Not disputing the fact on the details. Before I had the setup I have now. I used a Cobra 25 LTD Classic (1991 PI made model. ), 50 ft of various coax brands. All hacked up and connected with double females, and a magnet mount with a 5 ft 5/8 wave Firestik firefly with a make shift ground plane with one ft radials that I made for it in the same position as the new ProComm. The only difference is that the firefly was mounted right on the chimney lid (15 or so ft lower.) The set up worked well with lightly lower than 2.0:1 at the ends, but my range due to terrain most likely was limiting the range to 5-7 miles or so. This even on a peaked and tuned rig with almost no antenna tuning. In most cases improvised setups (At least in my experience.) usually work ok, but never really satisfy.
Anyway..... Back to the product issues at hand. I've reworked one of the key factors that may have been causing most of the issues. The pole is now metal chain link fence pipe instead of wooden dowel. A factor that the manufacturer says the antenna is designed to work off of since it's basically a no ground plane antenna. The change brought down the SWR to back to 2.0:1 adjusted to the middle of the tuner. Once evened on the top and bottom of the band (More clipping of the top whip.). I moved the rings up all the way. Checked the readings across the board and they are now even at a acceptable level of 1.6:1 1,20, & 40. Keeping in mind that I haven't added the GPK to the antenna yet. As this was a day ago. Today I installed the GPK after it's arrival and again took readings. It's even again across the board at 1.3:1 high, mid, and low. The gain has come up as well and the antenna hears very well. Skip has been fun after getting it up and running earlier today. In closure. I may have gotten the only one of these antennas ProComm has made that actually works, but it's been real work just getting it there. So the money well spent on such rigs as the A99 or a Maco would have been well worth the money spent in all reality. But!........ We all gotta learn somehow.
On the side.......
Best,
SF