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You can
write your own review of the Comet GP-9 dual band base antenna.
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WT0P
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 26, 2006 23:10
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Quality Antenna
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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This is an excellent performer, Great VSWR except right around 144.0 where it gets a little higher than my rig likes. It goes together beautifully and has already withstood some unusually powerful storms that ripped through our area recently. Not exactly cheap but I'm getting too old to get up on the roof so a solid reliable antenna matters to me. Its a winner!
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KB3MMX
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 29, 2006 16:48
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Two thumbs up!
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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Picked up the GP-9 a few months ago and have had great results so far. The 70cm side has a few spots on the band that aren't optimum SWR but it is smokin hot on simplex 440.
2 Meters is virtually flat SWR accross the band and RX/TX performance is A++
Definetely would buy another one of these antennas, very impressed with the performance and not having any tuning required!!
The antenna is fed with 40' of LMR400 coax and is only off the ground about 22-23' putting the tip around 39'. mounting is on a pipe mast attached to my deck in the back yard.
---------------- KB3MMX----------------------
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VE1BXK
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Rating: 3/5
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Dec 2, 2005 11:20
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GP-9 Revisted
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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This is an update to the last post in regards to noise on the GP-9N. To make a long story short, the problem turned out to be the female N connector tabs got bent open from flexing from the LDF-450 heliax/N male connector to the antenna. A combination of wind and flexing to the feedpoint(over a period of time) resulted in the center pin on the N male connector bending the four tabs out on the female N connector on the GP-9N. This caused RF to "make & break" sending noise to the VHF receiver and other link radios at the site.
Lesson learned is to use a 5 foot RG-214 or so pig tail cable connector from the Heliax to the
feedpoint on the GP-9N antenna.
Thanks to Neil VE1YZ for coming up with a fix for the bent tabs on the N female connector on the GP-9N antenna, of which will be re-installed at the site next spring 2006 for further testing and evaluation.
As of this review, the GP-9N has been removed from the sight and a rebuilt TRAM VHF/UHF
(done by Neil VE1YZ) antenna is at the site now.
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KB3RMX
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Rating: 2/5
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Oct 2, 2005 14:09
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NOT WHAT I EXPECTED
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I've had the gp-9 for a little mre than a year now, I'd thought I'd give it some time before I made a review on it. Needless to say this is about the best in its class, but I'm very dissappointed in its performance for an antenna that costs more than $200.
Pros:
Gets out very good
Very good ears
Very sturdy in bad weather
Easy to construct
Cons:
Very high swr's below 146 mhz
High swr's on 50 watts or more
Does not work well on 440
Need an antenna tuner for <146 mhz and high power and 440
Had to solder a cold joint above the inductor
I would have given this a better rating, but Comet 's ad is misleading on this antenna.
Am going to use a quad in place of this in the near future.
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KG4TBQ
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 30, 2005 12:43
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Excellent antenna
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I am getting great coverage with it.I have it in a 40ft tree in the back yard using lmr 600 coax. Both bands the swr is 1.1. It works equally good on both bands. I spend most of the time on 2m.I live in central florida and work stations on all sides of the state and once in a while up into Ga. and Ala. with good conditions.That's using only 55 watts out of the radio.The antenna seems to me to be very sturdy because it went through all three hurricanes last year up in that tree and still is working great.
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W8GTX
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Rating: 4/5
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Feb 13, 2005 00:37
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Ok antenna
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Good gain on both bands. Big difference on 440 compared to my V2000 Diamond. Down side is the match, it's never been great on 440 and is a little tight on 2m.
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K6RSG
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 17, 2004 14:06
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Phenomenal, Durable, Outstanding!!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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This antenna has far exceeded my expectations. For the past fourteen (14) years, it has performed flawlessly. Working so well, in fact, that for many years I used nothing more than an HT with it, and frequently requiring no more than Extra Low or Low power to reach nearly all the Los Angeles area repeaters. And, with the power of a mobile or fixed station it has been suprisingly easy to reach repeaters, fixed stations, and even mobiles well over 150 miles away.
Mounted to a short mast at about 18 inches above the apex of the roof it has survived the UV exposure, blazing summer temps, and gusty Santa Ana winds here in Woodland Hills, CA.
It was purchased for $150 on August 23, 1992 when it was designated Comet model: CA-2x4MAX.
The original specs are:
Freq/Gain: 146/8.5dB, 446/11.9dB
Impedance: 50 ohm
VSWR: Less than 1.5
Length: 5.4m (17.7 Feet)
Max Pwr: 200w
Weight: 2.6kg
I beleive it is essentially the same thing as today's model GP-9.
Just last Sunday, the antenna/coax system was checked (for the first time in 14 years!) with an MFJ-249 Antenna Analyzer and it was astounding how flat the SWR remains.
As stated in the oddly worded original product sheet: "CA-2x4MAX is wide band having low VSWR as shown above. Needs completely NO Frequency Adjustment. However, please pay extra attention on Water-Proof works at each joint parts, by adhesive glue, self-melting tape and/or vinyl tape."
This antenna has served me well and although sold as a dual bander, I've used it regularly on 220MHz as well.
This is one fantastic antenna, which I highly recommend!
'73
Rob
K6RSG
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KI4ECW
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 16, 2004 21:40
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Great Dual Band Ground Plane
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I've owned the Comet GP-9 for almost a year and have been extremely please with it. I run it concurrently with a set of Cushcraft 26B2 boomers. It is mounted at the top of a 50 foot Rohn tower.
On 2 meters I can almost always hear and communicate with a simplex station or repeater within 125 mile radius of my QTH running 50 watts. When it gives a 1 or 2 "s" unit the 26B2 boomers will do about 5 or 6 "s" units. That's pretty darn good for 2 meter FM omnidirectional coverage!
The SWR on the 2 meter band is flat -- 1.1/1 but its between 1.5 and 2.0 on the 432 / 440 band. It's OK on 70 cm but don't expect the coverage. I get about 35 miles running 20 watts.
It's easy to assemble, well made, and reasonably priced. It survived a 90 mph wind when a competor's model didn't.
You won't be disappointed with this one.
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W2TMA
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 20, 2004 20:47
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Up for 6 Years No Probs
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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This antenna has been up for over six years and I have had no problems with it at all in that time.
Survived many a severe storm here on the North Shore of Long Island and still performs like new.
I would purchase one again without blinking.
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W8OWL
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Rating: 5/5
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May 26, 2004 07:55
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Reliable & Sturdy
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Actually, Comet wasn't my first cheaper/choice but it was out-of-stock. Must say I couldn't be more happy with the GP-9. I've not used it on 440 (no gear), but never failed me with 2 meter contacts. A well made antenna that survived severe Michigan weather (wind & ice) the past several years. 73, Bob (W8OWL)
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