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| Reviews Summary for Comet HF/VHF/UHF UHV-6 Mobile Antenna |
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Reviews: 20
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Average rating: 4.0/5
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MSRP: $159.95
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Description: The UHV-6 is Comet’s 3rd generation HF –UHF mobile antenna,
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and it’s the best! Without the HF coils attached, the UHV-6 is a tribander for 6M/2M/70cm. The top of the element has a threaded socket for attaching the HF coil of your choice, now it’s a quad-band antenna!
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Product is in production.
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More info: http://www.cometantenna.com/uhv-6_product_information.htm
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K6QT
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 6, 2010 13:29
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Yet more feedback
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I have to say some more about this antenna, even though I've written twice. I built a quad-band (70 CM/1.25 M/2 M/6 M) antenna which was a bit of a bust and a couple of j-poles at my base station, which are only marginal and which I have had connected to LMR-400 (BTW, I wouldn't go with any other coax (unless it was a thicker LMR), especially at the higher frequencies) at my home QTH. In a last ditch effort to get some HF out of this, I put it on my roof (on my swamp cooler, which serves as a ground plane and which surprisingly gives me no electrical noise when the cooler's on), so it's about 40 ft. up (I used a tri-mag mount to keep it from falling over in the wind, which it did up there once on a single mag). I gave up on my other base station VHF/UHF antennas and gave up on using this one for an HF, opting for a Butternut, which could still be improved upon.
When I used this antenna with the expectation of a VHF/UHF antenna only, it was brilliant! I live in Layton, UT and can hit the Mt. Logan repeater, all the Provo/Orem area repeaters with 5W, across mountain ranges and you name it. Basically, I can hit 2-3 times as many repeaters with it up there than I did before. The SWR was lower than any antenna I have ever hooked up to my radio before on 2 M and 70 CM. Maybe the height is the main factor here, but I would buy this antenna again just on the basis I've named - as the best UHF/VHF base station antenna I've ever had. Maybe I could do even better with a yagi, although I doubt I would need a yagi (I already hit almost every single repeater around me within a 90-mile radius and can do simplex across huge distances also.) So I've found a good use for it after all.
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N4KC
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Rating: 3/5
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May 25, 2010 19:27
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It is what it is
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I wanted a quick, easy way to get on HF mobile for the first time in my 47 years of being a ham. I enter a parking deck every day and have to use others--including one particularly bad one at the airport--on a regular basis. That made a typical screwdriver or a large mobile antenna impractical. Then a friend recommended the UHV-6. I ordered it and a 3D5M coax assembly, plus the optional 17M loading coil from Universal.
The coil was backordered but the other items arrived and it was a quick install on the rail of my Dodge Dakota pickup, once I was able to get that 5/8-inch hole drilled for the mount. About 45 minutes with my antenna analyzer and I had the various coils/stingers trimmed and tuned for the portions of each band I expected to be using the most.
Plusses: This appears to be a pretty good 70CM, 2 and 6 meter antenna as is, and that is the way I leave it most of the time. The various coils are quick to install, and perfect for my typical use...sitting under a pine tree on my lunch break, listening and making the occasional contact. The antenna and its accessories appear to be quite sturdy and well made. When I get to a parking deck or on those rare occasions when I wash the old beast, it takes me five seconds to unscrew the antenna from the mount and put it in the back seat. I could, of course, use the tilt option, but frankly, it is just as easy to take the antenna off completely.
Negatives: Maybe I'm just nervous, but I could not imagine doing much driving with more than one of the coils installed, and NEVER with the 40M attached. The antenna is quite stiff with little play and that puts a lot of stress on the point where it screws onto the mount. I did "guy" it in one direction with a length of rope to the tie-down in the truck bed to brace it against the wind when driving and it seems to make it much more stable. I have driven quite a bit with the 17M coil attached and it seems to do okay. I also screw the coils into the antenna horizontally, which is a neat option. I cannot tell any difference in performance results between that configuration and putting them on vertically. Still, I don't think I would ever put more than one coil/stinger on at a time if I was going to be in motion. As expected, it is very narrow-banded on 40M, and only a little better on 20M.
Overall: OK. I don't have anything else to compare it to, but it allows me to listen, and I have made some decent contacts. But I take pride in my home station antennas and typically am able to make contact with anyone I hear. Not from the truck! Still, it does exactly what I wanted it to do, and pretty much what the manufacturer says it will do, though nothing psectacular. I'm willing to accept some compromised performance in exchange for convenience...and the alternative would be no HF in the vehicle at all.
(By the way, I cannot imagine anyone would use this antenna for a stealth base station setup. There are many far better solutions.)
Don Keith N4KC
www.n4kc.com
www.donkeith.com
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KG6TII
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Rating: 3/5
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May 24, 2010 16:41
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so so
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I used this antenna on my (big rig) truck and my jeep (now permanently attached).
It is extremely flimsey as designed. The various vertical elements are too small in diameter so they just whip about. I suppose it could be drilled out and a larger metal rod inserted to stop it - but it problably will whip around also.
MY SOLUTION:
I cut a piece of 1/2" "electrical PVC" (grey stuff) to just fit from the top "spider" to the bottom connector. I beveled the ends to make it more compatable (no sharp edges). I also wrapped electrical tape around the middle coil to fill the space in the PVC. This keeps the antenna from moving inside of the PVC. Even not tied down, this really stopped the whipping around down to a minor problem.
When I put it on my jeep, I used the PVC untill I put up my rack, then I removed the PVC and tied it off to the rack. I put a rubber "bumper" on the upper coil to act as a shock absorber as it whipped around (its tied off so the whipping is only inches). It now works just fine.
I have the L-7 up top and 3 more radially around the spider.
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AB0HI
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Rating: 5/5
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May 18, 2008 15:56
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Great antenna system
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I recently bought this antenna with the optional 17 meter and 20 meter coils. Once I tuned all the coils to resonance with the vehicle and ground the antenna to the car it was up and running. The SWR's on all the bands are all within a respectable limit with or without an antenna tuner even though the bandwidth on 40 meters is fairly narrow. I was able to make several state side contacts right away running 10 watts.
I am not concerned about this antenna being too flimsy or top heavy for mobile operation as I am using it only for stationary mobile operation. It feels well built to me. I am very happy with this purchase.
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KC9IMT
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Rating: 4/5
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Jul 1, 2007 08:27
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Amazing Performance for Price
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I already had a K400 trunk mount on my car, so installation was a breeze... A bit of tuning, probably 5 minutes or so, and I was making contacts on 6 meters and 40 meters.
This is by far the best antenna I've used as far as 440/2m performance... 6 meters is really good as well. I'm not quite comfortable driving 80 mph down the highway with the 40 meter coil on the antenna, but other than that, for the price, it's hard to beat.
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G7PUV
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Rating: 4/5
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Mar 19, 2007 23:18
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Excellent for size
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I've owned mine for about five years now and for the size of it it performs very well. You aren't going to beat many pile ups with 100w but I've worked round the world from the car so I'm pleased with its performance. Parked up and with all the coils fitted there is little difference in the tuning, not enough to worry about having to retune any of the coils. Performance on VHF/UHF is fine, it's about 1 S point down on my CR627.
Mechanically I've had the lower coil start to work loose, some small movement was felt in it when I was carrying it from the car so I replaced it. Apart from that it's done 80MPH and is still straight, it's hit a few trees too and has survived fine. I've never driven with more than one coil on or the 40m coil as I think it would need guying with some monofil for stability. I've never had a problem with any of the grub screws loosening off, in fact one small annoyance is the use of two different sizes that hold the whips into the coils, the smaller ones round off very easily due to the small diameter Allen key required to adjust them.
One tip though, don't buy the coils for 20 and 17, by adding some 1.5mm diameter whip to the 15m coil it will cover both bands easily, in fact bandwidth is much improved over the optional 20m coil. Same process for 12m using the 10m coil. I'm sure for static use the same principle could be used for 60m using the 40m coil. Use the earth from 2.5mm T+E to get the correct lengths then cut some stainless steel whip.
If you want something smaller than a screwdriver and dont fancy monobanders then I can recommend this antenna.
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N6PEQ
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 9, 2006 17:40
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Perfect for my mobile setup!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I'm using a Comet UHV-6 on my Mustang-Saleen convertible. It is perfect for my mobile setup, since it is not too visually obtrusive like a larger motorized HF mobile antenna. I am using the UHV-6 along with a LDG autotuner. The antenna really gets out! Worked all over the world with it. What a blast for a little antenna!
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KG4TUM
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Rating: 4/5
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Sep 23, 2005 18:32
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Good Antenna
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Does a good job. I lost 2 set screws before I saw the light. Loc Tite is a necessity with this antenna. They should include spare set screws. Easy to tune with an antenna analyzer. Performs well on the bands that I have, 10, 15 and 40. Haven't used it on 2 or 6 meters yet. Nice to have it all in one antenna. I had a Hustler HF mobile antenna on my previous truck, plus a 2 meter magnetic mount. I wanted something that didn't stand out so much on my new truck, and got it with the Comet. The only nit I have to pick is the narrow bandwidth on 40. Oh yeah, and the set screws.
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N5EAT
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Rating: 4/5
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Apr 23, 2005 18:12
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Nice System
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have to agree with many of the posts. This antenna radiates a very good mobile signal. The bandwidth is fairly narrow, moreso than the Hustler system I also have. I drove 3500 miles last year with this antenna and had no problems, but I did check all the nuts and bolts when I stopped for gas. I'm actually using the antenna as my base antenna at the moment. I run a 50 foot section of coax out to the car and it does very well. The metal used for nuts and connectors is quite hard and you can't tighten the connections as you could with metal which will give a bit when you tighten something down.
Performance is on par with the other good multi-band systems you can purchase. Plus, you get 6,2, and 440 without a sweat. I can recommend this product without hesitation. Just heed the warnings of some of the other reviewers. Put some lock-tite on all of your permanent connections and you should have few problems.
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K8LEC
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Rating: 4/5
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Apr 23, 2005 17:26
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Good Signal, Kinda Flimsy
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I have had the UHV-6 for over 6 months, and actively used it for about 2 or so months as I didn't have my HF install in the mobile till about 1 month ago.
It was pretty easy to tune, especially if you have an SWR analyzer like the MFJ. I borrowed a friend's and it made tuning the coils a snap. For HF, a good ground connection is essential, without that, the antenna may not tune up well at all.
As for performance, it performs quite well. I had the 10/15/20/40 meter coils only. I would have liked the 17m coil. I didn't bother with the 80m coil as I expected the bandwidth to be quite small and the size to be trouble (more later in the review on that.) I had several DX contacts on 20m and got good reports from anyone I spoke with across the HF spectrum. Pretty much if I could hear them, I could work them.
I originally used it with an LDG Z-100 auto tuner to increase my operating frequencies, but after a while realized that the bandwidth I had without the tuner was plenty and I wanted to make sure I got as much efficiency as possible, therefore should stay within the tuned areas of the coils.
My main complaint is the strength and durability of the antenna. When I had the 40m coil on it, I felt it was a little top heavy, especially with any other coils. I usually operated with the 20m and 40m coils only. I also found the set screws often loose and needing tightening, which can be tricky as they can strip easily if you're not careful. I had it mounted on a Comet CP-5 mount on the rear tailgate of my mini-van, which put it quite high, very good for the radiation pattern, but susceptible to trees! The CP-5 is an ok mount, but I've since purchased a Diamond K400 and highly suggest it instead. It's much better built and stronger!
All of my review is in past tense because I've since switched to a Little Tarheel II screwdriver antenna. I did that, not because of something being wrong with the UHV-6 really, but because I wanted to be able to tune across the HF spectrum and not be limited to a set bandwidth. While the UHV-6 offers many coils for different bands, I didn't like having any more than 2 on at a time due to the height and strength of the antenna, especially since I kept the 40m coil on all the time.
However, the LT II costs quite a bit more, so they're really not in the same category in that area.
If you want a well designed, good performing and decently priced mobile HF antenna, the UHV-6 is a great option. If you want something a little more heavy duty, tunable across the entire band and are willing to spend more money, a screwdriver like a Little Tarheel II is a better option. The beauty of a LT or LT II is that you can use the Diamond K400 mount as well, so if you can place a UHV-6 somewhere on your vehicle using that mount, you can place a LT there as well.
73
Lars
K8LEC
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