Diamond HF40CL (40 m Mobile Antenna)
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| Frequency | 7.0 - 7.3 MHz (40 m) |
| Power | Rated 200 W SSB (70 W FM) - a barefoot mono-band mobile antenna. Passive (no motor/controller). |
| Modes | mono-band center-loaded 1/4-wave mobile whip |
| feed | UHF (SO-239/PL-259) onto a mobile mount; vehicle body is the counterpoise; 50 ohm. |
| tuning | Adjust the tip for lowest SWR; fold-over hinge to lower the antenna. |
| power req | None - a passive antenna. Requires a vehicle ground/counterpoise. |
A well-made, efficient 40 m mobile whip: center loading and a tall 86.6-inch element give better performance on 40 m than a short base-loaded whip, and the fold-over hinge is genuinely handy for clearances. Diamond build quality, a 200 W rating and a standard UHF mount make it an easy, dependable single-band choice.
It is single-band (40 m only), tall enough that the fold-over matters for garages, and like all mobile HF antennas it is a compromise versus a full-size antenna. At 200 W it is a barefoot antenna and needs a good vehicle ground.
The Diamond HF40CL is a quality 40 m mono-band mobile antenna - tall, center-loaded for efficiency, 200 W, with a useful fold-over hinge. An excellent pick for dedicated 40 m mobile work; add more whips or a screwdriver for multiband.
The Diamond HF40CL is a mono-band 40-meter mobile antenna built for efficiency. It is a center-loaded quarter-wave design standing about 86.6 inches tall - the tall element and mid-height loading coil give noticeably better radiation on 40 m than a short base-loaded whip can. It handles 200 watts SSB (70 watts FM), presents 50 ohms through a standard UHF connector, and includes a fold-over hinge so you can drop it for garages and car washes.
Setup is simple: mount it on a good vehicle mount (the body is the counterpoise), adjust the tip whip for the lowest SWR across 40 m, and you are on the air. Diamond's build quality makes it a dependable, weather-tolerant choice.
The trade-offs are the obvious ones: it covers only 40 m, it is tall enough that the fold-over hinge earns its keep, and as a mobile HF antenna it is a compromise versus a full-size antenna; at 200 W it is for barefoot operating and wants a solid vehicle ground. For dedicated 40 m mobile work, though, it is hard to fault. Compare it with the 20 m Comet HFB-20 and the MFJ-1620T, or step up to a multiband Scorpion SA-680 screwdriver.