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Reviews For: Larsen NMO-150

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

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Review Summary For : Larsen NMO-150
Reviews: 30MSRP: 35 (Street Value)
Description:
NMO 150 (2m)
Frequency: 144-174 MHz
Gain: 3dBd / 5.2dBi
Electrical: 5/8 wave
Height: 49"
Power Rating: 200 Watts
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.radialllarsen.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
25304.9
FORMER_WN1B_BS Rating: 2009-09-15
Simply Outstanding Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Based on other eHam reviews of the Larsen NMO-150, I purchased the NMO-150B from AES Orlando for my Silverado to support a new 65w Icom IC-2200H. Not only does this antenna fully live up to it's eHam reputation, it's hardly even noticeable in black.

Great performer, highly recommended, would buy another without hesitation!
KE5CK Rating: 2009-02-22
From trash to treasure!! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Believe it or not, I found my Larsen NNO 150 on the ground behind a trash dumpster. It was 20 years ago and I was a gung-ho volunteer fireman and college student. Being a poor college student, I was not too proud to pick up a "piece of junk" someone had thrown away and I needed a good antenna for my mobile scanner for my volunteer fire-fighting service/hobby. I cleaned up the light rust on the L-bracket mount and soldered some new coax to it and and mounted it on the bed of my truck. It worked great! I suspect it had been used for a business band radio in it's previous life before being tossed in the trash. That's another sign of a good product....when you see it used in commercial applications. I have seen thousands of these antennas used on business radio installations as well as public service vehicles for police, fire, EMS, forestry, etc. A short while later, I got interested in ham radio and got my tech ticket. Well, I then trimmed the whip a little and tuned it up for 2 meter use and proceeded to use that antenna for the next 10-12 years. It was awesome! It was always very flat, had a super long range and was very durable! It did eventually wear out and I had to retire it when the threaded brass mounting ring inside the base coil came loose and the antenna would no longer stay put on the mount. I still have it and might try putting an epoxy of some sort in there to fix it and see how much more service I can get from it. I have tried some other brands. The little MFJ cellular lookalike dualbander magmount did OK for a $20 antenna. I had 2 Lakeview dualbanders that were larsen copies. Both of those were junk. Was considering trying Comet and/or Diamond, but after reading hit and miss reviews, I plan to go with what has worked for years.....Larsen!! The tough decision will be whether to go with a dualbander or 2 singles and a duplexer. That old NMO 150 was so awesome, it is really hard to resist so I am thinking about spending the extra dough on the 2 singles and duplexer. Buy a NMO 150. You'll be glad you did and so will the guy who gets it after you are done with it!
N7TRZ Rating: 2009-01-07
better than ever Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I started using Larsen products 40 years ago when it was the Old Man and a small crew putting them together from gray tubing and epoxy in Vancouver. I still have the first ones I bought! This latest incarnation is more durable and long-lasting than ever. Nothing left to weather or leak (although they aren't as "pretty" anymore). The one piece base coil and a Mylar label last a good long time. I miss the old shop but Radiall/Larsen is very good with customer service. Parts are never a problem.
KF4LYU Rating: 2008-08-27
EXCELLENT !!! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Have had my Larsen 150 for about 12 years now, got it when i first got my license.

it has performed flawlessly til this day, mine is mounted on the Larsen magnet base and the magnet base has a few cracks from the weather and such,, but non the less,,I cannot find any faults in this antenna, I am even amazed at some of the distant repeaters that i have worked with this antenna.

i recommend this antenna to all that is looking for an excellent antenna that wont break your billfold,,get it,,use it,,and enjoy it, you wont be dissapointed
KB3QKL Rating: 2008-03-17
Great Antenna ! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I installed one of these on the top rear fender of my buddies car which really isn't the ideal spot but it was the most practical in this installation. Due to the the way the fender slopes out this caused the antenna to be slanted. We then tuned the antenna to 146Mhz (snipped a little over a half an inch) and then bent the antenna whip at the base until in was straight. Let me tell you that this was not easy. We then double checked the SWR. The bend had little effect. It is very flexable so it can take some abuse. I'm going to purchase one of these after seeing the performance of this antenna. Below are the results of what I consider a very flat SWR bandwidth measured by an MFJ-259 antenna analyzer.

144 - 1.3
145 - 1.2
146 - 1.1
147 - 1.2
148 - 1.3
NW2M Rating: 2006-10-08
Two antennas in one! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have owned this antenna for years. A full 5/8 wave on 2M -plus- a 1/4 wave on 6M. I have run a full 50 watts on 2M and 100 watts on 6M without any problems. SWR is very low. It is a better antenna on 6M than single-band base loaded ones. I like the NMO mount and drilled the hole in the top of my mini van. IMHO, this is the only way to go for solid performance. It has been a reliable antenna- and I would buy another. This one does not want to wear out. Excellent value for the money.
K4DV Rating: 2006-02-09
Great antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have operated the 5/8 Larsen for nearly 15 years and it has been exceptional. I have run it on a mag mount on top of my pickup and enjoy great service. It has been knocked off by birds, tree limbs, etc and dragged down the road a time or two before I could get stopped and it hasn't missed a lick. SWR still as good as day one.
The performance is top notch as well. I have compared it against several name brands as well as cheapo's and it comes out on top every time.
I have owned many styles of Larsen and they are all great antennas.
KK7NF Rating: 2005-10-29
Perfect Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've owned this antenna for 10 years. It has held up perfectly the entire time, and still looks only lightly used. Even the original rubber o-ring is still going strong! Very flat SWR on several vehicles, both w/the mag mount and permanent mount. The pinnacle of 2 meter mobile antennas.
KD5GJE Rating: 2005-10-18
Great Antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Had to cut it down slightly (about 1/4 inch off) but it covers the whole 2M band in less than 1.5 SWR. In fact, I still don't have it tuned to the center of the band but at the bottom of the band I can't get my reflected power needle to move but at the top I get close to 1.5 SWR. Works great for me. I drive a taller truck so it hits everything and I have had it up there for about two years and no difference in tuning.
W2SNJ Rating: 2005-08-25
Great All Around Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I recently deceided to start operating on 2m after being dormant for years. I had forgotton about the reliability I had with this antenna, almost 30 years ago. I deceided to give this antenna another try. I was as pleased with the results as I was years ago. In fact, the antenna outlasted the car it was mounted on. It is very well built. I live in a very rural part of TN. Sensitivity is only as good as the radio is capable of. It is trunk mounted with a Larsen trunk mount. There is no problem, with it, when driving at 70+ mph. When looking at the specs of an antenna, most manufacturers will give the gain in dBi, not dBd. Larsen displays theirs in both, dBd & dBi. If you're looking for a reliable single band antenna, that won't break the wallet, you won't go wrong with this one.