RadioRanked verdict
Updated Nov 2026Comet SS-460SBNMO Dual-Band Mobile vs Midland MXTA25 Ghost Antenna
Our pick
Comet SS-460SBNMO Dual-Band Mobile$59.99
The Comet SS-460 is the clear winner for amateur radio use, scoring 64 to the Ghost's 45.
The critical difference is electrical length. The SS-460 operates at 0.23 wavelengths on VHF (quarter wave) and 0.68 wavelengths on UHF (5/8 wave), delivering realistic gains of 1.6 and 4.9 dBi respectively. The Ghost is electrically short at just 0.14 wavelengths on GMRS, producing a realistic loss of about 0.9 dBi. Short antennas require increasingly complex matching and suffer efficiency penalties that no design trick can fully overcome. This is not marketing talk but physics.
The SS-460 claims 3.8 dBi, which aligns with its longer UHF element and is realistic overall. The Ghost provides no gain figure, which is honest given its compromised electrical length.
Buy the Comet SS-460 if you operate VHF, UHF, or both and want a mobile antenna that actually works. Buy the Ghost only if you are committed to GMRS exclusively and accept the performance tradeoff for its compact size in a vehicle with severe space constraints.
For general amateur radio mobile use, the SS-460 is the logical choice.
By use case
Which should you buy?
Budget-minded buyer wanting dual-band mobile performance
It costs less than the Midland and delivers real gain on both VHF and UHF.
SS-460SBNMOOperator working a repeater at the edge of range
Its longer element works far better than the Midland's compact 89mm design for reaching distant repeaters.
SS-460SBNMOLow-clearance parking in garages or car washes
At 89mm tall, it clears low structures that the 470mm Comet cannot.
MXTA25Daily driver wanting one antenna for 2m and 70cm
It covers VHF and UHF with a practical element length, where the Midland is electrically short.
SS-460SBNMOOperator prioritizing 70cm performance over minimal profile
Its 5/8-wave UHF element gives it a clear advantage over the electrically short Midland.
SS-460SBNMO
Reasons to choose Comet SS-460SBNMO Dual-Band Mobile
- Also covers VHF (146 MHz)
Reasons to choose Midland MXTA25 Ghost Antenna
- Also covers GMRS (465 MHz)
- Lower profile by 15.0 in (89 mm vs 470 mm)
Spec battle
Spec-by-spec breakdown
Made your choice?
Comet SS-460SBNMO Dual-Band MobilePICK
$59.99 on AmazonMidland MXTA25 Ghost Antenna
$59.99 on AmazonMore head-to-heads