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Reviews For: Diamond SRH320A HT Ant - 2/220/430

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

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Review Summary For : Diamond SRH320A HT Ant - 2/220/430
Reviews: 42MSRP: 49.95
Description:
The Diamond SRH320A is a tri-band HT antenna for 2 meters, 220 and 430 MHz. It is 13.5 inches (35 cm) tall and weighs about 1 ounce (30 g). This semi-flexible antenna is black with bottom and center loading coils. This 50 ohm antenna can handle up to 10 watts.
The SRH320A is a 1/4 wave on 2 meters and 220 MHz, a 1/2 wave on 430 MHz. This antenna terminates to a 50 ohm SMA. It is also suitable for wideband receivers which feature an SMA connector. It is also optimized for receive on the 120, 150, 300, 450 and 900 MHz bands. Made in Japan.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/hamantht/0454.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00424.7
K7RFW Rating: 2013-03-22
Much better than the stock Kenwood Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have only used this on 2m and 440cm, and most of the testing was related to 440cm. While I do notice a bit better 2m repeater contact in shadow areas, with 440cm there is a spot that I have worked a marathon three times past years. The first year I had the stock antenna on the TH-F6 and had to go to my spare battery before the end of the day since I had to use 5 watts to make the repeater and hold the radio just right. The next two times with the SRH320A I ran at 0.5 watts and had no trouble with the repeater, and the battery lasted all day. I did test the two antennas when I first had the SRH320A and the original TH-F6 antenna was still working the same as the year before.

Doing bicycle mobile, I had to take the radio out of the backpack on most of the parade route but with the SRH320A, I can leave it in the backpack for most of the route.

However, a mag mount on the roof blows this away but then I can not shadow an official that way, so I guess I will keep using the SRH320A.

Oh, there is one issue. Compared to the stock antenna this is over twice as long with the attendant getting in the way of a longer antenna. But that is one of the tradeoffs.

Ray
K7RFW
AD7C Rating: 2012-05-15
A great rubber-duck replacer Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Antenna works well. Using it on a vx-6r and it is much better, by far, than the stock antenna. Construction quality is good.

I am able to get into local repeaters using less power and the rx has impoved. I have bent the whip pretty bad a few times and it always returns to its original shape.

If you are looking for a good replacement antenna this is a quality choice. Even though it has a higher price than others... it's worth it.

73,

Rich
Ad7c
K0JEG Rating: 2011-10-01
Better than others Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Tested using APRS while riding a bike in town on a somewhat usual route. Previously I've used a Maldol MH-510 and a Diamond SRH-519 in the same area. Setup is a TH-d72 with smart beaconing enabled. I was picked up more often with this antenna then with the SRH-519 (as expected), and about as well as with the MH-510. I was even heard direct from a digipeater 50KM away, recorded by http://aprs.fi. It is much lighter and rig-friendly than the MH-510 though. The top mounted matching coil on the MH-510 feels like it is putting extra stress on the antenna connector, and of course does nothing on 2 meters, I got none of that feeling from the SRH320a.

When I first put it on the radio I had to bump up the squelch a notch or so. I take that to mean it is better at picking up RF energy than the SRH-519.

It is a large antenna. It is an expensive antenna ($50 just seems steep). It does find it's way into your armpit when your HT is on your belt. But it works.
M6AOC Rating: 2011-09-30
A powerful antenna that acts like a homebase verticle Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is one great antenna. Being in the UK, Great Britain I had a problem finding a dealer however I found one in the US. I have an icom 92d HT. The rubber duck did what it was meant to do but it was no way a great antenna. My new antenna came this morning after waiting about 2 weeks and came in a square box with the antenna in a yellow sleeve. It is 35cm in leigh and does not look out of place. On the yellow sleeve its says the gain on 70cm is 15dbi. There is a repeater about 25 miles away. I am in a valley surrounded by houses. I could never open the repeater. Now the reason I gave this a 5. Sitting on the sofa inside the house I can open this repeater. It's mad. Even with the mobile car antenna I could never do that. Rx is very good. I can pick up signals that I could not do with my stock antenna. This is one powerful antenna.
N8RWS Rating: 2011-01-15
Super tri-band HT antenna Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I am very pleased with this antenna. It outperforms the stock duck in both RX and TX. Would recommend it to a friend..

Jeff
K4PKM Rating: 2010-11-06
Great Tri-Band TX Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This is an update after two years (see KJ4AXU review) and the antennas have performed exceptionally well on 2 meter, 220, and 440. Also listen to police and fire bands with it. Worked Paddlefest in Cincinnati this year and worked up and down the river with just this for an antenna and it worked great. Other folks had areas where they dropped out, but I made solid contacts throughout. Probably going to get a third one for another handheld. Recommended to several friends and they are quite pleased as well.
W9DAZ Rating: 2010-08-29
Great choice for TH-F6A Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Based on my previous experience with Diamond products, I decided to buy the SRH320A at the same time that I purchased my TH-F6A. I have never regretted it. Performance is far better than the stock Kenwood antenna on all frequencies that it is designed to work.

Factory specs:
The SRH320A is a 1/4 wave on 2 meters and 220 MHz, a 1/2 wave on 430 MHz. This antenna terminates to a 50 ohm SMA. It is also suitable for wideband receivers which feature an SMA connector.
It is also optimized for receive on the 120, 150, 300, 450 and 900 MHz bands.

My SRH320A is a fine TX/RX antenna on 144/220/440. It also receives very well on the air bands as well as VHF and UHF public service frequencies. Just like Diamond said it would. I can't rate it on any other bands because I haven't used it there.

If you have a TH-F6A and need improved performance on all 3 bands I can recommend it without hesitation.
KN4X Rating: 2010-04-06
As Advertised Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The SRH320A is typical of Diamond Antennas. If you want the best on VHF/UHF, get out your wallet, and don't be shy.

It's the bomb. I wouldn't part with it. To reiterate what some have said earlier:
DO NOT BUY THIS IF SW / AM BROADCAST RECEIVE IS YOUR "THING". Dreadful below AIR band (of which it is GREAT at). Again, As Advertised. Diamond makes no bones about the optimization of the antenna for 3 Amateur bands and 5 receive bands starting at air. Vertex products (and others) with wide receivers will work GREAT AT AND ABOVE the air band.

AMAZING difference on 70cm. Has a taper from stout at the lower loading coil, upward to a very fine upper section. I find it comfortable to wear on my VX-6R after removing the pitiful new Vertex clip and putting on an "old style" Vertex upside-down and out belt clip. The clip gives it just enough pitch away from the body to make it comfortable. Very light and durable.

The moral of the SRH320A story is:

1. Read the manufacturers description and specs and don't EXPECT more.

2. You get what you PAY for with Diamond.


73,

David
K6QT Rating: 2010-03-12
Works OK Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have to be honest and say that this is really a comparison of the SRH320A with the big brother SRH999. I originally bought the 320A because I wanted an antenna that would work specifically with 1.25 M, but I found out that the 999 actually works better on 1.25, even though it's not designed to work with it specifically. I'd much rather have a bunch of 999's for all my radios than 320A's, actually. But for all that, I have to be fair and say it's a good antenna. Just doesn't work as well as the 999, which I'd readily purchase, even though it's a bit bigger. With this one on a 1.25 radio, my son can't hit repeaters as well as with the 999.
KC9QQM Rating: 2009-12-17
Fairly Good Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
While I know it is marketed as a VHF/UHF triband antenna I had hoped it would work in HR for receive on my 6R, but it is dead. I have to put on the stock antenna to receive anything below FM broadcast. Not really a fault of the antenna but I do like to do some SW listening...