RadioRanked verdict
Updated Nov 2026Comet CH-32 (BNC) vs Diamond RH77CA (BNC)
Our pick
Diamond RH77CA (BNC)$32.99
The Diamond RH77CA is the clear winner here. The single most important difference is electrical length: at UHF, the Diamond reaches half-wave efficiency at 0.55 wavelengths with realistic gain of 2.8 dBi, while the Comet is severely compromised at only 0.06 wavelengths with -5.3 dBi. On VHF both antennas are electrically short, but the Diamond's 0.19 wavelengths is less crippled than the Comet's 0.02 wavelengths. The Comet's tiny 44 mm form factor makes it genuinely pocketable, but that advantage disappears the moment you need actual performance.
The Diamond costs six dollars less, has more than three times the review count from owners, and owners report slightly higher satisfaction. Critically, its 381 mm length is still portable on a handheld despite the dramatic performance improvement.
Buy the Comet only if pocket size absolutely trumps performance and you operate primarily on VHF where both are weak. Buy the Diamond if you actually want the antenna to work, especially on UHF where it functions as a proper half-wave radiator.
Get the Diamond RH77CA. It outperforms significantly, costs less, and owners prefer it.
By use case
Which should you buy?
Everyday carry on a BNC scanner, smallest stub
The 44mm Comet keeps the radio pocketable and light, though its short electrical length limits reach.
CH-32Working a 2m repeater at the edge of range
The Diamond's 381mm length performs better on 2m than the Comet's stub, giving noticeably stronger signal at the edge.
RH77CA70cm-first operator working UHF repeaters
At UHF the Diamond is close to half-wave, so it outperforms the Comet's electrically short stub by a wide margin.
RH77CAGMRS-only user on 462 and 467 MHz
GMRS sits in UHF, where the Diamond's near half-wave element gives it a clear advantage over the Comet.
RH77CAReceive-only monitoring of nearby traffic
Receive-only monitoring nearby needs little gain, so the Comet's stub is enough and easiest to carry.
CH-32
Reasons to choose Comet CH-32 (BNC)
- 13.3 in shorter to carry (44 mm vs 381 mm)
Reasons to choose Diamond RH77CA (BNC)
- Stronger on VHF (-1.1 dBi vs -9.0 dBi at 146 MHz)
- Stronger on UHF (2.8 dBi vs -5.3 dBi at 435 MHz)
- Flexible, so it survives being bent
Spec battle
Spec-by-spec breakdown
Made your choice?
Comet CH-32 (BNC)
Check on AmazonDiamond RH77CA (BNC)PICK
$32.99 on AmazonMore head-to-heads

