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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
N4MMI Rating: 2004-08-16
Tremendous Performer! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I purchased the SMA-24 as a replacement for the stock duck on my VX-7R. I have been absolutely pleased with its performance. It works great around town and has allowed me to talk from within my highrise office which I couln't do with the duck. On 14 August 2004 at 1849Z, I climbed 14,309 ft Uncompahgre Peak in SW Colorado. From the Summit using my VX-7R and SMA-24 at 5 watts, I was able to hit the Mt. Taylor, NM repeater 195 miles to the south and be fully readable. I was also able to hit the Salida, CO repeater 85 miles to the east using the same 5 watts.

Overall, I would rate this HT antenna as superb for 2 meters. I rarely use 70cm and do not have sufficient experience to rate it in this band. As for the flexibility of the antenna, I really like it because it has so little momentum that I feel it is unlikely that the sma connector on my HT would every be damaged after bumping the antenna.

Best Regards & 73!

David, KE5CED
Edgewood, NM
VA2DJX Rating: 2004-07-23
not too bad Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
i do a test with this one the first day i receive it.
On the uhf ham ,, it could be better (4/5)
,,but on
the VHF it s a good antenna ,, look nice on my HT.
(VX-2R)
No, it`s not a BASE station antenna
but a serious antenna.

If u want to beat a rubber duck antenna anytime ,
this one is 4 u.

spec-- 1/4 wave VHf
5/8 wave uhf
-------------------------------------------------

VA2DJX
Quebec , canada


K0ZXU Rating: 2004-06-08
Great HT antenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This antenna works well with my VX-5R HT. It is thin, light and flexible. It can be folded over for storage or travel, but returns to its original shape.

With the HT's stock antenna, I got reports on the local repeater that my signal was scratchy; with the SMA-24, I'm now full-quieting.

Note to Yaesu VX-series HT owners: The connector on the SMA-24 makes a solid connection, so if there was a problem in the past, it has been solved. The SMA-24's center pin is quite long and makes perfect connection to my HT's SMA. (Full disclosure -- I have an older VX-5R that did have problems with another company's SMA to 259 converter cable, so I know the problem does exist. But my new SMA-24 has no problem in this regard.)
S2SCOTT Rating: 2004-05-27
Outstanding! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Added the SMA24 to my VR-7X and hit things I didn't know were out there.

I reduced the springiness by using two layers of heatshrink tubing, the outer layer being an shrink tubing specific to the automotive field and is stiffer.

Suggest adding a tiger tail counterpoise (19.5" on 2m, and 6.5" for 440, or *just* 19.5" for dualband). I use an eyelet connector over antenna jack on the VR-7X and then screw on the antenna. Improves the "fringe" coverage as dramtically as the SMA24 improved over stock.


VE3LLL Rating: 2004-04-27
Great with Yaesu VX-7R too! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Confirming other reviews of great transmit and good receive with this antenna.

I kept meeting people who assured me that the stock duck on the VX-7R worked better than most, but I was always disappointed with the radio's range.

I now know that the stock duck is a dummy load compared to the SMA-24. Spectacular improvement on transmit, noticeable improvement on receive. And the centre connector connects just fine in this setup.
KI4EFG Rating: 2004-03-11
Great Antenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I use the Comet SMA-24 on my Yaesu VX-150. It only works somewhat better than the rubber duck receiving, but it can't hold a candle to the SMA-24 for transmitting. I can hit every repeater within about twenty miles from inside my house using two watts. Good signal/audio reports all around. I would definately reccomend it for the VX-150.
N4UED Rating: 2004-03-11
A++ antenna for VX-2R AND FT-50RD Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The Comet SMA-24 is great antenna for the VX-2R and FT-50RD. The antenna fits perfect with both radios.The antenna receives great compared to other ones.I have noticed signal flutter with the antenna when I jog.The flutter is because the antenna is so flexable.The transmit signal is better on 2m and 440.I really love this antenna.I know if you own either of the two radios listed above you will see a drastic improvment in transmit and receive.
KG0WX Rating: 2004-01-27
Works great - not that intrusive! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Just got back from HRO with my new SMA-24 on my VX-2R. The stock duck is a POS but this antenna rocks! From inside the store I hit a repeater 40 miles away with 1.5 watts on VHF. With the stock duck I could'nt even kerchunk the repeater.

Note: As I'm the list owner of the yahoo VX-2R list, I'm aware of the issues some have had with the center pin not reaching the SMA socket on the radio so that was the first thing I checked. Mine reaches just fine. As a matter of fact, I can unscrew the antenna about 2mm before loosing contact.

My VX-2R is a brand new model (5 days old) so maybe Yaesu fixed this problem......

Ken KG0WX
AB9DZ Rating: 2003-12-28
Great antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Wonderful antenna! Haven't even thought of putting the original back on. Very flexible and unobtrusive.
KC8YHU Rating: 2003-11-14
Ok Antenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I replaced the ruber duck on my VX-150 with a SMA-24. It works a lot better than it. However, I still have problems hiting repeaters 30+ miles away. Might be do to the fact i work inside. Anyway it is good for in the field when i take walks.