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| Reviews Summary for Comet CHA250B |
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Reviews: 63
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Average rating: 3.5/5
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MSRP: $469.00
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Description: The Comet CHA250B broadband vertical antenna will amazingly cover 75/80 meters through 6 meters with no gaps! Transmit range is 3.5-57 MHz and receive range is 2-90 MHz. SWR <1.5:1. This 23.5 foot vertical requires no radials and weighs only 7.1 lbs. The antenna consists of five sections of aluminum tubing that slide into each other. The bottom section has the matching network built-in. Only two simple measurements are required during the easy assembly. It can handle 250 watts SSB and 125 watts FM. SO-239 input. Mounts on a 1 to 2 inch mast (not supplied). Rated for 67 MPH wind survival.
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More info: http://www.cometantenna.com/products.php?CatID=1&famID=5&childID=6
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VK3FICA
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 13, 2009 20:26
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Great restricted space HF Multiband Vertical
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I have a small garden and I recently installed a Comet CHA-250-BXII HF Multiband Vertical on a 15 foot (1.5") mast attached to the eave of my house.
Very easy to put the antenna together (less than 5 minutes).
The antenna works as advertised with SWR below 1.5:1 or better from 80m to 10m. It even works on 160m with my TS-2000 built-in autotuner.
So far the performance has been better than the G5RV Junior that I had installed for operation on 40m-10m.
High Recommended if you don't have the space for a Yagi or full size vertical.
73's VK3FICA
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KG4RUL
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Rating: 1/5
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May 19, 2009 03:57
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Truly is a 'dummy load'!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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In the Charleston, SC area, we have set up 18 sites with emergency medical supplies and communication equipment. These are housed in converted cargo containers with A/C and emergency power sources and an FT-897 for HF comms. To allow HF comms with these sites, the three area EOCs were each bought a CHA250B.
During a recent exercise, we set up one of the EOC antennas at the exercise site. The antenna was erected on a Penninger, portable, 30' mast system. Performance was compared with a homebrew, OCF dipole strung at 30' in the center with the ends at about 12'.
Compared to this basic wire dipole, the CHA250B is 'deaf'. Stations that were easily worked on the dipole were not even heard on the Comet.
This is NOT a good buy, IMHO.
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W8JSA
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Rating: 5/5
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May 19, 2009 01:28
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Still a lot of bang for the buck!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I've since moved and got the Comet CHA-250B back up. Not at the 30 or so feet that the manufacturer recommends but at ground level. I've been able to work up and down the East Coast as well as the EU, Central & South America. When I get it up to where it should be I'm sure that Asia and Oceania will be come in strong, depending on band conditions.
Another thing that surprises me, how many fellow Hams remember about polarization of antennae. Vertical to vertical, horizontal to horizontal and that's not just for FM either. Every Ham would love to have the real estate for a beam on each band, I'm no exception. It's not going to happen at this QTH, ever. So I have to work with what I have, including a very patient XYL!
I've said before and it needs saying again, every antenna is a compromise and this is no different. I do wish that the gauge of the aluminium stock was beefier but then it would be heavier and not as easy to handle. I've read where damage was done at just 40+ MPH while it's rated at 67+ MPH. I have no doubt that the next hurricane to blow through Hampton Roads will cause the antenna to look like a pretzel but I have to deal with that when it happens.
Yes, I would buy another Comet CHA-250 and in fact, I did.
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GM7UED
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 21, 2009 12:51
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Follow up report
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Well, has been a week now and the antenna is now in it's permanent location mounted at ground level, which is "35 feet" lower than recommended but it is working great. Had my first contact tonight into maryland USA using only 10 watts from here in Aberdeen using an Icom IC-703, and being my first contact across the pond on HF I can say that these antennae do work, and work well. So for £200 GBP second hand I can say it was a good purchse and I'm very pleased with it.
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AB9SO
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 10, 2009 18:08
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Pretty Darn Good!
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I bought this antenna used for about half of the price of new. Paid less than $200 for it. For that price it is GREAT!
I put it up about 18 feet above ground level, much less than the recommended height, but that was the best I could do. I have to say that I was very surprised! Comparing it to my off center fed dipole, it is only about 1 S-Unit less on most bands!
So far I have worked all over the US, the Islands, Brazil, and even some of Europe! I worked UK and Italy on 75m. 20m is great too! I worked Spain the other day, no problem. Running just 100 watts into it.
Don't get me wrong, it is not the greatest antenna in the world. But for a vertical with no radials, it does a pretty good job. I wanted a second antenna, preferably a vertical to use for HF, and this one fits the bill very nicely. No tuner needed on any bands. I had it up and in the air in about an hour. Well built, and it has survived the high winds that we have had (60 MPH already this year). I was skeptical, but at the price I got it I thought it was worth a try, and I am sure glad I tried!
If you want a simple and decent vertical then I recommend this antenna for you. If you are looking for the magic antenna that will bust through every pile up, then you may want to consider something else.
My only negative is the price when new. Like I said, I got mine used, less than a year old for under $200, so I am ecstatic! If I had paid the $400 new, I may not be so excited.
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K2HVE
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Rating: 4/5
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Mar 8, 2009 18:07
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Surprising results
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I installed the CHA250B as a backup antenna for the ARRL DX Contest and was surprised when half of all the contacts were made with it. For whatever you want to call this antenna it is a 9 out of 10 in my book as far as verticles go. I wasn't expecting such great performance. It is a little pricey though and can handle only 250 watts.
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N4MAW
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 2, 2009 15:57
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A+ For space restricted areas
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I purchased this antenna about 2 years ago and installed it on the top of my roof (base at about 30ft AGL) and have not touched it since. This antenna has performed very well and definitely AS ADVERTISED consistently over the past two years. If you are looking for an all-band vertical with performance comparable to a resonant dipole of a high quality properly tuned beam - move on. If you are looking for an antenna that will get the job jone in a small space, here's your antenna.
I bought the antenna after reading a number of reviews here and have not regretted it. While there are some who say this is basically a dummy load, my experience has been anything but bad. Here's the skinny...Solar cycle at the bottom, propogation consistenyl in the tank, and many big guns out there. I use 100w max and this antenna for ALL of my DX...confirmed QSOs qwth stations in Cuba, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Ducie Island, France, Spain, Italy, Belgium, and other DX entities. Rig: Icom IC-700 or Yeasu FT-897D, tuner - don't have one in line with this antenna, coutnerpoise/radials - NONE. Key to it working - realistic exopectations, assembling per instructions, and mounting per instructions. I found that if it was mounted with the base within 3 ft of the ground - EXCELLENT RESULTS; base mounted 30+ ft AGL - EXCELLENT RESULTS; base anywhere in between...degraded results. Again...if you're expecting this antenna to perform like a well tuned single band yagi...move on but if you want an antenna that gets the job done in a small space and is lightweight and durable - here's your antenna.
Michael Wright, N4MAW, AAR4GJ
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K3DAV
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Rating: 4/5
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Feb 24, 2009 23:44
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Updated review
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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This is an update from my October 6, 2008 review.
Since I upgraded my license to Amateur Extra, I have had the chance to make my own contacts at different times of day on many bands.
As I said before, this is indeed a compromise antenna. If you have space restrictions and want to get on HF, this antenna will do the job. Keep in mind that all of the following reports are from my Icom 706MK2G with only 100 watts. The Comet is mounted on just 15' of pole from the ground, and fed with LMR-400. That's all. And I live near 3 Mile Island, just a few miles south of Harrisburg, PA.
So far the upper HF bands have not been to active due to the down side of the solar cycle. But there were a few days of limited DX on 10M where I contacted stations in Tenn and Texas. They both gave me an S-6 to S-8 report.
I made a couple of contacts on 15 and 17 meters from Iowa and Kansas with S-9 reports.
But 20 meters is great with this antenna. France had a contest weekend on Feb 21 and 22 of '09. I answered 3 or 4 of them and got reports of S-8 to 10dB signals. And I was heard through one pile-up. That made me smile a bit. I also made contact with a ham in Italy, with a 10dB signal. Not bad for 100 watts on a multi-band vertical.
On 75M, I have been talking with a bunch of guys who take over 3805KHz in the late afternoon and early evening. They are all about 100 to 220 miles from me. Some of them have to crank their volume a little to hear me, but they hear me. The further away they are, they hear me better. One of them up near Rochester NY (171 miles) heard me very well. As did another guy near Wheeling W.VA, (216 miles).
Again, it's not a perfectly cut dipole, or a big bad yagi. But if you can't put up one of those antennas, the Comet CHA250B is a good compromise antenna. You will make DX contacts, and maybe even have a little fun in the process.
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KE5YRF
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 18, 2009 19:33
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Works as advertised
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I use this antenna as a portable on my motor home, mounted to the rear ladder at rooftop level. On a recent trip, I worked Italy, Germany, several South Pacific islands and all over the US. The SWR was less than 1.5 on all bands and I could literally work anything I could hear. Not bad for a so called "dummy load". I did drive a ground rod in the ground 4 feet since my rv ladder was insulated from ground. We had some 40mph winds at one location and the antenna took it with no problems. Set up is less than 10 minutes with 1 person. This is not a yagi or a ground plane with multiple radials, but it works great as a portable antenna.
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G0KSC
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 27, 2008 05:31
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Excellent
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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OK yes it is expensive and no, thereis not a lot of moenys worth of components but could you build it yourself? No. It is a bit like buying Windows Vista and complaining as the cost of a disc is just a few pence/cents...
I am in a restricted area so wanted something for HF to just get me on the bands. I hada look at what was around and whilst, this only accepts 250 watts, I decided any more than that would most likely cause problems anyway.
The antenna arrived and in general, the build quality is very good. It took just 15 minutes to put it together and you used weather sealer on the joints just to make sure it lasts. I have installed the antenna on a 20 foot pole on the side of the house so the base is sitting at about 30 feet from the ground. Additionally, I attached an earth strap to the base of the 20 foot pole which inturn is connected to a earth rod.
From 80 thru to 6 metres the SWR hardly moves at all. This includes the 5mhz band too for which I have an NOV. So a bonus there. Also, one more bonus. it works fine on 4 metres (70Mhz) Too!!
1.4.1 at one end of the band and 1.6.1 at the other. Fantastic!
The antenna has been up a few hours and I have looked around the bands. 20 seemed alive so I scanned more slowly. Found K4NV in Georgia calling cq so called him. 59 report and a 20 minute conversation. Excellent. Next I found N3EON in Marryland. I called him, first shot, 59 10 minute chat.
I am based in the South East of the UK, working across the pond is what I want to do so it does the job.
In summary at £300.00 it is a lot of money but what do you get? Not $40.00 worth of tubing, you get a single antenna that works on ALL but one of the HF bands along with 50Mhz and 70Mhz too.
Highly recommended.
JJ
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