help with corba lx29 need more power

First off...it's Cobra like the snake. Not Corba.

Secondly, you are looking for more watts...not amps...unless you are looking to electrocute yourself.

I approach radios like I look at modding cars. You can buy a Honda Civic, and mod it to make more power...OR you can buy a car for more money that already has the amount of power you are looking for. You can make that Civic as fast as a Corvette, but it won't be reliable, legal, or safe...and in the end, it's still a Civic.

Here's 2 options:
Buy a Cobra 29 that's 4w stock, have it peaked and tuned, and have a 16-25w radio.

Buy an export radio "Mirage, Galaxy, Connex, Ranger, Stryker" that's anywhere from 30w to 125w stock, have it peak and tuned, and have a 45-220w radio. The price for these radios are anywhere from $180 to $400 new. Most run in the $220-$300 range.

I won't even get into amplifiers right now as those put you into a whole new ballgame.

Basically, it's up to you and what you want your setup to be.

 

Basic radio operation theory.....

A conversation is based on the power output and reception conditions on BOTH radios. Receiving and transmitting.

You can put out 100,000 watts. But it's worthless if the guy you want to talk to is 300 miles away....on a 4 watt radio using speaker wire as an antennae..

 

You might want to look at the new General 100 HP with the built in amp. You will need a tuned antenna to get the most out of it, though.

 

"Galaxy"...If your going to be looking at one of the Galaxy's Exports that will do 100w's or better, plan on being out over $300...

Since you already have the Cobra 29, you could buy a little 2-pill Amp like a Texas Star 250 or 350 and make that Cobra 29 sit up and howl at the Moon for less than what the Galaxy would cost...Plus, you would be doing more than just 100w's...

Just up to you...But like said also, you can spend 1,000's of dollars on radios and Amps, but if you skimp-out on the antenna, your just pissing in the wind.

 

And not only just the antenna...you need to also ensure you have a low SWR, like a 1.5:1. A 1.5:1 SWR means 96% of the radio signal is sent out. A 2.1:1 SWR means 89% of the radios signal is being sent out.

But also yes, you need to make sure you are running the absolute best antenna you can or you will not get out as well. I like the Wilson whip style antennas like the 2000. You also want to make sure the antenna is as high up as you possibly can.

Finally you didn't give us much details on how far you're trying to get out. But on CB it's, as a rule of thumb, line of sight. Typically on a good day you *should* be able to talk 2-5 miles and onwards up to 10. However not only does that good antenna and low SWR I was talking about, but also it depends on if you're in the mountains as opposed to flat lands, what time of day it is, if skip is rolling, etc.

 

The Cobra is a great little radio and built a lot tuffer than the export radios mentioned. You got good advice. "Buy a little 2 pill amp", get the radio tuned and set to run a linear. Make sure your antenna is mounted well with a "good low SWR", and you will be very happy!!