Cobra 139 23 channel--Price?

[BobCB]

Just wondering, how much should I offer someone for a 23 channel Cobra 139 base unit? Guy said make an offer. I was thinking $20-25 just because even though it's a base unit, it's still only 23 channels. Any suggestions? Is there anything notable about these radios?

[Night Crawler]

You should tell him to pay you to take it only kidding low ball him offer him $10 to $15 but go up to $20 or $25 if that's what you want to spend.
Actually it's a well built radio and cost nearly $400 when new as far it's being only 23 channels with the addition of some crystals or a VFO it's capable going up to channel 40 and above or below channel 1.

[BobCB]

Guy said he was wanting $50 but would take $40. I don't know, that seems kind of high for a 23 channel base unit, may pass on this one but I'm not sure.

[Night Crawler]

I'd pass

[Nagant]

Unless it's mint, as in looks like new or is actually new, I'm with Night Crawler. Pass!

That's coming from a guy that collects vintage radios as well.

[BobCB]

I went ahead and passed on it. From the pic he showed me it looks like it had seen its fair share of use. He said that there was someone else who was interested in it at $50-more power to 'em. I'm not paying top price for a used 23 channel rig that I'm probably not going to use that much to begin with.

[BobCB]

Guy came down to $35 and this time the price includes an Astatic D-104. Should I go for it now?

[radiocheck]

Tell him you will give him 5 for the Mic and sell it to me. I like to collect 23 channel bases that are mint or near mint. I don't like the ones that smell like a mouse has lived in it

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

[Nagant]

At $35 with a D104 I feel it's a decent price if the D104 looks good and works correctly. A standard TUG8 stand with D104 head that looks nice sells for $30 to $40 on eBay if it hasn't been badly painted or modified.

[dirtyjob]

you should buy it if the mic is in decent shape as stated and as im sure you realize the mic "in good shape" is worth the 35.00, your bonus would be the radio you could later sell for 40 bucks

[BobCB]

The D-104 and the radio both look to be in very good condition. The only thing about the mic is that it has a 1/4 inch plug wired onto it, but I've got a 4 pin that I can solder on instead. I'm meeting up with the guy tomorrow to pick everything up. I've never had a D-104 before, and picking up another base unit is always a plus! Now I just need to figure out where I can get some crystals for it, so I can get up past channel 23(even though I'll probably use it on ch.16 most).

[Nagant]

The Cobra likely uses a mixing crystal system and therefore crystal swapping isn't going to be easy nor practical. An external VFO would be your best bet to pickup the channels above 23.

[Nagant]

Something I just thought of. There is a possibility the D104 might be on a non-powered G stand since it has a 1/4 phono plug. If so it's won't sound right on the Cobra. I'll try to explain why.

D104's use high impedance mic elements. Those mics elements alone work great on tube radios because they generally require a high impedance mic. A D104 head mounted on a powered stand works well on low impedance transistor CB's because the adjustable amp in the base acts as an impedance matcher. Therefore in most cases the powered versions can be made to work on a majority of radios but a D104 head on a non-powered Astatic G stand, or other brand non-powered stand, won't work well on a transistor radio requiring a low impedance mic.

If the sticker identifying the mic stand is missing then you can look at the bottom of it for a recessed mic gain control. If there isn't one it's a non-powered stand. Even if it is I wouldn't let that sway you away from the buy as those non-powered G stands are quite desirable to the right people and sell well on eBay.

[BobCB]

Weird, the guy said it was a T-UG8 amplified. Hopefully it won't be a G-stand, because I'd like to keep it and find some kind of use for it, but if it is, I can at least make my money back on it.

I'm also hoping to find a VFO, like you said. I've seen how well these do with older 23 channel rigs. Anything I should be on the look out for if I ever find one for sale?

Hey, at the most I'll have a cool older base unit and a D-104, and at the very least I'll have a nice vintage rig and can make my money back for the purchase using the D-104.

[Nagant]

Sounds like it's definitely on an amplified stand since he even mentioned it's a TUG8 stand. My initial concern was over the fact it had a phono plug. In my experience stands with phono plugs can be either and therefore I thought I'd mention the possibility.

[Sporty Mike]

Cool find there Bobby!! I'm curious to hear that D-104 on air after you change the plug.



Mike

[BobCB]

Went and picked everything up. The D-104 is absolutely flawless, even came with the original packaging and paperwork. It is a T-UG8 and has 4 wires, wired to a 1/4 inch plug. I personally think it alone was worth the $35. The Cobra 139 on the other hand-not so great. It looks great, but it doesn't transmit. I can see the internal mod meter swinging when I key up, but it has absolutely zero transmit power. Any ideas as to what I can do to fix this(not taking it to a shop, that's for sure)?

[Nagant]

With the box and all the D104 is definitely worth more than the whole purchase price.

Does the 139 go into TX? Can a radio turned on next to it on the same channel receive some signal and possibly some audio from it?

[BobCB]

With the box and all the D104 is definitely worth more than the whole purchase price.

Does the 139 go into TX? Can a radio turned on next to it on the same channel receive some signal and possibly some audio from it?

I can't pick up anything on another radio or a scanner even when its right next to the 139. No output into a meter either. I can, however, hear the relay click over inside the radio when I key up.

[Nagant]

It's likely not going to be an easy fix as the TX problem is probably further up the TX line from the driver and final. I'd start by seeing if you have the proper voltages for the pre-driver, driver, and final. Then I'd probably start with making sure the input mixed signal is making into and down the TX line.

Your 139 is in Howard W. Sams CB Photofact 59. I don't have that volume or I'd scan the 139 part and email it to you. At one time I had all the Sams manuals but i sold them when I got out of the hobby back in the early 2000's and since getting back into it I've only acquired a small number of them.

Maybe The CB Doctor will chime in with some better trouble shooting info than I've been able to supply.

[BobCB]

It's likely not going to be an easy fix as the TX problem is probably further up the TX line from the driver and final. I'd start by seeing if you have the proper voltages for the pre-driver, driver, and final. Then I'd probably start with making sure the input mixed signal is making into and down the TX line.

Uh-oh. I have a feeling this is going to require equipment I don't have. It sure seems like any time I ever get an old base, it never fails that it has some kind of weird problem.

[Sporty Mike]

Bobby , the D-104 sounded great on air....get rid of the skip and it will be a killer local. Great audio, super score on that mic!!



Mike

[BobCB]

Bobby , the D-104 sounded great on air....get rid of the skip and it will be a killer local. Great audio, super score on that mic!!



Mike

Thanks. Hopefully my Palomar isn't toast!