Cobra 148F GTL Arriving today-Any1 Else Had One?

[Mistah Gravy]

forgive my ignorance BullDog but what is that-"Converted to electronic relay so the radio could be used in VOX mode".
i do not know what that measn but it sounde like you could play your music through your CB?
the Ranger PPR-TLM1 has a feature that allows you to load music onto it through a memory card,as well as load pictures onto it that you can display on the screen as background wallpaper or scrolling.it's a pretty neat CB radio and i've thought about buying one.there was a review on YouTube about this radio and they gave it good marks and also told how to tune it up to get more power out of it and to make it talk louder.

but for now i want to purchase my new base.i had bought the 148F but it was DOA when i got it Friday.someone linked me to a thread on cbtricks.com forums where one of their mods are currently looking at a new Ranger radio so i am waiting for my site membership to be approved by the mods so i can sign on to the site and check it out.otherwise i looked at the Ranger 696F that was right in my price window of $149.00(i have about 2hundred to spend).

do you know much about the Ranger 696F,BullDog?at the risk of sounding like an asskisser of BullDog,i have read a lot of your posts on here and i have quickly grown to trust your opinion and experiences.you seem to have a lot of background with radios and accessories so your opinion is high up there.just curious if you know anything about the 696F.i want a radio with a fre.counter and if i can't get the right one then i'll just add a counter to one of my Phillipine 148GTL's.

[Bulldog-Unit777]

Mistah Gravy in VOX mode allows me to key up the radio with my voice. The dynamic gain was change to be my sensitivity control/delay and the RX/TX light was taken out and a mini toggle installed. Flip it on, lock the microphone down, put on a pair of headphones. All set to go. Now the system is live. The second I speak the radio automatically keys up. Stop talking the radio automatically unkeys. Need to have the headphones on so the sound coming out of the radio would not key up the radio, lol! For this to all work properly the radio had to have actual relays like in a linear. The tech made the circuit himself. Leo was a legend in Rhode Island. My 2000 GTL was done up by him. All the upper channels wired to the CB/PA toggle switch. The word PA was craefully etched off and re-lettered HF. My brother and I was exposed to all the Avanti antennas in our teenage years. Got into the hobby during the "Great DX Cycle" and collected many QSL cards. Here is my last QSL card from Simon, 151 in Wales, UK.

[Mistah Gravy]

col qsl card.appears it's a Piasano living in Wales or one that belongs to an Italian radio group(from when you got it).
now that you explain VOX i remember having that on my headset for my helmet that i used to have when i had 4wheelers(all 3helmets were wired).can't see why i'd forget the VOX definition since i used to ride so much and i spent a good deal of money on the headsets for my helmets(oh the days when i had extra money....before i had kids lol).

people don't do qsl cards anymore do they?it seems to only be something that i hear about rather than see happening anymore.i think it would be cool to still exchange them.it's an artful expression in some ways judging from some of the cards i've seen(yours included)and i'd like to get into doing that but doubt it happens anymore.

anyways,i looked up the Ranger SS-158EDX and the review of it and that is one fine radio.i found one on Copper.com for $229.00 and i am seriously considering buying one(of course i'll have to save up a little more $$).but there is a radio review that i want to first read that is on cbtricks.com once the admins approve my account(how long does it take,i signed up this afternoon!!!!).

anyways,thanks for the info BullDog.sounds like a cool way to have the radio set up.does anyone manufacture this device/mod anywhere?i think it would be cool to put on a single headphone and a mic while driving and chit chat on the cb using this method.definitely a cool way to talk on the radio!!

[mjd420nova]

Those Cobra 148 GTL units were some tough and powerful units. Serviced many that burned the finals on a bad SWR match, otherwise a good set. Had one strange init that the user could not turn on himself, someone else had to push the button. Never figured that one out, made him a stick to push the button, worked for him.