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Reviews For: Icom ah-2b

Category: Antennas: HF Mobile & Accessories

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Review Summary For : Icom ah-2b
Reviews: 6MSRP: 339.95
Description:
The ICOM AH-2b bumper mount antenna covers 40 to 6 meters. It is 8.2 feet (2.5 m) tall and features a stainless steel spring. Compatible with AH2, AH3 and AH4 Icom tuners.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.icom.co.jp/world/support/download/manual/disp_down.asp?catecode=Options&searchcode=Options&pdfurl=AH-2B.pdf&modelname=AH-2b&update=2001/01/01
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0063.2
KC1OVP Rating: 2022-07-03
Heavy duty antenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Antenna is heavy duty; installation couldn't have been any easier, very happy with it.
K6GKB Rating: 2020-04-19
Amazingly Simple Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I should point out that when I buy ham equipment, I buy it with the intention of making it work. I never let obstacles get in the way. With this in mind I found the mounting hardware a bit useless and turned the project over to a marine welder who made the perfect mount. A two inch by two inch stainless steel bracket that plugs into my trailer hitch socket at the rear of the car. He was able to take the tilting top bracket and incorporate it at the top of his creation. The spring mount sits just behind and slightly above the top of the bumper. I drilled a hole through the plastic/Styrofoam bumper and through the steel wall of the trunk. The extremely short high tension cable is totally invisible and emerges exactly where the ICOM AH4 antenna tuner sits inside the trunk. An ICOM 706MKIIG is connected and sits in the front of the trunk. The remote control head is mounted on the dash board of the car. A simple push of the tune button and I am ready to go. I have had this antenna for about nine years and it never fails to perform. When on trips I check in with my buddies back home and always get great reports. Simply fantastic antenna. When entering a parking garage, the antenna folds over and snaps into the rain gutter retaining clip. I have a sixteen foot extension wire that I attach with a split bolt and secure with a length of nylon line. When stretched horizontally it works as a near vertical incidence sky wave and never disappoints. I would guess that my system being ICOM from front separation panel to rear bumper antenna plays a role in the success of this installation. I love it when fellow hams with their garbage can screw driver antennas shake their heads with pity. I simply keep my mouth shut and enjoy my awesome antenna.
M0SRW Rating: 2016-08-06
Well made Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Got one of these off eBay for £140 or about $210 used but in good condition complete with AH-2 ATU I did away with all that silly mounting junk as it was only fit for cars made in the 1950s and I'm one of those who possess a drill and not afraid to use it on my van it's now mounted on top and ok it's 14foot to the to it works very well
As for the ATU that is now wired to work on my Alinco DX70 and its so much more quieter that the Alinco EDX-2 that sounds like a 50cal machine gun firing 100 rounds
W5ODP Rating: 2011-04-21
So far so good.... Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I purchased this antenna without reading either of the reviews here. That being said, I am so far very pleased with the antenna's performance.
However...... I do have a bone to pick with Icom on the mount. You HAVE to use their mount. If you're mounting on a car, you should be fine. If you are mounting this antenna on a truck, get some more tools and put your engineering cap on cause you're gonna have to do some engineering on the fly.
Rene F. Tetro Rating: 2010-12-08
Bad Construction Practices Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have to agree with the above commenter. I purchased an AH-2B to use with my IC706. After 6 months the antenna began to act flaky. The AH-4 would constantly try to retune the antenna. A close inspection found several mechanical issues, all of which appear to stem from using substandard and/or mixed metals. I was able to get it going again by replacing parts with stainless steel and making a few modifications.

Several months later, however, problems returned. In the end I got rid of it and replaced the AH-2B with a standard 102" whip whip with spring, and ball mount. The IC706 has worked flawlessly ever since (for two years).

AB9GO Rating: 2008-03-31
Poor choice of materials. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have a ah-2b that is now junk. You do NOT mix various types of metals in a product designed for outdoor use! Steel threaded rod into stainless. Brass screw into stainless. Steel bolt into stainless spring. Stainless bolts into steel inserts in the insulator. The lower part of the mount uses a mix of stainless and regular steel parts. What a mess. Most fasteners frozen and just snap off. I will need to completely rebuild the thing since I will have to drill out the old fasteners. For what the thing costs it should be 100% stainless steel. SAVE YOUR MONEY.