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Reviews For: Jetstream JTB3

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

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Review Summary For : Jetstream JTB3
Reviews: 14MSRP: 44.95
Description:
144-148Mhz 440-450Mhz
4.5 db gain on 144-148 Mhz
7.2 db gain on 440-450 Mhz
Connector: SO239
Impedance: 50 ohms
Length 71.5"
Mast size: 1.5-2 inch
Max power: 200 watts, sum of both bands
Max wind rating: 90 MPH
Construction: Fiberglass
One piece contruction
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.jetstream-usa.com/jtb3.shtml
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00144.6
W2AIQ Rating: 2021-08-13
Still going Strong at 9 years Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Have had this workhorse for about 9 years in the same spot about 25ft up, the last 5 years it has been operating strictly as an APRS antenna for position reporting and IgAting 24/7, before that the usual 2m/440 voice and DMR, but now I run DMR from a portable hot spot and 2m/440 only mobile.... I have never been disappointed with this antennas performance and now I can also speak to its apparent reliability over the long haul over the numerous winters and summers of the great northeast U.S., in New Jersey
WX9DX Rating: 2018-11-03
Good antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The antenna is great for places where you do not want to focus your signal on the horizon like in mountain valleys etc. The higher the gain and the antenna takes signal from high angles and moves them to the horizon instead. And in a mountain valley if you focus on the horizon with to high a gain antenna you are hitting dirt and rock on the side of the mountain. So when at our Florida Home we use a very high gain Jeatstream antenna and while in our timeshare in the North Carolina mountain valley I use this JTB3 so I have more signal at higher angles up from the horizon. I have read some peoples ideas of needing a larger gain antenna and it would make sense for them to read the antenna book about antenna gain and how it works. Many of them sound like they need a small yagi to hit a far away repeater rather than more gain on an omni antenna. Much of the time going to an antenna with more gain "omni" can also bring in more noise that saturates the front end receive amplifier and you will notice even worse signal from a repeater your wanting to work. the JTB3 antenna works very well for the price point. It is tough, very rugged and I have found it to be a good fit for camping, home, vacation, field day etc. I have put one the side of a tower, spaced about 15 inches from the tower face using the tower as a reflector to work a repeater 50 miles away. When the antenna was on top the tower that repeater was noisy. But on the side of the tower it is full quieting. I have bought several of these and I have to say I like them. 73s Jimmy, WX9DX, ARRL TS
K8BRJ Rating: 2016-05-04
Outstanding Results Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I am very pleased with the performance of this antenna. I use 55ft of RG-213 (not the best choice in coax) to the antenna with a height of 35ft. I am at the top edge of a river valley in a big city suburb with lots of houses and big trees close by. I can hit all the repeaters within 30 miles and simplex 7 to 10 miles using my 5W handheld.
K6MTS Rating: 2015-06-26
Xlnt Value Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Works great, well built, can't beat the price. Mine has been up a couple of years with no issues at all.
If you are looking for a very good 2m/440 base antenna and you have realistic performance expectations for a dual band antenna of this size (6'), you won't be disappointed.
K3CLT Rating: 2014-03-14
OK Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have had this antenna up for a few months and am thinking of replacing it with its big brother. I live in a valley and have a big hill going toward the repeater. It hits the repeater full quieting but just barely. It is no better than the ARX-2b ringo I took down. I wrote to Jetstream and ask how they got their gain number on the antenna but never got a reply from them. I sent an email to QST and ask the DR about the gain number for the size of the antenna and he indicated that the antenna could not have the gain indicated due to its small size.
N2VRO Rating: 2013-10-09
Great value Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had this antenna mounted on my chimney for close to 2 years now up here in the North East where we see some brutal winters (ice, wind, snow and even hurricanes and tornados the past couple of years). I've been very impressed with its performance given my poor location(low elevation and surrounded by hills). I've purchased other antennas (workman UVS-200, to name one), thinking it'll outperform(based on comparing specs) the JetStream and all I have to say is that the JetStream went back on my chimney the very same day. I did multiple signal tests and logged all data onto an Excel spreadsheet right before taking the Jetstream down. The tests included simplex and ability to key up certain far repeaters, the repeaters signal strength received and whether I needed low, med or High power to key up the repeater and give my callsign OTA. I then replaced it with the Workman and ran the exact same tests(same height and same coax) going down the page on the excel spreadsheet and not a single test did the Workman outperform the JetStream. In fact, there were a couple of tests where the Jetstream faired better. This was on both 2m and 70cm.
The tests were performed within 90 minutes of each other.

Gave the workman to my dad.

As others have already mentioned, great value for the price, build quality is better than Diamond, Comet and workman, in my opinion. Now thinking I may give the JTB2 a try and see how that fairs.

Highly recommend this antenna.

W4WXT Rating: 2013-06-11
Good job! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I've had this JTB-3 for 5 months now and I have to say, I am impressed.I had a ARX-270 and this JTB-3 out performs it in distance, quality, audio (rx and tx). 2M repeaters are a breeze to obtain some 70 miles away and I'm in the mountains of Tennessee at the bottom of the Cumberland Plateau. Nashville, Chattanooga, Knoxville no problem. All off a Wouxun 5 watt HT. Good job Jetstream.
K4NET Rating: 2012-01-10
Big Bang for the Buck.....We will see in the long run. Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Purchased this about 3 mos ago to use with a simplex Echolink node. Have not tested it extensively enough to give it a 5, although it may be worthy of it.

While testing on simplex and 20 ft off the ground, someone else heard me from about 15-20 miles away, and mind you I am in a valley and the house was blocking a majority of the antenna. I think the gain figures are indeed realistic.

Also have a CX-333 tri-band, and can say the construction is very durable and comparable. On 2/440 I can say it is comparable to the to the more well known brand without the price tag. I have also used it to run a 220 net with an SWR of about 1.7 without issue

This vertical will be finding a perm home 50ft up on a tower to be installed this spring.

Bottom line: Dont think you can go wrong with this antenna
KI5SO Rating: 2011-11-27
Good value Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I bought this antenna to use in a stealth operation (antenna restricted community). I sprayed it black with liquid tape. At low heights it works nicely hiding in the bushes. The antenna has gain. I have compared it to other antennas and it does show improvement. The antenna is solid. It protects your coax inside a sleath at the bottom of the antenna. I get fine performance on 2 meters and even better performance on 440. It' a great value and better than a j-pole.

K4RKY Rating: 2011-02-27
Very Good Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had my jtb3 up about 4 years now and it is still doing an excellent job. The only problem I have had is when I lowered my tower to do repairs on my rotor this past fall the ground plane elements fell off! Jetstream could have used a bit thicker housing neck to hold the elements in place. (Aluminum pressed into stainless steel stud). But the repair was very simple and still holding. Really a great antenna for the price.