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Reviews For: Comet SBB-5NMO

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

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Review Summary For : Comet SBB-5NMO
Reviews: 21MSRP: 54.99
Description:
Mobile fold-over antenna.
146MHz 3.0 dBi 1/2wave;446MHz 5.5 dBi 5/8wave x2
VSWR 1.5:1 or less; Max power 120W FM; Length 38"
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.cometantenna.com/mobile.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
15214.8
WJ1T Rating: 2023-02-06
Awesome performance!!! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought one of these a couple of years ago for my Kenwood TM-V71A in my Ford F-150. I mounted it inside the bed rail behind the left side of the cab. I have been extremely impressed with the performance of this little antenna. So much so that I just bought another one for my Honda. This antenna has performed so well, I had no reason to even look elsewhere when I needed another antenna.
Keith
W8YFL Rating: 2022-02-24
good until Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I ran this on a roof mount for two years up until my swr went bad. On inspection the internal spring cavity for folding the whip over was loaded with corrosion.
I went back to my dual band Larsen which has served me well.

KA4KOE Rating: 2022-02-24
OK But Whistles Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have owned my SBB-5 for about 5 years. The antenna has given me zero issues. However, you should know that the coil makes noise when at highway speeds. Solution: wrap insulating tape around the coil. Problem solved.
K5DRH Rating: 2018-02-08
Great Antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had this mounted on several vehicles over the years and it's stood up just fine. Very sturdy.

Currently used on a truck, center of the roof NMO mount. No issues, just look out for low branches and parking garages.
KD5GR Rating: 2016-10-19
The answer for Corvettes Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've been using this antenna for about 4 years on my Corvette Coupe. It is mounted on the hatch with a DIY trunk lid type mount. Commercial mounts wouldn't work because of the thickness of the hatch and the gap between it and the quarter panel.

The antenna has performed very well with my Kenwood TM-V71A on both 2 meters and 70cm. With no metal in the body of the car, I was not optimistic I would find anything that would work well. The SBB-5NMO was a very pleasant surprise.

If you Corvette or Jeep guys are looking for an antenna with good performance, give the SBB-5NMO a try. Hopefully it will work as well for you as it has on my car.
KF5UOV Rating: 2015-11-23
3yrs w/Handheld and still going great... Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Got my Tech a few years. Bought a Yaesu VX-6R 5w handheld and mounted this antenna to the left lip on the rear door of my FJ Cruiser using a Diamond K400SNMO mount.

The SBB-5NMO extends up probably 24in above the peak of the roof line and performs great, regularly receiving from repeaters +25mi away while transmitting from the handheld to about half that distance on average, sometimes 15-20mi when terrain and conditions are right.

Durability has been very good. Despite numerous tree incursions and having driven 'full speed' into parking garages on occasion the antenna works just like new and the powdercoat has really held up as well. The mount has actually started to give regularly and won't hold the straight upright position. I'm considering moving the mount location down to the door hinge, but I don't know if the roof groundplane will interfere too much (8" lower height difference) or if I'll have to get a longer/higher gain antenna.

Looking at Comet SBB-7NMO as a possible longer length/higher gain alternative, but based on reviews here I won't give up my stolid SBB-5NMO if I don't have to.
KG6UTS Rating: 2015-02-04
Tough antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I posted on this antenna back in 2005 and still have the very same antenna on my Jeep. It has been to Baja many times, has lots of trips to the Mojave, Sonoran and Yuha deserts, tons of street/highway miles and never failed to work. The SBB5NMO is well worth the money.

EdZ KG6UTS
AI6JA Rating: 2014-05-22
Solid performer Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I've been using this antenna for a couple of months with a Yaesu FT-8800R. It works great. It's lip mounted on the trunk of my Ford Focus. The black color makes it blend in so it's hard to tell I have an antenna mounted. I get good range, routinely hitting repeaters that are 30+ miles away on both 70 cm and 2m. My signal and audio reports are good.

I would by again, but probably won't have to for a long time, since it's very well built. I would also recommend this antenna to others.
HIFLYER_SEATTLE Rating: 2012-11-14
Great antenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have had this antenna about a week, replacing a cheaper antenna that had bad performance due to an unacceptable SWR. This one is awesome! I am using it with a Yaesu 2900R on 2M only, and it provides excellent signal at distances beyond what I expected. When compared to the competition, it is much higher quality of construction and materials. I would strongly recommend it.
KJ6MSG Rating: 2011-11-06
Solid product. Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have the SBB-5NMO installed on my Chevy Silverado on a hood lip mount, attached to a Yaesu FT-7900R. It's a quality product and I have had no problems with it. I consistently receive very good signal reports with the antenna/radio combination.