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Comet SMA-24 vs the Diamond SRJ77CA HT Antenna

Robb

Honorary Member Silent Key
Dec 18, 2008
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Silicon Valley CA, Storm Lake IA
No Contest . . .
The Comet antenna beat the Diamond antenna by one S-unit/transmitting in my test. One S-unit is nothing to sneeze at. Especially with an HT which is already a compromise by design. Any HT will need all the help you can give it.

Comet SMA-24

466243201108161110503.jpg


Diamond SRJ77CA

5713tip.jpg


A stock rubber duckie HT antenna is practically a dummy load in itself. They do not have any db gain. They are built to be small so they take less space but offer a minimum of functionality. If you want more performance out of your new Chinese cheapie Wouxun/Puxing/Baofeng HT, you may consider either the Diamond or the Comet for an antenna that will provide some real gain.


I an using a Baofeng UV-5R, 1 watt output setting, and a local 2m repeater that will give S-unit reports when you punch in a particular DTMF code when transmitting. I used these criteria as the basis for this report. I did not test either antenna for 70cm operation; perhaps someone can give a report on that.

When using the stock rubber duckie, I got an 1 S-unit report.
With a tiger tail/counterpoise and the stock duckie; I got an S-2 report.

When using the Diamond antenna, I got an S-2 report.
With a tiger tail/counterpoise with the Diamond, I got an S-3 report.

When using the Comet antenna, I got an S-3 report.
When using the tiger tail/counterpoise with the Comet, I got an S-4 report.


Guess I'll have to keep a tiger tail/counterpoise on the radio with me when I'm on my next walkabout.

I took back the Comet antenna and traded it in for the Diamond. That was a mistake in some aspects. This model of Diamond antenna is made for these Chinese HT's - in that it has a female SMA connector that screws right in to the radio. It has the advantage of being a broad-banded antenna that will transmit on pretty much all of the frequencies that these radios are capable of transmitting on. Such as MURS, GMRS, and FRS. As well as the 2m and 70cm ham bands. What it gives up in this compromise, is that it doesn't work 2m/70cm as well as the Comet did.

The Comet will not have a usable SWR on the FRS, GMRS, and MURS frequencies. So, if you don't care about those bands; then the Comet is the sure bet. It is far less bulky than the Diamond antenna. It is also ~1 1/2 inches longer than the Diamond. Weighs about 1/3 as much a a matter of fact. Far more flexible too. But you will need a female-to-female SMA adapter to make it work. Definitely the better antenna in many respects.

So there it is. Depending on what you need your HT to do, you have some choices here. The Diamond was a couple of bucks more expensive than the Comet. But when using the Comet, you will need to spend a couple of bucks for the SMA adapter. So it is a wash. The Comet was ~$27 and the Diamond was ~$29 at Ham Radio Outlet in Sunnyvale, CA. There are other brands that have built antennas to fit the newer Chinese imports; but I have always thought that these two brands (Diamond & Comet) were the best bang for the buck. If you have a Nagoya/brand antenna (or any other brand) and have either the Diamond or the Comet - or both - and can give your own comparison/input, please feel free to do so.

Can't say enough positives about making and using a tiger tail though. Costs less than $.25 to make and takes only a few minutes to fashion. it will even improve the performance of the stock rubber duckie as well. I just made another new tiger tail; this time I used 22 ga/19 1/2 in long wire instead of 18 ga. It is much thinner and will take up less space when you have to screw the antenna into place and works just as well as a larger gauge wire does. If you want to find out what a 'tiger tail' is; then read this:

http://www.worldwidedx.com/handitalkies/137541-anyone-ever-use-one-these-2.html


Increase the Range of Your HT Handheld Ham Radio Antenna - YouTube
 
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Referencing Post #7:

Robb, if it's 1/4 wave on 2M, it should work as a 3/4 wave on 440 (3:1 frequency ratio, just like using a 1/2 wave 40M dipole on 15). I can see it as a half-wave on 220.
 

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