| Author |
Message |
    
Sitm
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 11:31 am: | 
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I am re-entering the radio hobby since I am getting my ticket. I am getting my shack back up after reclaiming the room that was overtaken by boxes and boxes. I have all the radio gear back in the shack and checked on the service of the A99 and found that its standing wave was very high (7+ through the band) After checking the antenna I found that the fiber glass was coming off in sheets after 10+ years of being up 60 feet or so.
So here is the question... I am looking to replace the antenna. Will be operating around watts on 11 meter and probably 25 or so on ssb. I have a very stable 50 foot tower with about ten feet of antenna strength pole. I am running very heavy coax of 100 feet. I do not want to run another A99, (even though they are very good) I have considered the Imax 2000, the I10 and have read about directional antennas. I would prefer not to have a rotor. I also have two other 50 foot towers on the house that are not being used, due to dish tx, the local tv antenna is of no use. Will be installing a 2 meter antenna soon.
But as for this question, 11 meter antenna only, maybe use with 10 meter. I would prefer to not spend over 300 dollars. I have excellent clearance, no buildings, no trees. Sometimes winds in the 50 to 60 miles range. Mostly flat fields, no hills. There maybe an occassion that I might run 100 watts, but rarely.
I am looking forward to tech advice.
Thank you
73 |
Buck
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 6:54 pm: |
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If money was no object I would go with the interceptor 10K.... I have the Imax 2000 and absolutly love it, however it will need to be replaced sooner than a 10K would have to be. I got a chance to see one finally and they are built like a tank!!!
Buck |
Bullet
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 8:31 pm: |
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the 10k looks like a heck of a nice ant but a bit spendy for a ground plain.
id go with the imax 2k and put a few coats of clear coat on it before going up in the air with it, to help it last longer.
or go to the hardware store and buy some big copper tubing and build your self a j pole for 11 meters
its as strong a performer as any of the above antennas,and will handle "anything" you throw its way! |
Sitm
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 10:16 am: |
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Thats interesting about the copper tubing. I think that I will do that as well. I believe that I have made the decision to purchase the Imax 2000 with the radials for help with TVI. I have read that it helps and will also help a tiny bit with distance. But I want to explore this building a ground plane out of copper. Are there any sites that will give the lengths and size of copper tubing? |
Mikefromms
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 12:33 pm: |
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I believe if you clear coat that Imax it should be good twice as long as usual. If you ever want some beam effect without a rotor, Signal Engineering builds an antenna called the Thunder 8xb which works as a groundplane and with switchbox you can use it as a beam. Kind of like the old super scanner but no electric switch just a regular antenna switchbox which switches you from one coax to another. This antenna uses two coaxs. Put it together right and tune her up right and you've got a dilly. It is rated for 100 mph winds.
mikefromms |
Sitm
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 3:03 pm: |
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Mikefromms,
I have read your review of the Thunder 8xb and was very impressed with what I read. I also did some other internet reading on the performance of the Thunder 8xb. I believe it, (in my humble opinion) to be a superior antenna than the Imax 2000 in several ways. Although I have plenty of room for antennas and three towers to work from. I am looking at the price factor of the Thunder compared to teh Imax 2000 and would consider even if I have to replace the Imax twice in the next 15 years that it would be worth the cost due to the simplicity of the installation of the Imax. I have several other antenna to put up (2 meter, HF antenna, maybe a dipole.) I am also considering appearance of the antenna. I personally find the Thunder to be a wonderful looking piece of equipment, but I am not sure my neighbors would agree. I have also considered the I10K which I believe, (from the reviews from the techs in this forum) is the best ground plane produced at this time. I think that it is great that the Thunder 8 can be a directional beam as well as ground place and the option that you can is a great asset. I will have to read more reviews and your articles are very informative. I will be ordering in the next five days, so I have to decide soon. After reading these post I have to admit, it is very difficult to make a decision on any particular antenna due to all the wonderful performance reviews. Keep it up gus I am finding this site extremely helpful.
73
sitm |
Damyankee
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 1:29 am: |
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IMAX 2000. Very simple, Very quick to assemble and VERY broad banded. You can be talking with good (1.2:1)SWR in a half an hour or less...
I love my beam but it can't go head to head SWR wise with the IMAX 2000 even in the regular 40. |
Kc0gxz
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 1:40 am: |
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Sitm
The I-Max is a 5/8 wave that will let you cover the 12 Meter Ham frequencies all the way up through 10 meters since it has a bandpass that will easily cover 3Mhz and can handle 5KW of SSB power. NO OTHER ANTENNA ON THE MARKET CAN DO THAT.
Go to the Subscriber (Preview) section of this forum and click on "Product Reviews". The man who did the review on the I-Max is a professional Commercial Radio Engineer and builder. He did a very good review on the I-Max antenna. This guy knows what he is talking about when it comes to antennas. He has built radio stations around the world and we are fortunate to have him and his opinions on Coppers forum.
All in all, the I-Max is a updated and vast improvment over the A-99. Read his report before you decide. And since you're putting together a new antenna system, use new coax. And do not skimp when it comes to your choice of coax. Use quality name-brand coax such as Belden. DON'T EVEN CONSIDER RADIO SHACK COAX.
For 2-Meters, I personally like the Ringo Ranger line of antennas. They also broadband pretty well.
Jeff, kc0gxz. |
Sitm
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 11:45 pm: |
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Well after careful review and reading alot of post and opinions, I along with my wife's approval have ordered the Imax 2000 and 100 feet of new heavy coax. There shouldn't be any excuses for lack of performance. I had considered just replacing the antenna itself, but the coax and the antenna are of the same age and I have heard nothing good about Radio Shack coax. I didn't want to get a new antenna and have poor performance and always wonder if the coax was the culperate. So depending on the amount of time for shipping, (if the tecs can give me an idea that would be great) I ordered on 2-12-04 and hope that it won't be too horrible long. Well I am interested in the difference in the A99 compared to the Imax 2000. The antenna will be at the same level as the new Imax (around 60 feet at the base) but the Imax will be eight feet higher due to the increase in antenna height. I will most likely have it up the same weekend that I get it, beings that they are so easy to install. But the coax will have to be woven through the crawl space of the house replacing the aging 14 year old rat shack coax. I will be sure to report on the difference in signal strength and reception.
73 |
Highlander
| | Posted on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 1:51 pm: |
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You will be happy...Imax2000 is a great antenna! |
Tech833
| | Posted on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 8:41 pm: |
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Sitm
I was going to suggest the Imax 2000. Since the Imax will allow performance on 11 and 10 meters with one antenna, you will be well served by it. When you receive the antenna, use some lacquer thinner and new rags to remove the wax from the fiberglass. Then, spray paint the antenna with a non-lead paint (clear epoxy works well). This will more than double the life of your Imax.
I still have an Imax on the tower at my office. Although I do not use it much, I still leave it up because it works so well on 10 meters and SW. It works extremely well when I used it on 11 meters, and was quite noticeably more powerful than the A99. |
Bullet
| | Posted on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 10:56 pm: |
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sitm,
look around on
www.packetradio.com/jpole.htm
you can then convert this for 11 meters.(27.205)
it will be a slite bit bigger than the imax 2000
at 25.91 feet (310.92")on its long leg. + anchor
its short leg will be 8.6 feet (103.2")
feedpoint placement .85 feet (10.2")
spacing between long and short elements .81 feet or 9.72"
its kinda big but its all youll ever need in a groundplain no matter how many db's you have on the desk.
i got this idea from a "dx freak" i know, that said he was running this because it would handle his amp. he gives me around a 20/s9 from 45 miles to my southwest
he did tell me it rendered his imax 2000 unoperational. coarse thats radio talk so who knows rite. |
Sitm
| | Posted on Monday, February 16, 2004 - 11:50 am: |
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The Imax isn't here as of yet, but I have purchased a Robyn T240D base from ebay. It is in excellent condition. I don't know much about its performance, but my oldest brother who was avid into 11 meters in the 70s says it is top of the line. I hope so. |
Bruce
| | Posted on Monday, February 16, 2004 - 9:44 pm: |
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ONE YOU CAN FORGET FOR YOUR CAR IS A THROUGH THE GLASS!
29 inch long through the glass measured @ 1 mile S1 ...... i know s units are next to worthless.
24inch firestick on trunk +10 over 9
I was AMAZED how bad the through the glass was!
SO MUCH FOR MURS/2METERS or 440 FORGET it ! |
Bullet
Member
Username: Bullet
Post Number: 289
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 26, 2004 - 8:17 pm: |
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i kinda wondered how those through glass jobies would work. now we know! |
Sitm
Junior Member
Username: Sitm
Post Number: 20
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Monday, March 01, 2004 - 10:35 am: |
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The Imax arrived the other night just after I arrived home from work. I changed cloths and walked out to the garage at five fifteen pm and at six thirty it was up over sixty feet and broadcasting at lower standing wave than I have ever seen on an antenna. I have received better than 2 signal strength greater reports from stations that I had talked to before. I have logged a late night station ten miles farther than ever before (running without assistance from the box) and received a 4 signal report from a station 57 miles nautical. All reports are clear and clean. I would buy another in a minute. This morning I left the house and we are having a storm blowing in. The Imax was bending pretty good, (winds at 40 mph). We will see, so far I am very impressed with it. Interestingly enough, two of the distant stations that I talked to also had Imax 2000 antennas, they reported having station contact farther than they had had before. The local talkers were not making the same contacts and in fact some of the contacts they weren't even hearing, with the exception of to Laser beams in town. What do you think of that.??? Yes I can hear the phone at copper ringing now with Imax orders..... |
Bigbob
Senior Member
Username: Bigbob
Post Number: 1703
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, March 07, 2004 - 8:29 am: |
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I was wondering,could a fellow take neo-prene rings and slide them down to the connections on the I-max and tie 14 pound test stren line to guy the middle and bottom sections so they don't bend so much?Bigbob |
Mikefromms
Intermediate Member
Username: Mikefromms
Post Number: 370
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 18, 2005 - 11:41 am: |
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I'd use 50lb line. It will work.
mikefromms |
Mikefromms
Intermediate Member
Username: Mikefromms
Post Number: 378
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, January 22, 2005 - 11:06 am: |
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Sitm, did you get the gdp/kit? How has it done over the past few days since you got it? I've got one and have not put it up yet. Mine will be up around 70+ feet at the feedpoint, no groundplane. I look forward to broadbanded low swr and good performance.
mikefromms |
Chrisdey
New member
Username: Chrisdey
Post Number: 8
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Friday, February 04, 2005 - 11:18 pm: |
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IMAX-200 my friend. Right up you alley, definately in your budget and the performance with the right ground and height will amaze you
-Chris |
Mikefromms
Advanced Member
Username: Mikefromms
Post Number: 510
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, March 19, 2005 - 10:16 am: |
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An update for those purusing the site. I have had my Imax 2000 up in the top of a pine tree now for about six weeks. I did change my mind and bought the groundplance kit afterall. I'm LMR-400 coax. All I can say is this thing is amazing! I really like it a lot better than the Thunder 8xb I had. What a waste of money! (Just my personal opinion in retrospect). I am experiencing some of the best communication I've ever had with a station. And I've had some good stations through the years.
If you are just getting back into radio and reading to learn how to get setup or what to do next hear this: Go buy an Imax 2000 and go ahead and get the groundplane kit. Next, don't try to slide on coax. It will make a BIG difference. Get 213 or higher grade (best you can afford) and have the end professionally installed. Coppers does that. Get that antenna up as high as possible. Only then, should you even start considering a radio. You have lots of choices. For the money, you can't go wrong with the Magnum line of radios. The Magnum 257 on a power supply will rival any of the barefooted base stations out there. And it has ears. The radio is up to you, but I insist on the Imax and good coax. Don't do like I did and wade out in the water first and buy cheap and keep going deeper and deeper in debt to improve your station; for a little money you can have a good station and be done with it. Copper has all you need.
mikefromms |
Patzerozero
Advanced Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 585
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, March 19, 2005 - 11:23 am: |
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might not agree with the choices, but the philosophy is 100%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
Racer_x
Intermediate Member
Username: Racer_x
Post Number: 187
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, March 19, 2005 - 3:04 pm: |
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Mikefromms - Is the antenna above the top of the tree? Pic? |
Mikefromms
Advanced Member
Username: Mikefromms
Post Number: 534
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Friday, April 01, 2005 - 10:40 am: |
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Not that advanced to give you a pic, but yes, the antenna is sticking at least half way above the tree. All I can say is a person just has to try one of these antennas with good coax to see what the rage is all about around here. Imax is for real.
mikefromms |
