I actually bought 1,came to my door yesterday.put it up. Checked swr very low numbers on 2 meter,about 1.5 to 1 on 70 cm.
I was able to hit the 2 repeaters 50 miles from me with my power turned down to 25 watts from 50.
That's about what I'm seeing with an old Diamond discone I scored for free that's installed at my house for about 10 years. I've also got a Telewave ANT280 at work ($1,800.00) that perform similarly. The difference between all these antennas is the construction and durability.
The manufacturer of the antenna, if it's designed correctly, isn't going to impact initial performance. What will make the difference is how well it lasts after being up in the air for 10 or more years.
Out of the box, I'd expect the Tram/Browning antennas to work correctly.
What I'll want to see is how they are doing after a decade or so in use, exposed to storms, elements, etc. But I've had Motorola branded antennas fail in a few years. It's about how well the antennas are built and how they last in real world environments.
Now lets hear whats bad about them? You just cant say they are bad without justifacation
Cheap Chinese Antennas. Fine for hobbyists.
Important part is, if it works for you, it works. Nothing at all wrong with that we all have budget limitations and make the best decisions we can. If you found something that works for you and fits your budget, then great!
Having talked to the Tram/Browning guys at trade shows, they were not very knowledgeable about their antennas. They appear to be primarily a marketing company that has purchased rights to use the "American" brand names and stuck them on low tier/knock off Chinese built antennas. The Tram and Browning names were reputable radio manufacturers back 40+ years ago. It's not the same companies now, though.
