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Message |
    
Charliebrown
Member
Username: Charliebrown
Post Number: 52
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 15, 2010 - 7:07 am: | 
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I have both the a99 imax 2000.Both are good antennas but for me the imax did slightly better. I have read reviews on all the base antennas and depending on the source I believe they have interest in the antenna that they say are the best. Which I believe leads to the facts they claim to be somewhat misleading. So, fellows---can anyone say which is TRUELY THE BEST CB BASE STATION ANTENNA? To long a list name all the antennas but, just to name a few --(Imax A99 Maco Sirio) P.S. Best transmitt-receive-and power rating. |
Tech833
Intermediate Member
Username: Tech833
Post Number: 141
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 15, 2010 - 11:06 am: |
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If you believe that everyone who writes antennas reviews is misleading, apparently you must not have read the reviews here.
No one single antenna is optimal in all installations. One antenna will outperform another when site location, elevation, and other factors are included. Anyone who recommends one antenna for all installations may be a little misleading.
Plenty has been written here by me on this topic. Please search around for some info if you are interested.
If you are looking for a single answer "This is the best antenna for everything", then be prepared to receive some erroneous information.
Your radio 'Mythbuster' since 1998
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Tech237
Moderator
Username: Tech237
Post Number: 1303
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Monday, February 15, 2010 - 10:09 am: |
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There is no such animal as "the best antenna"
One antenna will out perform another at location, but at a different it will be worse than the other antenna. So many factors come into play that the only real way to know what works best at your location is to try them AT THE SAME TIME.
To give you a personal example - several years back I was playing with a design for a 2m antenna because my location was lousy for 2m. Image living at the bottom of a huge bowl.
I tried an antenna that was basically 5 quarter wave above the feedpoint and one quarter wave below. 1.5w into from my handheld and it worked great for MIR but was useless for any terrestrial contacts. I replaced it with a Slim-Jim, and lent it to a friend, who lived just outside of this "bowl". Running 1.5w Graham could work repeaters 120 miles plus, where as on his commercial base antenna he was losing them around 75-80 miles.
Tech237
N7AUS
Chipmonks roasting on an open fire
Hot sauce dripping from their toes.
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Charliebrown
Member
Username: Charliebrown
Post Number: 53
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 15, 2010 - 1:29 pm: |
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Thanks, Some of what I was gettig at is the claim on the db or the dbi or the dbd gain that different companys make. Then from other sources that you find, these gains are far off and misleading. Also the claim of the amount of power they can handle. There is so much conflicting reviews that it makes it hard to know what is true and what is not. I have not read all of your post on antennas yet. However I will. One question I have is how does the aluminum antennas compare to the fiberglass? My antenna is on top a mountain with 400 feet of hard line tv cable. The Imax out performed the A99 just a little bit. I hope to find more true information here. I have always trusted your advice and you have never been wrong with what you have helped me with. Once again thanks for your help. |
Birddog01
Junior Member
Username: Birddog01
Post Number: 20
Registered: 11-2009
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 23, 2010 - 8:08 am: |
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I have never run a IMAX But I have run a PDL,a99,Penatrator and now a super scanner.
Out of all of them the PDL outperformed them all but had to deal with a rotor and we get a lot of ice here ice and pdl's do not get along The penatrator did a real good job The A99 was alright but not great I have only had the scanner up two weeks it seems to pickup a lot of elec. noise I will run it for awhile but if the noise keeps up I will go back to the Penatrator |
Tech833
Intermediate Member
Username: Tech833
Post Number: 143
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 23, 2010 - 10:45 am: |
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The Super Scanner is supposed to be grounded at the mounting bracket. Also helps to put ferrite beads around the control cable at the box and at the antenna.
Your radio 'Mythbuster' since 1998
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Fishbones182
Junior Member
Username: Fishbones182
Post Number: 12
Registered: 4-2009
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 24, 2010 - 4:35 pm: |
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The a 99 falls short of being a true 5/8 wave vertical and the I max 2000 is over 5/8 wave at .64 wave lenghts. The only one youll really get any true gain out of if i remember correctly is the imax 2000. I beleive most base type antennas are rated at 2kw how much power you gonna run better get some good feedline. If you want to have some fun build your own beam or vertical antenna and youll be proud of it too boot. |
Press_man
Intermediate Member
Username: Press_man
Post Number: 127
Registered: 5-2008
| | Posted on Saturday, April 03, 2010 - 9:35 pm: |
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I have an A99, without GP radials it would eat TVs, it did better with the radials, even recieve improved. Had an antenna like the Maco 5/8, good RX+TX, storm liked it too. Had a Shakspear 5/8, good antenna, recieve was a little weak till I grounded it to the tower then it became yum yums for lightning. I've had differant beams up at this location, all good. The best Omni that worked here at my home was the Astro Plane/Top One. With the winds from the ocean and river, not to mention storms, it has served me best. Being this close to salt water I get as good a signal as with a 2 or 3 element beam plus there's less wind signature.
73
Wally/Pressman/KC4ZWM
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Sitm
Intermediate Member
Username: Sitm
Post Number: 333
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Monday, April 05, 2010 - 10:08 am: |
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I have been on this site for years and seen this question posted time and time again. When someone ask "what is the best (antenna, radio, microphone) for me. That question is answered mostly by the question. What is the "best for me". A microphone will sound different depending on the tone of your voice, a radio may be best for someone depending on how they intend to run the radio, with amp seperate, with amp built in the radio, mobile as a base, mobile as a mobile. An antenna, how high, how much money, how close are the power lines, what type of coax, how much power....... how many bands. In the end the "best" antenna is the one that works "best" for you. |
