:1 with that antenna plus mount location. Double-check to be sure it’s okay.

I’ve discovered mistakes I’ve made at this point.

Adding juice makes it all more fun (a radio with variable RF power).

— An antenna analyzer is the ideal tool, as SWR is only part of the equation re performance.

“ A good external SWR meter (preferably an antenna analyzer) with a short jumper coax at the antenna if possible should be used to check the SWR then check it again at the radio's end of the main coax and note the differences” (fourstringburn @ WWDX).

.

 

[slowmover]

Here’s an instructive go through on a pickup. I think I linked this in the @jcrmadden original (long) thread.

Adjustments for resonance

So got the mount and the new 102” whip. Old one corroded on threads. Please see pics on antenna analyzer. Not sure what to do. Any help would be great. resonance frequency is higher than the 11 meter band so the antenna is to long? I’ve read k0bg several times. I understand x=0 but how to get...

www.worldwidedx.com

The OP of the thread in which we are writing threw together what nearly all think, “this is a CB”, and I’ll say it’s instead a problem that low performance can have a number of fathers.

“It works”, isn’t the same as, “It’s performing well”.

.

 

[rocknbil]

I’m suspicious the OP is seeing 1:1 with that antenna plus mount location. Double-check to be sure it’s okay.

I previously tried a cobra 29 in this same setup and it also showed low SWR with the internal meter. I've been looking at other antenna options but haven't found one that FITS IN THE GD GARAGE. Getting out of the truck every time I pull in or out is not a line I plan to cross.

Here’s an instructive go through on a pickup.

Been there, read it, see above. That thread lost me at 102" whip, not an option right now.

“It works”, isn’t the same as, “It’s performing well”.

And what can one expect from a $55 radio and $50 antenna? It is what it is.

Many of you guys/gals seem to have limitless budgets and tend to brag about how much money you throw at it. I can't. I'm even feeling rather crappy about spending so much already for a hobby in which I'm obviously not welcome. But not even the cost, it's the elitist attitude - both here and locally - sure looks a lot like attempts to discourage anyone from approaching this hobby. I'm thinking I should take niceguy71's initial advice and rip all this stuff out and put it in a yard sale.


Oh wait, allow me to pre-answer this one - "No one's going to want it, it's crap." :-\

 

[slowmover]

I’ve not ever seen a half-way modern garage didn’t have 7’ clearance or more. Interior bed wall mount is likely a better-performing location as bumper mount has nothing underneath it. My roof mount whacks tree limbs pretty far up its length on a semi-regular basis and it doesn’t occur to me to inspect it afterwards.

But that’s not why I’ve added this concern about testing.

Hear, and Get Heard can nearly always be improved. (The point of this).

A $35 SWR Meter is best first step.

A $55 NANO VNA is an even better idea (see threads applicable).

The thread link attached last post is an examination of what’s necessary to best tune an antenna, NOT a recommendation of the type antenna in use.

I’ll be frank in what I think of your rig if someone asked me if he has a CB. He has a walkie-talkie, would be the reply.

My job has required me to stay in touch with other men via radios we had to purchase and either pay someone or DIY the install. A low performing radio rig in one truck among a half-dozen working as a group was a hindrance to the rest of us. We’d get spread out on a 180-mile loop running loads with several potential routes and at both loading & unloading points was info that needed to be spread among the group each run. (There are no free miles or minutes in a big truck. Or, for any of us in our private vehicles ignore that as we do).

Get any questions about the current antenna set-up out of the way, IMO. Someday you’ll have an upgraded radio and may wonder, why isn’t this any better?

You’re not here by accident.

SWR is first step among several.

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[slowmover]

I previously tried a cobra 29 in this same setup and it also showed low SWR with the internal meter. I've been looking at other antenna options but haven't found one that FITS IN THE GD GARAGE. Getting out of the truck every time I pull in or out is not a line I plan to cross.



Been there, read it, see above. That thread lost me at 102" whip, not an option right now.



And what can one expect from a $55 radio and $50 antenna? It is what it is.

Many of you guys/gals seem to have limitless budgets and tend to brag about how much money you throw at it. I can't. I'm even feeling rather crappy about spending so much already for a hobby in which I'm obviously not welcome. But not even the cost, it's the elitist attitude - both here and locally - sure looks a lot like attempts to discourage anyone from approaching this hobby. I'm thinking I should take niceguy71's initial advice and rip all this stuff out and put it in a yard sale.


Oh wait, allow me to pre-answer this one - "No one's going to want it, it's crap." :-\

You sure did miss the mark.

Have you and a couple of other guys laid across a metal tractor in 95F Texas heat to get another guys radio checked out?

And you’ve not a clue about what’s elitist. They don’t give you the time of day. Considered bad manners — a faux pas — to laugh at the proles. Why would you even take notice?

I’ve spent a great deal over time as it directly and unequivocally affects my safety, my income . . just how long I can work that day. I’ve evidence plenty in private life where other things haven’t gotten repaired or fixed. Higher importance just to get back there.


Flat 1:1 is a warning sign. Take heed.

Was trying to do you a favor . . instead of ignoring the red warning light you posted as others have done.

You’re as welcome as your boot-strapped efforts make you.

.

 

[rocknbil]

Well congratulations. Chased off another newbie, look at you all hard on a forum and sheeit. Account deleted.

 

[slowmover]

Well congratulations. Chased off another newbie, look at you all hard on a forum and sheeit. Account deleted.

No sweat. Someone else will benefit.

“ 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.”

Radio is full of corrections.
11M is beset by myths & half-truths.

Would’ve been easy to have done some checks for the present and with the current set-up.

What’s the TX range of a walkie-talkie? As the RX is likely greater.

We had to use headlight signals building that drilling pad with that one guy as we couldn’t make his radio rig work any better. His confirmation he’d heard the rest of us.

.

 

[niceguy71]

rocknbill,

the guys here will go out of their way to help people and even spend a lot of time looking at peoples systems and trying to help and typing long replies to help people ... also looking up articles that can help you... I think you may be a little confused..... the guys are genuinely trying to help you
many times guy come in and ask a question and never come back... no big deal hopefully they got the help they needed... but I always wonder how they made out.... so I said I guess we lost another one when I didn't see you post how your radio was working out after a few weeks.... you shot back how Rude I was????.... I told you I wasn't trying to be rude or mean, and apologized... you never seemed to accept that apology.
I ignored it and tried to help you.

what everyone here has already learned is, certain things work and certain things don't... so the guys try to steer people away from the things that don't work... most of the small radio's only put out 2 or 3 watts and when they modulate they only swing up to maybe 4 watts... most of the good radios like ones made by President put out 4 watts dead key but can swing up to 12 -16 watts when they talk into the mic... BIG DIFFERENCE.... the small radio's just don't receive very well... some can hear signals from many miles away the small ones seem to only receive signals from very close by.
so when the new people buy a radio that may not work very good ( as slow mover said ...they are not much better than a walkie talkie.....many of the radio's the new guys buy will only work for a few miles.... just like my hand held Walkie Talkie CB's.... they can do 3.5 miles with a 51 inch telescoping antenna)
most of us in this forum have bought a $50 dollar radio and a $25 dollar antenna hoping it will work... but they rarely do... I have seen three guys in the last year that came in and asked questions and everyone told them the best radio was Anytone 5555 N II also known as the Radioddity QT-60 ... they bought those radio's and a good antenna and never had to spend any more money.. as they asked and listened to the guys that have made all the mistakes already and are happy to tell the new guys what to stay away from.
I keep seeing guys buying one radio and it doesn't work.. so they buy another radio and yet again another radio... by now they could have bought the top of the line radio.... we keep seeing guys buy some micky mouse home base antenna and we listen as they go from one cheap antenna to the next ..spending a couple hundred bucks.. when they could have just bought a Antron 99 and it would work good and last for many, many years.... the guys here really are trying to save you a lot of time, work, Money and aggravation

I was not very nice to only one person here I do feel bad about that.... kind of a new guy.. he came in listened to the guys here and bought a Radioddity QT-80 or maybe it was the QT-60 and he bought a Stryker SAR-10... he got a fantastic set up! he took the experienced guys advise and it worked for him.... he then would tell the group he got 120 miles range with his new radio on his truck and it wasn't skip??????? this group really tries to let the new people know the truth... not fantasy... so it bothered me that he would tell the new guys things that just aren't possible.
he would keep recommending to the new guys a 3 foot CB antenna like the Wilson LiL WiL.... everyone here has learned a 3 foot tall antenna just doesn't work very well and is mostly a waste of money.... the money would have been better spent on something better... all antenna's need to be a 1/4 wavelength which is about 9 feet tall that is only one part... they also need a counterpoise or ground plane under it....this needs to be 9 feet of flat metal under the antenna to be a ground plane... manufactures make an antenna that might be 4 or 5 feet tall and then have a coil on the antenna or around the antenna that will make up the rest of the 9 feet needed.... many work very well.... It is impossible to make a 3 foot antenna act like a 9 foot one... they generally only work for 2 to 4 miles. something most of these guys here have learned and try to pass on to the new guys..... 2 to 4 miles is pretty difficult to find others in that area to talk to.. for two cars caravaning it would be great... but most guys want more.

rocknbill ... I know your trying to get a good working CB, we have all started that way.. and you're doing a lot of work and spending money and asking good questions.... but buying a $50 radio is throwing away $50.. putting a Firestick on the bumper is not going to work very good for you...the antenna needs flat metal under the antenna... the antenna should not be next to any body panels... you cannot use a wire to ground plane the antenna mount to the bumper... you can try very wide RF Ground straps ... you did a lot of work and it looks great... nice job... but the bumper will not have enough of a ground plane to work well..... the antenna being next to the truck bed will greatly kill performance... it will work... it just may only get 2 or 3 miles.... again we could do that with a walkie talkie... most of us want better.... 5 miles is what a typical 4 watt CB system gets... we all try to do better, sometimes we do and sometimes we don't.

SWR when working correctly.... in a perfect set up, you may have 1.1 on channel one..... that means the antenna is matched to the channel one wavelength.... as you go up the channels the wavelength will lengthen.... so by the time you get to Channel 40 it may be SWR 1.4 or 1.5 ...channel 1 and channel 40 can't both possibly be the same..... the Firestick Antenna's often give a perfect SWR reading and no matter how much adjusting it, it hardly changes the SWR.... it's difficult to know it's not actually working.... the Firesticks always bite me in the ass.... I personally just never had any luck with them.

we are not picking on you or trying to be rude.... we are just telling you the truth.... telling you, that you bought the best CB and antenna would and put it in the perfect location may be what you want to hear..... but we are trying to be truthful.
I have seen guys buy CB's and Antenna's and as they learn the hard way, that they don't work worth a damn they buy better equipment and put the other stuff out at the yard sale.... I wasn't trying to be rude about putting anything out to the yard sale. I was just trying to tell you that the 5 foot indoor antenna you bought may never work.

I have seen guys try everything under the sun to make a Base Station antenna ... without actually putting up a real base station antenna
eventually the gimmicky things they bought go to the yard sale.... I bought a Radio Shack "back of the CB antenna" back in the 80's and plugged it into the back of my Cobra 148GTL ....it allowed me to listen... but I could only hear people a mile away and channel 6 ..... as far as using it... I found out quickly a CB antenna has to be outside! I had to go back and ask Radio Shack why they sell a cb antenna that plugs into the back of the CB but can't be used indoors??? they said it was for people wanting to set up their radio on a balcony or picnic table???? I learned the hard way... a house or a car is a Faraday cage and radio signals will not go in or out of them... you need an antenna outside of the faraday cage. outside the house or on the roof of a car.

sorry you don't like the advice you've been given. but it's good truthful advice
hope we don't lose you... I came in a couple years ago asking if I could put a magnet mount on my pick-up truck bed rail... I was going to bolt a 6 inch by 6 inch thick metal plate to my bed rail and stick the magnetic antenna to the 6 inch thick metal.... I thought it would work???? all the guys were like NO you need flat metal under the antenna... your bed rail is maybe 3 inches wide... 3 inches is not enough metal to reflect a radio signal off of... I was pretty happy they told me it wouldn't work... they saved me time and I didn't drill ugly holes in my pick up bed.....

you've mentioned me several times ...how Rude I am, or that some of your items will eventually go to the yard sale... .
so I can tell you don't want to hear from me, I'll try not to give you my opinions anymore ( I certainly don't know much, I probably only know about 1% of what most of the incredibly smart guys here know) so I will not bother you again.

best of luck to you

 

[niceguy71]

rocknbil

think what you want, we truly do try to help.... I went out and made this video for you just to show you how easy it is to get a good working CB antenna on the roof. you can easily drive in and out of the garage with the antenna I recommended.
I have had other new guys tell me they can't put an antenna on the roof because of the garage door?
so I thought if I made a video like this, it may help some people trying to get a decent working CB system that they can still drive into and out of the garage.

I don't know a lot of these technical terms and just how everything works... but this my understanding..... and I may have a lot of things in this video dead wrong.... I'm sure the smart guys here will correct me, and I will thank them for it if they do... no point in getting mad .... if someone can teach me something I will never complain..... I'll just thank them for teaching me
.... so if I get a few things wrong I at least tried... but this video will at least show how easy it is to get a decent antenna that goes in and out of the garage.

this took me a few hours of my time..... if I can help some of the new people getting into the hobby... then I'm happy to help.