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Buyer Beware
I have read all the reviews and I am wondering if they are about the
same antenna I purchased. I bought the Cobra junior antenna and
followed the directions for installation. The antenna is 50ft in the
air in a flat top configuration. When I hooked it up to my radio, it
would not tune on segments of certain bands, most noticeably 75/80. I
called Joe to get some help and was told that my radio, which has a
built in tuner would not accept more than a certain level of SWR and
was told to trim the twinlead back 19 feet. I did and while some of the
problem was solved, I continued to have problems on 75/80. I emailed
Joe to ask for further assistance and was told that the next step was
to buy a tuner extender (price $60). Not the answer I wanted to hear.
If in fact this kind of problem exists with radios that have built in
tuners, prospective buyers should know that in advance. For the cost of
the antenna and now the tuner extender, I could have bought a better
antenna, which is what I intend to do. I am not pleased with this
antenna and would not recommend it especially to someone who has a
radio with a built in tuner and intends to use it. Additionaly, the
performance on 40 seems to be very good. It seems to under perform on
20. Can't tell on 75/80 because I can't tune the band.

KC2GWK

Lots could be wrong here including trying to kibbutz the problem from afar.
But it *sounds* like it is a combination of not enough tuner and a "bit" of
operator error. The internal tuners simply do not have enough capacity to
meet the demands of all-band operation in some cases. I have the Ultralite
Senior using the LDG Pro 100 tuner and I simply LOVE this antenna! I know
that there is loss on some bands, but any so-called "all-band" antenna is
going to be a compromise when compared to a dedicated, resonant antenna. I
don't even LIKE tuners, but I have some requirements beyond the Amateur
bands including US gov't SHARES and FEMA. I have to quickly move from one
band to the other and, in order to do so, I have to accept some loss.
However, I am VERY happy and surprised at the overall performance of *my*
antenna. Actually, I'm told that it is unusually loud for a 100 watt station
on a number of bands and quite readable on others (I don't HAVE to be the
loudest thing going to be effective).

I would guess----and that is what it is, a guess------that your internal
tuner doesn't have the ability to match this antenna-----AND probably a
number of others as well in multi-band service. Or you simply may have
overlooked something in the installation---like location or height above
ground.

For every 10 users of a product, there's going to be one, perhaps, that is
dissatisfied. With the Cobra, the reviews I have read are decidedly in favor
of both the Junior AND the Senior Ultralight. You can't win 'em all!


73

K4KWH