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You can
write your own review of the Comet SB15 Triband Mobile Antenna.
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KG6BIW
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 13, 2009 10:43
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Couldn't hardly ask for more!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Have had this antenna for about 9 years now. It has been mounted on the roof rack of my Jeep Cherokee and has seen over 100K miles of on and off road. Have checked it periodically to make sure the set screws remain tight; never had them come loose. It has struck many tree branches, one which broke the mount but the antenna held up perfectly.
Performance is great...but, to be honest, I don't have much to compare it to. On 2 meters it seems to get out better than most. I many times loose the QSO before the other end, in spite of where it is mounted. I only use the UHF for x-band repeat with my HT. I have rarely used it on 6 meters.
It has been outdoors in everything but snow in all those years, including 100 deg plus for at about two months out of the year. The traps are looking rather weathered and I wonder just how brittle they may be getting but they take the ocasional stress of dragging the top element, which has a bit of a kink in it now, under overhangs with no problem. Always seem to forget to fold that thing over.
One of few items I can smile about spending the money on.
God bless
73
jb
kg6biw
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AC0Y
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Rating: 4/5
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Sep 5, 2008 16:07
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SB15 over time
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have had a SB15 now for about 8 to 9 years. I checked it with my meter the other day and found that it had 2.8:1 on 2 meters and even worse on 70 cm. I have had to replace both upper most coils in the past due to the fact that they are made to break instead of "hurting some one". I found that the entire antenna needs to be cleaned up after a while. It became a pretty good antenna again after a few hours of cleaning.
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N4CQR
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 2, 2008 07:23
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Very Satisfied
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I have this paired up with a FT-8900R in a service truck mounted on the left side of the hood. Performance has been excellent. Mobile for Berea KY to the 146.640 repeater in Adair county 65+ air miles is a common occurence.
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KD5XB
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Rating: 4/5
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Jun 12, 2008 20:34
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Great antenna!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I've owned one of these for some 6 years now, and I've used it on several 18-wheelers. When on the 18-wheeler, the base is usually 9 feet up, plus or minus a couple of inches. Works well on 2 meters, and 70 cm, but I've only rarely used it on 6 meters, since I have a Hustler setup for 20 meters and the Icom 706 puts 6 meters on the HF connector. I used it a bit on 6 meters today, just listening, and heard several stations in 8-land and 7-land, and even a KH6 signing "Aloha" with somebody. Only complaint so far, is one of the insulators/phasing contraptions has loosened up to the point that the top 2/3 of the antenna is about to be lost! But after 6 years on an 18-wheeler and several hundred-thousand miles, in hot, cold, snow, sleet, high winds, and everything else, I'd say this is one tough antenna that works well on our three most popular VHF/UHF bands.
7 3
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N1IIC
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 28, 2007 07:35
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An Awesome Antenna!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have had it on top of two successive Yukons for 8 or so years and 100k miles and it has been used with an IC-706 MKIIG and a Yaesu FT-8900 with excellent performance. I have has this antenna mounted with a magnet and also a drilled permanent mount. It has a UHF connector.
I started with an older spring loaded version of the fold over, which one of the tabs broke. After 6 years and being knocked over who knows how many times, and minding the trees and bridges that were hit, that is good longevity in my opinion even with such a poor fold-over design. I did replace the base coil (the new version and a much better design) for a reasonable price from Comet.
I haven't had any problems with the setscrews or hearing the NWS transmitters.
I knew this antenna was tall when I bought it, I don't know how anyone can fault it for being tall unless you have problems with reality.
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KG6YFS
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Rating: 4/5
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Jan 18, 2007 23:50
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Good antenna, parts are bad
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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The only problem is that is is really tall and living in Los Angeles, there are lots of parking garages. I now have it mounted outside the window on a air conditioner and it works.
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WB6FQZ
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 30, 2006 07:47
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Worth the $
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I've had one on my Jeep through 9 western states in the past year. Some of the set screws loosened but after slightly grinding flat the area that the screws bear on and a little lock-tite, no more problems. Lots of gain on VHF/UHF and 1/4 wave on 6. Of course it needs a good counter poise for 6 meters. I only wish they made it in black.
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ZL2UFI
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 4, 2005 20:21
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Great Antenna - but a tall one!!!
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I have owned this just over five months, but only had it on the vehicle for 3.
I have it mounted on the rear driver's side guard, of my Ford Mondeo. At this point, the antenna is over 3 metres tall; the feed point is about 1.5 metres above the ground. The antenna itself is about 1.5 metres tall.
This makes for a very tall antenna!!!
It works very well on both 2M and 70CM, and much better than the Diamond 770 I have. It pulls in signals from all over the place, and is at least 2-3 S points better than the Diamond. I haven't tried it on 6M's, apart to test the SWR which is 1:1.1.
The only issue is the size, which is a real pain when using underground car parks, or the garage or car port at home, then you need to get out and fold the antenna down.
A great antenna and I would buy another if needed.
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W1CAR
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Rating: 3/5
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Dec 31, 2003 19:17
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Decent antenna
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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This antenna is great for what it's rated for. Six, two, and 440mhz. However, I'm used to monitoring the 162mhz band for NWS WX transmitters, and the antenna is so narrowbanded that I cannot hear them at all.
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N1KET
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 3, 2003 00:21
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Great Antenna!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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This puppy is awesome on 6 meters for mobile use. 2m and 70cm work great as well.
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