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A "birdie" is a spurious signal generated within the radio, such that this signal can be heard by the radio. Anyway, the tech agreed to exchange the radio, and I ended up getting a slightly more expensive model. But, since CB only uses 40 channels, you'd think they could design it so that there would not be any birdies on those frequencies.
I think it was channel 4. This was several years ago. In this case, the 18WXSTII has one channel that seems like it always has a signal on it, and that signal is the birdie.
When I talked to the Cobra technical support person, he admitted the birdie was a design problem and all the units have it. The birdie signal was loud enough that it would block out any medium or weak real signals. Now, in other wide-band general-coverage radios that use synthesized frequency generation, it is common to hear a few birdies.
It may be fixed by this time. I was happy with their support but sad about their design problems.
This is my biggest gripe with the radio. I've owned my Cobra 18 WX ST II for about five years and, over that time, have had it installed in two cars. I also own an older Cobra 20 PLUS which I purchased new back in the very early 1990's. I'm using the Cobra 18 with a recently purchased Wilson "Little Wil" magnetic mount antenna on a compact car (it was previously installed in my wife's old mid-size sedan with a 2' FireStik) and am relatively pleased with the radio's transmitting performance; however, this radio does seem to be much more sensitive to receiving interference from overhead power lines (when compared to the 20), as it picks up a LOT of static when I drive under or parallel to power lines. On the positive side, because I'm powering the radio through the cigarette lighter, I appreciate the "instant channel 9 and 19" button. I use the CBs for live traffic information on my daily commute (about 70 miles, round trip) and listen more than talk.
If they'd also give you a better microphone, that would make it 5 stars. I have been relatively pleased with it (considering the price). If it wasn't for this issue, I would have given it 4 stars instead of 3. I like Cobra's radios but the stock microphones on their lower end CBs leave much to be desired, as the microphones on both of my radios stopped working within the first year or so. I replaced both with generic microphones (no bells or whistles) and the generics have proved to be of better quality. Near power lines, I find myself turning the squelch up so high that I'm concerned about not hearing what someone may be saying.
Having the speaker on the front is a great feature, but you'll be pushing its limits if you drive on the highway with the windows down--you may want to consider an external speaker placed closer to your head if you use the radio under such conditions and have it mounted below the dashboard.
Also, the three required wires (battery, accessory and ground) are right there when the clock pod is removed to install the gauge housing.I used the Cobra on my first long highway trip last week and was impressed with its range on receive and transmit. I installed this unit in a 2007 Subaru WRX STi using a Subaru OEM gauge pack housing. That housing is single DIN and since the Cobra is too, the fit and finish was perfect. My first radio check call got me a callback from 35 miles away. (My antenna is a Larsen NMO27B so that has a lot to do with the radio's performance).Positives: front mount speaker (no external required), nice knobs with a quality feel, channel scan, weather band, quick button for 9/19, sensitive squelch, great range, resonable priceNegatives: needs a clock display, won't operate with the mic unplugged (don't really want to talk to truckers, just listen to their police reports), display is hard to read in the sunshine, mic is big and clunky looking, no PA system
We were impressed with the speedy delivery and no damage to any of it. It seems to be a great product.
The mic is cheap and bulky. I ordered this radio, after my midland 1001z broke, and I really wish I didn't. The soundtracker feature is useless. This radio is junk. I had a good antenna hooked up to it, and the radio signals were weak and came in and out constantly. Fellow CBer's could not hear me when I talked to them. The only good feature is the weather band, other than that, don't even waste your money on it.
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