I have a diamond X50 right now, at my former qth's I've run pvc enclosed J 
poles and still run one for packet which as far as I'm concerned performs 
just as well as the X50, I ran a diamond x200 when I lived with my parents 
and that was another very good antenna. I tend to lean in favor of the 
diamond antennas because they've never steered me wrong, I've run comet 
antennas on 900 Mhz and mobile as well as some diamond antennas mobile and 
there's not much if any difference between the 2, both are a good antenna. 
Even the tram antennas aren't horrible the main problem with them is if 
you're in a windy area at all, the fiber glass wall is a lot thinner so the 
wind loading is nowhere near what it is on a diamond or comet antenna. For 
the little bit I get on I just rather spend the money when I had it and get 
the diamond antennas, now that I don't have the money, hopefully nothing 
happens to the antennas or radios for a very long time to come.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim Shaffer" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, May 18, 2014 12:12 AM
Subject: Recommendations for a dual band antenna for 2 meters and 440


>I am going to borrow a TS-2000 for a while so I can get my radio control =
> software working well with the TS-2000.  I haven=E2=80=99t been on =
> VHF/UHF in quite a while, and am wondering about a dual band antenna for =
> 2 and 440.  I understand there are some out there.  It won=E2=80=99t be =
> practical for me to put up a beam, however.
>
> Thanks for any recommendations you can give me.
> --
> Jim Shaffer, KE5AL
> Pflugerville, TX
> www.jjshaffer.net
> www.pgramblers.com