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Reviews For: Hustler CGT-144 Collinear Trunk Lip Mount Antenna

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

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Review Summary For : Hustler CGT-144 Collinear Trunk Lip Mount Antenna
Reviews: 29MSRP: 51.95
Description:
Price listed is the current HRO price (3-12-03
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.new-tronics.com/main/index.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00294.4
N5YPJ Rating: 2004-09-01
Will not part with it Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Have used this antenna both with and without the trunk mount. This antenna is great, antenna is built like a tank, trunk mount was tougher than a 1985 subcompact I put it on. Under tight conditions have remove the matching section and 5/8 element and used it as a 1/4 wave . Without a question this is the 2 meter mobile, no way would I part with it.
KC7GNM Rating: 2004-03-29
Great Antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I actually own the CG-144 not the CGT-144 which is the same antenna but without the trunk mount. I have had this antenna for almost 10 years now and can say I will not part with it. Gets great reception on 2m and transmit is just the same. I have had this same antenna on 3 different vehicles and it has lasted longer than they have. HI. The wind loading on this antenna is great too. It hardly bends at all at 75 mph.
K8EO Rating: 2003-08-21
Great Antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've owned one of these since 1976. While I don't use it every day anymore (I did for years), it is and always has been very dependable. Excellent gain and well made. In my shack, ham stuff comes and goes, but this is one item that I would never sell.

Works great on 10 meters, too....
N2KZ Rating: 2001-05-04
Winter Woes Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Winter was not kind to my CGT-144. New York City highways are wet salt mines. The trunk mount rotted dramatically in just a couple of months. The design: The long whip screws into the trunk mount using a small horizontal screw with a large gray knurled knob. Another larger screw, going vertical, holds the base down to the fitting where the co-ax connects. Everything was eaten alive from salt and water. Even the Motorola connections, connecting the trunk mount to the long co-ax cable leading to the rig, filled with salt and rotted. The antenna connections, where the pieces of road connect together with allen head screws, also had to be scrubbed and re-worked. The antenna now works just OK. The honeymoon is over. The ultra-gain is gone. I'm still scrubbing. I realise that this scenario is extreme, and possibly unfair, but if you build an antenna for outdoor use for a car trunk, there should be some level of weatherprooofing. Everything in this design is wide-open to rot. It's a shame. The basic design remains superior. Karl Zuk N2KZ

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Earlier 5-star review posted by N2KZ on 2000-11-29

The Newtronics Hustler CGT-144 is a seasoned superior design that is hard to beat. I am using it with a Icom T2H HT on its low 1 watt output setting hitting distant repeaters like a cakewalk. Signal reports are nearly always full quieting unless I am way into the fringe areas. The technical support from Newtronics is superior, as well. They will take the time to ragchew with you and get your installation right. They are a old-fashioned company with sincere ethics.
This is a tall antenna, but it easily detaches with a 5 second unscrewing of a large knurled knob. Buy this and you won't want to use anything else. I can't imagine the coverage this might give you if you ran 50 or 100 watts in your mobile. It should be nicknamed "Amazing Grace."
If you want the best, this is it. Karl N2KZ
WB9YCJ Rating: 2000-12-06
Flamethrower ! ! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
With 60 watts keydown, I am able to set off some car alarms while driving through parking lots.
Now thats a strong RF field!!
Also works great as a base antenna with the radial kit offered by Hustler. Antenna itself sometime seen at Hamfests under $10 (used).Get it ! Period. The owner of Hustler is very proud of this antenna.
WD4AC Rating: 2000-12-06
Super Antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've owned this antenna since 1979 and I refuse to let it go. I've sold many items over the years, but you just can't sell something that works this well. It's also great on ten meters. I wish everything lived up to this standard.

<Alan> WD4AC

K4III Rating: 2000-10-12
Bicycle Mobile Antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have picked up three Hustler Collinear antennas at a local hamfest for a buck each. One was rusted quite a bit, but I was able to save the base for one of the other 2 sets. I decided to try it on my bicycle just for kicks to see what it would do with a HTX-202 5 watt radio. I've been able to hit repeaters which require 50 watts in my mobile and base with this antenna! I guess height helps although I scrape roof entering the garage!!! It performs pretty well mounted on the back frame and doesn't sway the bike when I'm riding. (The fiberglass orange flag sticks they sell for a bike sways my bike more than this antenna!) However, I chose a rating of 4 because of the SWR. (Probably not the best SWR mounting on a bicycle.) I measured a 2.5-3.0 SWR and am able to hit repeaters 40 miles away with low power (2W)! I would recommend this antenna on 2 meters if you have the height and space or wish to travel bicycle mobile. (See a pic of my setup on QST magazine Jan. 2001)

AC3P Rating: 2000-03-10
Great Antenna Time Owned: unknown months.
I've been using the CGT-144 since 1975. Just bought a replacement last fall. It gives superior results over a 5/8 wave. When I expect to be in a repeater fringe area I switch to the Hustler collinear and I alway get through. In fact it makes simplex operation easier. It's like adding an amplifier, only you get better receive sensitivity too.

The added bonus of 10 meter operation makes it my primary antenna for 10 meter mobile both on SSB and FM. I don't know why Newtronics doesn't advertize this feature.
K3ANG Rating: 2000-03-06
Very durable, versatile antenna. AND A DUAL BANDE Time Owned: unknown months.
Have been using the antenna since I got my Tech back in 1976. I own and have owned other 2 meter mobile antennas, but this one has been tops. I've gone through 2 lip mounts in 20 years. Am now using a four-magnet mount on the trunk lid. This thing has been wacked by low-hanging limbs ,bridges and parking garage entrances and still works great. Have never needed to tune it. Just put it on the car and go. Also, for you 10 meter mobileers, this antenna will give you a flat SWR on 10 meters as well as 2 meters. Not just part of 10, THE WHOLE BAND! No tuner needed. I use an RS HTX-100 with it, mobile and base with homebrewed ground plane, and have worked a fair amount of DX. Works great on 10 and 2! Expensive, yes, but well worth the initial cost after almost 25 years.