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Reviews For: Cobra UltraLite Multiband Antenna

Category: Antennas: HF: Verticals; Wire; Loop

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Review Summary For : Cobra UltraLite Multiband Antenna
Reviews: 138MSRP: 89.95
Description:
A complete 10-160 wire antenna constructed to handle extreme weather
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.k1jek.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
001384.6
K4BXN Rating: 2007-04-03
Don't Try Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I am always trying for better. I have had up the Cobra Ultralite Jr for over a year. No problems but thought I would see if I could do better. I strung a G5RV Jr, an end fed and a All band trap antenna at the same height as the Cobra. All were one to two S unit lower in signal strength than the Cobra. Put a Cobra up, you will be happy and you don't need to try anything else (wire antenna wise). Great antenna. Great service. 73/Crit/K4BXN
PA0DTL Rating: 2007-03-23
Great small antenna for 160 up! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
As I wanted to be QRV on 160, but have limited space, I was searching a small multi-band dipole for 160-10. I first tried the DX engineering DXE-SWA-148 dipole, but I did not get good reports. The key was to replace it with a Cobra Ultralite senior at the same place! On 160, my signal reports did go up about 15dB, as my receiving reports! Also on 80, I now could work the US, Brazil, and the Caribbean with 5-7 to 5-9 reports, running 400W!

The antenna is at a height of about 14Mtr at the feeding point, and goes down to about 9Mtr at the ends. I shorted the 450 ohm feed line to about 20Mtr.

The Cobra is well built, has a low weight, and works very well on all amateur bands.

Thanks,

pa0dtl, The Netherlands
DUBCROSS Rating: 2007-03-05
Not Bad! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Well, first off, this is one well made antenna. I was kinda squirmin' over the $100 price tag for a wire but I seriously doubt I could drive around town gathering up all of the stuff to make it for less. With that said I'll review the antenna.

I have my Ultralight up about 55 feet in an inverted V configuration. The South leg is tied to an Oak Tree and the North leg was originally tied to my shop roof overhang. I figured out pretty quick that having any part of this antenna in proximity of metal is bad so I moved the North leg to a Pine Tree about 20 or so feet away from my metal shop.

DON'T TAPE THE LADDER LINE TO THE MAST! I tried that and it was a mistake, the antenna wouldn't work anywhere. DON'T HANG 30 OR 40 FEET OF LADDER LINE IN THE ATTIC OF A METAL SHOP BUILDING! That doesn't work either.

After I straightened out the above mentioned screaw ups the thing turns out to be a pretty fair antenna. For some reason I cannot get it to tune on 20M though. I've tried everything. I think I'll just run me a seperate 20M wire and call it good.

Getting a lot of good feedback on the antennas performance. One feature that is especially nice is the weight of the antenna itself. Here in Oklahoma we get a lot of wind and the heavier wire antennas have a tendency to self destruct. So far this antenna has stayed up with very little "whipping" in winds up to 50 MPH!

Anyway, Joe is a hell of a nice guy and is quick to answer questions (a rareity in todays world).

If you are looking for a good, easy to erect, tough, well put together package, give ol' Joe a call. I don't think you will be disappointed......

73's
Dub
de KE5LYR

M0GBK Rating: 2007-01-29
Average Performance Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Having read the reviews on this antenna I took the plunge and imported the junior model from the US. This weekend with a break in the weather I finally got the opportunity to install the antenna. The antenna was very well made with quality parts used throughout. I mounted the antenna at around 40 feet in a flat top configuration and sloping down at the lower end to around 20 feet. I ensured that the centre point was well in excess of the recommended 30 feet. The total install time was around 2 hours from start to finish. The antenna is indeed very easy to install and would easily fit an average sized garden here in the UK. I used the entire 100 feet of open wire feeder and connected it to a Palstar AT 1500CV Tuner which can tune a wet piece of string. I quickly discovered that the tuner was struggling to tune on all bands, especially on 40m where it would not tune at all. I had ensured that the entire length of the feeder was kept away from the building and was well away from any objects. Having trimmed the feeder back to around 69 feet I discovered that I could now tune on all bands but could not find any point of resonance on any band, in fact the best VSWR I could achieve was around a 5:1 on 80M so a good tuner was definatley needed. Over the next few hours I checked the antennas performance on all bands although the conditions were poor. I quickly discovered that the ultralite was a good 2db down on recieve and transmit compared to my G2DYM Trapped dipole at the same height. I cannot agree that this antenna is the holy grail of wire antennas but does perform adequatly compared to some designs I have tested. It is not a patch on the G2DYM however. It is well put together for the price and is certainly to be commended for its design. Looking at the reviews I have read here I cannot believe that this is the same antenna I purchased
KE5KDA Rating: 2006-11-30
Fantastic!!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I've had mine up only for a week now, but I am extremely impressed! Very easy to hang...although I DON'T recommend EZ-Hang but rather a simple cheap kid's bow and arrow...and works great. It is just as advertised. You can't beat this antenna for $100. If anything, it is underpriced.

73's and God bless...
KE5KDA
K4EQ Rating: 2006-11-23
Impressive! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I've had the Jr. model for six or seven weeks now and have been quite impressed. It went up easily and is a rugged antenna. My small lot makes putting up antennas a challenge. The apex is at about 28', one end about 18', and the other end about 10'. Nevertheless, the antenna performs very well on all bands. I'm particularly surprised at its performance on 80 meters. I've made and used G5RV's for years, but this antenna seems to out-do them and definitely tunes easier. My LDG Z-11 Pro autotuner tunes everything as does the internal tuner in my IC-703. It was a good buy! --Dale, K4EQ
K2LS Rating: 2006-11-18
FANTASTIC Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After 3 months, I've been in many pileups on 80-40-30 with amazing results! Performance is outstanding running 100 watts.

No comparison to my old G5RV!
N1BSB Rating: 2006-04-24
Homemade Ultrilite Senior Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Hi I went and made a homemade Ultrilite I too 3 conductor tv rotor cable 70 ft each side and mounted it to a modified 450 ohm ladderloc at the center I then ran about 50 ft ft of ladder line down to a 4.1 balun I know the plan calls for 100 ft but I just dint have the spot to coil it up The antenna is in a flat top configuation up between 2 trees about 80 ft up from the balun I ran about 70 ft of RG8X 50 ohm to my 746 Pro it tunes perfect on all bands 10-160 using the radios tuner 1.1 swr Anyhow it works with good signal reports so far on 40 and 20 meter Im looking forward to trying in 75 and 160 Anyhow bottom line whether you make one or buy it its quite the antenna I glad I got one 73s
K1GUY Rating: 2006-02-25
The Holy Grail of Wire Atennas Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have had many antennas during the past three years, including the Carolina Windom, G5RV, a couple of home brew wire antennas, and the Mosley and Hustler Verticals. I have moved to a new qth recently by the water on the coast of xNew Jersey. I have a lot with a width of 100 feet. After setting up the Verticals, I bought a Cobra Ultra Light Sr.
The antenna is in a slight inverted V formation with
about 20 feet per side hanging straight down off tree branches, as the apex and feed point is at about 45 feet. A few weeks of experience has been nothing short of AMAZING. i usually run 100-500 watts, but occasionally full power on an Alpha 99.
The antenna is installed with a 4:1 balun per factory instruction. It is resonant on all bands at less than 1.5 :1 however on 40 and 160 I need to use a tuner. Last week I turned on the rig at 6:20 am and heard a VK station. I first called at 100 watts, and he said I was in the noise floor. At 500 watts VK3OK copied me with a 5/8 report. No antenna I have owned has performed so well for me both state side AND on DX. It just made it through the recent North East storms without a problem. I am going to buy another to run the opposite direction . I simply connot get over this performance. Your mileage may vary, but you must follow the factory install. If I ever had to use just one antenna, hands down, it is a COBRA.
Disclosure- I have no relation, financial or otherwise with the company that makes this antenna
K4KWH Rating: 2006-02-25
Excellent Antenna for hams AND commercial HF users! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I got my Ultralight Senior in the air a couple of days ago! Construction is excellent. Tunes easily with my LDG auto-tuner. It also allowed me to access a couple of military bands I couldn't do before with my standard dipole. I can't get on 160 Meters, but I think it is because of the limitations of my tower height and where I have to mount it. I think, however, I can make a couple of changes (I don't like where the balun ended up at the end of the ladderline in relation to the ground to get it on 160. Just gives me something to experiment with on a nice day!

Great antenna! Got lots of good compliments both on the military/commercial bands as well as ham bands!