Just picked up a Cobra 29 LTD WX classic radio. I really dont find much use for CB anymore. But for a couple bucks, I liked the look of this radio and the weather band is a big plus.
Over the years I have had several Cobra CBs. I swear everyone of them has at least one bad digit on their LED readout. This one does also. Cobra made darn good radios, but did they use bad readout boards or what?
A friend of mine's brother in law summed it up best. "Pay s*it, get s*it."
I have one may have been replaced, bright blue, really bright on high. Overdriving can diminish life.
Greg
+1000
Looking on youtube, it seems this is a very common problem with these radios. Cobra made great cb radios, but must have used crappy readout chips.I only have one digit out so im just gonna leave it. Its the low vertical segment on the number 2.
My Cobra has been sitting on the shelf unused for 19 years. Every so often, I energize it and check output and frequency to make sure it is still working and in spec. It is an original 148 GTL made in the Philippines, not the newer crap out of China. There is a difference because I picked up a Chinese made one at a yard sale within the last seven years and it was a very poor performer compared to the originals. Anyway, at some point, I have had to replace the LED on almost every radio I've ever owned but I eventually got smarter and began adding a resistor to dim the display if there wasn't already a bright dim switch present. Made a big difference to keep the LED's dimmed if for no other reason than to extend life. After several replacements and a learning curve, I always ran them on dim after that.
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