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| Reviews Summary for Diamond CP6 multi-band trap-vertical |
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Reviews: 32
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Average rating: 4.4/5
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MSRP: $320
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Description: The CP6 is a multi-band trap-vertical antenna for HF bands, covering the 80*, 40, 20, 15, 10 & 6m amateur bands. Made from heavy-duty aluminum, the CP6 is easily assembled, yielding excellent performance and reliability from a compact base station.
*80m CW only. SSB requires a tuner.
antenna.
This product has been discontinued.
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More info: http://www.rfparts.com/diamond/multi2.html
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write your own review of the Diamond CP6 multi-band trap-vertical.
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ON4XA
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 15, 2009 03:39
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choose yr bandlarge
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Hi to all, I writed allready a review about it. Now it's 4 years I have same CP6 and it works great. Even on 80. Even on 80 phonie. You have just to find the good mesuring, because the bandlarge is not vy high. His minus point is the power. When Diamond will make same antenna accepted 1Kw, it will be the Rolls Royce of vertical multiband antennas. I am vy vy happy with it. Diamond, you're the best. Thanks for this antenna. 73's Xav ON4XA
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IZ1GCN
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 5, 2009 06:00
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IZ1PON
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Ease of installation.
SWR bands within 1.1 machined.
Ideal for urban condominiums and installation on or in conditions of limited space available.
Proven with YAESU FT-DX9000 exciting combination.
Proven with YAESU FT-897D / I combination exciting
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KC6STT
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Rating: 4/5
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Feb 17, 2009 00:34
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reasonable/acceptable
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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My antenna seemed to work reasonably well for what it is-a compact (about 15 foot tall) multi-band antenna (it is not up right now). It was reasonably simple to assemble and use, although the short vertical radiator and very short, loaded radials does create an SWR bandwidth issue on the lower bands. Many people seem to have problems with the match moving around over time. Some use a coax tuner of some kind to get around this problem.
My antenna was mounted about 20 feet AGL on a push-up mast with no guy wires underneath the antenna. I also used a tuner as I knew the SWR would be a problem (and it was, particularly on 20 and 15 meters for some unknown reason). But, instead of using a in-line tuner at the radio, I installed a feedpoint (longwire) auto tuner (an Icom AH-4) under the bottom of the antenna when operating my '706MIIG. The combination of the feedpoint tuner and the antenna worked out very well! The antenna was operated on all of the bands it was capable of without worrying about what the feedpoint SWR was. I was not too sure the combination would work when I put everything together, but was pleasantly surprised when contacts were made on all bands the antenna was designed for. Even on 75 meters, which would normally be difficult to operate on because of the very sharp SWR curve. RX on the design bands was reasonably good.
Attempts to force the antenna to operate on 5 MHz, 18 MHz, and 24 MHz resulted in very dismal performance even though the tuner was matched up simply because there are no radials for these bands. The RX was pretty numb.
This antenna (and its 5-band replacement) will never operate with the efficiency of, say, a properly installed 5BTV. But, if you need a compact antenna, can find one new or used somewhere (since Diamond has discontinued it), and you have a longwire tuner you can put under it, you might be pleasantly surprised.
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ZS6UZ
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 24, 2009 03:31
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Not too shabby!
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I replaced my Create 730-V 5band V antennae with the CP-6. Immediately I could hear the difference. Actually worked DX with it, couldn't do that with the Create. It is only about 3m AGL..
I live in a cluster-house development, so things have to be low profile.
Installing was a one-man job. I fitted the R2 coil for the higher SSB portion of 80m, there is also a R1 available for the lower SSB portion. The different coils come complete with a different top section.
Tuning was easy. I used the MFJ259 to get an idea where the 1.5 outer limits were, roughly adjusted the radials to where I wanted it and then used the built-in SWR indication of my TS480HX to fine tune the radials TO MAKE THE RADIO HAPPY. I only use an LDG AT200 on 80m, otherwise that is switched out.
So far so good, just a pity that now that I have a working antenna, I don't have time to play radio!!
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IW2CZG
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 12, 2008 15:31
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Interesting antenna
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I installed the CP6-R antenna on my roof in September 2007 at about 15 meters above the ground.
After one year, running 100 Watts I got these results:
DXCC, 6m, Mixed 17
DXCC, 10m, Mixed 18
DXCC, 15m, Mixed 33
DXCC, 20m, Mixed 87
DXCC, 40m, Mixed 55
DXCC, 80m, Mixed 28
Construction seems adequately robust.
In my area I experimented some strong winds and the antenna looks like had no suffering at all.
Because of the small phisical dimensions, you can expect best performances on the highest bands.
40 meters are acceptable, 80 meters are too narrow and difficult to work.
About power handling: I would like to upgrade to 200W RTX but I'm a little concerned about driving the antenna up to the limit.
Pro:
- material quality
- easy to assemble / install / tune
- compact
- wind proof
- no static electricity
Cons:
- 40 & 80 meters narrow bandwidth
- 80 meter performances
- low power handling
If you're not looking for the antenna to punch through pile-ups but you're looking for a small general purpose all-bander, this antenna could make you happy.
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WA2ART
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 7, 2008 04:56
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updating my previous review
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Why do I give this antenna a 5? Because it's been a reliable performer for me under difficult conditions. I wrote a review a few years ago and have this to add. Since I installed the antenna on the roof of my NYC apartment building in 2006 I have not been back up there to check it out. It's a difficult roof to get to and one has to be very careful not to be seen walking around up there. So, rather than go up there I took out my MFJ 247 swr analyzer, which I hadn't used since originally installing the antenna, changed the batteries and took some readings. The swr on all bands had not changed a bit! I thought there was no way to avoid going up there to re do the resonant frequencies. I find the antenna is constructed of strong materials that have withstood the powerful winds we get here in the city. I work 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10. It won't tune well on 30 - the one drawback.
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EB3BRJ
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Rating: 4/5
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May 26, 2008 06:26
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It is OK for 15-6 m
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I had the CP-6 for three month now. I have to say that is very simple to put together and adjust.
performance is OK on 6, 10 and 15 meters. in 20 mt gain is way lower than my three band 20-20-40 meter inverted V with traps I made with the Unadilla traps. So I use the inverted V for the lower bands and the CP6 for 15 meters and up.
Considering the price (which is about 240 euros in Spain) I guess is and OK option.
It got me some DX contacts with the due propagation.
In 80 meters is veeeery narrow. I had to stick an extension tube at the end of the radial to be able to make it resonate on 3580 KHz for PSK31. I guess for PSK down there is useable, specially considering I have no space for a real 80 meters antenna.
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M0KDB
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Rating: 3/5
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May 4, 2008 02:01
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Great performance poor construction materials
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have owned my CP-6 now for nearly three years. I bought it second hand off a friend who had only used it very briefly. This was my first vertical for Hf having previously used horizontal wire antenna's.
The antenna was easy enough to assemble when first bought although i noted that some parts seemed to be less than substantial in construction and even poor in quality.Supplied Screws were poor so replaced with stainless. The mounting for the radials was of poor quality and quite soft metals. After assembly the antenna tuned up well on all bands without an ATU i tuned for centre of each band with no problems. Using an ATU also allows me to use edges of the bands and WARC bands with no problems.
In the three years i have owned the antenna it has been taken down twice for retuning. No matter how much i seal them the radials still suffer with water getting in despite having drain holes. I have just put the antenna back up yesterday after spending two days repairing it. My initial thought that some parts were poorly constructed was correct with the radial mounting parts needing to be redrilled and tapped as the thread had worn out till some radials just fell off into my neighbours garden!!!!!!
Overall the antenna performs well across all bands but unfortunately it is let down by a poor quality of parts and workmanship and after three years this antenna is literally falling to pieces. I have remade and replaced some parts. The only thing going in its favour is that despite this it still works great although requires regular maintenance.
I do get high winds at my QTH but thought a Diamond antenna would be upto it.
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G8ITB
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Rating: 5/5
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May 3, 2008 04:09
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Excellent for Limited Space!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Living in a suburban area (No CCR's - but we do have planning laws for antenna installations!)with a small narrow garden any amateur HF antenna is very visible! The CP-6 (Not 6A - that's US 75/80M coils) was mounted at the far end of the garden, 7 metres agl and fed with LMR-400, unused surplus from a new cellular telephone mast. OK - it's not a HF log periodic on a 30 metre tower; but it works well enough to get me out - much better than I initially expected! Even down to ZL at times, with just a simple 100 watts out of a TS-2000X. I also use an auto ATU (AT-300) for a long wire - that works well for Europe and eastern USA/Canada; the CP-6 gets the real DX - for me! It's small profile blends well into the background at a distance and does not upset the neighbours view. I have two friends who have put CP-6s up on the roofs of appartment houses - one in Malta and one in London. Both were only accepted because of their small profiles; anything else would have been rejected by the building owners - they work excellently for their users.
Diamond - please bring this item back into production - it works! It's far better than that 'dummy load' with a wire or element that you now market as HF antennas!
Richard G8ITB
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EI5GSB
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 7, 2007 14:01
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Not bad at all
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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Takes a bit to set it up for the best SWR, I'd have to recommend using an antenna analysiser, but with a bit of patience you can break that pile up.
EI5GSB
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