| Author |
Message |
    
Starface
Member
Username: Starface
Post Number: 94
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, July 07, 2005 - 2:07 am: | 
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ok I've seen many threads about the gpk for the Imax 2000's but I have not seen one as do the gpk mount on the upper or lower U bolts?
Can someone let me know?
I never got no paper work with mind telling me so.
I did mount mind on the lower U bolts and my swr's are a 1.1 So I really don't want to do anything and just leave it the way it is.
After all low swr and I don't bother my neighbors even when I run power.
Starface
CEF#476
Auburndale,FL |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 6278
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, July 07, 2005 - 7:10 pm: |
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Starface,
From the Assembly Instructions for the Solorcon MAX GPK Groundplane Kit for the MAX-2000
Installation Instructions
Note: Radials must be 9 feet above or away from any existing structure for maximum performance.
#1 ~ Attach mounting bracket to I-max antenna using existing lower U-bolt.
Hope this helps,
Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9OSN |
Starface
Member
Username: Starface
Post Number: 95
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, July 07, 2005 - 10:32 pm: |
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yes and thanks ...
Did it right the 1st time!
and that don't happen with we offen, guess thats one reason we hear each other so well in DX.
Hope to hear ya again Sunday at net times.
Till next time.
Starface
CEF#476
Auburndale,FL |
Skipman
New member
Username: Skipman
Post Number: 5
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Friday, August 05, 2005 - 7:54 am: |
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some locals my way are swearing by the radials. Say a noticable gain on txandrx. I am a bit skeptical though years back i added the radials to a 99, i cant honestly say i noticed a change and the a-99 was 50 ft of the ground so the radials had ample room to work properly. Anyone care to share their experiences with the imax 2000 radials i am interested to know. Thanks |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 6536
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Friday, August 05, 2005 - 8:55 am: |
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Skipman,
We have had our Imax up about a year now and it has worked very good with no problems, no complaints, got GPK for it and bent the ears up for the radials on the bracket to 30° as suggested / recomended by Tech833 and it has made a Major Improvement on transmit and receive for us.
Before bending the ears to 30° on the GP Kit it was a Very Good Antenna and now it is a GREAT Antenna!
Check out our contacts for the last 4 months and for this week so far in the CEF Net area. All have been made on the Imax w/GPK Kit.
And YES we would also swear by the GPK Kit. 
You should sign up and join the CEF Radio Club  we can always use more CEF Radio Club Members from PA.
Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9OSN 
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Dale
Intermediate Member
Username: Dale
Post Number: 172
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Friday, August 05, 2005 - 3:12 pm: |
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yes we could |
Mikefromms
Advanced Member
Username: Mikefromms
Post Number: 695
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Friday, August 05, 2005 - 5:19 pm: |
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I believe in the gd/p kit for the Imax. It seems to receive and get out better. I can talk a loooong ways.
Mikefromms |
Dale
Intermediate Member
Username: Dale
Post Number: 176
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Friday, August 05, 2005 - 8:25 pm: |
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hey lon id like 2 see some pics of that
imax w/gpk radials bent never thought of doing
that.lol |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 6542
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Friday, August 05, 2005 - 8:43 pm: |
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Dale,
Nothing to really see.
You just bend all 4 corners up and you really will not notice much difference from the ground other than your radials are sticking more out than down.
Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9OSN |
Dale
Intermediate Member
Username: Dale
Post Number: 178
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Friday, August 05, 2005 - 8:52 pm: |
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oh so like a maco |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 6543
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Friday, August 05, 2005 - 8:53 pm: |
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Almost
Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9OSN |
Tech833
Moderator
Username: Tech833
Post Number: 1041
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, August 06, 2005 - 1:25 am: |
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Lon,
Don't forget- That Imax was 110 feet above ground on a tower on top of a radio station building for over a year and lived through 110 degree days and some 80 MPH winds. Then, it lived at my home and survived more 100 MPH winds and a huge wildfire. Now, that 'lucky' Imax lives with you. Let's see what you put it through. |
Wildrat
Intermediate Member
Username: Wildrat
Post Number: 163
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 25, 2005 - 10:34 am: |
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Lon,
Do you have a pic of your gpk for the I-MAX with the ears bent to the 30 degrees? I just got a I-MAX and I am going to get the gpk and would not mind seeing what you did. Also the 213 you told me about yesterday is the diameter on it about 3/8 ths or there abouts?
Thanks,
Wildrat |
852
Junior Member
Username: 852
Post Number: 42
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, June 03, 2006 - 6:43 pm: |
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So doea the GPK really make a difference thats noticeable? |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 10190
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, June 03, 2006 - 6:54 pm: |
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YES!
Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9CEF
CVC#2 |
Capt_hook
Intermediate Member
Username: Capt_hook
Post Number: 300
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 13, 2007 - 7:27 pm: |
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question ?? what happens when you change the angle of the GPK from 45 degrees to 30 degeree angle ???????????on tx/rx on a IMax 2000 |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 13025
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 13, 2007 - 10:54 pm: |
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As stated in my post above Posted on Friday, August 05, 2005 - 8:55 am:
Before bending the ears to 30° on the GP Kit it was a Very Good Antenna and now it is a GREAT Antenna!
Or roughly 2 to 4 S units better on receive over the standard 45% angle mounted at 36'.
Hope this help's,
Lon ~ Tech808 ~ N9CEF
CEF#808 ~ CEF HAM#33 ~ CVC#002
10-10 #61493 ~ 10-10 VP#2688
Tech808@copperelectronics.com
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Kid_vicious
Senior Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 2382
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 13, 2007 - 11:21 pm: |
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capt hook,
bending the radials to 30* allows the antenna to take full advantage of them.
it has to do with the way a 5/8 wave antenna responds to radials as opposed to the way a 1/2 wave antenna responds.
do a search on the forum for tech833 imax, or something like that.
he has the real explanation on here somewhere.
matt |
852
Intermediate Member
Username: 852
Post Number: 263
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2007 - 8:20 pm: |
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This taken from the TopOne advertisement.."Lower Angle of Radiation - Your signal hugs the curvature of the earth instead of shooting your power up into the sky, which means greater distance than an ordinary omni-directional antenna."
Would the GPK on either the A99 or Imax work in the same way?
Tommy
"852"
CEF 750 |
Captian_radio
Intermediate Member
Username: Captian_radio
Post Number: 165
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - 1:09 pm: |
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I see that it was posted that the rx came up by 2 to 4 s units, man thats quite an improvement , 1 s unit equaling about 6 db , so it could be said that the rx gain increased by about 12 to 24 dbs. Sounds like a very large improvement , I wonder how the rx was meter was calibrated. it would be be nice to know this, most s meters are usually calibrated at 6db per s unit
Bob CEF451 |
Unit199
Intermediate Member
Username: Unit199
Post Number: 455
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - 11:44 pm: |
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I do not care what claims are made about GPK, they are made to help with TVI and TVI only. They are not designed to help your transmit or receive. Go to TECH833 review on GPK under subscriber preview and get the right info.
HARVE
UNIT199
CEF210
CVC18
KB0YVK
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Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 13337
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - 11:55 pm: |
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No cliams here just the facts and per Tech833's Instructions for bending the GP Kit Bracket to 30° to improve the performance on Transmit and Receive.
From my post's above:
Posted on Friday, August 05, 2005 - 8:55 am:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Skipman,
We have had our Imax up about a year now and it has worked very good with no problems, no complaints, got GPK for it and bent the ears up for the radials on the bracket to 30° as suggested / recomended by Tech833 and it has made a Major Improvement on transmit and receive for us.
Before bending the ears to 30° on the GP Kit it was a Very Good Antenna and now it is a GREAT Antenna!
We also bent the GP Kit bracket on Corncob / CEF#166 and Redman / CEF#156's IMAX 2000 and both also noticed an improvement on Transmit and Receive as Tech 833 said we would.
================================================
Posted on Tuesday, February 13, 2007 - 10:54 pm:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As stated in my post above Posted on Friday, August 05, 2005 - 8:55 am:
Before bending the ears to 30° on the GP Kit it was a Very Good Antenna and now it is a GREAT Antenna!
Or roughly 2 to 4 S units better on receive over the standard 45% angle mounted at 36'.
======================================
The testing was done with the following radio's showing the 2 to 4 s-Unites on the radio's meter's with a MAGNUM S-3200B, 2995DX, 2970DX and Teaberry Stalker Two Magnum S-45 and Magnum S-3 and that is why the difference between 2 to 4 s units.
The testing was done with a MFJ-1700B antenna switch so there was about 1 second between switching between radio's.
The transmit result's / Improvement were reported by CEF#166/Corncob, CEF#159/Homeboy, CEF#156 / Redman, and CEF#166 / Turtle which is where the 2 to 4 s-unit difference came from with on air testing before and after bending the bracket to 30°.
So I guess Paul/Tech833 knew what he was talking about when he suggested I do it since he did do the Review/Article titled: IMAX 2000 EXPOSED.
Hope this help's,
Lon ~ Tech808 ~ N9CEF
CEF#808 ~ CEF HAM#33 ~ CVC#002
10-10 #61493 ~ 10-10 VP#2688
Tech808@copperelectronics.com
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Unit199
Intermediate Member
Username: Unit199
Post Number: 456
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, March 29, 2007 - 3:02 am: |
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Well, from what TECH833 in his review on I-MAX 2000 GPK, he is contradicting what he said in it then. Which are we susposed to believe? It was tested on antenna range with and with-out it on I-MAX 2000 and it was stated that it made no significant diference either way. It was also stated that it would change take off angle and help local communications, but that has nothing to do with the receive of antenna. I WILL STAND BY WHAT I SAID BEFORE, IT WILL NOT CHANGE YOUR TRANSMIT OR RECEIVE GAIN. The GPK was designed to cut down TVI and not to add gain to your antenna period.
HARVE
UNIT199
CEF210
CVC18
KB0YVK
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Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 13338
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, March 29, 2007 - 8:39 am: |
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Copper Forum Member's,
Please read Paul / Tech833's Article titled:
Imax 2000 Exposed by Tech 833.
CLICK HERE > Imax 2000 Exposed by Tech 833
CONCLUSION: The Imax 2000 will easily outperform the Antron 99 and other 1/2 wave antennas like the popular 'Ringo'. Adding the GPK-1 ground plane kit will provide a significant improvement in gain on the horizon, which will noticeably improve local communications. With the wide availability and reasonable price of the Imax 2000, it is easy to suggest this antenna to the 10 and 11 meter enthusiast who desires top performance, and a more visually low profile fiberglass antenna.
Lon ~ Tech808 ~ N9CEF
CEF#808 ~ CEF HAM#33 ~ CVC#002
10-10 #61493 ~ 10-10 VP#2688
Tech808@copperelectronics.com
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Tech833
Moderator
Username: Tech833
Post Number: 1633
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, March 29, 2007 - 12:25 pm: |
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Harve,
I will stand by what I said. It lowers the takeoff angle. When you understand what that does, then you will also understand why it would make some improvements for local communications. You may or may not be understanding the difference between gain and takeoff angles.
As a refresher, I am going to quote some text from the Imax 2000 review-
"Although adding the Antron GPK-1 ground plane kit will not add much gain to the Antron 99, the ground plane kit would add significant gain on the horizon [on the Imax 2000]".
"A .64 wavelength radiator is much more efficient and will have a much lower angle of radiation (keep the signal down on the horizon instead if wasting it up in the sky) with a proper counterpoise system. Adding the GPK-1 to the Imax 2000 (according to my math and previous .64 wavelength test range plots) will result in a 0.3 dB gain improvement. This will bring the Imax 2000's actual gain up to 3.2 dBi (or 1.1 dBd). ".
"Adding the GPK-1 ground plane kit will provide a significant improvement in gain on the horizon, which will noticeably improve local communications. ".
I am sorry, I cannot make it any more clear or less complicated than this.
And, yes, it also reduces stray currents below the feedpoint which can help with TVI when the problem is receiver overload to receivers below the antenna feedpoint. |
Jameslarson
Intermediate Member
Username: Jameslarson
Post Number: 338
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Friday, April 20, 2007 - 12:27 pm: |
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Hi. How do you know when you have bent the mount up to 30 degrees? Is there a special tool to measure the degree of bend? Thanks./
PS--Why doesn't the manufacturer simply ship the GPK at 30 degrees if it is better than 45 degrees? |
Tech833
Moderator
Username: Tech833
Post Number: 1667
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Friday, April 20, 2007 - 2:17 pm: |
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1. You guess.
2. Your eyes. Or a protractor if you are picky.
3. I don't know. |
Starface
Senior Member
Username: Starface
Post Number: 1443
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Friday, August 10, 2007 - 2:09 am: |
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Anyone know where I can find just the rubber caps that fit over the GPK Elements?
I did a search but come up with nothing.
STARFACE
CEF#476
KI4NBE
HAM#181
CVC#Ø14
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Unit199
Advanced Member
Username: Unit199
Post Number: 529
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Friday, August 10, 2007 - 8:25 am: |
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MY FRIEND WENT TO LOCAL HARDWARE STORE WITH OD MEASUREMENT AND GOT HIS. HOPE THIS HELPS!!!
HARVE
UNIT199
CEF210
CVC#18
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Hyperno_1979
Intermediate Member
Username: Hyperno_1979
Post Number: 425
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Friday, September 14, 2007 - 9:49 am: |
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I used a protractor that is made by Caterpillar. It is used for measuring hydraulic hose orientation. So simple and dead accurate. Clamp the Cat protractor to the bent corners on the GPK mount with the base clamped in a vice. Zero the spirit level. Attach a 18" or 24" shifter to the corners and when the level reads 345 degrees it's all over bar the shouting.
CEFFFCEF
Bob
CEF703/CVC26
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Dx_freak
Junior Member
Username: Dx_freak
Post Number: 36
Registered: 2-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, September 27, 2007 - 1:36 pm: |
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Starface
I know this is a late post and if you still not found anything, try an autoparts store, get you some vaccume line port plugs, they will do fine, not to mention they will probly last longer, engine heat vers sun light and uf rays, try it, I have, not to mention, you can choose different collors. Just my 2 cents worth, and speaking of 2 cents, thats about how much you will pay for each of them, LOL. Good luck.
Richey
DX freak/Mad Dog/Puppet Master
CEF#885
I can only do the best I can with what I got.
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Moderator136
Moderator
Username: Moderator136
Post Number: 486
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 02, 2007 - 7:20 pm: |
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Just got my gpk for the i-max 2000 , I will check it with and without and keep everyone informed.
Hope with weather permitting this weekend i hope.
Hal ~ Moderator136 ~ KCØSVC
CEF#136/CEF HAM#23 ~ CVC#004
Moderator136@copperelectronics.com
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Dale
Senior Member
Username: Dale
Post Number: 1185
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 02, 2007 - 9:16 pm: |
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i say try it both ways .even if ya see/hear no difference id still leave it on.just because
ya already have it.
dale/a.k.a.hotrod
cef426
cvc#64
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Ferd1605
Junior Member
Username: Ferd1605
Post Number: 37
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, December 09, 2007 - 1:19 am: |
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A buddy of mine tried somethin weird , but he swears it works , he bought some conduit , the stuff electrical wire pass through , and some u-bolts , he cut them to 1/2wave each , used the u-bolts to mount them to the mast just below the feed point , they are straight out , not dropping down . he swears it made a huge dirrerance ... now , i told him the next thing to try is aome ferrite beads on the coax and wind a RF choke , or another set of radials 5/8 wave under the upper ones .... just a though |
Captian_radio
Intermediate Member
Username: Captian_radio
Post Number: 286
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, December 09, 2007 - 1:35 pm: |
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Adding more than 3 or 4 radials to an elevated vertical will not make much difference,the only time you will see a difference by adding more radials is with a ground mounted vertical the more the better.The radials only need to be a 1/4 wave length for the freq. that the antenna is designed for.I get a kick out of the people who add the extra wire on the back of the moonraker and shooting star, this won't do anything for rejection because the wire is now smaller than a full wave length at 11 meters and the rest of the antenna won't even see it if anything it will make it work more poorly.If you want to learn more about antennas get some good books about antenna design and do some reading you will be surprised of the ways antennas work and learn a lot about take off angle etc . knowledge is power.
Bob CEF451/VE1CZ
Robert L. Spicer The days of radio are just beginning!
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Hyperno_1979
Advanced Member
Username: Hyperno_1979
Post Number: 507
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Monday, December 10, 2007 - 4:03 pm: |
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Well sometimes guys things work in a way that defies all logical explanation. In my case my Max 2000 without the GPK was like a Harley Davidson...over priced, overrated, worthless piece of junk. Not even useable as a fishing rod as the tip wobbles far too much. The GPK has made ownership a bit more bearable. White noise is now virtually non existant so receive is now about on par with my old aluminium 1/2 wave. Now a bit like a Ducati...i know it's there, bit uncomfortable but it works. BUT still overpriced and overrated. First and LAST fibreglass vertical for me.
CEFFFCEF
Bob
CEF703/CVC26
269 Hunter Valley
NOT allowed to hold a passport....
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Walterb
Junior Member
Username: Walterb
Post Number: 11
Registered: 12-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, December 27, 2007 - 3:13 pm: |
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Now here is something that you can try and you will find it works, put a rotor under a ground plane antenna, you only have to rotate it less than 90 deg but when one of ground planes is pointed at the station you are receiving the signal will increase............walterb |
