|
New to Ham Radio?
My Profile
Community
Articles
Forums
News
Reviews
Friends Remembered
Speak Out
Strays
Survey Question
Operating
Contesting
DX Cluster Spots
Propagation
Resources
Calendar
Classifieds
Ham Exams
Ham Links
List Archives
News Articles
Product Reviews
QSL Managers
Site Info
eHam Help (FAQ)
Support the site
The eHam Team
Advertising Info
Vision Statement
About eHam.net
|
| Reviews Summary for Comet SMA-24 HT antenna |
|
Reviews: 41
|
Average rating: 4.5/5
|
MSRP: $19.95
|
|
Description: 17" flexible whip antenna for 2m/440.
|
|
More info: http://www.cometantenna.com
|
|
You can
write your own review of the Comet SMA-24 HT antenna.
|
K4PDM
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Mar 27, 2008 04:08
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Performs great!
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
Works great. Super gain over the stock VX2R antenna. No problems with a year of use.
It is probably a little overpriced for what it is, but so are all Comet/Diamond products.
|
|
KB1PQA
|
Rating: 2/5
|
Mar 26, 2008 20:01
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Flimsy and useless
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
I noticed no improvement with this over the VX-7R's stock duck. It made out-of-band RX almost nonexistent, and didn't improve in-band RX or TX at all.
The physical flexibility was nice, except that it just recently snapped off at the top of the base, after 2-3 months of use. Overall, this thing is a huge waste of money.
|
|
KC2RSP
|
Rating: 4/5
|
Jan 20, 2008 06:27
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Update
|
Time owned: 6 to 12 months
|
I am raising its grade in this update.
Just finished testing the antenna with a Yaesu VX-3R.
The VX-3R requires a light antenna, or else the entire theme of a ultra portable is wasted.
The VX-3R is not as sensitive as a TH-FA or VX-7R and using this antenna over the stock antenna MORE THEN DOUBLED the db reading on reception!
For example, a 5 came in as over 10. The FM radio stations all came through loud and clear as opposed to the stock which barely worked.
The stock could not hit any repeaters but the local ones (within 20 miles). With the SMA-24 I could hit the ones over 45 miles away (gain is significant enough to make the difference).
The area where this antenna really MAKES A HUGE difference is on low power, as with the VX-3R. I now love my VX-3r and it has become my primary HT. Before I was afraid of carrying my $350 VX-7R, but with my $160 VX-3R, I now take it with me without much worry of lose or damage.
I also bought the Diamond srh815S which is also better then the stock and is a ultra light antenna.
I use my gear for backpacking as a source of entertainment and for emergency. Light weight, quality and ruggedness is a requirement. So far the antenna as taken a lot of abuse and is still in working condition. I imagine it will last a good 3 or 4 years.
This is definately part of my ultra light backpacking gear now along with the VX-3r.
It gave it 4 because I still only use this antenna if I am going to attach it to my backpack with a external mic.
|
|
N3YZ
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Oct 21, 2007 14:35
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Excellent value
|
Time owned: 3 to 6 months
|
|
Used with VX-2R and TH-F6A. Flexible, light, good gain (important to VX-2), relatively inexpensive. In length and performance, is on par with my Diamond SRH320A... Excellent HT antenna.
|
|
KI4PBQ
|
Rating: 2/5
|
Apr 16, 2007 08:45
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
not resonant at 440 barely ar 2m
|
Time owned: 6 to 12 months
|
I've had two of these antennas. When I received the first one I noticed that my HT got very warm when talking on 440 repeaters. I took it to work and put it on our antenna analyzer and found that it was not resonant in the 440 band (however it does have a nice node in the aircraft band. It's 2m performance was also sub-par. It is resonant in 2m at 150Mhz but shows a SWR of 1:2+ down around 145Mhz.
I called the distributer and they asked me to send it back. They sent me another antenna but it has the same characteristics.
This was the SMA mount version. The BNC version may resonate correctly. YMMV
|
|
KE5GBY
|
Rating: 4/5
|
Aug 28, 2006 21:51
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Pretty Good Antenna
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
I have used this antenna on my Yaesu VX-5 HT for about 3-4 weeks. It is a little better than the stock antenna. It seems like it could break fairly easy if handled rough but hasn't so far as I have handled it gently. The constant whipping action is also a little annoying. I can hit all of my 2m repeaters within about 30 miles or so. It is a pretty good performer but I guess I was just expecting more.
I just ordered the Diamond SRH77CA and will compare them when I get it in. I have read some pretty good reviews about it as a ham and scanner antenna.
Actually the Diamond was my first choice but no one had it in stock at the time so I ordered the SMA-24.
Overall a pretty good HT antenna but in my opinion must be handled carefully so not to damage it.
-73
-Bill
|
|
KG6UTS
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Jan 27, 2006 11:34
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Good after market antenna
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
|
I just bought a second one for my THG71. The first lasted about 2 years and only failed due to rough physical treatment. I soldered 2mtr and 70cm 'radials' to a solder lug and place the lug under the SMA connector so the antenna has something to operate against. Its been a good antenna on desert hikes and genaral use...a winner all around.
|
|
N4SJW
|
Rating: 1/5
|
Sep 23, 2005 15:18
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
A dummy load
|
Time owned: 6 to 12 months
|
|
Not sure why I'm having inferior results to several others posting here but on my FT-60 and F6A, the stock antennas are superior in side by side tests of local weak signal repeaters. This thing is so thin is just whips around. Don't see any reason to use this aftermarket antenna.
|
|
W8VKD
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Aug 22, 2005 19:49
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
2 thumbs up!!
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
|
I recently purchased a VX2-R and found the stock antenna to be totally useless for receiving outside of ham band use. After reading reviews here and other places I bought this antenna. I have no regrets, it is a solid performer and made a BIG, BIG difference in reception (and transmitting)on my VX2-R. The price is right too. I paid $23.00 for mine from COMDAC. Try it..you'll like it.
|
|
AE6QG
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Aug 22, 2005 18:04
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Good antenna
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
Just got this antenna as a replacement for the stock duck on my VX-150. Works good. Although I don't notice too much difference in receive between it and the rubber duck on a distant (S1-3 reception strength) repeater, it does exceed the duck on transmit. I've even used it for uplink on FM satellites (while using an Arrow II for downlink) so I can hear my own voice better on the downlink and avoid desensing on the Arrow.
Like others, I've used some heat-shrink tubing to dampen the motion of the antenna. Used just three pieces of 6" long tubing from Radio Shack, it did the trick.
|
|
If you have any questions, problems, or suggestions about Reviews,
please email your Reviews Manager.
|
|
|
|
|
