Comet SBB5 2m / 70cm questions

[VK2AKG]

I have a couple of the Comet SBB5 dual band 2m / 70 cm antennas (unused) which I am considering using rather than making a vertical 2m dipole for a 2m / 70 cm Girl Guide activation this evening (see VK2GGZ (http://www.qrz.com/vk2ggz)).

Question 1

I was looking on the net and saw that they are supposed to have a fold over feature just below the area where the wire element is secured (link (http://www.cometantenna.com/pro_images/thmb/SBB-5.jpg)) whereas the accompanying text (http://www.cometantenna.com/products.php?CatID=1&famID=4&childID=4) says open coil bends to absorb brushes with tree branches and does not mention a fold over feature near the base of the antenna.

My antennas appear rigid in this area - is this:
- a new feature (my antennas are at least 5 years new old stock) or
- do I need to apply more force to activate this feature or
- is it merely artistic licence from the marketing department?

Question 2

What is inside the thickened section between the male UHF connector and the wire element?

Photo attached.

73 Frank vk2akg

[KJ3N]

Question 1

I was looking on the net and saw that they are supposed to have a fold over feature just below the area where the wire element is secured (link (http://www.cometantenna.com/pro_images/thmb/SBB-5.jpg)) whereas the accompanying text (http://www.cometantenna.com/products.php?CatID=1&famID=4&childID=4) says open coil bends to absorb brushes with tree branches and does not mention a fold over feature near the base of the antenna.

My antennas appear rigid in this area - is this:
- a new feature (my antennas are at least 5 years new old stock) or
- do I need to apply more force to activate this feature or
- is it merely artistic licence from the marketing department?

With your right hand, grasp the antenna at the connector.

With your left hand, grasp the antenna at the open coil.

Pull.


Question 2

What is inside the thickened section between the male UHF connector and the wire element?

The matching section.

[VK2AKG]

Jim,

I had already tried pulling but obviously not hard enough to overcome the initial striction.

It is much easier after the first "opening".

THANK YOU!

73 Frank vk2akg

[W7GIB]

My Comet must have the locking ring unscrewed before it will fold over, comes in handy when using parking garages(which luckily is not very often). Once the lock ring is loosed, then you lift up and fold.

[KJ3N]

My Comet must have the locking ring unscrewed before it will fold over, comes in handy when using parking garages(which luckily is not very often). Once the lock ring is loosed, then you lift up and fold.

That's probably an SBB-15. The SBB-5 doesn't have that.

[KE5NYM]

You have to unscrew the area where your first arrow is pointing. Then it folds over. My SBB7 is like that.