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Reviews For: Comet GP 15 Tri band (144/440/52 mhz) vertical ant

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

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Review Summary For : Comet GP 15 Tri band (144/440/52 mhz) vertical ant
Reviews: 52MSRP: 149.99
Description:
6M @ 3.5dB; 2M 6.2dB; 440 @ 8.6dB; 150 watts; 7'11"; fiberglass
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.cometantenna.com/base.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00524.4
WB1AEX Rating: 2006-07-10
Excellent Performer and Reliable Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have my GP-15 installed at the top of my tower, where it sits at 70 feet. The performance on all three bands is exceptional. On 2 meters and 440 the match is excellent, under 1.3 : 1 across all the FM phone portions, and the performance is outstanding. I have a GP-6 mounted about 30 feet lower, and the GP-15 outperforms it. My point here is that in spite of its slightly higher gain figures, I would never trust the 2 section GP-6 up at the top where it would be subjected to a lot more stress. However, the single section, unjointed GP-15 seems ideally suited for this assignment. Having read the reviews about being extremely narrow banded on 6 meters, I was a bit skeptical about how it would work out. At any rate, I pulled down the trusty old Cushcraft AR6 and installed the GP-15 with all new LMR400 feedline from the feefpoint down to the station 150 feet away. Any concerns I had were gone when I worked some friends on ground wave on 6 meters. Using the counterpoise whip exactly as it was adjusted from the factory, it was completely flat at 52.525, and signals were 2 to 3 S units higher than with the old AR6. The match could not be better for the FM portion of the band. I did an SWR sweep from 54 to 50 mhz and found that it plotted as follows:

54.0 mhz 1.20 : 1
53.5 mhz 1.15 : 1
53.0 mhz 1.00 : 1
52.5 mhz 1.00 : 1
52.0 mhz 1.15 : 1
51.5 mhz 1.15 : 1
51.0 mhz 1.30 : 1
50.5 mhz 1.90 : 1
50.0 mhz 2.30 : 1

It definitely performs great on the FM portion for which it was designed, and it outperforms my old AR6 monobander in all directions on 6 meters. It is a perfect antenna for my FT8900 for use on VHF and UHF. I would also add that it works great when used for scanning the aviation and public service bands. The short story is that I am really pleased with the construction and performance of this antenna and would recommend it without reservation.

Rob WB1AEX
W1FEH Rating: 2006-02-01
Does what they claim it will do. Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have had the GP-15 up since last August. It shares the top of my 35’ tower with a GP-3 (digi) and a Diamond D-130J discone (scanner & test). They are mounted on three Max Gain Systems / IDC Technology SA-1 side arms and are plugged in 9913 coax and I.C.E. lightening protectors with many ground rods. All do what they claim and get a “5” rating from me.

The GP-15 went together easy. Always use coax seal then tape over it. I adjusted the counterpoise to the chart and up it went. SWR on the voice portion of two barely lifts the meter and on 440 the meter moves even less. I put an antenna analyzer on it to check the 6m performance and it centered just below 52.525 (FM calling). Yes it is narrow banded on six and if you want to use it away from the FM portion either mess with the counterpoise, use a tuner or use an antenna designed for that part of the band (horizontal). The GP-15 is doing what they claim, FM voice chunks of 2, 6 & 440. It performs great on all three bands and is built strong.

73,
Fred // W1FEH
KG4TDM Rating: 2005-05-17
Best all-around VHF/UHF omni Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Have had the GP-15 up since last November. Up about only 15-20' on a TV pole. Great ears on 2m/440 and 6m. 6m just opened up while I was listening, and made a SSB contact with NG4C in FM16 in North Carolina! This was with only 50watts and was 59.


I run and participate in emergency nets in Miami, and this is a great antenna for running and participating in both repeater and simplex nets.

All around, this I think is the best all-in-one VHF/UHF omni you can get with 6m. The key to excellent performance is having a good ground (2 separate 5' ground rods) and good coax ( I used RG-213 50'). For 6m, make the radial (stinger) a bit longer that what the instructions recommend. Also, I used coax seal on all the coax connections.

73,
Tommy
KG4TDM
K6JJB Rating: 2005-01-28
Great antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
No corrosion after more than 6 years outside. All specified Tx bandwidths verified.
KB1GBR Rating: 2004-03-19
Great antenna, Great price Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This antenna performs very very well.I have had it installed about a month and have made many good contacts.Its mounted on a 30 ft.mast and I run about 125ft. of #9914 coax to the antenna.Even with all that line loss, It still cranks out the signal.The radio I am operating is a ft100d w/an EQ and a Heil GM5 mike. 73's MARK KB1GBR.
WV9G Rating: 2004-02-18
Nice antenna! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had my GP-15 for 3 years, and have found it to perform flawlessly and remain intact and reliable even through several wind storms. It has good SWR on all bands, and I don't know what people expect, but even on 6 meters it is 1.8:1 at the top and bottom of the band and shows a perfect match for over 400 kcs in the FM portion. My Pro2 tunes it perfect all the way across, and my MFJ SWR analyzer says it is super on 2m as well as 440 MHz band. I work the FM repeater in Goshen, IN from Marion, IN with it.
KB9YTA Rating: 2004-02-02
don't get what you pay for Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I got the comet gp-15 in december 03.
Very narrow bandwidth
70c over 3 swr from 440-449 mc!
Although at 438 mc a 1.2 swr.
2meters 145-147 1.5 swr 144 over 3 swr.
6 meters about 500 kc tunable outside that over a 3 swr.
I bought this antenna from aes milwaukee.
I told them it was junk they told me for a replacement to call ncg and so i did and they wanted me to take the antenna apart "breaking the water tight seals" and mail them the coil.
I will never buy another comet its overpriced even if it worked on 70c.
At 177 dollars what a rip off.
Homemade copper j-pole works much better!
N8PEP Rating: 2003-05-29
Good antenna for 2m and 440; poor for 6m. Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
This is a well made, very sturdy, yet lightweight antenna that is easy to mount. It is of one-piece fiberglass construction. It tuned up well on all three bands (SWR <1.8:1 on all bands), and performed very well on 2m and 440. However, when I worked 6m FM, it was not even as good as my 6m 1/4 wave ground plane. I was very disappointed since I purchased the antenna specifally for use on 6m FM. The poor performance on 6m is the ONLY reason I did not give the antenna a "5" rating.
N3HSH Rating: 2003-02-18
Great in some aspects, fair in others. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I found this antenna to be sturdy, durable and a good performer except for difficulties tuning the 6m band. It seemed to work much better for me on 2m and 440. Perhaps a longer counterpoise as others have described would have resolved my problem.

After several years of service the antenna has fared quite well.
W9PMZ Rating: 2002-11-29
Installed OK Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Went together OK, attached flexable 9913. SWR per specification. Works OK!