Can't hear when too close

While a cobra 29 itself is physically larger than your 19, the radio is not "bigger." Same output power. And as far as high-powered radios, you most likely don't want to hear those people anyway.

Joking aside, someone will come with a better answer soon. Have you had that radio modified at all? A lot of techs are not good with receive calibration .

 

The 19, being designed as a minimalist rig, has no RF gain control on the receiver, so very close stations, particularly those running hi-power, will overload the receiver and make them very difficult to copy.

 

Has it always done this or is it a recent development?

Mine started doing that untill trimmed some of the coax near the antenna. The part that was exposed to the elements to get rid of oxidation.

 

Buy a bigger radio

 

What model 19?