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write your own review of the Comet GP-9 dual band base antenna.
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W8STU
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 28, 2011 11:30
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GREAT ANTENNA
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Greetings,
I have had three of these great antennas. I had one on my vacation home, one on my now EX-wife's house, (which is still up going to waste.), and I have one now at my current QTH. They work great. I can get into distant repeaters which are at least 60 miles from me full quieting. They last a long time. The one I have now has been up at three different locations for the past 10 years. I have had no problems with it. This last one, when I was putting it together to put up the whole insides slid out. I had to carefully slide it back together. Naturally I was worried. I got it back together and everything was still great. No problems. That shows how well they are put together and how forgiving they are. I would highly recommend this antenna. When this one does finally bites the dust I will buy another one. Thanks in advance. 73, Stu de W8STU
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IZ2QDD
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 15, 2011 00:21
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The greatest antenna!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Compared with the other antennas is truly superior. In comparison to the Diamond X-510N else is not history, it is possible to go over 147 MHz without any problem and may very well receive the Air Band. After two years I can say that works well and allows me to also cover distances over 200Km.No problem for the SSB band.
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K9VUJ
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 3, 2010 16:49
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12 years
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I decided to replace the very old RG213 with LMR400 so I removed the antenna after 12 years on top of my W51 tower. I completely disassembled the antenna for inspection. I found nothing that needed repair. It was dry inside the radome and all connections looked as new. The fiberglass was is excellent shape. I did have some problem getting the tube unscrewed to expose the N-connector, but after applying some juice it came free. I would recommend using anti-seize grease to those threads. It's now back up for another 12.
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KA7EII
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 7, 2010 06:16
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Great Antenna
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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My Comet GP9 has been in use for over 15 years and has always performed perfectly. Currently it is up 30 feet and is being fed with about 100 feet of 9913. Run 50 watts on 2m and 20 watts on 70cm with a Yaesu FT-100. I can work simplex (other base and mobile stations) up to 50 miles away and am able to work some repeaters over 100 miles away.
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N2SLO
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 2, 2010 16:44
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Still Kicking 8 Years Later
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I did an initial review back in June 2002. Since that time I have added an 8 Element Quad, and mounted the beam in the GP 9's place. With over 400+ watts, and the beam my signal is at least 4-5S units higher for distant stations. The GP 9 is now mounted on our house vent pipe, for repeater use and hears well. No issues, no rust, very good condition. I use the 9913 which is prone for water leaks. I must have used good "stuff" to seal, since no SWR issues. 1.1 145-147....
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KG4OHH
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Rating: 4/5
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Mar 2, 2010 16:16
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Fixing the GP9
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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After having no problems for over 4 years with this antenna in service, we moved from Fl to WA about 6 months ago, and now the antenna (GP9) had a SWR of 1:1:1 now has SWR of 3++
Rain water in the Antenna:
After looking over the antenna (GP9) again, I found 2 tiny Allan grub screws (hex), i pulled them out, slid the ground plane out of the way I was able to pull the entire so239 and connecting element the hole thing, and slid it out of the tube via the bottom, on the co-lininer elements they have used sponges used and insulators to stop the elements from bouncing around inside the tube of the antenna, well these where soaking wet!!!
before:
according to the MFJ 269, the resonant Frq is now 165.500 with SWR of 1.3:1 anywhere above or below this (in Vhf) SWR reads 3++, one thing i did notice is that when i wiggled the base of the antenna (so239 end) the SWR was jumping around 2 to 3 to 2 in the 2 meter band
Now
I have now de coupled the bottom end of the antenna (see pic); and have it in my hand, I also have sprayed it with CrC Switch cleaner, to get out any unwanted water residue I have used a DVM to check for connections as follows:
Center to Center before the blocking cap, good short
outer to outer before the 2nd blocking cap good short
Center to outer no short before or after cap
both caps are ceramic types labeled as:
(C1) 10J, 1kv and reads on DVM set to cap mode 0.215 Nf
(C2) 1.5c, 1Kv and reads on DVM set to cap mode 7.61 Nf and then meter reads O.F (over flow)?
I am using the radio shack DVM model/cat number: 22-811
I am going to re heat up the solder joints as i can see some type of powder residue and then clean it up with a fine file
dose anyone, at this point, recommends doing anything else while i got the antenna in bitz ?
thank you for all who have helped
and will post an up date if this works out
73
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N1MJF
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 22, 2010 12:26
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Couldn't be better
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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My only complaint is that any frequency that I tune in I can hear 2 or sometimes 3 repeaters. I have it mounted 20' above ground and I have no issue getting into a repeater that is 50 miles away on 5 watts daily.
The receive gain on this antenna is almost too much for an omnidirectional antenna if you plan to use it for local repeaters.
As for power handling, it handles my 100w FM amplifier just fine with a dead flat 1:1 SWR on 2 meter simplex. I have not ran anymore then 25 watts on 440MHz.
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M6SIX
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 28, 2010 11:24
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SUPERB!!!!
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I have owned and used this aerial for the past 10 months, it has withstood high winds, we live on the east coast, it has proved to be the very best fm/uhf dual band aerial that I have ever used, fantastic transmit and receive reports. Well done Comet, very well made and the highest of quality build. By the way, the base of the aerial is only 5'6" above the ground. SUPERB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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K5PRT
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 20, 2010 10:43
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Pricey but worth it
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Awesome antenna. Very flat SWR. Instruction sheet is just barely adequate and mostly broken english, but drawings make up for it. Very good construction and a real signal grabber.
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M0TTB
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 21, 2009 05:38
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excellent perfomer, erect & forget
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Up at 30ft to base for 18 month or more. QTH asl is no more than average for my area but my rx & tx considerably better than neighbouring radio amateurs on 2/70cm fm. SWR effectivley flat on 2m from 144-146, and a similar story on 70cms.
Simple enough to construct, although the internal elements were pushed down in some sections and required a bit of fiddling to pull them up to mate with the section above.
basically, erected and forgotten about.
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