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Post by mark4 on Mar 1, 2009 21:31:45 GMT -5
Which of these 2 classics would you choose between if you had to?
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Post by wd8nia on Mar 1, 2009 22:17:50 GMT -5
D201 hands down. It lacks the frequency range, but I don't go outside of standard 40 channels anyhow. Hopefully, I've blown up my last D201 and I really got lucky with the one I have now.
I've got a hotrodded 2000 with a 150w+ stinger board installed that's been boxed up and stored in my shed since 2001. It succumbed to the fate of two previous 2000s....frequency instability. The were sold for parts and I've never liked the one I kept. Keeping it only because it's in like new cosmetic condition, but I don't know if I'll ever run it again.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2009 8:49:46 GMT -5
Cobra 2000. Here is why. I repaired my first Tram D201A last week. While the Tram is the best sounding radio I have heard from my base, when I opened it up, I was shocked. the manufacturing engineering wasn't up to snuff with the electrica' engineering. Most board traces were overheated and needed to be hard wired. I could not beleive the heat issues that were not considered durin the design. It will give you a ton more problems. Also, that manual cal is a pain.
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Sandbagger
Administrator/The Boss 
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Post by Sandbagger on Mar 2, 2009 12:17:43 GMT -5
Which of these 2 classics would you choose between if you had to? That's really a loaded question. It's sort of like asking which is better a Lamborghini or a Ferrari..... Of course we all have our favorites and a ton of supporting opinions. So what the heck, here's mine for what it's worth: From an overall performance standpoint, the D201 wins hands down. It's tubes for one. You can't beat the audio warmth on both transmit and receive. Receiver sensitivity is phenominal, I can turn my signal generator all the way down (.04uV) and I can still hear it on the D201. The downside to the later D201's are the heat related problems from hours of use. But who can blame the owners of these fine rigs from putting so many hours on them. They're simply a pleasure to operate. On the other hand, the Cobra 2000 has more to offer the guy who runs freeband SSB most of the time. It has a broader and more stable frequency capability, and with the built-in counter, it makes navigating a breeze. The 2000 is sharp looking and it has decent transmit and receiver performance (although IMHO, not as good as a D201). |
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Post by Sniper..Unit 305 on Mar 2, 2009 14:38:46 GMT -5
D201 for me also and for the exact same reasons Sandbagger indicated. Sniper
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Post by Marc on Mar 3, 2009 10:29:09 GMT -5
If they were in the same condition I would have to take the Tram!!!!!
Marc
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Post by mark on Mar 3, 2009 19:03:49 GMT -5
Well, after over 30 years in this stuff, Id have to say the Cobra. The Tram when working properly has without a doubt the best AM transmit audio EVER!!! However, the receiver is not that great, and the reliability is not that great. If you get a Cobra 2000 that has not had some genius inside it with a steak knife, it will likely be a GREAT radio for AM and SSB... The Brownings built before the Mark IV were very well done and are very reliable. The Tram D201 series were just not as well thought out. I have owned all this stuff over the years and put miles on every bit of it. All I have left of my giant collection is my Browning Mark III, and my Stoner. That should tell you something.
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Post by mark4 on Mar 3, 2009 23:40:15 GMT -5
I don't have the heat related cooked board syndrome in my D201. It may have low hours on it. Sold it a few month ago and bought it back for half the cost. And this baby is cherry.
It was overhauled by Barkett before I got it. Saved me a bunch of time. I have a absolute like new out of the box (covered in plastic Cobra 2000) Great sideband performer. Seldom use it. Just like the tubers. I beg to differ on the MarkIV problem, I have run a MarkIV everyday for years. But then I do my own work. I would not even own a old rig like one of these if I had to send it out. But we have some great techs on this site to help these owners out as I have done for years. I never operate a old tuber without totally restoring it first. And I go overboard. Built a brand new IVA and now I am building a IV. I just have to many of those old chips laying around couldn't resist. And they convert the best. Also had a like new Stoner Pro 40. Sold it 2 years ago. He offered it back to me recently. Great radio.
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Post by mark4 on Apr 24, 2009 22:32:34 GMT -5
Sandbagger made me curious about my brownings sensitivity.
I finally got around to checking it. I was hearing down to .04uv with no problem. One of these days I will put it up against the Tram D201 and see which one wins.
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