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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
WB4TJH Rating: 2011-11-26
Works well 80-6m but marginal on 160 Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I just rehung my antenna, this time with heavier dacron rope at 50 feet up in a tree. This was the first time I have had the antenna down in over a year, and there was no corrosion or deterioration of any of the components. It continues to be a super antenna on all bands, using my Palstar tuner with 4:1 built in balun. I have worked into Canada on 160 with less than 100 watts, so I guess for a compromise 160 antenna, I can't really complain.On 80 and up, it is basically a 140 foot dipole fed with balanced feed line, and nothing more. But it is well made and I am quite happy with the Cobra.

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Earlier 4-star review posted by WB4TJH on 2010-01-29

I just put up the 140 foot long senior model that I obtained slightly used, from a friend, who replaced it with an off center fed dipole, full sized on 160 meters. I have the Cobra Senior about 40 feet up at the apex in a tree, with one end flattop to another tree and the remaining half of the antenna angling down to about 10 feet off the ground. The 140 foot long antenna loads quite easily on all bands with my 600 watt Heath SB201 amplifier and MFJ 962D manual tuner with built in 4:1 balun. I'm using about 75 feet of 450 ohm ladderline to feed it. While the antenna does work on 160 meters as advertised, being physically short, it's signal strength is down somewhat from a full sized 160 meter dipole. But on 80-10 meters, I get VERY good signal reports and am quite pleased with the antenna. It is a very good improvement for me on 75 and 40, as my previous antenna was an 82 foot center fed zepp with 80 meter loading coils on it, being basically a half wave on 40 plus the loading coils for 80. The Cobra is a half wave on 80/75, and a full wave dipole on 40, giving a bit of gain. On 20 meters and up, it becomes a gain antenna, being multiple wave lengths long. It will also load easily on 6 meters, but I have not caught any openings on six yet to get some signal reports. The antenna is well made, very light and easy to put up. I am very pleased with the overall performance and would recommend the antenna to anyone looking for an 80-10 meter multibander that also can operate on 160, be it with reduced efficiency. I ordered some Dacron line from the maker, and found his service courteous and prompt. The order form I received also listed a 200 foot version of this antenna available on special order, but did not include any additional info on it.
NM1R Rating: 2011-10-19
Performs as advertised Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have been using the Cobra UltraLite Junior for about 2 months. I gave it a rating of 5 because I am completely satisfied. It works as advertised. It is absolutely essential that it be installed with its feed point at at least 30 feet. I tried it at 20 feet with poor results but have since put it in a different location with its feedpoint at 30 feet in the inverted v configuration. I am using it with an MFJ-912 4:1 current balun. Although the Icom 746PRO has an internal tuner, I am using an external LDG IT-100 auto-tuner and able to tune all bands 80-10 meters.
KJ4ING Rating: 2011-09-26
Works for me! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I am a new ham and this is my first antenna. Therefore, I will not, cannot, compare it to other antennas.

That being said, I have the Ultralite Junior erected at less than optimal height - ie 25 to 30 feet. I feed it with either an FT-840 at 100 watts or an FT-817 at 5 watts. I work, in order of frequency of usage, the 17, 20, 40 meter bands.

My FC-10 provides good to excellent matches throughout the bands for the 840, and my LDG Z-817 does the same for the 817.

I cannot "work everything I hear", but I can work enough of those I hear to encourage me to keep playing radio. Really, now, what more can I reasonably ask of my equipment?

Would I buy another? Of course! In fact, I am toying with the idea of buying the "Kid" model to take with me when we go out in the RV.

W5TTW Rating: 2011-06-26
UltraLite Junior Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
My Ultralite Junior has been in service for over six months and has proven to be a solid performer. It works well on the advertised bands, however I will take exception to the manufacturer’s claim that it should tune well with most ITU’s. The tuner on my YAESU FT450 couldn’t make a dent on most bands, so I was forced to purchase an LDG Z-11 Pro II. That said, I’m happy with the antenna and would purchase another.
WJ7S Rating: 2011-04-03
Great Antenna--even in an attic Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I am limited to an attic antenna due to ccr's. I wanted an antenna that would give me access to the 40 and 75 meter bands so I ordered the Ultralite Junior. Since I only have about 50 linear feet in my attic, I had to install the 73 foot antenna in an S configuration. My house is tall, so the antenna peak is at about 32 feet and the ends are at about 25 feet. All I can say is that this antenna works as described. I use a Palstar AT2K tuner and a Balun designs 4:1 balun and have no swr issues. I have anther (shorter) dipole installed and using a/b tests can say that the cobra is 1-2 s-units better than the other dipole on receive and my signal reports on 20m, 40m and on 75m have been excellent. My other dipole was marginal on 40m and didn't work at all on 75m. I am a happy camper! This antenna works.
KD7RJ Rating: 2011-03-31
Can be improved easily and should be Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had three of these, two seniors and one junior. I would not recommend the junior unless you just can not make the senior fit. I have tried the seniors in lots of configurations, flat top, inverted vee and bent to fit. Performance overall is good but in the Pacific Northwest it rains often which changes the SWR-not a good thing. The cause was traced to the 450 ohm ladder line. I changed to 600 ohm true ladder line and now it works extremely well by comparison. I have taken lots of measurements and have evaluated over time and have found for 80 and 40 meters cost and performance wise this combination is hard to beat. I give it a 5 with the 600 ohm line. Use a good 4:1 current balun and a good tuner for best results. Notice I did not say use a Japanese or mighty fine junk antenna tuner. Palstar, Ten Tec, Elecraft would are my top choices. Top balun choices: Balun Designs, DX engineering, Array Solutions. Short runs of high quality coax from balun to tuner is recommended. Customer support is very good and fast. True Ladder Line is a very good source for the 600 ohm products at a good price and also offer great support. Higher is always better but 40 ft. will yield good results. Thats my story and I am sticking to it. 73's
AE5EO Rating: 2011-03-09
Great Antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had mine now for 3 years and it has performed great. My Kenwood TS 2000 tunes the junior model from 6m-75m. I've used this antenna in two different locations in an inverted v and a flat top with good performance in both configurations. I recommend this antenna over an off center fed or a G5RV antenna. I've used both and keep going back to the Cobra.
N4DMW Rating: 2010-09-12
AMAZING Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Just installed today.I live at the bottom of a hill. First PSK31 contact was to FRANCE.
Then went to 20mtr ssb talked to Dominican Republic 599 report.
Tunes 160- 10 with tuner. tunes 6mtrs with tuner in bypass mode, swr 1.3. What more can you ask for.
WA6UHA Rating: 2010-03-08
WEATHER PROOFING Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have the ultra lite junior. It offers great performance with my Palstar AT1500CV tuner. The only issue I have is oxidation. I live in San Francisco and the humidity is high just about all year with the fog in the summer and rain in the winter. The failure points are at ends of the antenna where the copper stranded wire is crimped via the supporting lug on the end insulator. These connections should be soldered. There is also an issue at the feed point. My first two Cobras lasted 18 months before failure. The third one failed in less than a year after I weather sealed all exposed connections. The problem with the first two antennas were signals cutting in and out with antenna movement in a slight wind. The third antenna failed, not with signal loss but with broadcast band signals (20 over S9) popping in intermittently on 75 meters due to diode action caused by oxidation. If you live in an environment similar to mine I recommend soldering the crimped connections or if you already have problems, solder jumper around the oxidation with a piece of single strand copper wire.
KA1YUW Rating: 2010-02-15
Good Antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had mine for a year now and works good on all bands with my MFJ-976 tunner. SWR is 1.1 on any band. I have mine set up as inverted V. The appex is about 45 feet and the ends about 5-6 feet. I plan on putting it up higher sometime this year.