Comet 712EFC -- no ground plane radials

[WRTC928]

I bought the antenna a couple of months ago and didn't open the package until yesterday. I was surprised to find there were no ground plane radials included. Is this normal, or did I just get unlucky? It wasn't too big a deal, because I bought some 10" pieces of all-thread which should work just fine. The thread size is M5-0.8, in case you're interested. It seems to me that the radials are something which should be included. Maybe mine just slipped through that part of the assembly line.

[Socalgmrs]

11 minutes ago, WRTC928 said:

I bought the antenna a couple of months ago and didn't open the package until yesterday. I was surprised to find there were no ground plane radials included. Is this normal, or did I just get unlucky? It wasn't too big a deal, because I bought some 10" pieces of all-thread which should work just fine. The thread size is M5-0.8, in case you're interested. It seems to me that the radials are something which should be included. Maybe mine just slipped through that part of the assembly line.

You just got a bad box. They may have fallen out ect… comet sent me replacements for my 712efc, 6nc and 9nc for free when I moved I lost the box I had them stored In.    

[MSnow]

2 hours ago, WRTC928 said:

I bought the antenna a couple of months ago and didn't open the package until yesterday. I was surprised to find there were no ground plane radials included. Is this normal, or did I just get unlucky? It wasn't too big a deal, because I bought some 10" pieces of all-thread which should work just fine. The thread size is M5-0.8, in case you're interested. It seems to me that the radials are something which should be included. Maybe mine just slipped through that part of the assembly line.

Mine came with them in the bag. Maybe email them and let them know they were missing and see if they will send you new ones.

[WRTC928]

3 hours ago, Socalgmrs said:

You just got a bad box. They may have fallen out ect… comet sent me replacements for my 712efc, 6nc and 9nc for free when I moved I lost the box I had them stored In.    

Yeah, I figured it was probably something like that. I found an easy work-around, so I guess it's okay. 

[WRTC928]

1 hour ago, MSnow said:

Mine came with them in the bag. Maybe email them and let them know they were missing and see if they will send you new ones.

I thought it was probably just an oversight, but I figured I'd ask if this was normal. I found an easy solution and I don't want to wait on radials. I'll probably email them anyway so I have spares.

[LeoG]

The originals are stainless steel.  Always stinks to have delays.  But... do it right, do it once.

[WRYZ926]

2 minutes ago, LeoG said:

The originals are stainless steel.  Always stinks to have delays.  But... do it right, do it once.

I agree, go with the correct radials made from stainless steel. Cheap all-thread will rust and seize in the antenna housing.

[WRUE951]

10 hours ago, LeoG said:

The originals are stainless steel.  Always stinks to have delays.  But... do it right, do it once.

Hmmm.  As cheap as they sell the Comet i'm thinking the radias are made of threaded aluminium rod or tube. 

[LeoG]

Nope, probably cheap chynese SS.  I still have a 712 in it's bag.  Maybe later today or tomorrow when I'm back at the shop I'll take a look.  95% sure it's not aluminum, too heavy.

[WRYZ926]

Either way, bad things can happen when dissimilar metals are put together and exposed to the environment over time. 

[WRTC928]

11 hours ago, LeoG said:

The originals are stainless steel.  Always stinks to have delays.  But... do it right, do it once.

The rods I got are also stainless steel. I'm going to email Comet, but I'll use what I have until the new ones arrive.

[LeoG]

If you have easy access to your antenna I say go for it.  In my case my antenna is only accessible by bucket truck at my house.  Trying to be one and done but that didn't work because I had water infiltration on my last setup.  No idea how, I waterproofed the heck out of it and when I took it down I saw no signs of water.  Yet since my setup worked at 26ºF and stopped at 32ºF I can only conclude it was water and when it froze it let things be right.

 

[WRTC928]

1 minute ago, LeoG said:

If you have easy access to your antenna I say go for it.  In my case my antenna is only accessible by bucket truck at my house.  Trying to be one and done but that didn't work because I had water infiltration on my last setup.  No idea how, I waterproofed the heck out of it and when I took it down I saw no signs of water.  Yet since my setup worked at 26ºF and stopped at 32ºF I can only conclude it was water and when it froze it let things be right.

 

Access is just a matter of tipping the mast up and securing it to a post with hose clamps. I just now emailed Comet about the radials. In the meantime, I'm going to stand it up and do some tests with the improvised radials. It will be easy enough to tip it back down and change them when the "correct" ones arrive.

[LeoG]

Then do that.  If you have a tipping mast then there is no real down side to using the temp ground plane.

[WRUE951]

1 hour ago, WRYZ926 said:

Either way, bad things can happen when dissimilar metals are put together and exposed to the environment over time. 

exactly what i was thinking