Comet SMA-24 antenna and rat tail.

[gil]

I got a Comet 17" antenna for my Yaesu. The S-meter does not change using either antennas. So it seems the Comet isn't better than the standard rubber ducky, or at least not enough to show an extra bar on the LCD. I do assume there is a slight difference, the laws of physics being what they are.. However, adding the proverbial rat tail does add three bars in both cases..

I am awaiting an antenna analyser (backordered), and will test both as soon as I get it. I am curious as to the kind of SWR those HT antennas have...

Gil.

[cockpitbob]

Gil,
I got a cheap longer antenna off FleBay for my Yaesu FT-60R and I couldn't tell any difference between it and Yaesu's rubber duck.  I think the Yaesu duck is probably a very good design.  I put the long antenna in the basement.  Why use it if it is longer and stiffer? 

Wait.....that didn't sound right. ??? 

[KK0G]

Many years ago when I played much more with VHF, FM, handhelds etc than I do now, I tried probably at least a half dozen Ht antennas in a quest for the ultimate one. My "extensive research" pretty much revealed what the experienced hams were trying to tell me; HT antennas suck, some of them may suck slightly less than others, but they all suck.

[KC9TNH]

Gil,
I got a cheap longer antenna off FleBay for my Yaesu FT-60R and I couldn't tell any difference between it and Yaesu's rubber duck.  I think the Yaesu duck is probably a very good design.  I put the long antenna in the basement.  Why use it if it is longer and stiffer? 

Wait.....that didn't sound right. ???

LOL. I remember a thread once on one of the other fora where someone was complaining (rather profanely) about the duck that comes with the FT-817, and that he only found 2 peaks with his rudimentary analysis. Someone swept that antenna good and posted the scope trace and.... (drum roll)

The antenna had 2 nice peak gain points, right where they were supposed to be, in the middle of the 2m and 70cm bands, with quietude surrounding them. The design of that particular duck is an excellent one and I wish they sold that as a separate item. Yaesu knows their biz in that respect - the knucklehead must've thought he needed some broad-banded answer to the marriage between Mother Nature and Physics.