A heads-up on new Cobra radios of interest

[Ian]

The Cobra Trailblazer lineup is out, and soon-to-be-on-Amazon, and the Trailblazer 500 looks really exciting to me.  A UI that can be pared down to just the couple of repeaters you care about / can reach, and it's based on their older business-focused FRS radios so accessories are already available, plus they sell the older PX650 upon which this is based at Wal-Mart, so I expect this to be the first repeater-capable handie you can buy at Wally World in a while…

[GrouserPad]

Gmrs is going to turn into CB after all lol. But really those business frs radios by Cobra have fantastic audio quality and nice loud speakers. Unfortunately they never lasted very long as the fixed antennas constantly get broken off by nearly everyone who uses them. 

[H8SPVMT]

1 hour ago, GrouserPad said:

Gmrs is going to turn into CB after all lol. But really those business frs radios by Cobra have fantastic audio quality and nice loud speakers. Unfortunately they never lasted very long as the fixed antennas constantly get broken off by nearly everyone who uses them. 

Still have a pair of Uniden HH units with broken off antenna (protectors). The wire antennas look goofy but it all still works great.

 

[nokones]

My local SCCA Region has 24 Cobra PX650 radios and have been using them for the past 3 years for race operations and they have been holding up OK. They are not the best radio to use in a noisy environment and they are not supported very well in the after-market world for accessories like speaker mics and headsets.

[Lscott]

I'm not a big fan of display-less radios, I have some Kenwood LMR's like that. Some have anywhere from 32 to 64 channels. If you have more than a few channels trying to figure out which one you have currently in use is hard. For those radios I have to print out a channel chart showing what I have programmed into each memory slot. Yeah voice announcements helps, when changing channels, but useless when you want to do a quick look without touching the controls.

I even got what looked like a almost new 16 channel Kenwood LMR radio once. The dig-dong had super glued the channel selector so it couldn't be changed. I'm guessing because they got fed up with unskilled users accidentally changing channels and couldn't figure out which one they are on.  I had to use channel lock pliers on that one to free up the selector knob so it was usable. They used a lot of super glue on it. You weren't going to break it loose with your fingers.

[WRTC928]

50 minutes ago, Lscott said:

I'm not a big fan of display-less radios, I have some Kenwood LMR's like that. Some have anywhere from 32 to 64 channels. If you have more than a few channels trying to figure out which one you have currently in use is hard. For those radios I have to print out a channel chart showing what I have programmed into each memory slot. Yeah voice announcements helps, when changing channels, but useless when you want to do a quick look without touching the controls.

I even got what looked like a almost new 16 channel Kenwood LMR radio once. The dig-dong had super glued the channel selector so it couldn't be changed. I'm guessing because they got fed up with unskilled users accidentally changing channels and couldn't figure out which one they are on.  I had to use channel lock pliers on that one to free up the selector knob so it was usable. They used a lot of super glue on it. You weren't going to break it loose with your fingers.

With no display, I'd hate to try to feel my way through 30+ channels. I'm good with 12-16 channels selected by a knob, but I wouldn't want to have more than that. I think of knob-selector radios as being for non-radio people more than for radio dorks. I have some Arcshell AR-5s (similar to Baofeng 888s) that I pass out for US Cavalry Association events, and stuff that seems obvious to us can be a challenge for non-radio people. Getting everyone on the same channel was more difficult than I expected, and that's the only thing besides volume that a user can change.  In general, most GMRS radios should be as plug-and-play as possible, IMO. Obviously the 500 is marketed toward the more advanced user, but I kind of wonder how many advanced users would go for this instead of some of the less expensive options which have a screen. I suspect anyone capable of programming a radio via software will balk at the $90 price tag as opposed to a $14 Baofeng. I certainly would.

[Lscott]

2 hours ago, WRTC928 said:

In general, most GMRS radios should be as plug-and-play as possible, IMO. Obviously the 500 is marketed toward the more advanced user, but I kind of wonder how many advanced users would go for this instead of some of the less expensive options which have a screen. I suspect anyone capable of programming a radio via software will balk at the $90 price tag as opposed to a $14 Baofeng. I certainly would.

GMRS was envisioned as a service for use by the general public for personal use, particularly after the 2017 rule changes that eliminated new business licenses in the band. 

Since that main target for GMRS was general public use, assumed non technical users, the simpler the radio the better. Less crap for people to mess up, get frustrated, and quit using the radio.

I would say if one is a knowledgeable user, then perhaps going with a quality commercial grade radio is a good move. Much more in the way of features and more customization options. All the radios I use for GMRS are mostly used mid to higher end commercial grade radios. Some are even digital enabled, used on the Ham bands in that mode since currently it's not legal for GMRS use.

[WRUE951]

5 hours ago, Socalgmrs said:

For $140 for a 2 pack I could buy 7 much much better radios that have proven them selves for years and years or I could buy 2 used professional radios that will last forever and work 100xs better.   When will people learn. Uniden, cobra, rugged, woxoun, midland…. All the “name brand” consumer radios. Heck even Motorola “consumer radios” have more money in advertising then r&d.  They are designed for the chump that doesn’t know any better so they buy the advertising.   At 2 watts these are just slightly better then an $10 frs radio.  
 

So can just about any gmrs radio.  I can program just one repeater into any of my radios if I wanted.  

 

Yup only worse because parents buy their kids these type of junker radios and they tie up all channels while making strang noises in the back yard.   

e

[WRUE951]

5 hours ago, Socalgmrs said:

 

 

Yup only worse because parents buy their kids these type of junker radios and they tie up all channels while making strang noises in the back yard.   

Even worse is the strange mean comments that come from you.  I'd rather put up with kids having fun 

[OffRoaderX]

49 minutes ago, WRUE951 said:

Even worse is the strange mean comments that come from you.  I'd rather put up with kids having fun 

is that assclown even still here?  I blocked him a month or so ago and this has been a much better place ever since...

I highly recommend that everyone also hover their mouse over the his user-photo/avatar and click the IGNORE button..  and remember to recommend this action to everyone else when appropriate... Meaning each time he posts one of his socially rheet-harded posts.

[Jaay]

1 hour ago, OffRoaderX said:

is that assclown even still here?  I blocked him a month or so ago and this has been a much better place ever since...

I highly recommend that everyone also hover their mouse over the his user-photo/avatar and click the IGNORE button..  and remember to recommend this action to everyone else when appropriate... Meaning each time he posts one of his socially rheet-harded posts.

I'm hoping  someday, after reading everyone's comments expressing disgust at his rudeness and Lack of common sense that he may one day have a epiphany and realize that he's being an ASS, but then I'm sure that's asking too much, Oh well.

[SteveShannon]

9 minutes ago, Jaay said:

I'm hoping  someday, after reading everyone's comments expressing disgust at his rudeness and Lack of common sense that he may one day have a epiphany and realize that he's being an ASS, but then I'm sure that's asking too much, Oh well.

Everyone should just block him.  He’s getting his jollies by being mentioned by many.  Just completely ignore him.  Don’t look at those hidden posts he makes.  Make him as irrelevant to the forum as he is in life.

[OffRoaderX]

29 minutes ago, Jaay said:

I'm hoping  someday, after reading everyone's comments expressing disgust at his rudeness and Lack of common sense that he may one day have a epiphany and realize that he's being an ASS,

He did that already, a while back - he had his account deleted and asked the forum owner to delete all of his posts - my guess is because his callsign was showing and he realized that he was embarrassed to have people find out about who/what he really is.. where he works (if he even has a job).. where he lives (or where his parents house is, with him in the basement)..

I think Sir Steven Shannon, H.E.R.D., et al, got it right.. the only attention he gets in life is here when he acts like an idiot, so the best thing to do is ignore him and stop talking about him (startinggggg... NOW)..

[WRXL702]

Wow - Disappointing.....

Thought We Would All Be A Little More Professional With Posts - Regardless Of Personal Input Thoughts & Opinions.

 

Back To The Original Post With A Comment - I Personally Would Not Have An Interest In The Cobra Bubble Pack Unit, Due To The IP Rating & 2.5 Watt Output.

The End.....

[WRUE951]

3 hours ago, WRXL702 said:

Wow - Disappointing.....

Thought We Would All Be A Little More Professional With Posts - Regardless Of Personal Input Thoughts & Opinions.

 

Back To The Original Post With A Comment - I Personally Would Not Have An Interest In The Cobra Bubble Pack Unit, Due To The IP Rating & 2.5 Watt Output.

The End.....

Probaly cant remove the antenna on that radios as well?

[Lscott]

21 hours ago, WRTC928 said:

I suspect anyone capable of programming a radio via software will balk at the $90 price tag as opposed to a $14 Baofeng. I certainly would.

That's what happens when unsophisticated users go radio shopping, they have little idea what they need, and what performance metrics translate into a good radio design. So, they go for the cheapest option. Then get disappointed with the poor quality in some cases and mediocre performance. With luck they find their way here where they can get some better opinions and radio options.   

I think the cheapest I've paid for a few of my mid range analog commercial radios was about $25, seller had no idea what they were selling or thought the radio was defective.  At the upper end I've spent about $400 on a combo FM/DMR new Kenwood UHF HT.

https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/263-tk-3170jpg/?context=new

https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/290-nx-1300duk5/?context=new

I do have experience programming a collection of radios.

https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/249-my-radio-collection/?context=new

The bug-a-boo with many of the commercial grade radios is finding the programming software. Personally myself I've had far better luck with Kenwood radios. I have a good size software archive of many of the older programming packages. I've had a harder time finding software for Motorola, and Icom radios.

 

[GrouserPad]

On 5/27/2025 at 8:03 AM, H8SPVMT said:

Still have a pair of Uniden HH units with broken off antenna (protectors). The wire antennas look goofy but it all still works great.

 

Whenever these break, it takes the entire antenna element with it. 

[Ian]

On 5/27/2025 at 11:18 AM, WRTC928 said:

With no display, I'd hate to try to feel my way through 30+ channels. I'm good with 12-16 channels selected by a knob, but I wouldn't want to have more than that. I think of knob-selector radios as being for non-radio people more than for radio dorks. I have some Arcshell AR-5s (similar to Baofeng 888s) that I pass out for US Cavalry Association events, and stuff that seems obvious to us can be a challenge for non-radio people. Getting everyone on the same channel was more difficult than I expected, and that's the only thing besides volume that a user can change.  In general, most GMRS radios should be as plug-and-play as possible, IMO. Obviously the 500 is marketed toward the more advanced user, but I kind of wonder how many advanced users would go for this instead of some of the less expensive options which have a screen. I suspect anyone capable of programming a radio via software will balk at the $90 price tag as opposed to a $14 Baofeng. I certainly would.

I intend on operating these as two-channel radios, having explored the programming software (it's browser-based) already.  "The one repeater that I can reach" and "a simplex channel".  I recommend looking at the programming software before deciding to blow these off.

For all the complaints about these being too simple, if I'm close to my computer I can swap codeplugs at will, and these are to compliment radio-dork radios, not replace them. 

 

  

On 5/27/2025 at 9:22 PM, WRUE951 said:

Probaly cant remove the antenna on that radios as well?

Actually, they appear to be identical across the Trailblazer lineup, save for color, and removable as well.

Edited Thursday at 04:48 AM by Ian

[nokones]

On 5/28/2025 at 5:42 AM, Lscott said:

That's what happens when unsophisticated users go radio shopping, they have little idea what they need, and what performance metrics translate into a good radio design. So, they go for the cheapest option. Then get disappointed with the poor quality in some cases and mediocre performance. With luck they find their way here where they can get some better opinions and radio options.   

I think the cheapest I've paid for a few of my mid range analog commercial radios was about $25, seller had no idea what they were selling or thought the radio was defective.  At the upper end I've spent about $400 on a combo FM/DMR new Kenwood UHF HT.

https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/263-tk-3170jpg/?context=new

https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/290-nx-1300duk5/?context=new

I do have experience programming a collection of radios.

https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/249-my-radio-collection/?context=new

The bug-a-boo with many of the commercial grade radios is finding the programming software. Personally myself I've had far better luck with Kenwood radios. I have a good size software archive of many of the older programming packages. I've had a harder time finding software for Motorola, and Icom radios.

 

The least I have spent on a top tier professional grade radio was S19.95 for some VHF Highband HT1000 radios about a year ago.  They were in great shape and the most I spent was $525 for my fully loaded almost brand new Motorola XPR5550e and then I spent another couple hundred to convert to a remote mount.  I haven't dived into the APX series yet, been thinking about it and I kinda like the idea of having an UHF and VHF in one radio, but I would rather have those two bands in separate radios for independent operation.

I don't need 700/800 Meg radios, nor can I legally be on those bands, and I don't care about scanning anything in those two bands.  However, I was a scanner nut back in the 70s with my Regency R10-H/L/U, Realistic (Don't remember the model number), and Bearcat 101.  Yes, I had gobs of crystals for the Regency and Realistic scanners and an Outdoor Antenna array for the scanners.

I haven't dived into the Kenwoods very much, but, I have a couple TK780Hs and a Couple TK880s, Getting the cable and software was pretty easy for me.  I am thinking about the NX series.  I kinda like the idea of having the ability of programming two of the three digital platforms at once and you can change it if you want to drop one and pick up the other.

As for the Motorola, the cables and software has always been easy for me.  I have P110, GP300, Saber, HT1000/Visar, MT2000, MTS2000, MCS2000, Astro Spectra, Astro Saber/XTS3000, PM400, CT150/CT250, HT1250/HT1550/CDM1250/CDM1550, XTS1500, XTS2500, XTS5000, XTL2500, XTL5000, XPR5550e, XPR7550e, and DTR700.  

The listed models that are underscored, I just have the RSS/CPS and cables.  The models in BOLD, I have the radios in various models and bands along with the cables and RSS/CPS and cables.

I guess, I kinda fall into the "Radio Dork" category and although, I do not consider myself a hoarder of radio, I just have a gazillion of them.  I haven't and I won't get into the Ham crap. So, I am mostly a GMRS and Business Radio Services kind of a "Dork" and I think the "Queen" puts the "Dork" category just below the "Nerd" level.  My radio days started in the very early 70s with CB radios and then I started playing on the radio professionally as a user from 1972 until I retired in 2006 and for another five years as a part-time professional.  I got my first GMRS license in 1996.  From 2012, After the part-time professional gig in 2012 ended, I guess you can say since I am no longer a radio user professional, so that would make me a "Radio Dork".

I don't know everything like "Some People", but at least I do know how to spell radio.

[Lscott]

35 minutes ago, nokones said:

but at least I do know how to spell radio.

With the state of education in the USA some of the young kids can't even do that. And they can't even figure out out how to turn on the spell checker feature on their computer software or smart devices. Sad.

When I can't spell something, at least I have an excuse, I explain "I'm and Engineer."

[Lscott]

3 hours ago, nokones said:

I am thinking about the NX series.  I kinda like the idea of having the ability of programming two of the three digital platforms at once and you can change it if you want to drop one and pick up the other.

The only model series that can do that so far is the NX-5K's. This allows the use of two out of three digital modes, DMR - NXDN - P25 Phase 1 and 2, to be active in the same code plug.

The NX-3K's series you can use two different digital modes, DMR and NXDN no P25,  but not in the same code plug. You have to load the mode specific code plug into the radio.

There is a member here, https://forums.mygmrs.com/profile/3159-tweiss3/,  who has experience with both models and if you're really interested I would reach out and ask if he would contact you. There are software licensing and feature entitlement keys, mainly cost, to get the radios to the point where they would function in the manner you want.

NX-5000 NA.pdf NX-3200_3300.pdf NX-3220_3320.pdf

Oh, if you want to add the P25 option to the NX-5K series radios, well you're going to get RAPED on the price. The The radio comes with NXDN and the DMR option is super cheap, like around $60.

Kenwood NX-5K Option Price list - 2024 Catalog.pdf

Edited Thursday at 03:28 PM by Lscott
Added comment about options and attached price list.

[WRTC928]

8 hours ago, Ian said:

I intend on operating these as two-channel radios, having explored the programming software (it's browser-based) already.  "The one repeater that I can reach" and "a simplex channel".  I recommend looking at the programming software before deciding to blow these off.

For all the complaints about these being too simple, if I'm close to my computer I can swap codeplugs at will, and these are to compliment radio-dork radios, not replace them. 

I can see where it might work well for that purpose.