Superstar 3900G or 148GTL/DX

[Redbandit]

Hello gentlemen, I'm John, new to Transmission1, joined bcuz I was told to bring my questions to these forums. I picked this post bcuz I see a resemblance of my radio. Perhaps someone could help me. I have radio which resembles the Cobra 148GTL in all black with gold knobs and gold descriptive words.

Just above the R.B. on/off and 10khz buttons reads 148GTL/DX in gold. However, when I opened it up, the pcb reads: SH (with a circle around it), M-294HB-C. Now, on the green solder side of board it reads: EPT360013B. I bought this radio with the band chart back in 1997 from a guy, he said a was a Superstar 3900G. It uses a ER-009 power mic with echo, manuf is Road Noise. The back of this radio has a black heatsink, a side pot/sw that cranksup the watts. Also reads: Taiwan R.O.C.

I wish someone could positively shed some light on this radio. I have photos, Thank you.

[astradyne]

One thing is for sure. It's definitely not a Cobra 148 GTL-DX. It's a Dirland 3900 PCB. These were the first (and best) version of the Superstar 3900. They first appeared in the late 1980's under various guises, but I've never seen one of these before. It looks like either a name sticker has been removed or the print has been wiped off above the four function switches. It's also strange how the band letters are partially obscured behind the control knob. The original Dirland knobs were of a slightly different design to the ones on this radio so it appears that they've been changed at some point.

[14CS06]

Hello

It's not COBRA 148GTL-DX use PB-10AB







It's not COBRA 148GTL-EX



It's not Superstar 3900 GOLD use EPT360014B







please add more pictures

@+
Claude

[cb4ever104]

Might have started off life as a Galaxy Jupiter . It's definitely had a face lift as you can see from the band switch markings . What bands does it cover ? The Jupiter has a different LO crystal and goes well into 10m .

Sammy

[astradyne]

Might have started off life as a Galaxy Jupiter . It's definitely had a face lift as you can see from the band switch markings . What bands does it cover ? The Jupiter has a different LO crystal and goes well into 10m .

Sammy

It looks like the band lettering has been narrowed in as the top letters are usually level with the mode and SWR/CAL controls on either side. The lettering on Claude's picture is alligned correctly. The channel display is also green instead of red and there's no heatsink on the back of the one pictured. Six bands on three positions via the band HI/LO switch.

It's looking like it could be a bit of a Frankenradio.

[cb4ever104]

It looks like the band lettering has been narrowed in as the top letters are usually level with the mode and SWR/CAL controls on either side. The lettering on Claude's picture is alligned correctly. The channel display is also green instead of red and there's no heatsink on the back of the one pictured. Six bands on three positions via the band HI/LO switch.

Not sure if you're replying directly to me Andy ? I'm looking at the picture the guy posted of his radio . The Jupiter has a black face with gold controls . Even though only 3 bands are marked it's a 6 way band switch , green channel led and heat sink on the back . If the decal has been changed for the one he has now then IMHO it could have started life as a Jupiter .

S.

Img_0922.jpg

[14CS06]

Hello

Lettering looks like CONNEX 3500



@+
Claude

[wa10]

Claude, you seem to have lots of info on rigs, its nice you share the pics have you ever seen a superstar that looked like a ss3600/3900 but had small transformers/if cans, or a black front grant that also had the same small transformers ?

i have had my hands on both years ago but i can't find any info on either rig, all the internal pics i see online have the regular sized cans.

[14CS06]

Claude, you seem to have lots of info on rigs, its nice you share the pics have you ever seen a superstar that looked like a ss3600/3900 but had small transformers/if cans, or a black front grant that also had the same small transformers ?

i have had my hands on both years ago but i can't find any info on either rig, all the internal pics i see online have the regular sized cans.

Hello

Like on this post
What is your EPT3600 PCB ???
Please add some pictures

viewtopic.php?f=53&t=55056&hilit=ss3600

@+
Claude

[wa10]

Thanks Claud,
the 148 in this thread is one i have not seen before which is why i looked, maybe one day i will see a small can version, the pics in the link of ss3600 are the same size cans as almost all the other 148 clones,

the superstar & black front grant I had my hands on years ago both used small cans, the same size as those used in jacksons,
that's all I remember about them.

[Redbandit]

Thank you so very much Astradyne for your reply. Your report sounded so good, I wished you'd continued..lol. I was told somewhere as you have said, that it was of the earlier better built versions. I had read in certain forums and came across that name, Dirland. So are you saying for certain it is a Dirland 3900? (Pcb stands for the board, correct?). What's with the M-294HB-C on the inner of pcb?

I also agree with your assessment of the band knob which seems to overlap the band letters a b c d e f a bit. Another thing I took notice of, is that the color is actually Not a gold, but a copper tone. (Photos). I saw another fellas radio here and his lettering and knob color is a true gold. I also checked where you say the label may have been lifted or erased, but there does not appear to be any sign of a label been lifted nor the use of a solvent to erase any descriptive info. Even the square lines in the box around the channel display and channel knob is intact. I've noticed in other radios the line is open and the name SS 3900G is printed below chan knob.

Right now the radio isn't receiving and I imagine transmitting neither. I've connected a rubber duck antenna and a 12 v 7 amp ps and when I key up. The needle moves to the 3 and notice the meter dims some. Does the same in my van. So my new question is: is there a service manual I can find for it, and/or a good YouTube video that can show me where to look/test for a fault, if any? My thanks to all.

[Redbandit]

TO: cb4ever104, I believe you or someone named "Sammy" posted a photo of a radio like mine, set to ch12, with a frequency counter blue display. You mentioned "it began life as a Jupiter ", is that in reference to My radio? If so,, what does it mean ?

Also, I would like to install or attach a frequency counter module like yours, can you or someone elaborate on this task? Thank you.

[14CS06]

Hello

DIRLAND was a French importer who sold many versions of SS3900

http://78roger.free.fr/dirland/ss_3900gold.htm

http://78roger.free.fr/dirland.htm

3 different silk screens used on the EPT3600-13B (main PCB).
They have the following markings KAI HWA2-002 V0, SM YGOI 94 V0, M-294 HB-C

summary of the PCB EPT3600XX X

viewtopic.php?f=29&t=46328

Service manual http://78roger.free.fr/dirland/manuel/s ... _3900).pdf

look at also http://www.cbtricks.com/radios/galaxy/index.htm

Frequency Counter-CRT SS KF VI-pour par exemple Superstar 3900

https://www.ebay.fr/itm/Frequenzzahler- ... Sweh5e-Nej







https://www.ebay.fr/itm/Galaxy-FC347-6- ... SwBq1fVI5I

@+
Claude

[14CS06]

Hello

I saw on ebay on 2018-12-15 the same 148GTL / DX with an ECHO turntable PCB EPT360013B

But impossible to find this sale




















@+
Claude

[14CS06]

Hello







@+
Claude