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write your own review of the Diamond CP22E 2M Base.
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AB9JI
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Rating: 3/5
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Sep 5, 2004 23:26
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Inexpensive=Cheap
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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The Diamond CP22E 2m Base antenna is my first base VHF antenna. Building the antenna was a breeze, but as mentioned before, the antenna has some structural flaws. Throughout the entire antenna, it is held together on one side only, at each junction. This, combined with the fact that the base piece on my unit was crooked, makes for a very lopsided antenna. It is hard to be impressed with the appearance of the antenna when it is leaning more and more the higher it goes. Had I known this, I would not have spent any time making sure that the attachment point was plumb. It would have been easy to rotate the antenna in a non-plumb mount and make it ~look~ straight. Also, this one-sided attachment method makes me wonder if the antenna will last very long. It seems very flimsy.
I have yet to test performance in the real world. I just finished it late this evening, and have yet to try it out. The SWR numbers worry me a little. It is VERY broad banded (so is my MFJ-250 dummy load), which makes one wonder about the performance.
122.15 2.0 SWR R=32, X=17
144.07 1.1 SWR R=56, X=0
172.98 1.3 SWR R=68, X=4 As high as the MFJ Analyzer goes
As I sweep through the frequencies, the SWR has high and low points many times throughout. But, it never gets above 2.0 anywhere but below 122.15 Mhz (and somewhere above 172 Mhz I am sure).
I have the antenna mounted with the base 13 ft. above ground, and it is fed with 100 ft. of RG-8X. I will upgrade the coax (and shorten it) sometime in the future, I just had the RG-8X in that length and it was convenient to use.
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K4ZZR
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Rating: 2/5
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Aug 26, 2003 00:55
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Uh Oh
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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Installed the CP22E about ten months ago and thought the connection between the upper and lower element was pretty shaky (actually it wobbled). The antenna worked fine up until a couple days ago when every time I keyed the mic, my Icom IC-V8000 would shut down. Pulled out the antenna analyzer and the SWR was 11:1 at 130Mhz and off the scale above that....uh oh. Grabbed the binoculars and went out to take a look at the antenna. The top section was GONE! I never could find it, haha.
I'm replacing it with the Diamond X50A.
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N9FWC
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Rating: 1/5
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Aug 12, 2003 00:05
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Not Worth the Time to Install
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I don't know - maybe I'm too picky, but there's no way I'm gonna spend the time to install this puppy. The problem is that the upper 5/8 wave section is fastened to the center phasing coil with two SHEET METAL screws. I just assembled mine, gave the antenna a little shake for about 10 seconds, and the screws loosened. Thinking maybe I hadn't tightened them properly, I re-tightened them and again it failed the shake test. I'm afraid to tighten them any more because I know they'll strip out very easily - as they're just not enough meat there in that thin-wall aluminum tubing for the screws to get a good purchase. I also was not impressed with the sleeve that's supposes to protect the coax connector from the weather - it's a very sloppy fit and would have to be sealed up with RTV or something. This antenna might be good for a portable rig as it's fairly light weight and if it's only up for a day or two, the screws will probably hold. If that's how Diamond had marketed it, I'd have given a higher rating. This antenna goes back to the dealer tomorrow!
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DY1NON
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 5, 2003 01:41
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A very good antenna with a reasonable price
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I just got my ham license last Feb. 2003, with a small budget I have, friends suggested to get a CP22E (P1,400.00 philippine pesos). Since using this antenna I am receiving good QSA reports even at QRP. If my budget permits me to upgrage to an antenna with a higher dbgain, will stick with CP22E.
73's
jack
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AB0RE
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Rating: 4/5
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Apr 1, 2003 22:43
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Okay value, but not perfect...
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I haven't owned the CP22E for too long, but feel I've had enough experience with it to establish an opinion on it.
The positives:
1) $50-55! A very reasonable price
2) Quality "Diamond" construction
3) Easy assembly - no instructions needed
4) Reasonable gain for size / price of antenna
5) Lightweight - No Heavy Duty mast needed
6) Enclosed coax connection point - no CoaxSeal needed!
The negatives:
1) Screws at center coil & base of antenna are exposed to weather & wobble loose over time.
2) Thin, hollow, aluminum elements (better not step on them when assembling :-)
3) Antenna pre-tuned for lower part of band - SWR a bit high up towards 148MHz.
The helpful Diamond technical representative assured me that an SWR reading of 1.6:1 at 148MHz was typical of this antenna. The tech at Diamond said the matching coil can be slightly spread to raise the resonant frequency, but it seems like a lot of work just ot lower the SWR a couple points.
I guess I was spoiled by the nice, flat SWR curve of the X50A I had previously. The X50A does not have any exposed connections or parts that could wobble loose with exposure to the wind. If the extra 2dB are not needed, and the extra $50 is not a problem, the X50A may be a better choice IMHO - seems more like an antenna you can put up and never have to worry about again. Although CP22E is a very nice antenna and I'd rather take this antenna over a Ringo, it doesn't stack up to the X50A.
73, Dan / ab0re
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KC9AXZ
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 11, 2003 01:02
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Good Antenna
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I bought this antenna with the intention of dedicated Packet use. I decided to buy this antenna instead of the Ringo because it had a lower price and the claimed "gain" was not much lower. The Diamond was also a few feet shorter. I was impressed when I got it home. Diamond made a nice, well built antenna. I've put togather a Ringo with a friend before, the Diamond was a much better build. I'll keep this on on the roof, and buy another for "portable" use.
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KC2HIX
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 24, 2002 20:36
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Huge Performer for $60 Bucks!
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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Big signals in / out! For $60 you can't go wrong with this one. Simple installation, compact size and good looking vertical. I am very happy with this one.
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9V1SM
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 7, 2002 14:14
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Superb and easy to use
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have owned one for over 2 years now. Its installed in my vacation home in India. It was one of those easiest antennas I have ever installed. Mighty satisfied and the farthest I have contacted is 650 km simplex on 5 W!..not once but on several occassions 2 X 57/8
Looking for a dual bander base antenna, go for this!
73'
Sasi
9V1SM / VU3SNM
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KG4OYF
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 7, 2002 13:11
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excellent
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I bought mine from RandL for $49.95.I have mine mounted on 15ft of radio shack mast pipe fed with 20ft of RG58.I can hit repeaters 50 miles away full quietning using a ADI-201HP HT at 5 watts output.I can hit one repeater 70 plus miles away but with a lot of white noise but considering 5 watts and the antenna doesn't even come up to upstairs windows I think that says a lot for the antenna. You can go out buy these super duper expensive antennas but you will not get the most bang for your buck like you will with this jewel.
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KG4QOU
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 2, 2002 09:01
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Great antenna!!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I am new to ham radio and do not have much experience with antennas yet, however I have to say my wife picked this antenna out for me (She's also a Ham) and I couldn't be more pleased with it. I live in Florida and have been hitting repeaters as far away as 60 miles full quieting. This may have something to do with no hills or mountains near by but still impressive. The antenna was ordered from AES in Orlando. Just as the other review stated the instructions aren't the best in the world but anyone with a little common sense can figure out which screws go where. I had the antenna mounted in less than an hour. The construction and durability appear to be high quality. With a price of $59.00 I doubt you will be able to find a better performing 2 meter antenna.
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