Comet CHA-250HD

[dbljay7542]

Good day all, I put up a Comet CHA-250HD because it was referred to me. I am disappointed to say the least at it's performance. All I really hear is a lot of noise. I rarely pick up any activity in the amateur bands. Is there anything I can do to increase the performance? Thanks and 73

 

[WA8ZTZ]

Maybe try mounting the antenna at a different, hopefully, more noise-free location if possible.
Otherwise, your antenna does not come with any radials. This can be problematic from both a noise
and performance point of view. Perhaps adding some radials will help
IMHO, asking a vertical antenna to cover 80 thru 6 without any radials or adjustments is
expecting a lot.

 

[vagrant]

Sell it. I had a different brand version of it and it is a poor performer. I tried it at 6’, 16’, 20’ and 30. I would have been happy if it worked well as a RX only antenna, but no. Just no. An OCF, End Fed, and an Imax 2000 all perform better than that antenna type. If you want N/S and E/W, just setup two OCF, or two EF antennas perpendicular to each other and use a switch. That works very well.

One is probably better off using that antenna as a mast to hold up the end of an End Fed antenna, or as a flagpole. Sell it and spread the word.

 

[prcguy]

I think…I would……
I think I’ll be nice and not comment.

 

[RichardKramer]

I have the CHA250B and I've talked to many States as well as into Europe and Asia from 40mtrs thru10mtrs. It's15' off the ground mounted on my deck with no radials; 50' of RG8 cable to the antenna tuner for my Yaesu FT897. I usually run about 80 watts out. When I'm not using it on the ham bands, it works very well on the military Global High Frequency system (in KHz) 4724 8992 11175 15016 or the main MARS freq: 13927 USB.

 

[Golay]

I have the CHA250B and I've talked to many States as well as into Europe and Asia from 40mtrs thru10mtrs. It's15' off the ground mounted on my deck with no radials; 50' of RG8 cable to the antenna tuner for my Yaesu FT897. I usually run about 80 watts out. When I'm not using it on the ham bands, it works very well on the military Global High Frequency system (in KHz) 4724 8992 11175 15016 or the main MARS freq: 13927 USB.

I myself don't own one. So maybe I'm not qualified to answer. We have about a half dozen club members that own one of those. One has it mounted on the deck like Richard. Others have them mounted to a chimney. One has it on top of a tower. All are happy. The guy with the deck mount got WAS in six months. So I dunno.

 

[prcguy]

Here’s the deal with this and other similar performing antennas. Most of the good reviews are from people who have no experience with another HF antenna, this is their first and they have nothing to compare with. They make some contacts, almost always on 20m and above where literally a bed spring will make contacts and they think it’s great.

Have a seasoned operator use one and they might get angry for wasting their time as they have experience with much cheaper antennas that perform way better. It’s like a kid who swears his moms cooking is the best there is but they have never dined outside of their house. Now I’m willing to try your moms cooking but like most of us we have a lot of other dining experiences to compare. Worst case here is it really is the best and now you can’t get rid of me.

 

[RichardKramer]

I'm not saying the CHA250B is the best antenna. My yard is small and I was looking for something easy to mount that doesn't need radials. I like the way it performs for me; I've heard other stations cllng the same stations that I made contact with and the other station never answered them - maybe they were using a similar antenna. We have many different types of HF ants at our ham shack (W3LP); so I'm familiar with other types of antennas that perform bettter. The OP states all he hears is noise and rarely hears anything in the ham bands. I'm always hearing other stations on 75/80/40 mtrs and on other bands when they are open. Like I said, I can hear the GHFS HF military, Mars, Oceanic stations which suit my reception needs fine with me.

 

[prcguy]

I'm not saying the CHA250B is the best antenna. My yard is small and I was looking for something easy to mount that doesn't need radials. I like the way it performs for me; I've heard other stations cllng the same stations that I made contact with and the other station never answered them - maybe they were using a similar antenna. We have many different types of HF ants at our ham shack (W3LP); so I'm familiar with other types of antennas that perform bettter. The OP states all he hears is noise and rarely hears anything in the ham bands. I'm always hearing other stations on 75/80/40 mtrs and on other bands when they are open. Like I said, I can hear the GHFS HF military, Mars, Oceanic stations which suit my reception needs fine with me.

Ever made contacts on your PRC25 on 6M with it?

 

[RichardKramer]

Ever made contacts on your PRC25 on 6M with it?

No, the CHA250B's performance sucks on 6m on up; which I knew before I bought it. I wanted it just for HF. I have a Cushcraft 6mtr ringo for 6mtrs.

 

[prcguy]

No, the CHA250B's performance sucks on 6m on up. I have a Cushcraft 6mtr ringo for 6mtrs.

Alrighty then. And howdy from MBITR Mike from Dayton. No callsigns mentioned please.

 

[RichardKramer]

Alrighty then. And howdy from MBITR Mike from Dayton. No callsigns mentioned please.

Why no callsigns? I prefer the AN/VRC 111.

 

[K6GBW]

Check the CEOI for call signs!

 

[prcguy]

Why no callsigns? I prefer the AN/VRC 111.

Callsign gets you addresses, phone numbers, pictures of your house, employer, names of relatives and more. I wouldn't want someone looking up my house and possibly seeing a CHA-250HD sticking up.

 

[K6GBW]

Callsign gets you addresses, phone numbers, pictures of your house, employer, names of relatives and more. I wouldn't want someone looking up my house and possibly seeing a CHA-250HD sticking up.

Oh snap!

 

[RichardKramer]

Callsign gets you addresses, phone numbers, pictures of your house, employer, names of relatives and more. I wouldn't want someone looking up my house and possibly seeing a CHA-250HD sticking up.

As soon as you became a Prem subscriber you gave away all that info. Amateur callsigns are in the Public domain, which I'm sure you're aware of. In RR browse under the County listings in the Amateur menu the zip code shows all the hams in that area. You can input an address and most likely your house info with picture will show up in a Realtor's listing. If they see my house they not only will see the top of my CHA250B in the back of my house; they will also see 2 RS discones on the roof as well as a Cushcraft 6m ringo, an 11mtr Cushcraft ringo and a GP15 tribander. Walk around the back of my house and you'll see a 2mtr GP and a 4element UHF beam on the deck as well as 2 end fed long wire ants down the backyard. My neighbors think I work for the Feds.
Now back to Fedcomm listening.

 

[exkalibur]

Callsign gets you addresses, phone numbers, pictures of your house, employer, names of relatives and more. I wouldn't want someone looking up my house and possibly seeing a CHA-250HD sticking up.

Obfuscate your details in the database and nobody will dox you.

 

[prcguy]

As soon as you became a Prem subscriber you gave away all that info. Amateur callsigns are in the Public domain, which I'm sure you're aware of. In RR browse under the County listings in the Amateur menu the zip code shows all the hams in that area. You can input an address and most likely your house info with picture will show up in a Realtor's listing. If they see my house they not only will see the top of my CHA250B in the back of my house; they will also see 2 RS discones on the roof as well as a Cushcraft 6m ringo, an 11mtr Cushcraft ringo and a GP15 tribander. Walk around the back of my house and you'll see a 2mtr GP and a 4element UHF beam on the deck as well as 2 end fed long wire ants down the backyard. My neighbors think I work for the Feds.
Now back to Fedcomm listening.

There is no info on me in the RR database. No callsigns, no names, nothing except the towns that I live in part time.

 

[AK9R]

Meanwhile, back to the CHA-250D antenna...

 

[prcguy]

Meanwhile, back to the CHA-250D antenna...

Yea, maybe this can become a group therapy thread for ex CHA-250HD owners.