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Reviews For: Diamond SRH77CA Dual Band (2 m /70 CM) HT Antenna

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

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Review Summary For : Diamond SRH77CA Dual Band (2 m /70 CM) HT Antenna
Reviews: 63MSRP: 29.95
Description:
15" long, male SMA connector, flexible dual-band antenna for handheld transceivers. 1/4 wave on 2 meters, 2.15 dbi gain on 70 cm (Mfgr claim).
Product is in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
11633.9
KG4PTZ Rating: 2006-07-12
Good, but awkward Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This antenna is MUCH better than the stock ducks on my Kenwood D7 and F6, allowing me to get away with running less power than normal, and allowing me to extend the fringes of local repeaters. This antenna is rather cumbersome if you carry your radio on your belt, which is why I often would put my HT in my backpack when I was using this antenna. It's well worth the thirty dollars I shelled out for it.
KC9EIZ Rating: 2006-06-01
A SUPER HT Antenna!! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I own 4 of these, 3 on HTX-420's and 1 on a VXA-700 - on both radios the increased range on both transmit and receive is significant - on NOAA channel 1 on the 420 the original antenna gives a S-1 on the S meter, the Diamond gives a S-5 - a repeater 15 miles away that will not come up with the original antenna does with the Diamond - I regularly talk simplex with a fellow Amateur 22 miles away with the Diamond - I can barely hear him with the original and he cannot hear me - this is a most worth while investment!!
N6CTW Rating: 2006-04-28
A Great HT Antenna Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Purchased the SRH77CA to replace the stock antenna on the Yaesu FT-60R, what an improvement on signals. Even on the weather broadcast, three times better than the stock antenna. I have worked repeaters from the inside my house easier than when I turn on my base radio, YAESU FT-8800. with an outside antenna.

Cliff, N6CTW
KD7VEM Rating: 2005-07-24
Longer rubber duck Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Gives a better signal than with the stock rubber duck of my VX-7R, exactly the same signal as the Comet SMA-24 antenna I also have. The signal is stronger on 2m and all non-amateur bands nearby (air, FM broadcast, rail, etc) than the stock antenna by 2-3 S-units (though that's approximate, I used the built-in S-meter in which I have little faith). Didn't compare 440.

Why this isn't a 5: it makes my HT top heavy. The Comet long whip is much lighter. This antenna is heavy enough to flip the rig over and release from the (rather poorly designed) belt clip that came with the radio. The Comet didn't do that. It gets a 5.
KB3GJP Rating: 2005-05-15
KB3GJP Time Owned: N.A.
Nothing Great on transmit. Not much better then a regular size rubber duck. Maybe a little more stable signal over all on the antenna over a regular size rubber duck.
W2NSF Rating: 2005-05-07
Great replacement for T90A Rubber Duck Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
We just had our club's bunny hunt last night and we used my HT with this antenna for the bunny. We needed both the "weak signal" and "full power" setups. It worked GREAT! It was the first real shakedown for this little unit. I like its flexibility; seems indestructable. Performance on both UHF & VHF is better than stock unit. Highly recommend for T90A.

Now, all that said, because it's so flexible, you can't use it very well to "null out" a signal with your HT for direction-finding activities. This type of work is best left to the stiffer, rubber duck that comes with the unit. But in all other aspects, this little whip seems to shine.

And yes, there is a small gap between the antenna and the HT's rubber gasket, but that's easily fixed by making a supplemental gasket, cut from a truck inner tube. Remember, this is an aftermarket antenna, designed for many radios, not just ICOM or Yaesu. It's not a perfect world, folks, no matter what it says on TV. Use your "ham ingenuity" and make it right. That's all part of the hobby. Enjoy!! :-)
KC2NNW Rating: 2005-03-13
Disappointing Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have just tried out this antenna, which I purchased for $25. I am using it on a Yaesu VX-5 HT. It is not much better than the supplied Yaesu duckie. It seems to be especially weak on VHF and about on par with the Yaesu duckie on UHF.
Also, it does not screw fully down over the Yaesu's SMA connector, leaving a little room for dust and dirt. I tried reseating it a few times, but it seems the Yaesu SMA connector is a touch too long to be fully covered by the base of the antenna. I'm going to test it for a few more days and return it if I'm not happy.
If anyone has had a similar problem using this antenna on a VX-5, please let me know.
W8TOL Rating: 2005-03-03
very nice gain against any factory ducks Time Owned: more than 12 months.
get it while you can,because works nice.i'll take the diamond over comet but thats my prefs.
COREUNX Rating: 2005-01-30
Good Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Bought it yesterday at HRO in Oakland, CA for aprox $27.00USD, along with the MR77. Used the MR77 w/THG71A inside my van and worked great.

Will update with more details on the HT Duckie SRH77CA fter a couple weeks use.

-KG6NJA

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Earlier 4-star review posted by COREUNX on 2005-01-29

Bought it yesterday at HRO in Oakland, CA for aprox $30.00USD. Mounted on top of my Astro van (magnetic) right there and drove to work. Picked up contacts on both 2M an 70CM repeaters that I could not hear before execpt whithin 3-5km of station from some 18-20km. Very nice. Will update with more details after a couple weeks use. So far it's worth the money.

BTW this was done using my my Kenwood THG71A as a mobile station.!
-KG6NJA
K7HIL Rating: 2004-12-03
Outperforms Kenwood Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Compared against three other antennas. Mag-Mount 3/8th wave (mounted on top of Ford F-150), Stock (supplied) Kenwood TH-F6A and one bought at HamFest. From my location the Mag-Mount fared best with 15 repeaters keyed, the SRH77CAS (SMA Mount) second with 13 repeaters answering, Kenwood could trigger only 7 and my HamFest special only 3 (That one is now in the trash)!

Mechanically a little long, it tickles my arm-pit, but otherwise superb. Highly recommend.