Great video. I have successfully used this for FT8 on 40/30/20m with reasonable results. SSB, not so much…but I do use it to check in to my local 6m net on my back deck with my FT-818.
I mounted the AH-705 on a Tripod used that allowed me to move the tuner into a vertical position. Then screwed the Comet antenna onto the tuner. With a couple radials it loaded and functioned very well for a limited size antenna. Ran about 25ft of RG-174 between me and the antenna system.
I have one of these antennas. I haven't had much luck trying to make contacts with it using qrp but, it does listen quite well when using a suitable counterpoise.
Very cool, I may have to try one of these. A couple of thoughts: 1. I've been working FT8 with 250 mW to an end fed random wire, so 5 watts into this should be able to make some contacts. 2. I find that a single, elevated counterpoise wire works well for this type of antenna. Mine is a quarter wavelength on 40 meters, with single-pin Molex connectors inline so I can quickly configure for 40/30/20/17/15/12/10 meters. Two or three fiberglass electric fence posts are all that are needed to hold it a few feet above the ground. As always, Gooch's Paradox applies: "RF gotta go somewhere."
I own this antenna and it does work, but you’re right - it needs radials and reality does kick in, it’s not going to be that effective but it works. I worked Toronto, Canada from Atlanta, Georgia with 10w on my 705 using this antenna on 20m. 73 de KI4ASK
Really liked that outro music!! Was that your own composition? A lot of people claim this antennae is un-tunable, however I have this antenna and have been able to make it work on 40m, 20m, 15m for SSB - I've not tried other bands/modes. It's very important to follow the instructions and as you say use radials. I use a counterpoise and the length of the counterpoise is very important and may change with location. The length also seems to change withthe gauge of wire, so I guess the capacitance of the counterpoise is important on this antenna. I find I need a much longer counterpoise inside my 2nd floor office. If I'm out in the field with the counterpoise on the actual ground it is about half the length as indoors. I've been using a 7m long piece of 12 AWG wire and I have been able to tune for the bands mentioned above. The other thing is that tuning required quite small adjustments single centimeter, maybe half centimeter adjustments. The instructions have a table that gives you a guide as to how much you need to adjust the whip on certain bands to get however many kHz of change. I've printed and laminated the table and keep that in my Amateur Radio Aide Memoire. I also use that bracket that Peter is using in the video - however I have replaced the the 4mm thumbscrew with a a 4mm "rotating knob m4 screws" designed for video equipment. These give you more purchase so you can tighten the cage up more securely than is possible with the supplied thumbscrew. The rotating knobs also have a mechanism which is sort of like manual ratcheting so you can still tighten the knob,m even if there is not space to rotate it a full 360 degrees - this also lets you "park" the knob in a helpful location. Search for "M4 Rotating Knob Adjustable Thumb Lever Screw for 15mm Rod Clamp block Rig" on ebay. Being able to properly tigthen that antenna mount up makes it far more usable.
Hi Andy. Yes, and I enjoyed reading about your flight to VK on QRZ. Well done. I always wanted to fly and finally after several eye operations I passed the medical. Unfortunately six months down the line I had another eye problem that grounded me for good! I I flew solo after 7.5 hours and logged a few hours as a student pilot before it all came to an end!! Ham Radio and Music keep me busy! 73 Peter.
@@watersstanton well a boy needs several hobbies mate, and music and ham radio are two pretty bloody good choices..! I remember being surprised it was you on the other end of the key as I watch all your videos and I thought "that doesn't sound like him" d'uh hi hi..! Funny how your brain sometimes (doesn't!) work when CW'ing hahaha! Yes I'm very proud of the flight to Australia in my Cherokee back in 2013. The aircraft is based at Popham these days (Hants) so quite a way from you, but if you ever wanted I'd be delighted to take you up..! :). 73
I have found that the antenna actually works best with a counter poise. Not sure how it works on a magnetic mount, without a counter poise, will have to check it out.
Hi Peter, great antenna, should also work well with a magnetic mount on a car roof (in parking position, hi). Was astonished to hear my callsign DL1BJW mentioned in your video at video time 4:22 (by DL3AO with whom I had QSO a few days ago). Vy 73 de Mike DL1BJW
I got it to tune with counterpoises/radials. The issue I am having is the thing is deaf. It doesn't matter if it loads it just doesn't hear anything. Probably the only antenna I have ever had the problem of receive vs transmitting. Yes been playing with lengths on the whip. Very strange antenna so far. Only had for a couple of weeks. Tried different mounts...but not one that is attached essentially to the radio...is that the issue with this thing? It wants to be very close to the radio with little transmission line?
Thanks for the review of this antenna. I purchased it here last Fall at an amateur radio 📻 dealer as you showed for a bit over $100.00 US, and it does need some work such as you said, adequate radials, or a mag mount on a vehicle. I have not used the 80 and 160 meter add ons to transmit either. But not bad. Cheers 73 de W2CH, Ray.
@@watersstanton thank you very much for the reply! Yes I imagine multiple readings that change often depending on how folks set up their radials and radial configuration etc
Nice video. Is it necessary a counterpoise in order to allow it to work better? Is it possible to measure the swr please? Which is the maximum power? Thank you in advance
Yes. A compromise antenna. The worst antenna I ever bought. Will not work without radials of course. With radials, still almost impossible to tune without an antenna analyzer.
Pain in the a$$ for quick deployment. You need radials or a tuner, and with radials you'll be fiddling with it awhile. I'd rather pay more and get more. Was "only" a hundred bucks and wasn't worth that. Would rather use the Super Antenna MP1 which is more expensive, tunes manually but at least predictably. Otherwise get your ICOM tuner with your 705
Why are almost all amateur radio operators old farts? And almost always messing around with dinky nonsense. Where are the ones who have the huge antennas, pumping out 10Kw or more?
Great video. I have successfully used this for FT8 on 40/30/20m with reasonable results. SSB, not so much…but I do use it to check in to my local 6m net on my back deck with my FT-818.
I mounted the AH-705 on a Tripod used that allowed me to move the tuner into a vertical position. Then screwed the Comet antenna onto the tuner.
With a couple radials it loaded and functioned very well for a limited size antenna. Ran about 25ft of RG-174 between me and the antenna system.
Great video Peter. I especially liked your outro.
Glad you liked it
I have one of these antennas. I haven't had much luck trying to make contacts with it using qrp but, it does listen quite well when using a suitable counterpoise.
Very cool, I may have to try one of these. A couple of thoughts: 1. I've been working FT8 with 250 mW to an end fed random wire, so 5 watts into this should be able to make some contacts. 2. I find that a single, elevated counterpoise wire works well for this type of antenna. Mine is a quarter wavelength on 40 meters, with single-pin Molex connectors inline so I can quickly configure for 40/30/20/17/15/12/10 meters. Two or three fiberglass electric fence posts are all that are needed to hold it a few feet above the ground. As always, Gooch's Paradox applies: "RF gotta go somewhere."
I own this antenna and it does work, but you’re right - it needs radials and reality does kick in, it’s not going to be that effective but it works. I worked Toronto, Canada from Atlanta, Georgia with 10w on my 705 using this antenna on 20m. 73 de KI4ASK
Really liked that outro music!! Was that your own composition?
A lot of people claim this antennae is un-tunable, however I have this antenna and have been able to make it work on 40m, 20m, 15m for SSB - I've not tried other bands/modes.
It's very important to follow the instructions and as you say use radials.
I use a counterpoise and the length of the counterpoise is very important and may change with location. The length also seems to change withthe gauge of wire, so I guess the capacitance of the counterpoise is important on this antenna.
I find I need a much longer counterpoise inside my 2nd floor office.
If I'm out in the field with the counterpoise on the actual ground it is about half the length as indoors.
I've been using a 7m long piece of 12 AWG wire and I have been able to tune for the bands mentioned above.
The other thing is that tuning required quite small adjustments single centimeter, maybe half centimeter adjustments.
The instructions have a table that gives you a guide as to how much you need to adjust the whip on certain bands to get however many kHz of change.
I've printed and laminated the table and keep that in my Amateur Radio Aide Memoire.
I also use that bracket that Peter is using in the video - however I have replaced the the 4mm thumbscrew with a a 4mm "rotating knob m4 screws" designed for video equipment.
These give you more purchase so you can tighten the cage up more securely than is possible with the supplied thumbscrew.
The rotating knobs also have a mechanism which is sort of like manual ratcheting so you can still tighten the knob,m even if there is not space to rotate it a full 360 degrees - this also lets you "park" the knob in a helpful location.
Search for "M4 Rotating Knob Adjustable Thumb Lever Screw for 15mm Rod Clamp block Rig" on ebay. Being able to properly tigthen that antenna mount up makes it far more usable.
I could get this antenna to work at all with my new IC 705...sent it back to Amazon!
Always enjoy your videos. Educational, to the point, and you outro music is superb. Thank you. 73 de KI5HHK
Many thanks! 73 Peter
You worked me on CW the other day - only after did I clock it was you... thanks and 73! Andy / G1AJH
Hi Andy. Yes, and I enjoyed reading about your flight to VK on QRZ. Well done. I always wanted to fly and finally after several eye operations I passed the medical. Unfortunately six months down the line I had another eye problem that grounded me for good! I I flew solo after 7.5 hours and logged a few hours as a student pilot before it all came to an end!! Ham Radio and Music keep me busy! 73 Peter.
@@watersstanton well a boy needs several hobbies mate, and music and ham radio are two pretty bloody good choices..! I remember being surprised it was you on the other end of the key as I watch all your videos and I thought "that doesn't sound like him" d'uh hi hi..! Funny how your brain sometimes (doesn't!) work when CW'ing hahaha! Yes I'm very proud of the flight to Australia in my Cherokee back in 2013. The aircraft is based at Popham these days (Hants) so quite a way from you, but if you ever wanted I'd be delighted to take you up..! :). 73
I have found that the antenna actually works best with a counter poise. Not sure how it works on a magnetic mount, without a counter poise, will have to check it out.
Hi Peter, great antenna, should also work well with a magnetic mount on a car roof (in parking position, hi). Was astonished to hear my callsign DL1BJW mentioned in your video at video time 4:22 (by DL3AO with whom I had QSO a few days ago).
Vy 73 de Mike DL1BJW
Show off! :) Love it!
I got it to tune with counterpoises/radials. The issue I am having is the thing is deaf. It doesn't matter if it loads it just doesn't hear anything. Probably the only antenna I have ever had the problem of receive vs transmitting. Yes been playing with lengths on the whip. Very strange antenna so far. Only had for a couple of weeks. Tried different mounts...but not one that is attached essentially to the radio...is that the issue with this thing? It wants to be very close to the radio with little transmission line?
Thanks for the review of this antenna. I
purchased it here last Fall at an amateur
radio 📻 dealer as you showed for a bit
over $100.00 US, and it does need some
work such as you said, adequate radials,
or a mag mount on a vehicle. I have not
used the 80 and 160 meter add ons to
transmit either. But not bad. Cheers 73
de W2CH, Ray.
Hi Peter - you don’t mention the power handling of the antenna...
how do you think it would do hooked to a SDR receiver.in an HOA
You can buy the 160m coil separately...
Could you be so kind as to put it on your HF analyzer and show the various bands SWR?
Not possible because VSWR depends on radial numbers and placement. Generally 1.5:1
@@watersstanton thank you very much for the reply! Yes I imagine multiple readings that change often depending on how folks set up their radials and radial configuration etc
Peter!!
Wonderful impromptu, too!!
Nice video. Is it necessary a counterpoise in order to allow it to work better? Is it possible to measure the swr please? Which is the maximum power? Thank you in advance
You must use a counterpoise. The VSWR is very much dependent on the counterpoise but 1.5:1 is typical
Max power is 75 W PEP SSB on 3.5 MHz; 100 W SSB PEP 7.0 - 50 MHz. But most people, including myself, us it mainly for QRP 5-20 watts.
As well as the counterpoise Comet recommend using a tuner.
I acquired one of these antennas to work with my Elecraft KX3. Is there some way to mount this antenna onto a photographic tripod?
I am sorry, but Comet themselves dont have such an item. I suspect yiu might find a suitable item on eBay. 73 Petrr
Thank you for the info sir! KI5EMW
No problem 👍
How many watts can you send through it?
100w.
Also known as the ATX walkabout or MFJ-1899T
The MFJ 1899t comes with the 80m coil as part of it, while with the Comet, the 80m section is optional.
Should come with a bag of rocks. You can throw a rock further than you can talk on that antenna.
Are they Adam monitors?
Yes. A compromise antenna. The worst antenna I ever bought. Will not work without radials of course. With radials, still almost impossible to tune without an antenna analyzer.
Comet recommend using a tuner its on the instruction leaflet.
@@VK7AM If you use a tuner, a counterpoise wire won't be needed?
Pain in the a$$ for quick deployment. You need radials or a tuner, and with radials you'll be fiddling with it awhile. I'd rather pay more and get more. Was "only" a hundred bucks and wasn't worth that. Would rather use the Super Antenna MP1 which is more expensive, tunes manually but at least predictably.
Otherwise get your ICOM tuner with your 705
Why are almost all amateur radio operators old farts? And almost always messing around with dinky nonsense. Where are the ones who have the huge antennas, pumping out 10Kw or more?