RadioRanked verdict
Updated Nov 2026Comet CH-32 (BNC) vs HYS Dual-Band Handheld Whip (BNC)
Our pick
HYS Dual-Band Handheld Whip (BNC)$11.99
The HYS Dual-Band clearly wins this comparison. It's a dramatically better antenna at less than a third of the price.
The critical difference is electrical length. The Comet CH-32 is dangerously short on both bands, delivering -9.0 dBi on VHF and -5.3 dBi on UHF. These figures represent severe performance penalties. The HYS, by contrast, reaches 0.19 wavelengths on VHF (acceptable for a handheld) and achieves a genuine 5/8-wave resonance on UHF at 0.57 wavelengths, yielding realistic gain of 2.9 dBi. The HYS's claimed 2.5 dBi is conservative and supported by its actual electrical length.
The Comet's extreme shortness makes it unsuitable for serious use. At 44 mm, it's a compromise antenna with no practical advantage. The HYS at 396 mm delivers proper resonance where it matters most, on UHF, while remaining acceptable on VHF as a dual-band solution.
Buy the Comet only if you need an ultra-compact antenna and accept severely degraded performance. Buy the HYS if you want reliable dual-band operation at the price of a decent lunch. For any operator seeking actual usable performance, the HYS is the only rational choice here.
By use case
Which should you buy?
Scanner user wanting the smallest possible stub
The 44mm rigid stub fits where nothing else does, though its electrically short design gives up real signal.
CH-32Pocket-only carry with no room for length
Pocket-only carry favors the 44mm stub, whose VHF and UHF gain trails the longer whip by a wide margin.
CH-32Operator needing maximum 2m repeater reach
Its 396mm length delivers much stronger 2m performance than the stub, which is far more electrically short on VHF.
HYS Dual-Band Handheld Whip (BNC)70cm-first operator working UHF repeaters
The 5/8-wave UHF element delivers real gain on 70cm while the stub loses signal badly.
HYS Dual-Band Handheld Whip (BNC)Value-focused buyer upgrading from a rubber duck
Value-focused buyers get a much higher value score here, plus real gain that matches the 396mm length.
HYS Dual-Band Handheld Whip (BNC)
Reasons to choose Comet CH-32 (BNC)
- 13.9 in shorter to carry (44 mm vs 396 mm)
Reasons to choose HYS Dual-Band Handheld Whip (BNC)
- Stronger on VHF (-1.0 dBi vs -9.0 dBi at 146 MHz)
- Stronger on UHF (2.9 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 AmazonHYS Dual-Band Handheld Whip (BNC)PICK
$11.99 on AmazonMore head-to-heads

