| Author |
Message |
    
Capt_hook
Intermediate Member
Username: Capt_hook
Post Number: 207
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Monday, January 16, 2006 - 12:05 pm: | 
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Imax 2000.....Maco-V5/8....the better one is ?????????? |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 8981
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Monday, January 16, 2006 - 1:22 pm: |
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Capt_hook,
All you have to do is Click on the LINK below to read Tech833's Article for the answer.
How to Choose a Ground Plane Antenna
Hope this helps,
Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9OSN |
Capt_hook
Intermediate Member
Username: Capt_hook
Post Number: 209
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Monday, January 16, 2006 - 3:49 pm: |
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OK I read it and in my case the maco V-5/8 wins thank you Lon |
Dale
Intermediate Member
Username: Dale
Post Number: 263
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Monday, January 16, 2006 - 5:00 pm: |
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there both good antennas performance wise.i think the maco recive would be better cause
they arent as noisy as an fiberglass antenna
in my experience with muy friends maco.although the imax is easier 2 put together and maybe more broard banded.my choice would be the maco only cause the imax has a floor noise level of 1db.and if ya do talk away from the 40 channel
band ya can always get a good antenna tuner like
an mfj.personally im disapointed with my imax but
due to funds i gotta live with it |
Danusee
Junior Member
Username: Danusee
Post Number: 30
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Monday, January 16, 2006 - 7:03 pm: |
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Maco V58, Good...the receive is incredible. Bad...for me the tuning ring bends to easily, The wire to it broke in 6 months. The swr setting was a pain. If you add a meter or other jumpers inline the swr moves several units. The transmit didn't ever seem to keep up with the receive. I don't want another Maco V58. |
Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 2278
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Monday, January 16, 2006 - 7:38 pm: |
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never used imax, had the A99 for a month before i went to the maco. been up since '86, bent, straightened, repeat, ice, wind, snow, i am 1/4 mile from the atlantic ocean, so salt is a factor. the birds also use it as a stop over. the tuning ring has never bent, the wire has never broke, i have an mfj1700b switch, with all 6 radio positions filled, meters on individual radio spots, across the commons, filters, jumpers & all sorts of goodies. the path of least resistance shows 1.2:1 across 40 on a diamond sx100, the long path shows....1.25:1.
the transmit keeps up with the receive & the receive keeps up with the transmit. i can 10-5 for the east coast net controller, when i can hear HIM through the noise, ask vanillagorilla  |
Danusee
Junior Member
Username: Danusee
Post Number: 31
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Monday, January 16, 2006 - 8:37 pm: |
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Futher more it is a goofy design to have the hot vertical section down inside the grounded base unlike the I10K which is aprox 4" above. Also it was noisy when it rained. |
Tech833
Moderator
Username: Tech833
Post Number: 1155
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Monday, January 16, 2006 - 9:38 pm: |
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Danusee wrote: "Futher more it is a goofy design to have the hot vertical section down inside the grounded base unlike the I10K which is aprox 4" above."
It is not 'goofy' at all. The hot being inside the grounded portion with dilectric meterial insulating them acts like a small capacitor to help reduce the reactance at the tap point.
In my opinion, the I-10K is a beefy design, but that fiberglass insulator holding all that radiator above it made me nervous.
If your antenna (ANY antenna) is noisy when it rains, check all the connection, especially the ground. You have something not quite making perfect contact. That goes for ANY antenna. How can you fault the antenna for something YOU did improperly? That hardly seems fair. That is like blaming your car for your speeding tickets! |
Marconi
Advanced Member
Username: Marconi
Post Number: 523
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 16, 2006 - 10:52 pm: |
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That is the only thing I have ever had against the I-10K 833. I told Jay about that, but he did not know why and had never heard that before and I guess sense as well.
Thanks, that is the first time I ever heard that. When I get a chance I will keep that in mind and maybe put it back up again for another try. I did check for that on the tuner one time, but found it good and tight, so I forgot it. Twice I have taken that antenna down and have found an element in the GP loose however and moving even. I swear that the after the last time fixing that loose stuff that I heard the rain again however.
But I will check it out. |
Tech833
Moderator
Username: Tech833
Post Number: 1159
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 - 9:22 am: |
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You hardly ever hear anybody talk about it because people have short-term memories.
So many people blindly gush over the I-10K that it dilutes the neutral or negative posts about it. NO antenna is perfect. Yes, Jay's antenna is nice. No, it does not have 'magic gain' over a Maco V-5/8. Having both antennas on the test range proved this beyond a doubt. Still, people who have just spent nearly $500 for an antenna do not want to admit that their new gem does not outperform better than any other aluminum 5/8 wave antenna.
It is the exact same mentality that makes you believe your car runs better just after it has been washed. Is it true? To some who let emotions equal truth, yes. To those who believe only proven facts, no.
I am not out to bash Jay's antenna. In fact, I still speak very highly of it in many ways. I just simply will NOT fabricate 'facts' about its gain or performance. Then I would be no better than anyone else that spreads untruth to the CB community. I.E.- A99 with 9.9 dB gain. Nuff said? |
Road_warrior
Senior Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 1160
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 - 9:51 am: |
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I love when it rains Marconi...LOL... Things get
dead quiet here with my I-10K. I do once in
awhile get buzzing off the outside electric
lines,so, i really love rain then as it quiets
the buzzing of the wires/transformers ect.
As for the fiberglass insulator or any part as
a matter of fact. I was told if anything broke
it would be replaced free for me.
Only time will tell. |
Road_warrior
Senior Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 1161
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 - 10:55 am: |
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I found my old Maco V5/8 tuned pretty good.
Had up for about 4 years. Had no problems
with the wire. My only complaint was that the
radials didn't hold up to severe icy/windy
weather. Other then that i seen nothing wrong
with this antenna. Antenna performed great.
|
Airplane1
Advanced Member
Username: Airplane1
Post Number: 669
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 - 11:28 am: |
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I still love my maco v5/8 holding up great so far cost very little and still tuned 1.1 to 1.2 more or less on all 40.Receive is awsome and transmit too. only thing to do next is get it up higher. wish I could grow a antenna farm.there are lots of antennas I want.
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Marconi
Advanced Member
Username: Marconi
Post Number: 525
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 - 11:40 am: |
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I agree RW, when it rains usually things do get nice and quite. This was like an S9 noise that sounded just like rain hitting the antenna thru my receiver. That was no good, but Tech833 suggest that something was probably loose. I know that twice I lowered my I10K and found GP elements loose and one had even worked it way up inside the bigger tubing. Ordinarily I'm a detail kind of guy and things like this just don't happen, but it did. So I'll just have to check this out and see. Otherwise the antenna worked fine for me. |
Mikefromms
Advanced Member
Username: Mikefromms
Post Number: 837
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 - 6:43 pm: |
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When the band is quiet my Imax gives me silence. Wonderful antenna. Great antenna, great ears, broadbanded and I get out. I would also suspect the radio when looking into the source of high static or noise. My Magnum and Imax make a great team.
mikefromms |
Road_warrior
Senior Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 1165
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 - 7:19 pm: |
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Imax here carries a 24/7 high noise floor.
Which causes poor recieve problems.
I have mounted the Imax at 5 of my friends
houses for a week and got mixed results.
Used same coax and radio. 3 had a very high
constant noise floor. 2 a very constant low noise floor. Grounding made no difference.
This is why you will hear opinions on both sides of the coin. Just order what you think will best serve your purpose and hope for a great outcome!
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Danusee
Junior Member
Username: Danusee
Post Number: 34
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 - 8:36 pm: |
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Looking at a web site on how to build a vertical gain antenna, It shows that you can get a 1.1 swr with just a tuning ring without having the hot vertical section stuck down into the grounded base section. Now if I wanted to cut cost rather than going with a $25 piece of fiberglass to mount the hot vertical section on I might put it down into the base section with dilectric meterial insulating the two. But for me I don't like the thought.
I love my A99 with the top section sub'd with aluminum tubing. Transmit and receives great without the Gpk. It's quiet, swr very low, no rain noise at all, good reports from fellow cb'ers and best of all dirt cheap. I will admit I never thought I would be using a Antron 99. Funny thing I wouldn't swap it for any antenna on the market. Blowed my mind! |
Tech291
Moderator
Username: Tech291
Post Number: 346
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 - 9:14 pm: |
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Danusee,
That is why it is nice to have several different choices in which to choose from.Study some antenna theory and maybe the construction method for the Maco will become clear.Dont knock it because it dont "seem"right.It is a proven design that has been on the market(succesfully)much longer that the design of the a-99 types.Myself,I have only used 1 fiberglass that i liked and its design(coaxial-dipole) is different from the a-99.But out of whats available on the market today with price vs performance,I would choose the Maco V58(with its "goofy" design) over the a-99 at twice the price.
TECH291
CEF#291
KC8ZPJ |
Danusee
Junior Member
Username: Danusee
Post Number: 36
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 8:25 am: |
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Tech291,
I have now had both the Maco V58 and the A99. For a recap, the Maco V58 has a receive that rivals a beam and to talk to them you must be able to hear them. However "in my case" (and I stress in my case) the A99 with the aluminum top puts the woop on the Maco V58 at 20 miles on transmit only. That is with both antennas @ 60' to the top and legal power. Also I have yet to put the Gpk on the A99. Futher out the receive of the Maco make the difference.
I supose if you needed to talk 35 miles + you might pay twice the price. For me I am enjoying the 20 mile range with good reports.
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Road_warrior
Senior Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 1167
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 6:04 pm: |
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An antenna should transmit and recieve signals
about the same.
If that A-99 is out-talking a Maco 5/8, something
was wrong with the set-up of the Maco.
|
Danusee
Junior Member
Username: Danusee
Post Number: 37
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 7:33 pm: |
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RW, from the first time I put it up my friends said the transmit was down. I worked with it and got the vertical hot section length of aprox. 19'. The entire length if I remember correctly was 252". It picked it up slightly but was still down from my old archer 5/8. Now since putting up the Antron 99 I am told the transmit is up from the Maco at 20 miles. The measurements were made at legal height and power. Anyone can put the shoes on and get someone 40 miles to say it is good on just about any antenna. |
Capt_hook
Intermediate Member
Username: Capt_hook
Post Number: 225
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, January 29, 2006 - 3:08 pm: |
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Danusee Tell me more about the metal top sec of the a-99 ???...........Capt Hook |
Mrclean
Junior Member
Username: Mrclean
Post Number: 25
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 02, 2006 - 3:17 pm: |
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I use a pogo stick.About them same as your antron with aluminum topsection. Very quiet and gets out great for me. They are bad about top of antenna blowing out without a touch of epoxy but thats a easy fix. |
Pistonpopper
New member
Username: Pistonpopper
Post Number: 4
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, February 05, 2006 - 10:10 pm: |
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Well, frrom what I have read, I think that maybe the Antron 99 and IMAX 2000 are my choices, with the IMAX over the A-99. Am interested in the concept of putting in the aluminum rod in the top section of the A-99, Without reading more right now, I'd like to know if there is a significant gain in the transmit/receive and ground noise, and where and how to put that rod in place up there. Please feel free to email me directly. |
