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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
K0LEJ Rating: 2003-09-05
Extremely Flexible, but not as good as the stock antenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Purchased this antenna thinking it would be better than the stock duck on a Kenwood TH-F6A, but is isn't. Receive signal was less then 1/3 of the stock antenna on 2 meters. Did not try transmitting after seeing the poor receive.

The antenna is almost too flexible in that it sways around a lot causing a fair amount of signal change.

Only tried the antenna on the Kenwood, it may work better on other HTs.

Ended up taking the antenna back and sticking with the stock duck.
KG6PHX Rating: 2003-03-11
Great performer Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
A great performing HT antenna, with gain on both 2m and 70cm - it performs substantially better than the stock antenna that came with my Yaesu VX-7R. The antenna itself is very thin and flexible, so you can bend it almost in half for storage. On the downside, the flexiness of the antenna means it flops around a LOT. If I stick it out the car window while driving around 30-35mph, it bends backward quite a bit. Don't even think about sticking it out the window at freeway speeds or using it on a windowmount connector.

Overall, a very good antenna with a reasonable price and excellent performance, for handheld use. Just don't expect it to be very comfortable if you wear your HT on your belt.
KE6PKJ Rating: 2002-10-09
Goldenrod Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Excellent antenna, Has gain on 440 and is almost as good as 1/4 wave on 2 meters. I solved the "flex" problem by stiffening up the antenna with 3 layers of heat shrink staggered up the whip in 1/3 increments. The antenna is now flexible enough and doesn't whip around like a wet string. A solid 5!
KB9YFX Rating: 2002-10-09
outstanding replacement antenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Purchased to use with Radio Shack HTX-245.

Performs very well out of band - I can now receive all 7 NOAA Weather frequencies.

In band performance is outstanding as well.
Can easily access and hold several repeaters on both 2 meter and 70 cm bands that I could not even hear with stock antenna.

I have not experienced the fading in and out of repeaters due the antenna whipping about.

Antenna is long at ~ 17 inches, but easily flexible enough to pull down tip and tuck into pouch or holster for radio without damage, and it can be released instantly if needed for transmit.

Priced right also, 19.95$

5 out of 5
W8ASI Rating: 2002-10-01
Nice HT antenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This antenna compared to the Diamond SRH-999 is much better for 2m/70cm. I've also tested it against the MFJ 1517 antenna and it performs a little bit better.

Comapred to the stock Icom rubber duck, there is no comparision. This antenna will outperform any 2m/70cm stock antenna.

I do experience the repeater "in and out" pheonominon when the whip the antenna around but it doesnt bother me knowing I'll be able to hit the machine, or talk further on simplex than any other antenna I've tested.

Not bad for $18.25 plus shipping from R and L!
N7VU Rating: 2002-08-18
Excellent Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I use the SMA-24 rather than a rubber duck on my HT whenever I can afford the extra length because the results are far superior. It is a thin flexible whip that never loses its shape and is very light-weight. It allows me to hit repeaters that are not available with the stock antenna. I really love it. The only disadvantage is that it is very "springy" and can cause the HT to tip over when it is set on the table.
WA8EBM Rating: 2001-10-20
oops from me too! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Checked my package also- it is the 24- still works great

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Earlier 4-star review posted by WA8EBM on 2001-10-16

Great improvement over stock antenna on THD7G. I can now get into the ISS and PCSAT with the radio held in a stable position. The main drawback is the flexible antenna causes wavering signals when it flexes. The upside is that it can be rolled up into a ring and kept in your pocket and used only if you need it for satellite or longer range communications. I would buy it again.
KG4OLK Rating: 2001-10-16
Good value, good stick Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought this antenna as a replacement for my VX-150's stock duck. It is a grand improvement over that antenna, and performs as well as a telescopic quarter-wave; I can hit a repeater 40 miles away with it. It is very flexible, about 17 inches long, and thin...so thin, in fact, that its own weight pulls it down if you lean the radio more than 45 degrees or so. The only drawback: when the whip flexes or swings back and forth wildly, your signal drops out. 4 of 5 because of this phenomenon - otherwise a good, inexpensive replacement for your HT's crappy factory duck.

Jake / KG4OLK