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write your own review of the Comet H422.
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NU4J
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Rating: 4/5
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Sep 20, 2009 14:58
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SWR Measurements
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Just got the antenna up, element lengths adjusted and thought I would share my SWR measurements with you while fresh on my mind and before I scrap the paper.
My H422 came with the CBL-2500 balun and there was a change notification sheet included to explain that. Evidently earlier models came with a CBL-2000 balun and I have no idea when that change happened.
The instructions aren't great but this is what happens when Japanese translate Japanese into English.
You can set the lengths of the two elements for CW operation, SSB operation or FM (28 MHZ) operation. The lengths of both legs are not exactly the same length for the 40m band. That had me scratching my head. The left element is 11.8110 (300mm) inches longer that the right leg. Every measurement in the instruction sheets are in centimeters or millimeters so be forewarned.
Not expecting to have good SWR where I wanted to operate, I wasn't disappointed. Although I set up the SSB portion of the band for 40 and 20m it was resonate in the low portion of the CW band right at the band edge.
For the SSB portions of each band the instructions say to "Assemble To See One Hole Only" between the 15 and 20m traps. I needed to raise the frequency on 20m so I set to see NO holes between the 15 and 20m traps... effectivly shorting the distance between the two and raising the frequency.
Using an old Autek antenna analyst and the H422 eight feet off the ground these are the measurements I obtained. I'm sure I could tweak the measurements a bit better but I'm 70 years old and lazy. BTW, the SWR didn't change from eight feet off the ground and 25 feet off the ground. Another pleasant surprize. Here we go:
SWR Frequency
3.0 7.115
2.5 7.138
2.0 7.155
1.5 7.195
2.0 7.231
2.5 7.253
3.0 7.274
2.0 14.060
1.5 14.110
2.0 14.240
2.5 14.270
3.0 14.300
1.5 21.000
1.0 21.100
1.5 21.240
2.0 21.330
2.5 21.420
1.5 28.000
1.1 28.680
1.5 29.240
After reading other reviews, I'm aware of mechanical problems with rivets. I didn't find any loose so I didn't drill them out and replace them. Remember, I'm 70 and lazy!
This antenna should work good! I put it up in the rain.
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K4RYR
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 1, 2009 03:19
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Good Buy - Well Supported by NCG in CA
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I have owned my H-422 for about a year now and it is a great performer, much better than the G5RV I was using prior, I use mine as a rotatable diopole and turn it with an inexpensive tv rotator, tried it as an inverted vee, but like it better as the diopole. I recommend using an antenna tuner with it for better bandwidth use. On 40M it us a real performer, you will be impressed. Recently I had a lightning strike hit it and burn one of the 20M traps up, I called Mitch at NCG and the promptly sold me a replacement at a very reasonable price and shipped it right out to me, great support from these folks. By the way, when I took the antenna apart looking for the bad trap I found "NO" loose rivits at all, everything was tight and good connections. I highly recommend this antenna to anyone.
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YV4DHS
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 11, 2009 20:46
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Great antenna
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I am happy with my new COMET H422 ,the same is great for field day and outdoors activities . All bands 10/15/20/40 mts works without problems . I use this antenna with LDG AT 7000 wonderfull.
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W3AM
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Rating: 3/5
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Jun 5, 2009 09:33
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Works fine, beware poor fasteners.
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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For a compact multiband HF antenna the 422 performs as well as you'd expect for a simple dipole. No complaints there. The 40M capability is a real boon, especially since the broadcasters have moved. Although the bandwidth is very narrow on 40M and it takes time to adjust the elements to get it where you want it, (somewhat narrow on 20M also), I'm using an LDG AT-200Pro autotuner with it and it's a great combo. Can make it work 40M-10M no problem.
The problem with the antenna is the traps are all connected to the elements using aluminum pop rivets, some of which may be loose out of the box. You may not have problems with yours right away, but I'd expect most of these antennas to develop loose connection issues as they age, especially if installed in windy locations that flex the elements a lot.
My unit had intermittent connections in the 20M traps on day one, causing transient mismatch problems and annoying receiver noise.
The fix isn't hard, but requires the rivets to be drilled out so you can open the traps and then drill out the rivets inside so you can replace them with machine hardware. After I did that, no more problems and the antenna is very solid and works well.
From Miami, set up as a 'V' at only ~10M AGL, I've worked around Europe and out to the west coast with 100W. Can't ask for more.
For someone who's looking to just buy something and not have to fool with it, beware the rivets. But if you don't mind a little work it's all very fixable.
I'd also echo the earlier review about being careful with the plastic element insulators, they will crack under tightening if you don't make certain they are totally flat against the surface of the mast plate before you tighten. But it's not fatal. You should probably also open the balun and check to make sure the connections are tight. Mine wan't bad, and all the solder connections were ok, unlike a couple others I've read about here.
If you don't have trees or supports for a good wire antenna and are limited in space, a dipole like this is a good compromise and is very easy to install.
If it weren't for the rivet problem I'd give the antenna a 5. Now to see how it holds up thru hurricane season this summer!
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G0NCE
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Rating: 5/5
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May 25, 2009 06:25
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still in the air after 3 years
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Ok, the H422- has been up for nearly 3 years now, have just repaired the 20m traps. Rewound with copper instead of aluminium, and used fiberglass instead of plastic as the coil former.
The rivets came loose and have replaced them as well. The 20m traps seem to be the weak link, otherwise its gone back up and should last just as long if not longer.
Don't think that making the coils of copper has improved things, but must have reduced some losses albeit a small fraction.I regulary speak with a friend in Spain on 40 and 20m who has the same antenna and I can say his signal is better than most using a g5rv or dipole. he is getting the same results as me, and still pleased with his purchase.
G0NCE
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DELTAP
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 11, 2009 18:08
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Back for the final
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I have been really impressed with this antenna. I was looking for something that was not too conspicuous for the neighborhood but performed well enough, and something that my homebrew tilt-over mast would hold up. I don’t have a tower. The antenna is mounted 40 ft up in V configuration and free and clear in the open. I keep it oriented broadside to the line northwest – southeast (AL) and almost never rotate it as I find it only slightly directional. I run an Elk 2m-440 LP between it at about 3 ft above as well. 20 meter swr bandwidth is tight but I have been able to tune and get out on the edges without much trouble. 40m, 15m, 10m all perform well. My plotted SWR is posted below. It actually performed very well in the recent Int. DX contest. I find the construction of the antenna to be exceptional. It’s simple; it’s all aluminum tubing so it doesn’t weigh much and it’s strong. The wind area is also very low. In fact, my antenna has been brutally pounded in day long wind gust several times now, and has held up well. Birds land on the tips and it holds up well. I have been totally satisfied with this antenna. Overall, for the cost, size, and performance of this antenna, it was just what I was looking for.
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GM1FLQ
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Rating: 4/5
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Mar 11, 2009 05:47
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Good for what it is
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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If you adopt the attitude that nobody does anything right these days you will not be far off the mark and you will not be disappointed.
With this in mind I sleeved the inner sections with interference fit aluminium tubing. It has been up around 9m high in some horrendous winter winds with no problems. I also added self amalgamating tape to the original seals for good measure. No problems with SWR or intermittent connections and performance is about same as a dedicated dipole at a similar hight.
Build quality is better than a lot of other ham equipment I can think on but that wouldn't be hard.
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MI3LVZ
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Rating: 4/5
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Mar 10, 2009 13:27
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So far, so good
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Iv had the H422 for about a 2 months now and at first i had mixed thoughts on the antenna.
The build quality left something to be desired. Firstly, be careful when tightening the clamps that fix the elements to the main mounting bracket as one of the plastic U shaped supports broke with very little effort! Secondly, after erecting the antenna i checked the SWR. Off the scale on all bands (END STOPPING)!!!!
Brought the antenna down and had a look inside the balun. Two of the solder joints hadn't even been touched with an iron and the earth hadn't been attached!! Plus, as with the previous review, the core of the balun had to be reglued!!
Thirdly, the cost! In September 2008 these antennas were £180 approx, i paid £248!!(Jan 2009) (Bloody credit crunch!). I have mine mounted at 7 meters, in the V configuration. SWR is fine on all bands barr 40, cant get it below 1.8! And height and location does make a big difference with resonance. Once you get over any little problems the antenna works quite well. 40 is very good and 20, well 20s always gona be 20! Its at least 2 to 3 S points up on my hustler 6BTV. So over all im pleased but would have been happier if still £180 as i dont think its worth much more.
Martin.
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DELTAP
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Rating: 4/5
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Nov 2, 2008 07:04
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initial review
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I have only just put this antenna up so I plan to do an overall review at a later date. I simply thought I would share my setup and measurements. I have this antenna mounted at approx. 40 ft. I set up the antenna per the manufacturer's notice for V configuration and medium, except that I shift the 40 meter element for SWR dip at 7.150. I did the set up measurements at 6 ft up on a tripod but I also took some readings with the antenna on it's side nearly on the ground. I did not check the full curve at the manufacturer's settings for 7 MHz but I did check the dip before making my changes; it was around 7.09 MHz and SWR~1.1. My antenna shipped with a CBL-2500 balun instead of the CBL-2000 and I did have to re-glue the core rod as it had come loose in shipping. I hope these .jpg's come through for you and tell the story on measurements well enough. They seem to be consistent with other reviews. Again, I plan to give a performance review at a later date once I have actually used it much.
Measurements: http://www.geocities.com/me_n_my_xv/a111.jpg
Manufacture's settings: http://www.geocities.com/me_n_my_xv/a1111.jpg
CBL-2500 Balun: http://www.geocities.com/me_n_my_xv/a11111.jpg
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M0TNX
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 8, 2008 15:45
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Excellent Value
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I bought this on the back of comments from my old friend Charles, M0OXO and Darren, G0TSM, two very respected amateurs.
I had only worked DX on 40 with a vertical by the sea, the ultimate DX antenna! So having something that I could hear DX stations from home was FB! The antenna is quite small at over 30 feet for 40 metres, but gives excellent performance on this band. Last two mornings I have worked VK with 579 reports, 50w CW.
I cannot comment on its performance on 10 and 15 metres, as there have been minimal openings, 20 metres the unit is ok, but after a comparison with a mini delta, the mini delta won, by 2-3 s points, something I really can't get my head round, but it happened!
I only live in a small lot, so the size has caused a few raised eyebrows amongst the "non believers"! I have reluctantly had to sell it, replacing it with a collapsible mast with 66 foot inverted L, and the mini delta.
The construction is ok, not aerospace quality, but for the money it is sturdy, recently we have had steady 35 MPH winds, the comet didn't flinch. I had mine in the V configuration to save space, and found that Value for money, as far as commercial antenna go, this is a winner.
As soon as we move to a bigger lot, I will definitely buy another, great job Comet!
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