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Reviews For: Larsen NMO 2/70

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

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Review Summary For : Larsen NMO 2/70
Reviews: 57MSRP: 54.00 @ HRO
Description:
dual-band 2m/440 nmo mount mobile
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.radialllarsen.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00574.6
N0UJQ Rating: 2009-03-30
The Standard all others are compared to Time Owned: more than 12 months.
(This review applies to both the open-coil, and the closed coil versions)

First off, evidently the previous reviewer had a bad coil from the factory. A quick phone call would have resolved that issue.

That aside,
I've owned and otherwise used about 15 Larsen NMO 2/70 antennas in the past 20 years. Some of them on farm tractors. I can tell you they last between 10 and 15 years under that kind of use - i've had two coils go bad during that time period. They take a reasonable amount of tree-bashing and hail damage before the UHF portion just gives up.

The 2 meter performance is very good, essentially as good as the best 5/8 wave mobile antennas, except with a shorter whip that doesn't flex in the wind so much.

The 70cm portion is fabulous, better than i've seen on any other mobile antenna, really. And i've used those super-size Comet/Diamond antennas only to find out they don't perform as well as a Larson, and they sure as heck don't last as long. Part of the reason being that the higher gain antennas are shooting sky-wave while you're going 65MPH down interstate.

Are you an FT-8900 owner looking for an antenna? Forget the UHV-4 and forget the CR-8900. Just get a Larson NMO 2/70, NMO27C, and NMO50C. Switch them out as needed or get a duplexer (Comet CF-360B) that will allow you to run the 2/70 the same time as the low band antenna of your choice. Your 2 meter/70cm performance shouldn't suffer just because you *might* someday work 6 or 10 meters with your mobile rig!

Without a doubt, 5 stars
N1IER Rating: 2008-11-14
Disappointed Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I don’t know what happened but I just bought one of these antennas to replace a Larsen 2/70 mag-mount and it just plain doesn’t work. I am using a NMO mount in the center of the roof of my truck and yes I scraped the paint off to get a good ground. Right out of the package the match on 2 meters was over 3:1. I read the instructions again telling me that it was factory tuned but my swr bridge told a different story. So out came the cutters, I tuned it on 2 meters and got the swr down to 1.2:1 center band and 1.7:1 high and low. Now I check 440 and it’s over 3:1 on 440 and just under 2:1 at 450. I replaced it with a Diamond NR72BNMO that I’ve had for 6+ years and the match was below1.3:1 across both bands. What happened to Larsen quality???
KD7AWG Rating: 2008-09-29
Good Factory Support Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Well build and rugged. The best part is the support from Larsen.
NE4ME Rating: 2007-12-23
Best overall performer! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Antenna does great on VHF and awesome on UHF. I have ran several other brand antennas on 2m and 440 and none can compete with this one for both 2m and 440. Only ran across two that can compete with this one on 2m and that is the Larsen NMO150 and then the Hustler 5/8 over 1/4 wave CGT-144 and both are much larger than this Larsen dualbander. I have to admit I am brand loyal when it comes to Larsen and I will no longer run anything else when it comes to VHF/UHF mobile, unless the other companies really come out with something that can compete with what Larsen sells. I have Larsen mobile antennas for 10m, 6m, 2m, 220, and 440 and they all seem to perform well, but I have not been able to do any comparisons on 6m and 10m though. I can only say one thing negative about any Larsen product and that is the little 17" 2m/440 dual bander. That little one is fair at best on 2m and is terrible on 440! I'd rather have a 1/4 wave on 2m than that little dual bander, but I'd rather have most rubber ducks than that little dual bander on 440. Other than that mini dual bander, I think that all the other Larsen products that I have used through the years (and continue to use) are excellent performers and stand up to pleny of abuse. I have been exclusively been running Larsen mobile antennas for the last 12 years after about 3 years of experimenting with all the other "big name" wanna-be antennas out there. Go Larsen and you won't go wrong. Excellent bandwidth, real gain, real rugged....Rusty NE4ME
KN4X Rating: 2007-05-18
Solid and steady, good value. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Current version NMO 2/70B, black coil - open coil black whip. To begin with, this antenna is not a "high performance" Asian antenna.

Pros:
rugged, dependable, and steady performer that will deliver above average performance over the long haul. Very simple and clean design. Rigid enough at highway speeds (about 25-30 degree bend max). Will take an impact without distorting if impact is in top 1/3. An add-on Larsen spring is available for US$10 if hitting objects is a regular concern. Maintenance free if properly installed. Will outlast Diamond and Comet antennas by 10+ years with reasonable care.

Cons:
Not one of the higher gain 2m/70cm antennas available today. Whip can be bent if impacted in bottom half (however unlike a Diamond, Comet, etc. it can easily be reshaped).

Experience with my nmo antennas and others has exposed the nmo mounts biggest weakness, improper installation. Be sure to remove the paint on both the UNDERSIDE and top side of the hole if mounted in a thru-the-hole mount. A good ground is critical to obtain and maintain a 1:1 center of band swr. Mount it right the first time and enjoy. It'll probably outlive you.
K9GLN Rating: 2007-03-10
Dependable and Sturdy Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I was using a Larsen 2/70 but it was a little taller so figured I'd try the shorter Maldol for easier access into the garage. I bought the EX-107B NMO screwed it onto my Diamond K400 mount and flexed the top back a forth a couple times testing to see the flexing ability and the damn MALDOL snapped off right at the base where the antenna goes into the bottom base. It hadn’t been on the vehicle for two minutes. I DID NOT bend it dramatically over either, maybe 45 degrees. I'm out $60.00 plus shipping. Back to my depenable Larsen 2/70.

The 2/70 antenna will bend into an arc past 90 degrees without any problem. I've had it five years and previously had it mounted on my trucks fender cowling. It has been a rugged dependable antenna
KB4TPP Rating: 2007-03-01
A Legend Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had my NMO-270B since 1994 and it has been on three different cars. I've tried other antennas like the Diamonds (72BNMO) but nothing can beat the 2/70 for it's size and price range. It has held up for this long and still has the original parts (coil and whip) still original black paint on the whip. The antenna is becoming an "adolescent" soon as it will be 13 years old this April. Just checked it on an analyzer, yep still 1.1 on V and U at the center at the band, 13 years and thousands of hours of use later.
K7PWR Rating: 2007-01-23
What a difference!! WOW!!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Just installed the Larson NMO 2/70 and i can hit every repeater that i have programmed into my vx-2r with a Mirage dual band 45 watt amp.This setup has come alive!! Iam amazed at what a difference this antenna has done for my vhf communications.I was using a generic mag mount antenna before,.. I was disappointed in the performance, and thats why i bought the amp..still not good.But after the larsen..not a problem at all.Effortless communications without fade.This Larsen Company deserves a thumbs up from me!!! Keep em comin' Good stuff!!!!! :)
K4DV Rating: 2006-02-09
Good dual band antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I ran the Larsen 2/70 with the center load, not the open coil version, for about 3 years. It worked great until I knocked it off the top of the truck and apparently damaged it. The SWR went out the roof and after checking it out, it had a dead short in it. I just trashed it and bought a 1/4 wave dual band Larsen to replace it with and used it for several years.
I highly recommend any Larsen product and the trouble I had with this one was my fault I am sure, but still I feel it shouldn't have given up the ghost quite as quick.
AD7AS Rating: 2005-11-27
Great Antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Use this antenna on my Jeep with a optional shock spring. Has great range with a good match to the radio. With the shock spring it takes all the beating you can give it from branches. Why the 4 rating then? Because you have to pay extra for a shock spring; however, this is one of the few dual band antennas with gain that even have this option. Without the shock spring hitting it low can bend the whip at the coil. For tall trucks get the shock spring and the open coil whip model and it will take anything you hit it with including low garages.