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Message |
    
Chrisdey
Junior Member
Username: Chrisdey
Post Number: 12
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, May 01, 2005 - 11:06 pm: | 
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I have a Imax 2000 installed on a 36' mast and love it. It serves me very well. My question is can anyone tell me with a resonable degree of certainty if the Wolf Point .64 Omni or the Interceptor 10 K are a hands down better better antenna compared to the IMAX? Both their websites claim they are but maybe someone has some practical expriance and can share? Thank you very much in advance. -Chris |
Marconi
Intermediate Member
Username: Marconi
Post Number: 424
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 02, 2005 - 4:39 am: |
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Chris, take a look at the following article W8JI's piece on End-fed Myths. Note the significance he makes regarding the antennas performance when improving the ground plane affect on vertical end-fed radiators using the modeling approach he uses.
If the ground plane for the two antennas noted improves the isolation of the line as intended then they should perform better than the Imax with no ground plane. This is simply true because of the improved current in the vertical radiating part called the antenna. If the Imax GPK does work as intended and does actually isolate the feed line from the antenna then that should correct the problem making them all about the same.
To me the difference between the two GP type antennas is the position and shape of the feeders. It is said that the advantage of a 5/8 wave over a 1/2 wave is due to the increase in current distribution being pushed higher up the radiator. If this is so, then the Wolf should out perform the I10-K simply because the vertical gamma on the stinger feeds the radiator physically higher up the element than the horizontal trombone feeder that Jay uses.
Also note that the Wolf antenna places a capacitance coil up high on his element which also is supposed to respond by forcing the current even higher up the radiating element. If this works as intended then that too should show improvement.
All of this is overly simplified, but maybe you can get the idea I present for you to consider when reading the article.
It is all about getting as much current as possible as high up the radiating element as possible while controling the match and the isolation of the feed line from the antenna.
If you will notice how the Imax radiates in the modeling he provides, you will see that it looks like the antenna and the feed line or mast are several antennas stacked one obove the other. There might be some advantage in that idea if a correct height can be determined where a co-linear affect might be noted. If this were possible it might show some additional gain from that element. If that did happen then you would have to have all your ducks in the right row, so-to-speak.
It is complicated stuff, but he writes in a pretty easy manner. Hope this helps a bit.
If you can get Ed to build you one of his .64's, then I believe it maybe the best all around performer and he builds good quality stuff. |
Patzerozero
Advanced Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 736
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Monday, May 02, 2005 - 6:50 pm: |
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chrisdey, i think that marconi knows his stuff, but, more to the point, i can't imagine who in their right mind would spend $300 for a maco v5/8 with that funky trombone tuning system. my real maco v5/8 has outlasted my original shakespeare big stick by 10 years now, & living in a perpetual saltwater atmosphere, i'd say that's pretty good for that piece of aluminum, that costs $200 less then the I10K. & i can & have talked EVERYWHERE, AM & SSB, with less then 100 watts. if anybody needs more gain then either the imax 2k or maco v5/8, buy a maco 3 element beam, or cubex or signal engineering 2 element quad. you could probably get any of 'em up on a roof mounted tripod, with rotator for about the same cost as an interceptor, with maybe 6 or more db gain over the groundplane. |
Chrisdey
Junior Member
Username: Chrisdey
Post Number: 13
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 04, 2005 - 7:21 am: |
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Thank you very much gentleman, all of you. I appreciate so much "real" information to disseminate and make my decision. I just don't have a clue when it comes to reading each makers ad's. I have a lot to absorb and now feel good about which ever decision I make. -Kindest regards,
-Chris |
Road_warrior
Advanced Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 536
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, May 07, 2005 - 7:46 pm: |
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Yes, the I-10k will out-perform the Imax.
So, will the Maco V 5/8.
Never used a Wolf point, so, can't tell
you anything on that one.
It just takes alittle more essembling skill
with the Maco 5/8 or I-10k. |
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