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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
KG4DZB Rating: 2000-10-04
Great (redesigned) antenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Wait . . . Comet has redesigned the fold-over hinge on the SSB-7NMO. The hinge now resides under a sturdy threaded metal collar which must be manually loosened to fold the antenna flat. On the downside, you have the inconvenience of manually dropping the antenna before entering the old garage. And, of course, with an antenna standing 4'7" tall (and in my case mag mounted to the roof of a Jeep Cherokee), you've got to mind those overhanging branches on residential streets. On the upside, however, you don't need to worry about the antenna folding itself flat on the highway.

Yep, the SSB-7NMO still has a spider enticing pinhole above the base coil, and yep, the coils still appear to be encased in plastic. Only time will tell whether these items will weather any better than they did for the previous two reviewers. All that aside, however, the SSB-7NMO is a GREAT performer. I bought this antenna because I do a lot of camping and wanted to extend my effective tx/rx range. Testing from my driveway at home, I have no difficulty working a 2m repeater 70.5 miles away with a Yaesu FT-90R. I'm happy. By the way, the price appears to have dropped some; I paid $60 for mine.
K7JDN Rating: 2000-06-10
Too weak Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
The on-air performance of this antenna is great, but its construction is very poor. The fold over feature is a needed one, but it won't stay up on its own. Even at moderate freeway speeds (65) it folds when ever it wants to. For off road 4X4 use it is even worse. I got tired of having to constantly get out and put it back up. Then it finally broke because it's made of plastic when it has the most stress. I bought another (and cheeper) antenna to replace it, and it's made much better than this one is. It is not built nearly tough enough to be worth $75.
N4NNX Rating: 2000-04-10
Could be better Time Owned: unknown months.
I have owned one for 3yrs now. First of all, the reason i bought it honestly is that it was
cheaper than a diamond and bosted good gain on 440mhz. When i had it on a tri mag
mount atop my pick up truck roof it performed like a winner, i was hearing signal's now
that i couldnt hear before. At the time i felt $75.00 was a good deal. Now on to other things...
The same day i bought it,the fold over option it has..welp at roughly 60mph it likes to fold over
by itself UGH!!. then after a period of time(about a year) i noticed stress cracks all around the middle coil. This eventually broke in two and it cost me $9.00 plus shipping from comet.Along this time i also noticed a small factory pin hole that is above the base coil, oohhh it just loves to collect all kinds of dirt, i now have a special tooth brush to clean that area. Why havent i bought another antenna yet you say...well simply because it still work's ok(even with the hose clamp to stop it from folding over hi,hi). So all in all if i had to do over with what i know now...I WOULD BUY THE DIAMOND SG9000 and would have spent the extra $35.00 i guess if you want a bargain and dont mind antenna maintainenance The comet will probally suit you fine. If you want an antenna that has structual integrity and good gain look else where ..just my opinion. remeber
you get what you pay for. regards..john