| Author |
Message |
    
Crazy_d
New member
Username: Crazy_d
Post Number: 4
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Monday, June 20, 2005 - 12:43 am: | 
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I have read many reviews of both antennas. I currently own the IMAX 2000 w/GPK and its mounted at 30' off ground at the base of antenna. Does the MACO V5/8 offer anything over the setup I have. Better receive or better transmit, or these antennas very much the same??? I am also very interested in comments about TVI/RFI from both antennas, as I do not want any of this interference at all. I run a Nato 2000 that does only 12 watts swing on high power. |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 6127
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Monday, June 20, 2005 - 7:56 am: |
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Crazy_d,
Click on the LINK below for more information.
How to Choose a Ground Plane Antenna
Hope this help's,
Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9OSN
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Road_warrior
Advanced Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 670
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Monday, June 20, 2005 - 4:50 pm: |
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To me metal antennas are better than
fiberglass. Either one will do good.
I suggest if your close to neighbors
to run a GPK on the Imax. |
Hotwire
Intermediate Member
Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 408
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 11:41 am: |
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I use an Imax 2000 on a 30 foot pole. My Imax is grounded well I use RG8 coax. Also my antenna is 20 feet from my neighbors house. I run somewhere around 150 watts in SSB mode and never had complaints from neighbors, even when I sometimes use 100 watts AM. Oh and I do not use a GPK. Now sometimes in my own house I will bleed on to the telephone and just a bit on the tv but adjusting mic gain helps fix that problem when needed. |
Road_warrior
Advanced Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 671
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 3:19 pm: |
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One thing about TVI and RFI is that
it's different for everyone. Depending
on what consumer equipment your neighbors
use. When my Imax was at 30ft it killed my
neighbors computer, scanner, phones, ect.
And i was well grounded, and this was with
10 watts...LOL...Tried groundplane kit and
it helped. Raising antenna higher helps.
But, right now i have switched to a metal
antenna with radials, all TVI,RFI stopped.
This was just my situation. It varies from
location to location... |
Crazy_d
New member
Username: Crazy_d
Post Number: 5
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 9:10 pm: |
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Thanks for the replys. It looks like the performance of the two antennas is a draw. The windload of the Maco seems greater. Any other ideas or suggestions from real world users that have or use both is appreciated. thanks in advance! |
1861
Intermediate Member
Username: 1861
Post Number: 243
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 9:32 pm: |
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I all most bought a maco , but went with I-MAX instead . after using I-MAX , I could think of no reason to change to anything until I am able to put up a beam . |
Mikefromms
Advanced Member
Username: Mikefromms
Post Number: 656
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2005 - 10:16 am: |
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Ditto, 1861, Imax 2000 covers all of the base all too well to consider some other groundplane. It transmitts and receives extra good, it is already tuned when you get, it is broader banded than any metal groundplane and it can bend way over without breaking. I don't like metal groundplane with the prones that stick out to the side. Try an Imax and you'll never go back. It is the
"S-9" of groundplanes.
mikefromms |
Road_warrior
Advanced Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 673
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2005 - 10:45 pm: |
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You Imax lovers kill me...LOL...
If broadbanded is what you want, get
an Imax. Or if your putting it up real
high. Easier to install.
But, real performance comes in a metal
package....LOL
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Airplane1
Intermediate Member
Username: Airplane1
Post Number: 453
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2005 - 8:19 am: |
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I was watching this post and have to laugh at the way the imax is always said to be the best, I have both the imax 2000 and the maco v and used them both at the same hight. the locals that I talk to tell me that when on the imax my signal drops off and it`s harder to hear me over noise.
I`m not saying the imax is not good just my experence with it was not great. My maco is alsome and I would not ever use another imax unless it would help in a certain situation like no room for the radials or you need broad band antenna. If you are useing cb radio frequency then you dont need broad banded antenna. my maco is good swrs at the extra channel on my 696FD1.
I know a guy that runs a 10K at 60ft in the mountains of Nothern PA and he constantly wins a DX contest with it and would never ge another imax he repaced with the 10K.
I know I do know everything and still learning alot but I do know about my trials with the imax and metal ground plane and the metal wins hands down.
Antennas work different at every location and the battle over these antennas will continue as long as there both produced.
just my 2 cents.
AP |
Dale
Intermediate Member
Username: Dale
Post Number: 112
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2005 - 11:30 am: |
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well i dont have a maco..yet but my friend has one so took my radio to his house and wow the recieve was cleaner i heard people i never would have heard at home. both of us are at 30ft to base.i would give the edge to maco i wont EVER buy another fiberglass antenna not even an imax |
Airplane1
Intermediate Member
Username: Airplane1
Post Number: 454
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2005 - 11:44 am: |
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Thats what I`m saying, I bet if the imax people would give one a try they would say the same.
+ it would survive a lightning strike better and so far mine is holding up very good in all the thunderstorms and high gusts here.
And as for tuneing,mine was very easy to get swrs right on and I never owened a base antenna befor in my life and had no experence whatsoever.
I know the imax is supposed to be set from factory but I had to tune mine a bit to get best swrs.
AP |
Mikefromms
Advanced Member
Username: Mikefromms
Post Number: 660
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2005 - 9:35 pm: |
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To each his own. My Imax has outtalked any antenna I've ever owned.
mikefromms |
1861
Intermediate Member
Username: 1861
Post Number: 244
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2005 - 9:46 pm: |
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If my antenna takes a direct lighting hit , the antenna will be the least thing I would worry about . I won,t knock the MACO , since I don,t use one . I was just giving my opinion of the IMAX - this compared to several base antennas I have used over the years - metal & fiberglass . All I know is the IMAX suits my purpose . |
Airplane1
Intermediate Member
Username: Airplane1
Post Number: 456
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Friday, June 24, 2005 - 7:29 am: |
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I`m just having fun with everyone, I dont want to bash anyone either/LOL. I just like my metal antenna thats all, just use what works for you.
AP |
Road_warrior
Advanced Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 674
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Friday, June 24, 2005 - 10:57 am: |
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Yes, if you love your antenna whether
it's a fiberglass rod, metal or plastic.
Good for you as thats all that counts.
But, from experience with all the above
said antennas. Metal kicks butt in
performance! No one will ever change my
mind because i know it's true first hand.
And i know the Imax antennas can not be
beat in bandwidth coverage. Or can they
be beat in ease of installations ect.
All antennas have there good and bad points.
Our difference of opinions is what makes
the world go round...LOL...
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Unit199
Intermediate Member
Username: Unit199
Post Number: 126
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, June 25, 2005 - 7:55 pm: |
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I have been around radio for over 40 years and I have heard this same bull over the years. To say that one antenna hears or gets out better is ludicrous. The human ear can't tell the difference and maybe if you squint real hard you might see the s-meter wiggle. Then comes the maintenance part. The aluminum antenna to operate properly, has to be taken down and taken apart and cleaned each year. If you don't do this you are only fooling yourself and more so if you run a foot warmer. I will put my fiberglass
I-MAX up and forget about it and when you are taking that good ole aluminum antenna down, I will be enjoying the DX!!! Have a nice day.
Semper Fi!!!
Harve
Unit199
CEF210 |
1861
Intermediate Member
Username: 1861
Post Number: 249
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, June 25, 2005 - 8:37 pm: |
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Well said UNIT 199 |
Crackerjack
Advanced Member
Username: Crackerjack
Post Number: 671
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, June 25, 2005 - 8:57 pm: |
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It is my understanding that the metal antennas offer less ( I said Less ) probability of Lightning Strike.
I like metal, but then I have never owned a fiberglass GP antenna.
I do know that a SS-102" works better than a similar fiberglass whip, but I do not think that equates to a base 5/8 GP antenna. |
Airplane1
Intermediate Member
Username: Airplane1
Post Number: 458
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, June 25, 2005 - 8:59 pm: |
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I`m Sorry but I never heard of taking a metal antenna down and cleaning it every year. I asked alot about the maco v on this forum befor I got one and was never told this. I have mine about a year now and talks just as good as ever.If this is true then alot of people are having a lot of work every year.
Hey Tech 291, if you read this let me know if you take your maco v down every year and clean it and any one else that reads this and has a metal antenna let me know if you also take it down every year to clean it.
AP |
Road_warrior
Advanced Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 679
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, June 25, 2005 - 11:19 pm: |
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Roger,
Oxidation builds up on Aluminum antennas.
Properly prepared a metal antenna will
out-last a fiberglass antenna.
Read Tech 833 article on "Do Aluminum antennas
need time to settle" located in the
Subscribers (Preview) section, under articles. |
Road_warrior
Advanced Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 680
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, June 25, 2005 - 11:31 pm: |
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There is also some other good articles
in the Subscriber (preview) section
of the forum under articles.
As Lon mentioned above: (How to choose
a groundplane) and (Protect your equipment
from lightning) |
Crackerjack
Advanced Member
Username: Crackerjack
Post Number: 673
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, June 26, 2005 - 2:26 am: |
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It is NEVER a bad idea to clean ANY antenna.
I did learn from experience, to treat any nylon parts with something like Arnorall, every year. |
Airplane1
Intermediate Member
Username: Airplane1
Post Number: 459
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, June 26, 2005 - 7:26 am: |
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Well I read the article do aluminum antennas need time to settle, The way I understand is they get better the longer there up. the oxidation cleans off at the joints from expantion and contraction. Or you can clean and protect the joints at build time and then you dont need to wait till it settles.
Nothing about taking them down every year.
AP |
Road_warrior
Advanced Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 681
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, June 26, 2005 - 9:48 am: |
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Some people clean the whole entire
antenna as oxidation builds up on all
the aluminum exposed parts over time.
To prevent this: Lightly sand off the
aluminum, use penetrox,or Ox guard on all
connections. After complete assembly, clear
coat the antenna and it will last a long time.
Fiberglass over time will splinter and
degrade also,so, some care should be taken
there also.
|
Tech291
Moderator
Username: Tech291
Post Number: 204
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, June 26, 2005 - 5:50 pm: |
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Roger,
just caught up with this thread.I have had the maco down 1 time to find out if it was the reason for a recent tvi problem(it wasnt).while i never completly dissasembled it,the joints i did take apart were still just as clean as the day it was first put up.I just recoated the joints with ox-guard(out of noalox),reassembled it and put back up on the other tower.Swr was just as good or maybe slightly better than earlier.As far as performing any different,propagation has more affect on my contacts than any one other factor.It has taken a direct lightening hit with no damage,whereas any fiberglass antenna of any manufacture would have been turned to splinters all over the yard.I am happy with the Maco and only replacements i would consider would be the mr coiley .64 or that jay in mohave thing,ONLY IF THEY DROPPED THEIR PRICE AT LEAST 60%
tech291
CEF#291
KC8ZPJ
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Road_warrior
Advanced Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 682
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 1:45 am: |
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Thats all i did to my I-10K when i put
it together. Ox-guard on the connections.
Didn't bother clear coating it.
My neighbor has a 5/8 metal groundplane
up for 30 years now and it still works good. |
Patzerozero
Advanced Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 988
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 2:24 pm: |
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18 years my maco v5/8's been up. never took it down, but twice had to put it back up due to it's removal by way of ice storms. just bent the radials & antenna itself to a more or less straight position & put it back up. never disassembled it or cleaned it or anything before reinstalling it. just let it fly.
replaced my ancient shakespeare big stick with an antron 99 18 years ago. static was BAD. as i'd never really used a vertical omni before(always used my y-quad/homemade 3 element) it was suggested that i'd never heard the static due to the metal antenna. so i put up a maco. the noise got quiter. whether or not my signal changed, i don't know. & i can hear everything i need to-except vanillagorilla! in his defense though, it was REAL NOISY the time i tried! right wrong or indifferent, i prefer the aluminum to 'glas.
i agree with 291, or if i win the lottery. my choice would be the mr coily though-looks like there's less of a chance of tuning section being disrupted. |
