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Reviews For: Comet HF/VHF/UHF UHV-6 Mobile Antenna

Category: Antennas: HF Mobile & Accessories

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Review Summary For : Comet HF/VHF/UHF UHV-6 Mobile Antenna
Reviews: 26MSRP: 159.95
Description:
The UHV-6 is Comet’s 3rd generation HF –UHF mobile antenna, <br> and it’s the best! Without the HF coils attached, the UHV-6 is a tribander for 6M/2M/70cm. The top of the element has a threaded socket for attaching the HF coil of your choice, now it’s a quad-band antenna! <br> <br>
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.cometantenna.com/uhv-6_product_information.htm
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00263.9
N8IK Rating: 2003-09-05
Excellent Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
My UHV-6 is mounted on a Diamond K400 on the trunk of my Crown Victoria. Rig is Icom 706mk2g and an LDG RT-11 autotuner. What a great combination! Have coils for 17m and 20m also. The RT-11 gives me plenty of bandwidth even on 40m. I don't guy the UHV-6 and haven't had a problem - very sturdy. Did have a couple of set-screws back out. My fault since ANY mobile antenna should be checked regularly - fortunately I didn't lose any big parts. A quick e-mail to NCG has replacements on the way - great customer service!
KC2G Rating: 2003-05-13
radiates well, but... Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have had the antenna for about six weeks and from a performance standpoint am satisfied. I have been told by Oceania stations that I am one of the few stateside stations they copied...albeit at 1AM...but this from the midwest. However, I cannot tune 17m, the 40m coil died while running 100w CW into it, and I have had to back off to 70 watts on 20m or I start to get SWR spikes. HOWEVER, I purchased it used and perhaps the previous owner abused it. I am awaiting a new 40m coil, will continue to run only 70 watts for fear of losing it. So...it radiates well...but has not met other expectations.
KB0PYO Rating: 2003-04-01
poor construction Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have had the antenna for 7 months, I could not get the 6 meter swr down to a reasonable reading on the low end of the band (the mast is to short). Also after just 7 months and one Minnesota winter the base of the antenna stripped out from the wind shear of several snowstorms and 60 mph cross winds while driving. After being quoted $46 for just the base section up to the tilt over hinge I will put it in the scrap heap. Very poor contstuction for the windload it has to endure.
KC2ISW Rating: 2002-12-11
UHV-6 HF Mobility Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
After upgading to general class this past summer, I decided to put my IC 706MKIIG in the Jeep and I needed an antenna to handle this radios HF capability. The Comet UHV-6 coupled with the Icom AT-180 coax tuner is a combination that's hard to beat. Being the typical ham, I also use a separate 2/70cm antenna (SG-7900), although I could have used only the UHV-6 with a duplexer, that's still in the packaging by the way. Back to the UHV-6..I run with 10,15,20 and 40 meter tuning coils, mounted with a Diamond K400C heavy duty mount. You really shouldn't use a mag mount with this antenna, unless you have one of the multiple 4,5 or 6 magnet base mounts. Antenna performance is excellent with the AT-180 tuner and I have been able to easily tune 10, 15, 20 and 40 meter bands with no problem and SWR's below 1.5:1 The only issue I have found is that the base coil mount uses hard plastic that could be beefed up to better support the flexing this antenna goes through at warp 7 on the local freeway. I have successful contacts in Russia, Siberia and the Ukraine as well as routine state sides contacts. The IC706MKIIG + AT-180 + Comet UHV-6 is the way to go mobile HFing.
IK5ZVE Rating: 2002-07-17
Surprising! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Well...what will u think if u are able to work VK3 and some US stns from the motorway while heading to work-place at 7.30 in the morning? Well, this happened to me last morning, the 2nd day since i installed the UHV-6 on the back door of my Land Rover Discovery...coupled with the FUN-tastic Ic-706 MkII G... 50 w out! I've worked some dxs too, using with mag mount and ft-817/qrp
Well, my only complains are...that's very heavy (#1);
Just with the 20 mts coil (why is is optional? #2)it moves a lot... i am always afraid to loose it in the middle of the motorway...
The Bandwith is not very much... U need a tuner if you want to take advantage of all the available band (#3); It needs a guy, if u want to feel ok when u install the 40 mts coil and some 2 or 3 coils more...it is exposed to a lot of wind force (#4); If u wire it, u can drive without constantly looking in the rear vision mirror to see if it's still there!
Definitely, thinking back to the VK3 station... I will for sure buy an other one! Fine Business!
W2MW Rating: 2001-06-18
Working very nicely Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I purchased the Comet UHV-6 mobile antenna to complement my new ICOM IC-706 MKII G mobile rig. I spent a lot of time looking for something that would bit nicely on my Nissan Altima as well as work good. I had experience with the Outbacker Perth Stealth antenna, although it was unobtrusive, I really didn’t think it performed well. I am very pleased with the performance of the Comet UHV-6 antenna. I know that all mobile antennas are a compromise in design, however I have worked quite a bit of DX with my mobile installation.

The only issue that I have with the antenna is it needs to be properly set up before first time use. I am sure that this is true with most mobile HF antennas. I found it best to have an antenna analyzer on hand to perform this setup. Comet has provided a default stinger length, however, depending on grounding and installation, these lengths may vary greatly. BTW, the built-in SWR analyzer in the IC-706MKIIG comes in handy for this purpose. The designated bandwidths identified in the Comet spec. sheet are fairly close to what I have. I am not all that concerned about that because, other than 40m I cover most of the operating portions of the bands that I use anyway. 40m is so narrow, I actually have to cut a separate stinger so I can operate either CW or SSB. There is not enough adjustment length to accommodate both ends of the 40m band.

Plus: The best feature of the Comet UHV-6 antenna is the ability to switch bands having to make any additional adjustments to the antenna.
Minus: The 20 meter coil is an option. When antenna has all HF elements, requires a guy to support (I’m using 17# monofilament).

Best 73;
Kurt – W2MW
w2mw@amsat.org