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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
K9FTB Rating: 2003-05-10
Great Antenna - Poor Mount Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had two of these guys for over 3 years and I've been very pleased with the antenna (NMO mount). I have been very disappointed with the Larsen trunk lip mount ($30 or so) which is only 14 mos. old and is rusting like crazy. I visited the Radiall / Larsen website to check the specs on my TL mount and of course it does not say it's made from stainless steel, brass or some other rust free metal. To be fair, I've looked at other TL mounts from other vendors and they also do not say stainless steel, except for the Diamond K600.

I'd certainly buy the antenna again, but never a Larsen mount. Hence my 3 rating - the antenna is a "5," the trunk lip mount a "0."
K4SDC Rating: 2003-04-12
Couldn't be happier Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought one of these antennas at a hamfest in 1999 and have been happy as could be with it. I ran it on the fender of a pickup for 3 years and have had it on the fender of a Cherokee for a year. Tuning wasn't even a consideration. I took it out of the package, mounted it on the vehicle, and checked the SWR.. So close to perfect that I didn't even consider adjusting it. I hit a band opening on 2-meters a couple weeks ago and was hitting repeaters a little over 10 miles easily. I consistently work a couple of semi-local repeaters that are 60 miles with good results. I'll be moving it to a thru-the-roof mount in a few weeks and I'm sure that it will perform even better then.
KB9IZB Rating: 2003-04-07
Couldn't Ask for More Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had one of these on the car with a mag mount for 9 years. Almost perfectly tuned out of the box. No problems. Just works. I also use one as a base antenna with the gound plane kit. Again, couldn't be more satisfied.
AD5ER Rating: 2002-07-18
Switching back to my Larsen! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
After having used a Comet SBB-5 1/2 wave for the past year, I've decided to switch back to my Larsen NMO 2/70B. I should have gotten a Diamond NMO door/lip bracket (instead of the UHF version) and stuck with the Larsen, but I thought that the corner of the roof of my pickup wouldn't give the Larsen enough of a ground plane, so I went with the 1/2 wave. On my previous truck, a Ramcharger, I had the 2/70 mounted in the center of the roof, and the best performance I achieved was a 2m contact early one morning from Norfolk, VA to a repeater in Lumberton, NC. That's almost all the way across North Carolina. In defense of the Comet, I plan on using it on my bike where I don't have a ground plane. Although Larsen states that the middle of the roof is the best spot to mount the 2/70, they also state that the corner of the roof (where mine will be) will only result in about a 0.2 dB loss. I'll let everyone know if that isn't true.

Brandon
AD5ER
KI5DR Rating: 2002-04-16
Best mobile antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have owned mine for over 7 years. It has consistently performed above my expectations. I've never had the set screws come loose, never had any kind of rust on the connector.

I did a rolling comparison between this and a Larsen 5/8 on the roof of my van. While stationary, the 5/8 seems better, but while in motion the 2/70 beats the 5/8 hands down. This is likely due to the wind bending the 5/8 much more than the 2/70, which stays pretty much vertical moving down the freeway.

IMHO, it's well worth the money for a TOP quality product.
KB3CDF Rating: 2001-04-14
Great Dual Band Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have several Larsen antennas. 2m (5/8ths), 6m (1/4), and the NMO 2m/70cm. All are great products. I carry all three with me. The 2m (5/8ths) offers the best coverage for "flat-land" or hilltop as would any 5/8's wavelenght antenna. The dual (2/70) band offer the most versaltility with 2 bands. The 6 m is a managable performer.

Durable? Worth the money?

I recently drilled a hole mount for a NMO mount. I took the 2/70 down from a modified ground plane I had mounted on top of the house as a "permanent" for 3 years. All it took was a little cleaning. It works like a charm on the mobile. Plan to switch out each of the previously mentioned Larsons on the same mount.

I have used these antennas with a magmount with great success. I have mounted them at the home QTH for stationary operation with great result. I have used them with a NMO hole mount and so far SO GREAT!!!

If purchased, installed, and used, it will serve you many years of use in many applications. It can be applied to your changing needs.
KB5VDH Rating: 2000-01-21
Fantastic Antenna Time Owned: unknown months.
I had one, and just purchased another for my wife's van. I highly recommend this antenna to anyone needing a new or replacement antenna. It is a commercial quality antenna at a decent price, and gets the job done very well.