Cobra Electronics 29 LX LE manual

Contents Features ......................................................................................................... 1 The CB Story ................................................................................................. A1 FCC Regulations FCC Warnings Included Accessories Controls & Indicators ..................................[...]

Installation Location 2 Mounting and Connection Mounting and Connection Hold the radio with the mounting bracket in the exact desired location. If there is no inter- ference, remove the bracket and use it as a template to mark the location for the mount- ing screws. Location Plan location of transceiver and microphone bracket before starting the in[...]

Installation 3 continued Connect the antenna cable plug to the recep- tacle marked “ANT” on the back of the unit. 3[...]

Installation 4 Note Before installing the CB radio, visually check the vehicle’s battery connection to deter- mine which terminal, positive or negative, is grounded (pos- itive is the larger of the two) to the engine block (or chas- sis). A negatively grounded vehicle has its negative lead grounded to the chassis. Note Connecting to an accessory [...]

5 Plug power cable into back of unit marked “Power”. Be sure to observe polarity markings. Mount the microphone bracket on either side of the unit (driver’s left) using two screws sup- plied. Bracket should be placed under the dash so microphone is readily accessible. 6 7 Attach the 4-pin microphone cable to receptacle on front of unit and in[...]

Antennas CB Antenna Since the maximum allowa ble power output of the transm itter is limited by the FCC, the antenn a is critica l in affect ing transmissi on dist ance. Only a proper ly matched antenna system will allow maxi- mum power outp ut. Cobra loaded type ante nna models are highly recomm ended for most instal- lation s. For models with Wea[...]

Ignition Noise Interference Use of a mobile receiver at low signal levels is normally limited by the presence of electrical noise. The primary source of noise in automo- biles is from the alternator and ignition system. Typically, when signal level is adequate, the back- ground noise does not present a serious problem. Also, when extremely low leve[...]

Press the CB/PA/WX button to change modes. Operation Turning On 8 Turning On Make sure the power cord, antenna and micro- phone are connected to their proper connectors before starting. 1 SWR /CAL NB /ANL VOL SQ DYNAMIKE R F GAIN DELTA TUNE T BACK SWR CAL OFF MIN MIN OFF MAX ESC MEM SCAN S/ RF M E N U P U S H E N T E R SIG RF +30dB 1 1.5 2 3 CAL 3 [...]

Operation 9 Setting Channel Selector Setting Channel Selector Select one of forty channels and adjust volume. The selected channel (1 through 40) will be indicated by the readout directly above the channel selector knob 3 SWR /CAL NB /ANL VOL SQ DYNAMIKE RF G A OFF MIN MIN S/ RF M E N U P U S H E N T E R SIG RF +30dB 1 1.5 2 3 CAL 3 5 7 9 SWR T X R[...]

Operation Calibrate For SWR (Standing Wave Ratio) 10 Press SWR/CAL button to select CAL. 2 1 Calibrate for SWR (Standing Wave Ratio) SWR calibration is done to properly adjust the length of the antenna and to monitor the quality of the coaxial cable and all RF connections. This calibration is critical in order to achieve opti- mum performance. Sele[...]

While holding mic button adjust the SWR CAL knob so the meter swings to the CAL mark on the meter (located on the right). Operation 11 continued Note Calibration must be made in an open area (never in a garage). Vehicle doors must be closed. No one should be standing near the antenna. (See your antenna directions for more complete information). Not[...]

Rotate the On/Off Volume knob clockwise. The RX icon will be displayed. Repeat the same steps two through five on Channel 1 and 40. This will check SWR for all channels. 6 While still holding down the mic button, press and release the S/RF SWR CAL button to the SWR setting, to read the SWR reading. 5 Operation 12 Note When switched to SWR mode the [...]

The S/RF-SWR-CAL switch must be in the S/RF setting to read the meter. Operation 13 1 S-Meter S-Meter Swings proportionately to strength of incoming signal when receiving. Unit should be in CB mode. Rotate channel selector clockwide or counter-clockwise to select desired channel. 1 Selecting A Channel Selecting A Channel DYNAMIKE RF GAIN DE L MIN M[...]

PUSH & HOLD To Transmit To Transmit 14 Caution! Be sure the antenna is properly connected to the radio before transmitting. Prolonged trans- mitting without an antenna, or a poorly matched antenna, could cause damage to the transmitter. Be sure to read the F.C.C. Rules and Regulations included with this unit before transmitting. Operation Selec[...]

Setting Dynamike® This controls the microphone sensitivity (outgoing audio level). 15 Setting Dynamike ® Operation 3 Initially, set fully clockwise so that maximum voice volume is available. Dynamike may have to be reduced in some conditions. SWR /CAL NB /ANL VOL SQ DYNAMIKE OFF MIN S/ RF M E N U P U S H E N T E R SIG RF +30dB 1 1.5 2 3 CAL 3 5 7[...]

Operation 16 Menu Mode Menu Mode Used to program special features. Menu/Enter knob is used to move cursor to desired feature to program. Rotate Menu/Enter knob clockwise to navigate menu levels. Press Menu/Enter knob to select feature to be programmed. Level 1: Level 2: Level 3: Level 4: Note Use Dim/Escape button to exit from any routine back to C[...]

Operation 17 Radio Check Mode Radio Check Mode All ows tes ting of im porta nt radi o funct ions. Tes t 1- Batt ery Lev el : Co nfirm s that ba ttery vol tage le vel is be tween 10 .8 V to 15. 8 V. If in tha t ran ge, it is “PA SS”. Out side of tha t rang e, eith er FAI L LOW” or “FA IL HIGH ” will be di splay ed. Pre ss Men u/Ent er knob[...]

Operation 18 Setting Display Color Mode Note Select EXIT to return to main menu. Press Dim/Escape button to return to CB mode. Setting Display Color Mode Press Menu/Enter knob to select Display Color . Press and release Menu/Enter to set the color. Rotating Menu/Enter knob clockwise changes the display color from green to blue to amber to red then [...]

Operation 19 Setting Brightness Mode Setting Brightness Mode Press Menu/Enter knob to select Set Brightness Rotate Menu/Enter knob clockwise to Select Brightness . Press Menu/Enter knob to select Day-Bright . Turn Menu/Enter clockwise to increase brightness and turn counter-clockwise to decrease brightness. To set the day bright level, turn the Men[...]

Weather Information Note If you wish to receive a list- ing of NOAA ‘Weather Radio Transmitter locations, contact your nearest National Weather Service Office. Service Office, or write to: National Weather Service (Attn: W/OM11) NOAA Silver Springs, MD 20910. For ideal weather reception use a dual band antenna (center load/baseload). Weather Aler[...]

Weather Channels Weather Alert Scan The unit will continually scan all 10 WX channels for 1050 Hz tone. If the tone is detected the unit will activate WX mode on the channel with the tone. Default state is Off . Go to Menu mode to choose On/Off (see page 22): What is Weather Radio? NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) is a service of the National Oceanic and A[...]

Operation 22 Setting Weather Auto Scan Pr es s Me nu /E nte r k nob an d ro ta te clo ck wis e t o WX Au to Sca n . Pr ess Me nu/ En te r kn ob to s el ect On /O ff . Press Menu/Enter knob to select On/Off and exit to main menu. SWR /CAL NB /ANL VOL SQ DYNAMIKE RF GAIN DELTA TUNE T BACK SWR CAL OFF MIN MIN OFF MAX ESC MEM SCAN S/ RF M E N U P U S H[...]

Operation 23 Key Tones Mode Key Tones Mode On and Off Press Menu/Enter knob and rotate clockwise to Set Key Tones . Press Menu/Enter to set Key Tones On/Off . Press Menu/Enter knob to select On/Off and exit to main menu. SWR /CAL NB /ANL VOL SQ DYNAMIKE RF GAIN DELTA TUNE T BACK SWR CAL OFF MIN MIN OFF MAX ESC MEM SCAN S/ RF M E N U P U S H E N T E[...]

24 Operation When switched to ANL the Automatic Noise Limiter is activated. This helps reduce noise created by the vehicle’s electronics. When switched to NB/ANL mode the RF Noise Blanker is also activated, providing increased noise filtration. When switched to OFF mode all noise filtration will be turned off. NB-ANL/OFF (Noise Blanker / Automati[...]

25 Operation Pressing the Scan/Memory Scan button toggles from Off to Scan All Channels to Memory Channel Only Scan and back to Off . Press Dim/Escape button to end Scan and return to CB mode. 1 SWR /CAL NB /ANL VOL SQ DYNAMIKE R F GAIN DELTA TUNE T BACK SWR CAL OFF MIN MIN OFF MAX ESC MEM SCAN S/ RF M E N U P U S H E N T E R SIG RF +30dB 1 1.5 2 3[...]

Operation 26 Dimmer Control Dimmer Control 1 Pr ess Di m/E sc bu tto n to to ggl e bet wee n da y an d nig ht s etti ngs . S ee s et t in g in st r uc t io ns o n pa g e 1 9 . SWR /CAL NB /ANL VOL SQ DYNAMIKE RF GAIN DELTA TUNE T BACK SWR CAL OFF MIN MIN OFF MAX ESC MEM SCAN S/ RF M E N U P U S H E N T E R SIG RF +30dB 1 1.5 2 3 CAL 3 5 7 9 SWR T X[...]

Operation 27 Full clockwise rotation closes the gate allowing only very strong signals to enter. Full counterclockwise rotation opens the “gate” allowing all signals in. Setting Squelch Squelch is the “control gate” for incoming signals. 2 1 NOISE WEAK SIGNALS MEDIUM SIGNALS STRONG SIGNALS NOISE WEAK SIGNALS MEDIUM SIGNALS STRONG SIGNALS GA[...]

Operation S/RF Meter S/RF Meter This meter swings proportionately to the RF output (outgoing signal) while transmitting. The S/RF-SWR-CAL button must be in the S/RF mode. 1 28 To achieve the Desired Squelch Setting (DSS), turn the Squelch control counterclockwise until you hear noise. Now turn the control clockwise just until the noise stops. This [...]

Operation 29 External Speaker External Speaker The external speaker jack is used for remote receiver monitoring. Note The external speaker should have 8-ohm impedance and be rated to handle at least 4.0 watts. When the external speak- er is plugged in, the internal speaker is automatically discon- nected. See accessory page 41. Note Cobra external [...]

Operation 30 PA (Public Address) PA (Public Address) Connect an external PA speaker to the PA jack on the rear panel. Press CB/WX/PA button to select PA. Note Speaker should have 8-ohm impedance and be rated to handle at least 4.0 watts. Note The speaker should be directed away from the microphone to prevent acoustic feedback. Note Activity on the [...]

Operation 31 Push and hold microphone button and speak in a normal voice. Your voice will now transmit on the PA speaker. Adjust PA speaker volume with the Dynamike ® control. 3 4 PUSH & HOLD[...]

Home And Office Set-Up 32 Base Station Operation (From 120V AC House Current) Base Station Operation (From 120V AC House Current) To operate your transceiver from home or office you will need a 13.2 volt DC Power Pack rated at a minimum of 2 amps, and a properly installed base station antenna. Warning! Do not attempt to operate this transceiver by [...]

Temporary Mobile Set-Up 33 Temporary Mobile Set-Up Temporary Mobile Operation For temporary mobile operation you may want to purchase an optional cigarette lighter adapter from your COBRA dealer. This adapter and a magnetic mount antenna allow you to quickly “install” your transceiver for temporary use. Connect properly installed and matched ba[...]

How Your CB Can Serve You 34 1. Set to channel 9 for emergencies Be sure antenna is properly connected. 2. CB Distress Data When transmitting an emergency, you should request a “REACT BASE” and provide the CB distress data (called CLIP ): C all Sign Identify yourself. L ocation Be exact. I njuries Number. Type. Trapped? P roblem Give details an[...]

35 How Your CB Can Serve You The FCC gives these examples of permitted and prohibited messages for channel 9. These are only guidelines and not all-inclusive: Permitted Example Message Yes “Tornado sighted six miles north of town.” No “Post number 10. No tornado sighted.” Yes “Out of gas on I-95 at mile marker 211.” No “Out of gas in [...]

How Your CB Can Serve You 36 CB 10-Codes Citizen Bands have adopted the “ 10-CODES ” for standard questions and answers. These codes pro vide qu ick and ea sy comm unica tion, esp ecia lly in noisy areas. Following are some of the more common codes and meanings: Code Meaning 10-1 Receiving poorly 10-2 Receiving well 10-3 Stop transmitting 10-4 [...]

37 Code Meaning 10-29 Time is up for contact 10-30 Does not conform to FCC rules 10-33 Emergency traffic 10-34 Trouble at this station 10-35 Confidential information 10-36 Correct time is 10-37 Wrecker needed at 10-38 Ambulance needed 10-39 Message delivered 10-41 Turn to channel 10-42 Traffic accident at 10-43 Traffic tie up at 10-44 Have a messag[...]

38 Frequency Ranges The Cobra 29 LX LE transceiver represents one of the most ad vanced AM two-way radios used as a Class D station in the Citizens Radio Service. This unit features advanced Phase Lock Loop (PLL) circuitry providing complete cov er age of all 40 CB chan nels. 1 26.965 21 27.215 1 162.550 2 26.975 22 27.225 2 162.400 3 26.985 23 27.[...]

29 LX LE Specifications 39 GENERAL CHANNELS CB - 40 CH FREQUENCY RANGE CB - 26.965 TO 27.405 MHZ WX - 162.400 TO 162.775 MHZ FREQUENCY TOLERANCE 0.005 % FREQUENCY CONTROL PLL (PHASE LOCK LOOP) SYNTHESIZER OPERATING TEMPERATURE RANGE -30° C TO + 50° C MICROPHONE Plug-in dynamic INPUT VOLTAGE 13.2VDC nom. (positive or negative ground) Current Drain[...]

40 COBRA ELECTRONICS CORPORATION warrants that its Cobra CB Radios, and the com po nent parts thereof, will be free of defects in workmanship and materials for period of two (2) years from the date of first consumer purchase. This war ran ty may be enforced by the first consumer pur chas er, pro vid ed that the product is utilized within the U.S.A.[...]

41 Optional Accessories Replacement DC Power Cord For in vehicle use 426-002-N-001 Replacement Mounting Bracket For in vehicle use 251-353-9-001 Replacement Thumb Screws For in vehicle use 634-081-9-001 Replacement Microphone Bracket For in vehicle use 741-080-9-001 21” Base Loaded Magnet Mount Antenna HG A1000 38” Base Loaded Magnet Mount Ante[...]

Fo r t ec hni ca l a ssi st an ce, pl ea se cal l o ur Au tom at ed Hel p D es k w hic h c an as sis t yo u b y a ns wer in g t he mos t f re que nt ly ask ed qu est io ns abo ut Co br a pr od uc ts. (773) 889-3087 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A Consumer Service Representative can be reached through this same number 8:00 am - 5:30 pm, Monday thro[...]

2 9 L X L E ©2010 Cobra Electronics Corporation Printed in China Part No. 480-647-P-001 Version B 50th Anniversary CB Radio Limited Edition Not hing Co mes Clo se to a Cob ra® Operat ing Instru ctions for your Cobra 29 LX LE[...]

SWR/CAL NB/ANL VOL SQ DYNAMIKE RF GAIN DELTA TUNE T BACK SWR CAL OFF MIN MIN OFF MAX ESC MEM SCAN S/RF M E N U P U S H E N T E R SIG RF +30dB 1 1.5 2 3 CAL 3 5 7 9 SWR TX RX NB/ANL MEM WX ! ANL S/RF SWR CAL CH 9/ 19 CB/WX / DIM SCAN PA The Citizens Band lies between the shortwave broadcast and 10-meter Amateur radio bands, and was established by la[...]

Controls and Indicators A2 1. 4-P in Mi crop hon e Co nnec tor 2. Power On/Off, Volume 3. Squelch 4. Dynamike 5. Menu/Enter/Channel Selector 6. RF Gain 7. Delta Tune 8. Talk Back Control 9. SWR Calibration 1 0 . Dim/Esc ape Button 1 1. Channel 9/Channel 19 Button 1 2 . Scan /Me mory Scan 1 3 . CB/WX Weather/PA Button 1 4 . LCD Display 1 5 . RX (Rec[...]

Thank you for purchasing the Cobra 29 LX LE 50th Anniv ersary Limite d Editio n CB Radio. Properly used, this Cobra product will give you many years of reliable service. Customer Support Should you encounter any problems with the product or not understand its many features, please refer to this owner’s manual. If , after referring to the manual, [...]

42 Optional Accessories Ordering From U.S.A. Call 773-889-3087 for pricing or visit www.cobra.com. Fo r Cre dit Car d Ord ers Call 773-889 -3087 [Press one from the main menu] 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Central Time, Monday through Friday. Ma ke Ch eck or Mo ney Ord er Pa yab le T o Cobra Electronics, Attn: Accessories Dept., 6500 West Cortland Street,[...]