Cobra 148 GTL Discontinued?

Post by **Tioga23p** » August 9th, 2015, 9:27 pm

I'm seeing that a number of online stores list this radio as discontinued...

Is this so? And if so, is Cobra bringing out a AM/SSB replacement?

Maybe a SMT radio to compete with the Uniden 980?

Inquiring minds want to know!

Post by **1206FL** » August 10th, 2015, 4:02 am

They have made an export that is the same board as the anytone, Lincoln 2 export radio. Dual finals, 50-60 watts. They are being sold in other countries. Let me see what I can dig up on them. Okay they are being called the cobra 148 "international" I believe. Haven't seen much other than a vid of it and a couple photos. Google it and you'll see where the video is. Looks just like a Lincoln 2 inside. 10 banks of 40 channels. This is the info I have gathered so far. And it's from a reputable source. Not sure of the discontinuation of the regular 148, but with so many radios out there they may be stopping production. The newer ones aren't that great anyway. Get a CPU controlled SSB radio and avoid the drift issues. The Uniden 980 is what I would get over the new 148. But again idk what is going on with the 148 cb/SSB radio. Just know they have come out with an export model. Already being sold elsewhere.

Post by **Tioga23p** » August 10th, 2015, 6:55 am

You are right!

Do a Google search for "cobra 148 gtl intl"

Post by **1206FL** » August 10th, 2015, 8:27 am

I saw the YouTube vid and a couple other links as well. It's an anytone/Lincoln 2 board. Same radios. Different looks. There was some discussion on another forum about it. Im sure the U.S. version will be like the 980 or similar. They can lock the radios to cb band only and make one an am/SSB radio. They can just follow uniden's lead. It has to be cb only type accepted to be legally sold in the U.S. Not that this will deter most from getting one. I suppose they could lock radio freqs and remove other modes as well as power. What are they going to sell at the truck stops and such legally here in the states is what I am getting at is they will have to make some changes to be able to have a U.S. type FCC approved radio for am/SSB use if they discontinue the 148. I'm sure there will be something else done the line soon. Bout time they caught on to the CPU controlled radios, much more stable on SSB and cheaper to make probably. will have to see what they bring out i guess.

Post by **Tioga23p** » August 10th, 2015, 8:53 am

I just exchanged emails with GIJoes, and they no longer can get the now-discontinued 148GTL. They also have heard nothing of the INTL version.

It is just a matter of time, IMHO, before the new SMT 148 hits the shelves. A 980 with a traditional faceplate, I suppose.

Post by **1206FL** » August 10th, 2015, 10:36 am

Yep. Exactly what I was thinking Tioga23p. smt board. They are a lot more stable than they used to be, I'll give them that. Will have to wait and see what they come with. Idk about the traditional look, they may lot for the new 29 LX LE type chassis. But I'm just guessing here. The int. one looks traditional. So like I asks will have to see what they come out with.

Post by **Tioga23p** » August 10th, 2015, 10:45 am

Found in the QA section on Cobra.com:

Q: Can you get this in export spec? (wider frequency range / more power?)
Asked on 7/21/2014 by Garrett from Paraguay

Know the answer? Answer this question

1 answer

A: Cobra Electronics sells the 148 GTL INTL in Paraguay. This is a legal Cobra CB radio.

The Cobra distributor that carries this product is Importadora Audi. Please, ask Garrett to contact Wallid directly.

IMPORTADORA AUDI S.A.
Avda. Monsenor Rodriguez esq Ita Ybate
Edificio Saleh Aboultaif
7000 Ciudad del Este
Paraguay
Phone: 59561 500 268
Email: Wallid@megaeletronicos.com
Website: http://www.megaeletronicos.com
Countries Distributed: Paraguay
Products Carried: Detection Systems, CB Radios,Walkie Talkies / Two-Way Radios

Especificaciones del Producto

RÁDIO CB AM/FM/SSB CARACTERÍSTICAS:
• 10 WATTS DE POTÉNCIA RF AM E FM
• 25 WATTS (PEP) EM BANDAS LATERAIS
• 80 CANAIS AM E FM
• 160 CANAIS EM BANDAS LATERAIS
RADIO CB AM/FM/SSB CARACTERISTICAS:
• 10 WATTS DE POTENCIA RF AM Y FM
• 25 WATTS (PEP) EN BANDAS LATERALES
• 80 CANALES AM Y FM
• 160 CANALES EN BANDAS LATERALES

Dimensões de Rádio: 59.6mm x 203.2mm x 260.4mm
Dimensiones de Radio: (2.35”H x 8” W x 10.25” D)
Unit Dimensions:
Peso de Radio: 2.73Kg. (6.012 lbs.)
Unit Weight:
Tipo de Microfone: 4 Pin Dynamic
Tipo de Micrófono:
Microphone Type:
Controle de Freqüência: Fase Lock Loop Synthesizer
Control de Frequencia : PLL
Frequency Control: Phase Lock Loop
Synthesizer (PLL)
Potência de Saída RF: 10 Watts AM/FM, 25 Watts
Bandas Laterais
Potencia de Salida RF: 10 Vatios AM/FM, 25 Watts
(PEP) Bandas Laterales
RF Output Power: 10 Watts AM/FM, 25 Watts
Single Side Band
Canais: 80 (26.965 to 27.855 MHz)
Canales: 80 (26.965 to 27.855 MHz)
Channels: 80 (26.965 to 27.855 MHz)
Peso Mestre Pacote: 17.24kg. (38 lbs.)
Peso de Paquete:
Master Pack Weight:
• As especificaçoes estão sujeitas a alterações sem
aviso prévio
• Las especificaciones están sujetas a cambios sin
previo aviso
• Specifications are subject to change without notice
- Todas as dimensões (Altura x Largura x
Profundidade)
- Todas las dimensiones (Alto x Ancho x Profundidad)
- All dimensions (Height x Width x Depth)
©2013 Cobra Electronics Corporation, 6500 West Cortland Street, Chicago, IL 60707, USA
Cobra, Nothing Comes Close to a Cobra and the snake design are
registered trademarks of Cobra Electronics Corporation, USA.
Cobra Electronics Corporation is a trademark of Cobra Electronics Corporation, USA..
Especificações / Especificaciones / Specifications
Nothing Comes Close to a Cobra®
Modelo: 148 GTL INTL
Model: 148 GTL INTL
Código de Barras UPC: 0 28377 20170 7
UPC Código de barras:
UPC Code:
Dimensões da Caixa 222mm x 400mm x 76.2mm
de Rádio: (8.75” H x 15.75” W x 3” D)
Dimensiones de la Caja
del Radio:
Gift Box Dimensions:
Quantidade de Caixa Pricipais: 6
Cantidad en la Caja Master: 6
Carton Quantity: 6
Dimensoes Mestre 24.8cm x 47cm x 41.9cm
Bloco: (9.75” H x 18.50” W x 16.50” D)
Dimensiones Caja
Master:
Master Pack Dimensions:

Best regards,
Josefina Frances
Cobra Electronics. Chicago, IL 60707

Answered on 7/23/2014 by Jorge from Cobra Electronics

- See more at: https://www.cobra.com/product ... iner148GTL

Post by **MDYoungblood** » August 10th, 2015, 12:35 pm

First thing it is a legal radio in the Republic of Paraguay (and some other places) but not here, that said nobody cares, it's an export radio. I normally don't use the term "export" but that is exactly what it is, it's frequency range is from 26.965 to 27.855 so I can't call it a 10m conversion radio. It's just a Chinese copy of the old "fake" Cobra 148GTL-DX, probably using the same board design just updated to SMT, looking it up I haven't seen a pic of it's insides. I think that 80 channel selector would be extremely confusing for some here in the states. It only does 40 channels up from channel 40 with the same skipped frequencies of the old exports.
As far as the real Cobra 148GTL being discontinued, Joe's would know for sure but it's most likely a marketing thing, Galaxy's can be gotten a lot cheaper wholesale than Cobra's. About a year ago I was told that Cobra was designing a 148 to look like the new 29LX models but haven't seen anything new on the FCC's type acceptance site.

3's

Greg

Post by **1206FL** » August 10th, 2015, 1:08 pm

It's a copy of the anytone/Lincoln 2 board to the T! Same radio as the Lincoln 2 with cobra 148 stamped on the outside and some knobs changed.

Post by **1206FL** » August 10th, 2015, 1:09 pm

And yeah I would think they would be gearing toward the 29lx maybe with Bluetooth and such. What the inside will look like is the million dollar question.

Post by **MDYoungblood** » August 10th, 2015, 2:45 pm

The "YouTube" I saw of the Cobra 148GTL "INTL" looks classic Cobra 148GTL but has FM on the mode switch, it resembles the the Jackson II (same size case) more than the Lincoln II or the Anytone. To use that board inside a Cobra case it would have to be made longer and wider.

If you have an inside pic, post it, I'm curious to see it. I found this pic on the net but it's not a Cobra as stated, it's a Anytone AT-5555N, the black bezel is a dead give a way, look closely at the bottom of the pic, there are buttons where the knobs should be.

3's

Greg

Post by **Coyoteman** » August 10th, 2015, 5:18 pm

How would a RCI 2950 compare to this cobra 148 international

Post by **MDYoungblood** » August 10th, 2015, 6:17 pm

Coyoteman wrote:How would a RCI 2950 compare to this cobra 148 international

To me there is no comparison. Even a new 2950 is better than that Cobra.

3's

Greg

Post by **1206FL** » August 10th, 2015, 7:08 pm

Post by **1206FL** » August 10th, 2015, 7:20 pm

Pretty darn close to the Anytone and Lincoln 2 PCB. Look closely at the anytone and the cobra 148int. It's the same board pretty well as far as I can see.

Post by **MDYoungblood** » August 10th, 2015, 8:09 pm

I did a little editing to your post, that Tapatalk image poster has much to be desired, it would be best just to post the link like I did.

Out of all those pics I still didn't see anything to tell it was the Cobra, the blue board is a Lincoln II for sure, I've seen a few, but that wide flat ribbon in the front center of the rest tells me they all have LCD display's and I didn't see the chrome bezel of the Cobra. In the spec's that Tioga23p posted it says it's a PLL circuit, not a CPU, and being only 80 channels it wouldn't be worth it. I'm willing to bet it's an old junker board found in some old Chinese warehouse along with bezels and cases, they threw them together, renamed them to make a quick buck just from reading those spec's. With selling them is South America we will probably never see them here.
Sorry Tioga23p, I think I highjacked your topic enough.

3's

Greg

Post by **Tioga23p** » August 10th, 2015, 10:00 pm

MDYoungblood wrote: Sorry Tioga23p, I think I highjacked your topic enough.

3's

Greg

That's fine with me! I learn from everything you write, and from those knowledgeable folk who respond.

Thanks for your input!

Dave

Post by **1206FL** » August 11th, 2015, 5:07 am

That board on the bottom of the post numbered 2/2 is the cobra 148int board. Like I said they are very similar if you read the other info I posted it states while the Lincoln has an LCD display and ctss and vox, the cobra 148 has analog features, but it is set with the addition and removal of components for defining the resources that the equip. will have and for the purpose it will serve. And it's the green board SMD PCB. I was just posting this as in regards to the post that Tioga23p started which was the discontinuing of the cobra 148 here state side. And that its very possible we will see something very similar here, but more like the 29LX. I am not a tech nor a pro at radios, so please don't flame me. I was just passing info forward that I had seen, that is all. I really think they would he working on one with an LCD display and such and it would be nice if they were made like the uniden's. No need to mess with them much. Just build them with better components like the final and driver and such. Just wishing is all. But real IDK crap about radios much other than what I read and see from other posts elsewhere as well as here. I know my radios and that is about it. And even the one I use now Icom 746 I am still learning things about it all the time and I do read the manual often!! Anyway. Let the thread continue. Tioga23p, if you are right and they are truly discontinued, I'm sure they won't leave that gap open for long as that is the only SSB radio they have!!

Post by **Rabbit Ears** » August 11th, 2015, 8:02 am

As far as radios go.....

..... Yup, on the RCI2950 *as long as it keeps working*! Ranger has some quality control issues to iron out.

So I opted for the HR2510 and poured some money into it.

Tough bugger!!

Still..........as new goes.... The Magnum 257HP

Post by **Tioga23p** » August 11th, 2015, 10:11 pm

Cobra responded to my inquiry about the eventual availability of the 148 GTL INTL in the U.S, and the discontinuation of the 148 GTL:

“No. Please note, regulations in the U.S. are different than internationally. However the 148 GTL is still available here: https://www.cobra.com/product ... al/148-gtl

So, they did not dispute that the 148 GTL is being discontinued. They did attach a link to their own website, where the radio can be purchased directly from Cobra or from two online purveyors who (at this point) still have them in stock.

I realize that few real CB enthusiasts seem to care about the demise of the Chinese-made 148 GTL, but I think that many are interested to see what Cobra trots out to replace it.

Let the speculation continue!

Post by **1206FL** » August 12th, 2015, 4:22 am

Yep, be nice to see what they do come out with or if they will just phase that radio out. Any mention of a new SSB radio? If they do come out with one I think you'll see one like the one at the top that I posted, single final and just 40 channel and/or a 29lx version of the 148. I almost would like to see the 29lx layout with SSB. Will have to wait and see.

Post by **MDYoungblood** » August 12th, 2015, 5:28 pm

Just so happens the 2 online stores on the link are sponsors to the forum. Mention that your a forum member if your buying from them.

3's

Greg

Post by **Tioga23p** » August 12th, 2015, 7:36 pm

Do they offer us any kind of special deal?

Post by **MDYoungblood** » August 12th, 2015, 7:49 pm

At this time I'm not sure but it sure wouldn't hurt to ask. Positive feedback to a sponsor would in turn give them more business.

3's

Greg

southwind · Post by **southwind** » August 12th, 2015, 11:27 pm

I'm glad I have one I bought new prior 2000, still keep in original box/packing , only used sparingly. What a fine radiom too bad their discontinuing if that's true.

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Cobra 148 GTL Discontinued?

Cobra 148 GTL Discontinued?

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