Clarifier Range of a Cobra 148 GTL

[Pontiac787]

Does anyone know what the clarifier range is on a 148 GTL made in the Philipine?s

[TheCBDoctor]

Hi Pontiac787

It depends on the modification. If it is done fully it can do 10 KHz. Many times the radio will be set up so it will go down 10 KHz in one direction (that would be 1 channel).

I don't leave the varactor diode unprotected. I leave some resistance to ground and do not cut D75. I get about 4 KHz down and about 3 KHz up. The range will vary with the radio. This chassis will give the most range out of all the radios I have modified. I would rather add a 10 KHz switch and have a 5 KHz range in one direction. That is one half of a channel. This comes in handy when talking to Hams and free-banders that like to talk on the even frequencies and drop the 5 KHz

(ie: Channel 20= 27.2050 MHz..... down 5 Khz = 27.2000)

[Pontiac787]

Thanks. I should have specified that I meant what will it do stock.

[Black Lightning]

Thanks. I should have specified that I meant what will it do stock.

+/-~1.5kHz.

[Pontiac787]

Thanks!

[TheCBDoctor]

Hi Pontiac787

According to Sam's Photo Facts # 251 the frequency span of the clarifier is 27.03639 to 27.06360 MHz stock with the center at 27.20500 Mhz on channel 20 AM.

I'll let you do the math.

[Twink]

According to Sam's Photo Facts # 251 the frequency span of the clarifier is 27.03639 to 27.06360 MHz stock with the center at 27.20500 Mhz on channel 20 AM.

if 27.20500mhz is the center, how does it span from 27.03639 to 27.06360? if it's on ch20, you can span from ch 7 to ch 9? i don't understand. on ch 20 my cobra 148F gtl spans from 27.204 to 27.207, with 27.205 being the center. my 148F GTL on the base spans from 27.197 to 27.213 with 27.205 being the center. yeah it's cool to be able to span like that, but it sucks when you're trying to tune someone in on ssb cuz it's so touchy.

[Black Lightning]

Hi Pontiac787

According to Sam's Photo Facts # 251 the frequency span of the clarifier is 27.03639 to 27.06360 MHz stock with the center at 27.20500 Mhz on channel 20 AM.

I'll let you do the math.

1st the numbers don't make sense and second the #251 is for a Cobra 2000 which has a dual clarifier pot. Also, those numbers are the FCC max allowable off-center, not what the clarifier does. Stock, it's plus/minus 1.5kHz from center.

[TheCBDoctor]

Hey Guys

The Cobra 148 GTL and the Cobra 2000 GTL are the exact same radio. The information that was provided was straight from the service manual. The question was what does the clarifier do unmodified? I gave the answer according to the manual. I also gave the specifics of what it is capable of doing after a modification.

I gave the modified capabilities first and was told "I meant unmodified" I then gave the range that Sams Photo Facts provided and still can not make anyone happy. Did we all get out of the wrong side of the bed this morning?

Sams Photo Facts are the best reversed engineered schematics ever published; unlike the ones that come from the manufacturer that read like Chinese Algebra.

The Cobra 148F is not the same chassis, so I can not give the specifics for that radio. The bottom line: Modified the Cobra 148 and the Cobra 2000 GTL will slide 10 KHz. It does what it does unmodified from the factory, according to the best CB publication on the planet; Sams Photo Facts.

If anyone wants to dispute what Howard W. Sams & Co. Inc states please take it up with Howard (he is deceased) I think you will lose that debate.

Respectfully