Cobra C75WXST CB Radio

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I've been wanting to put a CB in my truck, but with the 5-sp I can't seem to find a place for it. While I was checking the different CB manufactures I came accross a CB that Cobra makes, the C75WXST. It is a remote mount unit where the mic has all the control right in it. The remote unit can be mounted under the dash, seat or where ever. This way you don't have a problem trying to find a place on the floor or dash for the CB to mount to, you just have a mic to hang where ever you want. Does anyone know anything about this radio? I haven't had a CB for years, however you use to be able to boost the power from 4 watts up to around 12-18 and in some cases more. Can this be done with this radio?

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99 Quad Cab, White, SLT, 4x4, 5-sp, 3:54's, LSD, Loaded except cab lights and leather, Raven cap (cab high), Rhino liner, Stainless Nerf Bars, Stainless Rocker Panels, Tow package, Pro-flap mud flaps (Stainless Cummins "C" coming to add to rear flaps), Power Edge (my first BOMB), Valentine One, Amsoil throughout.

Things to come;

Hadley Bully Air Horns, 285/75R16 Cooper A/T's, SPA Pyro and Boost gauge, 4" exhaust system, DDIII's, Scotty Air Filter, Cobra 75WXST CB Radio (this is the remote mount with all the controls in the mic)

 

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Bob, there is not a whole lot that can be done to the Cobra 75. Being that everything is in the handset. It will talk okay provided that you use a high quality antenna. the radio only hears and talks but the antenna tells you how far you will hear and talk. To be able to increase the audio out put you would need to move up to a Cobra 25 or Cobra 29. Uniden PC68XL is a top self radio and with a proper tune up will really talk. regards Pete

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99'3500,quad cab,4X4,a/t
3:54,all the right packages!PROPER VALVEMENT

 

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Bob,

If you can find an older Cobra 148GTL for a fair price, they too can be tuned-up to perform nicely. I don't have my truck yet (see sig) but one of the first mods will be the CB install (148GTL) along with a 4' Valor or FireStick whip(saved from my previous truck, tweak'd & freq'd). I was REALLY into CB's at one time, still have a 142GTL base, 2000GTL base and a pair of 148GTL's.
Has anyone found a decent CB mounting location or antenna mount? I 'll be a "Sport" so the mount won't go through the bumper as is normally the case.

Mick2500

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2001 2500 ETH/DEE, QuadCab, 4X4, SB, LSD, 3. 54, SLT+, Sport, Intense Blue PC/Agate, Tow Package, Camper Package, 'DC' Bed Cover, Sliding rear window. Ordered 5/01/00... Cancelled 5/30/00... re-ordered 6/02/00... Cancelled again by DC 6/05/00
Gauges (EGT/Boost) and A-Pillar mount Here, 4" Exhaust, Here.

 

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Had same problem with my 2000 ram 6 speed i found a post on hoe to make a mounting plate out of wood that fits very nice under the middle seat easy to make covered it with the same leather as the seat never know its there.
But the c. b. has a front speaker on it but you could use a bottom speaker c. b. and plug in a aux. speaker.

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DODGE Y2k 3500 4X4
Dark Garnet Red,SLT PLUS, loaded ,6 speed ,4. 10 rear end,leather heated power seats,power everything,C. D. player,trailer towing package,midland C. B. radio,camper package,
line-x spray in bedliner,nerf bars, smoothy cup holder,step shields,billet aluminum dress up.
Not B. O. M. B. yet

 

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Gentlemen, I purchased a CB mount made by one of our own TDR Members Mike Brolin, just two/three months ago. In fact I think I got the first one he made for a Y2K 5 Speed and it is great, no joke. He did a great job on it. It sits just in front of the middle seat (Shifting is not a problem at all)and its secured/mounted to bolts and nuts currently in your vehicle. No hole drill in your rig and access by the driver or passenger, no problem. Its built stout too. His email is mbrolin103@aol.com . I am currently using a Cobra Model 18 WX ST and have had it for two years, no problems. Radio works just fine. Good luck on whatever you do. I cannot remember the price but it was very reasonable and I didn't have to put holes in my rig or change radios.

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Y2K RAM 2500 4X4 QC LWB Patriot Blue 5-Speed 3. 54 Anti-spin rear axle Trlr. Tow & Camper Packages & Westin Nerfs

 

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Bob the Cobra C75 is a decent little radio if space is your concern, however this radio cannot be modified in anyway. Also the cord coax from the radio down to the plug in box is pretty stiff as it is about 50% thicker than a standard coax. I'm running a RCI-2950 in my truck (auto) and since I don't use the ashtray I just mounted the thing right over the ashtray. Still plenty of leg room for me and with the Wilson 1000 mag mount it works great. I've heard of some people removing their cup holder and putting the radio there.

 

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I have this CB, and it works just fine. I agree with Big Wheel, a remote speaker makes a world of difference. The box that the mike plugs into has a jack for a remote speaker. I installed my speaker at the top of the plastic B-pillar trim where it meets the headliner, on the left side, so it's behind and above my head. You can find a remote speaker at any CB store or most truckstops.
Andy

 

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BIG BOB---I've been doing a bunch of research on CB's lately, and have found the following. Cobra is an office in Chicago, no mfg. All their radios are made by someone else. Some of the line is made overseas, the top of the line is made by Uniden, who, by the way, makes most CB radios, with different names on them. The Uniden PC68LTW I am told, is a good unit, AND is tweakable-. BUT--if you want a really good radio, Go to export radios.com and look around. The PC 68 is in there, just below the unident President Grant. (CB radio area). In the EXPORT RADIO area, there are some super radios available, not much more than a tweaked standard cb radio, and will do 30/40 watts! The RCI, I understand is a great choice. I'm like you, haven't had a CB since the 70's, and am having a hard time making up my mind just what I want. As above, contact Mike Brolin for the mount, it bolts to the seat bolts in the center area of the "hump". He'll also drill the top plate however you want it, you may need to send him your bracket. For the money, the "EXPORT" radios are the only way to go--IMHO. Hope I helped. Ron

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2001 QC Dually SLT+ 354 LSD AUTO 4WD Driftwood SS Railcaps Stainless Werks step-rail nerfs Rhino spray-in liner Aux B/U lites Diamond Plate Alum Highways tow box SS Fender lips Jardine 4" Mag-Hytec diff & transmission Alcoa classics Reese 20K hitch 28ft Holiday Rambler 5er w/slide 84 Scrambler 4" lift 33/12. 50's 4. 56 gears soft locker/trac-lok Built 258 w/Mopar fuel injection conversion BUILDING 66-442 Olds, ground up--OH BABY! NRA 25 YEAR MEMBER

 

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QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS:

What exactly is meant by "EXPORT" radios?
After looking at the www.exportradios.com website (as well as others) I have narrowed my selection down to two different radios: the Cobra 75WXST (compact/remote mount) or the Midland 79-290 (face off style). The latter raises three other questions:
1) what is meant by peaked and tuned? ($15. addl. )
2) what is meant by turbo tuned? ($25. more than peaked and tuned)
and 3) for an extra $29. 99 you can have 6 bands, export channels added. What's that, and is it worth it?
In addition to the "20 questions", are any and/or all of these radio modifications legal?
If that wasn't enough, are there any opinions regarding the two radios I previously listed? I was also interested in the Cobra 29NWSTLE (limited edition NightWatch model) I saw on the www.electronicsoutpost.com website. Any comments or words of wisdom?

Also, has anyone used the Firestik brand "Designer Roof Mount [No-Ground Plane] CB Antenna Kit"? Does it work? I'm considering the installation of this on my fiberglass canopy (if I ever get it back from Glasstite).

Thank you in advance, John (in the dark... been out of the CB scene for about 15 years #ad
)

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'98. 5 2500 QC 4x4, (BLACK) SLT Sport, ISB, LWB, 3. 54 LSD, A/T, Glasstite Vision II canopy, Line-X spray in liner, 285/75R16 BFG A/Ts on 16x8 M/T Challengers, Warn 4X Boards, Mopar fender flares, front and rear NW Custom stainless steel/rubber mud flaps, Mag-Hytec diff. cover and trans. pan, Edelbrock IAS shocks, Mopar tow hooks, Reese Titan V hitch, Jordan Research Ultima 2020 trailer brake controller, VDO Vision gauges, '00 Sport grille, '00 Sport headlights with PIAA Super White 9007/9004 bulbs, 4-2-7+4 Brite-Box, PIAA Dual Sport 900 auxiliary lights, BD exhaust brake and TorqLoc, Prime-Loc fuel filter relocation kit, Bosch 275 hp. injectors, VA CPC, DD Boost Module, Banks Stinger wastegate actuator, BLACK '00 valve cover, Banks Stinger 4" dia. stainless steel exhaust system, BD LV V-10/Cummins hybrid TC and valve body, BD modified transmission front pump and PressureLoc, Air Bulldog induction hood (with NACA ducts), plus many other trick modifications

[This message has been edited by John (edited 07-18-2000). ]

 

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I run a peaked and tuned Cobra 29 Classic w/ a Palomar 225 box behind it and two trucker style 5. 5' fiberglass gel coated whips. It talks really well. Just a barefoot Cobra 29 peaked and tuned will push in the 30 to 40 watt range. The biggest thing you have to watch for is the SWR's. On a lot of these cheap antennaes they are not tunable, and if your SWR's are too high, it doesn't matter how much power you have, you won't be able to talk. As far as a top of the line radio, the best out there IMO are Galaxy radios. These are closer to being a ham radio than a plain CB, but my neighbor is an OTR trucker and is pushing about 2000-2500 watts through his. He can talk! A 4x4 mag did an article about installing a Cobra in a Dodge pickup a few months back, I'll try to find the correct issue. They pulled the screws out of the overhead console and mounted a Cobra bracket there, worked great. That's where mine will go. You run your wires under the headliner and down the A-pillar. You can attach a mic holder to the screw that holds the CB to the bracket or you can bungee it to the rearview mirror like the truckers do.
Hope this helps.
Nathan

 

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BIG BOB,
I run the Cobra unit you are considering. The mic IS THE CB! It is great for the weather and yapping with people close by. It is not fancy and the only problem I (also my son-in-law who runs one) have, is the squelch just doesn't seem to work as good as the "real" cbs. I turn mine so I don't hear anyone unless they are on top of me and that's the way I like it. If you are a CB kinda guy, go for something better!
It's great for running with your buddys but maybe not for enthusiast... ... ... .
Also, my hook up comes from under the drivers seat and the mic (cb) sticks on my cup smoothie from Geno's. Usually I throw the mic (cb) under the seat until I want to use it... ... ... .
not an enthusiast, but happy... ...

 

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I guess I should have started a new thread instead of posting to the bottom of this archived one. Dazed and #ad


Can anyone respond to the questions I posted above under QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS, three posts ago?

Thanks for your response Jerry_the_king. You by chance wouldn't be Jerry the King Ruth would you?

 

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What exactly is meant by "EXPORT" radios?

1) what is meant by peaked and tuned? ($15. addl. )
2) what is meant by turbo tuned? ($25. more than peaked and tuned)
and
3) for an extra $29. 99 you can have 6 bands, export channels added. What's that, and is it worth it?
In addition to the "20 questions", are any and/or all of these radio modifications legal?
Also, has anyone used the Firestik brand "Designer Roof Mount [No-Ground Plane] CB Antenna Kit"? Does it work? I'm considering the installation of this on my fiberglass canopy (if I ever get it back from Glasstite).

[/B][/QUOTE]

John,

I haven't been into CB for about 20+ years, but with my limited knowledge I will try and answer some of your questions.

#1 Peak and tuned. Power level is turned up and I think they may adjust the receiving or EARs also.

#2 Don't know what the difference is.

#3 Most of the Export channels are for overseas usage. Probably not alot of people using them in the states. I believe that they are illegal in the states.

Modifications legal? No, any modification above 4 watts Am (standard CB) and 12 watts SSB (Single side band) are illegal.

There is a mount made specially for the Rams that mount under the lip of the hood to a fender bolt. I run co-phased (2) antennas (Power Sticks, I don't think you can but them any more, channel 1 I have a 1:2 match, channel 40 I have a 1:3 match and channel 19 I have a flat match) mounted on each side of the truck with these mounts. It is a real clean mount. I also have quick releases on the antennas for quick removal for car washes or when I need to work on the truck. Need to use the fender bolts in front of your radio (music) antenna, otherwise the CB antenna is too close to the radio antenna and you will get noise from each other. I also have a Raven Cap so mounting in back of the cab was out of the question.

The FireSticks are good antennas, get the ones with the tunable tips.

Hope this helps.

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99 Quad Cab, White, SLT, 4x4, 5-sp, 3:54's, LSD, Loaded except cab lights and leather, Raven cap (cab high), Rhino liner, Stainless Nerf Bars, Stainless Rocker Panels, Tow package, Pro-flap mud flaps (Stainless Cummins "C" coming to add to rear flaps), Power Edge (my first BOMB), Valentine One, Amsoil throughout, CB Radio.

Things to come;

Hadley Bully Air Horns, 285/75R16 Cooper A/T's, SPA Pyro and Boost gauge, 4" exhaust system, DDIII's, Psychotty Air Filter.

NRA Life Member! (Need to protect our rights and FREEDOM!!)

 

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Let's see 2500 watts... 12 volts... that's about 200 amps!!

 

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Okay John here goes.
#1 Peak and tune: this means that the factory settings are checked and if the dead key wattage is low the tech will turn up the power to around 4 or 5 watts. ( Anything more than this is just beating up the final transistor with no real gain in modulated power. )Thats peak. To tune the radio you are adjusting to the frequency, meaning some radios may be alittle off the center of the band and by aligning it you send and receive better.
#2 This is a free extra $10. 00 for the shop, unless they are actually modifiying the audio circuit. Some just cut the diode in the audio circuit and tell you its super tuned.
#3 This is a hard one because I know of no kit to give you 6 complete xtra bands of 40 channels each. It is really cheaper and a far better product to buy a radio designed with the extra channels already in it. Plus an added benifit is that most export radios have a higher output final than your Cobras, Midlands or Unidens will have.
Hope this helps, I'm no expert but working a couple of days a week in a CB shop does have it advantages #ad
#ad
My other hobby besides this truck is a '87 Suburban with those big funny looking coiled antennas on the roof that talks world wide!! Regards Pete

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99'3500,quad cab,4X4,a/t
3:54,all the right packages!PROPER VALVEMENT

 

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Go for the gusto! . . Get a Galaxy DX99V . . and you'll be happy you did ... Ask the truckers ... they'll tell ya! Then cut a hole in your roof and mount a Wilson 1000 ant up there. If you want to have even more fun ... add a linear!

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'95 2500 Stretch 4X4, Auto, 265/75/16, white. TST #5 250/635 plate, 215/230 injectors, Pschotty Air, Cummins chrome, BD Valve Body, Pro-torque LS convertor, mystery switch, JRE 4" turbo to tailpipe w/ monster tip, ISSPRO boost and pyro, Grover air horns, Pioneer CD system, Galaxy 99 CB w/ 400 linear, nerf bars, Rancho 9000's, 8K tag-a-long RV ... Life is Good!!

 

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John--I too will try to answer your questions. 1)peaked & tuned=make sure radio is putting out the 4 watts it's supposed to. Some radios don't even put out 4 watts. 2)turbotuned=components are changed inside radio to increase wattage output, but not grossly. 3)export channels=are like extra sideband channels, I believe on wavelength other than standard cb. 4)LEGAL? NO,--BUT, I understand that the FCC is "looking the other way", on this application. To quote some truckers--"everybodys doing it". Have heard of NO ONE getting "busted". 5)Cobra 29--in years gone past--was "the" radio. I am told Uniden makes it now for Cobra, as Cobra manufactures nothing. For a "striaght" cb radio, a Uniden PC 68 or 78 is damn hard to beat, and can be turbotuned to work REALLY well. 6)Wilson=="the antenna" I am told. It can be removed, installed without losing your swr match. The firestiks I understand won't do this. Wilson makes all mounting options, including magnetic. Have the best reputation for "getting out" and repeatability. ME? I have a Wilson 1000, DRILLED A HOLE IN MY ROOF, pulled the headliner down, routed the cable to under drivers seat. Bought Brother Mike Brolins Mount, and am awaiting delivery on a RCI 2950 as we speak. AND YES, THERE WAS A VERY STRONG "PUCKER FACTOR" WHEN I STUCK THE HOLE SAW NEAR THE ROOF OF MY TRUCK!!!!!!! BUT--It's the only way to insure the BEST possible function of your antenna system. Hope this helps---Ron

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2001 QC Dually SLT+ 354 LSD AUTO 4WD Driftwood SS Railcaps Stainless Werks step-rail nerfs Rhino spray-in liner Aux B/U lites Diamond Plate Alum Highways tow box SS Fender lips Jardine 4" Mag-Hytec diff & transmission Alcoa classics Reese 20K hitch 28ft Holiday Rambler 5er w/slide 84 Scrambler 4" lift 33/12. 50's 4. 56 gears soft locker/trac-lok Built 258 w/Mopar fuel injection conversion BUILDING 66-442 Olds, ground up--OH BABY! NRA 25 YEAR MEMBER

 

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My best advice, and this is just my opinion, if you want a radio that will talk reasonably well, is to go to a couple of CB shops (NOT Radio Shack). These are usually located at truckstops. Tell them what you are looking for. Just a couple of things to remember, from my experiences:

1. Get a tunable radio, brand is up to you. Cobra and Uniden make good all around radios. If you want top of the line, get a Galaxy (model number 9 something, not sure)

2. Get a good tunable antennae, preferably the kind with screws or something in the top so they can be adjusted. If you get the cut off kind and you cut too much, you are screwed. Most CB shops will check your SWR's free.

3. Make sure you have a very good ground, with no engine or radio noise. The best radio in the world won't work worth a $%@! with a bad ground.

4. Remember, 4 watts is all that is legal. You can have as many watts as you are willing to pay for, but it is expensive and illegal. You have to get pushers and linears and a bunch of other related stuff. On most good radios you can run a small linear without many probs, 100-200 watts.

To reply to a few other posts, I am not Jerry the King Ruth (not even sure who that is) My name is Nathan, but I use the JTK name b/c I am from West TN, the home of Jerry "The King" Lawler. I'm not the world's biggest rasslin fan, but most people have heard of him and know about where I am. It was him or Elvis and I like Lawler better. Nothing against Elvis, just not my style of music.

Also, I wondered about the wattage on my neighbors CB too, until he showed me the 8, that's right, 8 Truck batteries he has mounted on his truck to push his radio. That Peterbuilt can TALK!

I'm not a CB expert, but I enjoy using them. I know a lot of the other posters have more technical info then I do, but I hope this has helped.

Remember, a good radio, good antennae, good ground, and a good CB shop should fix you up.

 

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Also, for information from the industry that uses CB's on a daily basis, try following this link:
http://www.truck.net/cgi-bin/bbs/forumdisplay. cgi?action=topics&forum=The+Electronic+Forum+%28Interactive%29&number=30&DaysPrune=1000&SUBMIT=Go

They have a lot of CB info over there.



[This message has been edited by Jerry_the_king (edited 07-19-2000). ]

 

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Thanks for all the great info. guys! #ad


Jerry_the _king: Jerry (the King) Ruth was a legendary Top fuel racer in the late '60s and on into the '70s. Oops, showin' my age here.