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Reviews For: Comet SBB-7NMO 2/440 mobile antenna

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

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Review Summary For : Comet SBB-7NMO 2/440 mobile antenna
Reviews: 43MSRP: 79.95
Description:
2M @ 4.5 dBi 5/8; 440 @ 7.2 dBi 5/8x3; <1.5:1; 70W FM; 4'7"
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
00433.2
K6QGK Rating: 2005-06-01
Great Performance For The Price! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Coming home from work one day on the 14 freeway in Los Angeles I lost my original antenna (a Iron Horse Dual Band) that I liked the performance of, I started to ask around and some of my Ham friends here in the Antelope Valley of California suggested that I look at the SSB7 so I went and checked one out at the local ham shop and decided to purchase one. Installation was easy and tuning it was even easier, the performance I have gotten out of it was very surprising and I would recommend one to anyone looking for a good dual-band mobile antenna that will not break the bank as they say. The performance speaks for it self and I really like the fact that I do not have to take it off my Nissan SUV when parking it in the garage.

Mark K.
Palmdale, Ca
KG6QGK
VE3JXF Rating: 2004-11-17
I like it! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I haven't had it for very long - a month, but solidly hitting the repeater on 70 cm with a 1.5 watt handheld (VX-2R) (Ok, it's 440 QRP!) but 23 nautical miles away seems to verify their gain numbers, I can't speak to the antenna's life/power yet, and it was VERY expensive & its very big, But, I've suffered the are you "challenged" questions well from fellow Hams & co-workers who see it's height on my Ford Explorer... So, in operation (lots of freeze/thaw - which was my concern)it rocks on 2M & 70cm - It does have an expected field, depending on how I mount it (Mag) BUT - It's exceeded my expectations! If $$$ isn't an issue & you are at a distance or power challenged, low power is a great rule - this antenna is pretty cool.
KC0LGF Rating: 2004-03-31
Great Duel band antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had the Comet on my Chevy 1 ton PU for about 2 years. In that time I have had to remove it and place it behind the seat of the PU to go through the car wash, went down logging roads and it has struck some branches and banged around alittle. I checked the SWR out of the box and all was fine and, besides using the allen wrenches that came with it to make sure the fasteners stay tight, I have never had any trouble with it at all. I haven't used the fold over and it's stayed tight since I first installed it. I can only give this antenna a 5 because it's been a great 1 for me.
N4MJG Rating: 2004-03-01
sbb-7 high swr suks Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
this is the 2nd time i had to to replace the ant.2nd ant gaving me problems with very high swr.when i had this ant it was 1.1 today it was 4.0 which is suks,i 'm going back to larsen ant.beware of comet sbb-7 real high swr atfer 3 month of use....
73's
kg4orx
jackie
KC5SOU Rating: 2004-01-12
NO PROBLEMS (YET) Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I've owned my SBB-7 for about 7 months now and have had pretty good luck so far. Its mounted behind the cab and above the rear window of my 4x4 Dodge p/u. Have hit a few trees I couldn't dodge because of traffic and such, but havn't noticed any cracks or problems yet. Really does good on 440. Have not had any problems on the fold-over thing yet. But, I will probably buy a Larson or diamond next time. Just don't like the amount of power this will handle. 70 watts for this antenna? Seems like it should handle at least double that.
NA4MM Rating: 2003-11-22
NO WAY!! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Have been using one for about a year now. Has been shipped back twice for repairs. The main problems is 70 watts limit. On top of that, it's no better than a 1/4 wave.
KB5ZVV Rating: 2002-11-18
Poor Construction Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The foldover locking nut kept loosening up. Performance was so-so. Now on the junk heap, replaced with a Larsen 2/70 due to broken phasing coil. Larsen is 2/3rds as long and works just as well. For the price I expected much more value.
KF4YIV Rating: 2002-05-31
I like this antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I'm surprised to see others have had problems with their SBB7. Mine has been fine. Build quality is good. The signal this thing puts out is very good - I had a 5W HT hooked up to it for a while and I could hit, and hear, repeaters at a tremendous distance. I usually had the HT set on 1/2 watt and got by just fine. Seriously.

The antenna folded itself over a couple of times at highway speed, but I fixed that by making sure that I pushed the antenna down firmly into the base.

I think this is a fine antenna if you need a high-gain unit to reach distant repeaters, if you need to use a lower-power radio, and if you have clearance into the garage for it.

Chris I.
KF4YIV
N0XAS Rating: 2002-04-20
Poorly built. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
OK performer, though really no better than my 5/8 mag mount on 2 meters. I honestly recommend NOT buying this antenna though. Mine's spent more time broken than working. I have had to replace the lower loading coil, and it folds itself at random while I drive unless I keep electrical tape wrapped around the joint. The black paint on the base is flaking off... NOT a high quality product. My next antenna will definitely be a Diamond.

I also had a Comet trunk lip mount - it was even worse. Finish came off, bolt stripped out the cheap AL wedge nut and Comet will not sell parts. What a mistake I made with this setup!
K0JRF Rating: 2001-06-13
6 month update Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
(K0JRF) Ok, I kept the Antenna (see below review). Now, the main plastic part on the bottom part of the mast is separating. I had glued and put heat shrink tubing on the other plastic loading coils in the antenna. So far so good. The screw down fold over is permantly down. I fear putting tools on it, or turning it very hard for fear of damaging the antenna further. The funny thing is, I never used this antenna off-road in the Jeep. I always switch to my 18" 1/4 wave to avoid the trees.

I have wrapped duct tape around the bottom of the Antenna for support. I will be purchasing another antenna to replace it. It will not be a Comet.

----------------------
Earlier 2-star review posted by K0JRF on 2001-01-03

Received the first one and could not get a decent SWR, I tried it on 2 other vehicles, 1 mag and 1 trunk lip mount with the same results. I called Comet, and they thought the main loading coil was bad. Took it back to HRO. Got the 2nd one. SWR was fine, performace was great. Noticed one of the plastic loading coils looked loose, so I tightened it up. A few days later noticed it looked loose again, once again I tightened it up, and noticed that if I wiggled the antenna it would loosen up. I then noticed that the plastic piece had a small crack in it near the threads.

I'm definitly not impressed with the construction quality of this antenna. They have fixed the fold over and it seems quite durable and nice. However this antenna is going on a Jeep that will see off-road use, and the quality of the build of the antenna concerns me greatly. I think I will be returning it for a better built antenna.

With better quality I would consider purchasing this antenna again, but not the way it is now. It needs help.