Cobra CXT595 Blister pack Radio questions

FRS / GMRS Radios
1

Been a CBer a long time but local AM traffic has dried up and thinking about exploring GMRS to see what is happening in that area of radio. Have a couple Cobra CXT595 radios I use for hunting and was wondering if I turn off the security codes and put it into scan mode if it will pick up all local GMRS & FRS transmissions within it’s limited range. I know it surprised me one night when I was playing with the scan mode and it picked up some business like conversation that didn’t sound local to this back woods area.

Next question is, I know a lot of guys experiment with trying to improve receive with their antennas so wondering if anyone has found a add on to their built in non removable antenna that seems to help. I’m sure if I get out of this valley I’ll get better receive but want to play at home also when I can. Thanks in advance ! Mike

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Hii Mike, welcome to the forum!

To answer your questions, the CXT595 is a low power, license-free FRS radio. FRS and GMRS share the same 22 simplex frequencies and channels, so yes, you will be able to receive transmissions from others that are within range on both services.

FRS can be used by both businesses and consumers, so you may pick up communications from surrounding businesses that use it. According to the FCC ID search (FCC ID BBO2155A), the CXT595 is only 1.3 watts on channels 1-7 and 15-22 and less than one half watt on channels 8-14, so you may be able to hear them but you may not be in range for them to hear you. FRS is allowed up to 2 watts, and those Cobra radios are well under that.

To clarify, the “security codes” you mentioned are a misnomer. Those are CTCSS tones and DCS codes that filter out transmissions from others that you don’t want to hear, but they can still hear you, if they don’t have them enabled on their radios. This short video explains what they are and how they work.

The antenna does make a significant difference, more so than wattage alone. Most GMRS radios today have removeable antennas that can be swapped and upgraded as needed, and there are a lot of great GMRS antennas available that are fine tuned to increase range considerably.

However, as mentioned earlier, Cobra CXT595 is an FRS radio, and the antenna is permanently attached because by law FRS radios are not allowed to have detachable antennas.

If you want to experiment, my advice would be to get a GMRS radio. It doesn’t have to be high end like the KG-935G Plus or something either. You can start off with a KG-805G and still get great performance because it is a full 5 watts, has a removeable antenna and can talk with GMRS repeaters to extend your range even further. You’ll find it’s a lot easier than trying to modify an FRS radio with an external antenna, which isn’t legal anyway.

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My owners manual says the radio will Receive 7 shared FRS/GMRS 7 FRS only & 8 GMRS only channels. My intentions are to not by any more radios like I did with my flock of CBs until I determine if if there is enough Traffic on GMRS to make it worth the investment. Then if it is I will buy the Best one I can possibly afford and not repeat my CB Mistakes. I’ll probably have to take my hand held to the city for listening only to see if it trips my trigger. Out here in the rural area ( valley ) it definitely needs enhancement for the receive or a trip to the top of the hill. Thanks for the comeback because that is how a man learns so I don’t make the same mistakes again ! LOL

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4

Your owners manual was written a couple of years before the FCC reformed the rules for Part 95, which includes FRS, GMRS, CB and other personal radio services. The owners manual is quite outdated.

When Cobra made the CXT595, it was considered a hybrid FRS/GMRS radio. The FCC changed the rules in September 2017 to separate the two services. Now, all 22 channels are shared by both FRS and GMRS, with restrictions on FRS that I mentioned in the previous post. The CXT595 is now officially an FRS only radio.

Here is a full explanation of the current FRS and GMRS services.
FCC considers reform of Part 95 rules for personal radio services

We also covered it in episode 113 of The Two Way Radio Show Podcast.

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OK thanks for the update, so maybe now I will have to figure out how to load the GMRS channels into my Boafang UV5R 8watt that I bought last year for listening only. That’s the only reason I bought it but been too nervous to try because I didn’t want to mess it up being a old CBer. I did unlock it but was waiting to get with my ham buddy so he could show me and not create a mess I couldn’t get out of. LOL Thanks again Good things take time !