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Reviews For: Comet SMA-24J HT antenna

Category: Antennas: VHF/UHF+ Omnidirectional: verticals, mobile, etc

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Review Summary For : Comet SMA-24J HT antenna
Reviews: 58MSRP: 19.95
Description:
flexible whip HT antenna for 2m/440
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.cometantenna.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00584.3
WB9YCJ Rating: 2005-08-11
Can be used as a weapon Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I agree with all the previous. Its a great radiator with excellent capture area. Could be used to ward off attacks (from cats and some small dogs).
W0VET Rating: 2005-08-11
Supurb Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Replaced the ducky on a new FT-60R with no regrets.
KD7VEM Rating: 2005-07-24
A Very Whippy Whip Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I really like this antenna for a lot of reasons. 2-3 S-units better than the stock antenna (the same as the similarly-lengthed Diamond 77), light, and you really can tie a knot in the antenna without harm (though don't pull it tight!).

I've used one for two years before I broke it at the base (where three I've seen have broken; all were replaced by another SMA24).

A caveat/warning: you can injure people with this whip. The antenna is a spring-metal wire coated with a thin rubber membrane that doesn't dampen the motion at all. Once you get it oscillating it takes a while to stop. So be careful setting your radio down--the whip can topple your HT as it swings back and forth. The Diamond 77, which I gave a 4, doesn't spring back and forth, but it's a lot heavier.
KC9CWB Rating: 2005-04-26
Good HT Antenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I switched to the SMA 24 from the stock duckie on my Radio Shack HTX-420 HT. Reception is a lot better and this is important for easily receiving the weather radio broadcasts. I can now talk on the local repeater with confidence while inside my home. The flexibility factor does not bother my transmit and receive, but both of my cats are fascinated with the antenna movement and I have to be careful not to let them bite it and cause damage. There are a lot of HT antennas to select from and I am glad that I chose the SMA 24.
KD5NCX Rating: 2005-03-09
Excellent antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Over the past couple of years I've used this antenna on both a Yaesu VX-150 and a Kenwood TH-G71. It has provided a significant performance improvement on both HTs. I would estimate that my effective range has been increased on the Kenwood by a minimum of 50%. That's no mean feat since it's stock antenna is pretty good. Considering its excellent performance and low price, it's a great buy.
KC2NSZ Rating: 2005-02-18
Great antenna! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought a Yaesu FT-60r and the stock "ducky" antenna wasn't doing very well. I stopped by a local radio shop and the saleman recommended the SMA-HT from Comet.

Ever since, I have been talking to everyone and coming through "full quieting" as the books call it.

I highly recommend this antenna, it is durable, bendable and stows away but retains it's shape.
N1KSN Rating: 2005-02-10
Really worth it Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had this antenna for a year now, but it saw limited use. I originally purchased it for use with my Icom IC-Q7A due to that radio's small size. It worked quite well.

Recently I got a 2m (only) Yaesu/Vertex VX-150 and tried the SMA-24 on it. Now the stock duck on the VX-150 is better than average for a duck (although no stock duck I've used is a good as that which comes with the Kenwood TH-G71A), but the SMA-24 does give better reception.

Based on a previous review, I tried putting some 3M shrink tubing on the SMA-24 to stiffen it up. Unfortunately, that brand of tubing is very flexible and all it did was make the antenna droop a bit more under its additional weight. In trying to remove the shrink tubing I also ended up removing whatever Comet used to cover the antenna's wire radiator, leaving me with a bare wire and the plastic tip.

I was worried that I had ruined it, but it works just fine. I may even like it a bit more "naked." I added a small length of yellow shrink tubing to the tip for better visibility ("You'll put your eye out, kid!").

I really think one should have such an antenna, either the SMA-24 or the competing Diamond product. It gives a better signal and you can use lower TX power. Add a "tiger tail" and your signal will be even stronger.
KC0TJO Rating: 2005-02-07
Great antenna on FT60R Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
This antenna really performs with my Yaesu FT60R. It's flexiblity is great when hiking as it doesn't get caught under tree braches.
KC9AXZ Rating: 2005-01-09
Good, But.... Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have one of these antennas on my VX-5. I like the antenna it does pretty well for talking and listening. I'm on my second antenna. My first one lasted about a year. Due to being so thin, my first one bent and broke just inside the base. Although the first one broke fairly quicly, I still found it good enough to buy another one.

Jon KC9AXZ
www.kc9axz.com
KD4KNR Rating: 2005-01-08
SUPER PRODUCT Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Brought one for my vx-2. I can hit repeaters with only 1.5 watts that I had trouble hitting with a 5 watt HT/stock duck. Despite its size, it doesn't cause my vx-2 to tip over.