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McKinley Philli? or Cobra 148 Maylasia??

CB590

CB590

W9WDX Member
Jun 29, 2016
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Trenton Nj
www.590dx.com
Found an older McKinley silver face for $110 with channel mods, and an early 90's Cobra 148 Malaysia for $150 (guy has 20+ for sale in various mods and origins).. I opted to request a stock 148 and not a.modded one ad I thought $175 was steep for one and who knows if it's hacked. He did say he is checking each radio before offering them up and said the Maylasia one was used as a base. I know Taiwan is the oldest then Philli..

I already have the Ranger 296DX which I think is almost the same as the Contact 148 as far as performance as there both Maylasia made...

Thoughts? I know both have MB8719 pll..
 

Can't go wrong with the 148. I am currently using my 148 as a station monitor with no antenna and headphones to help me keep my modulation in check. The picture shows a cobra 29 but I replaced it with the 148. Right in the front of the desk work surface.


IMG_20190306_210238052.jpg
 
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More like Cobra 142, Uniden Washington, Tram D300 and similar single-conversion SSB models.

The 148 is a bit more sophisticated, with a separate AM-only IF section, typically described as "dual conversion". Not a big difference. Using the same receiver filters for AM and for SSB makes the bandwidth of the receiver a bit tight for AM and a bit wide for SSB. Simpler construction made it the cheaper model in its day.

Transmitter is pretty much identical in all the 40-channel Uniden-made SSB CB models of the day. Biggest difference is in the receiver design.

73
 
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nomadradio said:
More like Cobra 142, Uniden Washington, Tram D300 and similar single-conversion SSB models.

The 148 is a bit more sophisticated, with a separate AM-only IF section, typically described as "dual conversion". Not a big difference. Using the same receiver filters for AM and for SSB makes the bandwidth of the receiver a bit tight for AM and a bit wide for SSB. Simpler construction made it the cheaper model in its day.

Transmitter is pretty much identical in all the 40-channel Uniden-made SSB CB models of the day. Biggest difference is in the receiver design.

73
Click to expand...

So the McKinley is similar to say a PC122 type receiver?

I'm just wondering if the McKinley with a fresh tune-up would be a good deal at $100..

Or would it be a total waste as compared to my Malaysia TR-296DX that currently is working steller..
 
The PC122 is a later design with a different PLL chip. Not as easy to expand as this radio.

Different transmitter setup, as well.

The 5-pin mike socket is the one thing the older Uniden-made SSB CB radios have in common.

Radios built with a 4-pin socket are different from them on the inside.

73
 
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I have two silver face McKinleys and I like them, i also have two 148 gtls. I like the 148 a little bit better. On ssb I don’t really think you would notice any difference. The 148 is supposed to have better am receive performance, from everything iv ever read
 
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