Cobra 2000 GTL AM/SSB Citizen Band Base Station

Technical Specifications

Core Specifications

• Channels: 40 Channels
• Frequency Range: 26.965 to 27.405 MHz
• Modes of Operation: AM, USB (Upper Sideband), LSB (Lower Sideband)
• Frequency Control: Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) synthesizer circuit utilizing the MB8719 / MB8734 chip architecture.
• Power Output: 4 Watts AM / 12 Watts PEP (Peak Envelope Power) for SSB.
• Power Source: Internal 13.8V DC power supply running off a standard AC power cord (includes secondary 12V/13.8V DC terminals on the back for backup battery operation).
• Microphone Jack: 5-pin unique connector layout.

Key Visual & Mechanical Features

• Cabinet: Distinctive faux-woodgrain console housing featuring chrome trim accents.
• Integrated Frequency Counter: Built-in 6-digit digital red LED counter to display active transmitting/receiving frequencies.
• Digital Clock & Timer: A built-in standalone digital clock module separate from the main radio function.
• Dual Analog Meters: Two large illuminated edge-facing meters measuring signal strength (S-Meter), relative RF power output, SWR calibration, and audio modulation.
• Speakers: Traditional standalone external console speaker styled specifically to match the main unit.

Operational Controls

• Clarifier: Coarse and Fine adjustment knobs to accurately tune in SSB voice signals.
• Gain Adjustments: Independent RF Gain and Microphone Gain (Dynamike®) controls.
• Filters: Automatic Noise Limiter (ANL) and dedicated Noise Blanker (NB) toggle switches to filter out atmospheric interference.
• SWR Cal: SWR adjustment wheel to measure and match the antenna transmission loop directly from the console.

Station Role

While the Cobra 2000 GTL does not serve an active role on the modern W8USR amateur radio operating deck, it is preserved in our archives as a historical tribute to the operator's early radio communication roots. It represents the pinnacle of 11-meter base station engineering from the golden age of Citizen Band radio.

History with Radio W8USR

This legendary radio goes way back to the classic CB days of the late 1970s. It was the my very first personal CB base station, acquired after my father stepped away from the Citizen Band hobby. Though not part of the later W8USR amateur station, I was the owner of this radio and it was the crown jewel of my dedicated CB station operating under my Class D Station License KBKD-7611.

In that original 1970s setup, the transceiver ran its signal through a classic Star Duster antenna mounted on a side-pole reaching roughly 35 to 40 feet off the ground. The base station was paired with a silver Astatic D-104 chrome desk microphone, completing a powerful and memorable vintage setup that sparked a lifelong passion for the radio arts.