[Mobile-Portable] New car and considering new antenna setup!

[Art Clemons]

> 
> The Comet CA-HV, is the antenna that I use, and relative to its length its
> coil is at the top (i.e it is top loaded) with a stinger attached that is
> only several inches in length, depending on the band in use.  The small
> stinger is thin, but the rest of the antenna is thicker than the flexible
> whip that is attached to a typical screw driver antenna.

I've played with both the Diamond and Comet antennas.  My wife would 
probably love any of them compared to a screwdriver, or my "miniature" 2 
inch bugcatcher.  I have compared the diamond antenna against a homebrew 
screwdriver on 40 meters, and someone giving me results from about 2 
miles away.  The screwdriver won every time by at least 15 dB.  I.E. the 
ham giving results had to attenuate by at least 15 dB to produce the 
same level signal that the Diamond produced.  As far as I can tell, the 
Comet and Diamond antennas aren't that different in results either.

Now of course if you want to discuss 10 meters, there conceivably would 
not be much if any difference.   On 20 meters, the Comet might be almost 
competitive with a screwdriver (although small coil with low Q should be 
less effective)


> The thickness of the antenna affects its bandwidth, and not its radiating
> efficiency.  The coils of the Comet are thin, and consequently are rated
> for 100 watts or so - it's not a high power antenna.

Actually the Q of the coil does affect radiation efficiency, and a small 
coil on 40 or 75 meters by necessity has to have lower Q.  Most of the 
shootouts are done with 50 watts or so, so a Comet could take part on 40 
meters, but I sure wouldn't want to be the one trying it.


Finally, I've been reading this list for quite some time, probably 
within a few days of it springing up, and was also reading usenet 
postings on the same topic before and after, and I don't recall seeing 
your call in some of the heated debates.  I'm glad you get to run mobile 
HF, it can be real fun, but your antenna is outperformed by most of the 
other choices out there for HF on most bands, including the Hustler 
Resonators.