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Message |
    
Timeslice
New member
Username: Timeslice
Post Number: 7
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, July 14, 2005 - 11:07 am: | 
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Hi,
Do any of you guys use an INTERCEPTOR I-10K Antenna, by Jay in the Mojave..??
I am considering purchasing one of these 5/8 wave, reinforced Stainless Steel Aerials and wanted ANY feedback from you dudes Stateside.
They are NOT cheap and they are VERY heavy, but the Spec looks Excellent, Just what I need, Wind resistance and Longevity.
Best Regards,
Alex Gold
Timeslice
G7ERX.
CEF#607.
HAM#146.
London England
(The old world).
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Airplane1
Intermediate Member
Username: Airplane1
Post Number: 486
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, July 14, 2005 - 3:41 pm: |
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I heard very good things about them, if you need a ground plane antenna that is going to hold up in bad weather it or the Coily ground plane are built heavy duty.
AP
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Tech833
Moderator
Username: Tech833
Post Number: 1028
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, July 14, 2005 - 3:50 pm: |
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We have discussed the I-10K ad nauseum. Do a search for I-10K in the copper forum and clear your schedule for the rest of the day. |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 6342
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, July 14, 2005 - 4:12 pm: |
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Timeslice & Airplane1,
Check out Tech833's Review of the I-10K at the Link below.
I-10K Review
Hope this helps,
Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9OSN
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Dale
Intermediate Member
Username: Dale
Post Number: 138
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, July 14, 2005 - 5:15 pm: |
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yes there fairly well built.but id only buy if i lived in extreame conditions such as windy areas.performance wise the maco 5/8gp will be the same.hope this helps |
Jellybean
Member
Username: Jellybean
Post Number: 70
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, July 14, 2005 - 5:26 pm: |
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I have one up, probably about 10 mos now.
I have a Spectrum 1600 up as well and it's a tad
quieter and has a one s unit better in recieve with the locals that are about 30-40 miles away. They tell me the 1600 is two s units better than the I-10K. Skip, they're about the same, though the 1600 is still quieter. Both tuned up the same using my MFJ269 and both have the same length LMR400 coax and both at the same height. I had to do quite a bit reinforcing to the 1600 and it's holding up well. The I-10K will outlast the 1600 by years probably. I've had some 60-70mph winds here but nothing severe yet and both held up. The 1600 would not have if I had not reinforced it.
Just .02 worth, hope this helps. |
Twowatt
Junior Member
Username: Twowatt
Post Number: 25
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, July 14, 2005 - 10:56 pm: |
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jellybean,
do u think the extra performance is due to the number of groundplane radials?
(u see, my assumption, [i know], was since the 1600 had a transformer/coil/balun/trap(?) in it's base, that the efficiency would not have been as good as the I-10k.) {tho the spectrum we used at the old cb shop here worked fine}
do u think the extra radials overcompensated for the natural efficiency loss of the coil?
thanks for any response. |
Jellybean
Member
Username: Jellybean
Post Number: 71
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Friday, July 15, 2005 - 12:01 am: |
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Well, I'm sure that's why it's quieter than the 10K, but I wouldn't think that would make the difference in performance. JMHO. |
Road_warrior
Advanced Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 692
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Friday, July 15, 2005 - 12:15 am: |
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My I-10k is very quiet compared to other
antennas i have used here.
Jellybean how far away are your 2 antennas
away from each other?
I can put an antenna in the middle of my
yard and then move the same antenna 45-50ft
toward the side of my house, same height and
pick up almost 3 S-units. I have a dead spot
in my yard to the south of me. I have plenty
of mountains to deal with here. |
Jellybean
Member
Username: Jellybean
Post Number: 72
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Friday, July 15, 2005 - 9:36 am: |
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Mine are 30' apart, identicle problems. I have a tough situation at my place as well. I've actually reversed the two on both mounts and it's still the same. Don't get me wrong, I really like the 10K, but I only paid $60 for the 1600 new in box. The 10K was quieter than the Moonraker and the Imax I had up, but the 1600 is quieter. Now if two owls were to fly through and each would hit one antenna, the 10K would survive, the 1600 RIP. I think if someone would take the time and put wood dowel rods up through the center section all the way up, it would cure that. I only braced the joints better with dowels and 1/4 ss through bolts and nuts. |
Road_warrior
Advanced Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 694
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, July 17, 2005 - 12:10 am: |
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Aren't you afraid of wood-dowels
swelling up and spliting your
radials?
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Timeslice
New member
Username: Timeslice
Post Number: 8
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 20, 2005 - 5:06 am: |
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Thank you for all the interesting information, slightly consufed when you Guys say 'Quieter'??
Do you mean quieter as in not as much recieved signal compared to other Aerials or do you mean lower static background noise reception??
I will buy an I-10K, because it seems to be the best constructed Aerial, I will be mounting it on a Chimney with a double lashing kit, I dont have a yard or a garden, so once the Aerial is up I want to forget about it and not have to worry about it breaking in a few years.
I live on the side of a hill and it is permanently windy here, especially in October/November when it is VERY windy here in the Southern England.
The only problem I have is actually getting an I-10K, Jay emailed me to say it will be 8-10 weeks before he has made any more... Being the impulsive person I am, this is a Lifetimes wait...still what is it they say 'good things come to those who wait'.
Cheers
Alex Gold
Timeslice
G7ERX.
CEF#607.
HAM#146.
London England
(The Old World).
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Airplane1
Advanced Member
Username: Airplane1
Post Number: 503
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 20, 2005 - 5:42 pm: |
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Yes We are saying the static noise is less. I hope one day to hear you on the radio, I talked to London England last year for 10 min QSO. maybe when skip pics up again it will happen.
Good luck with your installation.
AP |
Honkytonkman593
Intermediate Member
Username: Honkytonkman593
Post Number: 167
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 20, 2005 - 6:32 pm: |
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heres my opinion. i like it . me and skip shooter here in new york put his up and its darn well built. it is based....heres where i get flamed....on mosley. dont believe me do a search on mosley 6 meter vertical. anyway it matches great took 2 hours cause derek is picky but it beats the old antron fer sure. is it worth 300 or so....ill tell you when the kw arrives and we can try it but at 200 plus from his yaesu ft mark 5 it has no issues...and its quiet. where everyone gets its noisy i dont know. hey if you guys dont like your i 10 k ill take them for 50 bucks!! that is as it seems you want to get rid of them for the 1600. anyway its like a ford and chevy thing i guess. pick on and use it. good luck.....honkytonkman593 |
Slowhand
Junior Member
Username: Slowhand
Post Number: 28
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 20, 2005 - 8:52 pm: |
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Jo Gunn hillbilly ground plane is a real tough antenna. With flat and vertical |
Road_warrior
Advanced Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 699
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2005 - 12:41 am: |
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I wouldn't put an I-10K on a chimney,
unless the chimney is in great shape.
I also recommend using larger pipe than
the regular 1 1/4" TV mast pipe.
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Tech833
Moderator
Username: Tech833
Post Number: 1032
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 10:17 am: |
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Nobody here said the I-10K was a bad antenna. Quite the opposite.
The issue is the price vs. performance. In the review (most of it was published), I said quite clearly that the I-10K will not outperform the other, less expensive aluminum 5/8 wave ground plane antennas. However, I also said it is much stronger than the Maco V-5/8 (not the 5000 watt model, I have not examined one of those yet).
So, if you need the strength, then an I-10K is worthwhile, in my opinion. However, if performance is your demand, then save your money and purchase a Maco. I cannot be any more clear. |
Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 1086
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 2:11 pm: |
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<<<<<NO GALAXY RADIOS ALLOWED HERE &
MACO V5/8 RULES!!!-you can buy 4 for the price of 1 I10K, & since my 1st maco has ALREADY lasted 18 years, that'll give me at least 72 years |
Road_warrior
Advanced Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 705
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, July 23, 2005 - 10:37 am: |
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No Galaxys...LOL... Thats ok, i don't
care for them anyhow.
Your Maco V5/8 has been up 18 years... Cool!
I would suggest though that if you didn't
use stainless steel hardware to change any
hardware you have that is rusted. As a big
storm hit here yesterday and my neighbors
metal groundplane bit the dust because her
hardware was so rusted from being up 20 years.
Just a thought... |
Unit199
Intermediate Member
Username: Unit199
Post Number: 138
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, July 23, 2005 - 3:17 pm: |
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It seems as though these antenna posts always end up as to which one is the best. I had an Antron99 up for about 11 years and it went thru three tornados and still is working today at a friends house. I have an IM2K up now and it has withstood 65 mph winds and 80 plus straight line winds. I would say that cost-wise, that for the way the I10k and the IM2K perform, I would feel a whole lot better spending my money on the IM2K. I would rather take the money I saved and put it toward another radio than an antenna that does not perform any better than the one I have up. I guess it's each to his own. Just my thoughts on the subject.
Semper Fi!!!
Harve
Unit199
CEF210
KB0YVK |
Road_warrior
Advanced Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 706
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, July 23, 2005 - 10:02 pm: |
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Thats right, "to each his own". Understand
the facts, go with what you think will
work best in your situation and no matter what
it costs, buy it! You shouldn't have to
explain buying anything to anyone.
Thats like telling someone to buy a $15,000
car when they want a $30,000 truck.
Timeslice, you can buy a Maco V 5/8 and they
work pretty good, maybe it will stay up in
the high winds you get or maybe it won't.
Imax 2000, i won't go there as i had trouble
with them and can't full-heartly recommend
them anylonger. Never had one break in the
wind, never had trouble with them transmitting.
I just can't hear a darn with them because
of excessive noise i get on them around here.
Again, you may get excessive noise or maybe
you won't as they do work good for alot of people.
I bought an I-10k because i'm ready to
mount an antenna and hopefully forget about
it for many, many years. I had Imaxs, i
have a Maco V 5/8, Top one, Starduster, Sigma
4 (copy), big-sticks, A-99 and others.
The 2 i like best are the I-10K and Maco V 5/8.
Sigma 4 copy does ok, but, broke 3 times
in the wind years ago when i ran it. (27 ft long). Good luck on whatever you decide.
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Strykertech
New member
Username: Strykertech
Post Number: 3
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, July 23, 2005 - 11:22 pm: |
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Roadwarrior very well said. Same goes for radios. |
Dale
Intermediate Member
Username: Dale
Post Number: 148
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, July 24, 2005 - 11:20 am: |
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roadwarrior what antenna do u like the best based on assembly,swr tuning ,whitenoise.i got
an imax2k with same noise problems as you |
Road_warrior
Advanced Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 707
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, July 24, 2005 - 3:21 pm: |
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Well Dale, i'm really starting to wonder
if climate and other neighborhood factors have
something to do with why certain antennas
work for some people and not for others.
Or theres factory defects in some. I know people
that don't even ground antennas and there
quiet. Radios are the same way. Some people
get a radio and its quiet, others get it and
its noisy. Guess lifes a chance and you just
got to find out what works best for you.
My 2 favorite antennas are the I-10K and
Maco V 5/8. Study the directions before you
start assembly. Have it in your mind what you want
to do. Get familar with all the pieces and hardware. Then slowly and carefully follow the directions and assemble. Both of these antennas
went together good. I can't remember the
bandwidth of the Maco V 5/8, maybe someone
can answer that one. I set the I-10K
for FREQ 27.505. Channel 27.505 is 1.0 SWR.
FREQ 26.965 (ch 1) is 1.7 SWR
FREQ 28.005 is 1.7 SWR. Used analyzer...
Airplane 1------whats the bandwidth of
your Maco V 5/8 or anyone that has one up
right now???
It's just not the Imax 2000 i had trouble
with noise, but, A-99, Big-sticks here where
i live now. Starduster where i lived before.
Most of my other ones had lower noise floors.
DALE:::::What antennas have you tried and
what was the noise floors like???
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Airplane1
Advanced Member
Username: Airplane1
Post Number: 507
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, July 24, 2005 - 5:11 pm: |
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MACO V 5/8! |
Dale
Intermediate Member
Username: Dale
Post Number: 149
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, July 24, 2005 - 6:28 pm: |
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i tried fiberglass antennas only like imax2k,a-99,army big stick.while most of these had a floor noise it varied with all 3 antennas.if
meory is correct my a-99 was the worst i think.
the imax talks great but what good is that if ya cant hear anyone.ive heard about this from alot
of my friends that use them also so its just coincidence imho.owell i just got a used m103 im
putting up maybe it will be quite enough maybe ill be able 2 hear ya on the cef net.maybe i can
make some contacts too lol |
Road_warrior
Advanced Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 708
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, July 24, 2005 - 9:07 pm: |
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DALE
Maybe we have the PA antenna curse...LOL
No, actually it's mixed around here, some
CBERS get high noise floors, some don't.
Lots of people around here run either the
Imax 2000 or A-99. Mixed conclusions on noise levels by those i ask...Face
it, they have a great bandwidth, screw it
together and it's assembled, easy to put
up. It actually is a great antenna for those
that can benefit from them.
Have you tried different radios on it
to see if has a high noise floor on
other radios??? Well, hopefully the M103
will be quieter for you...
If not, you may have interference coming
from inside or outside your home somewhere.
Let me know i'm curious...Thanks
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Airplane1
Advanced Member
Username: Airplane1
Post Number: 508
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Monday, July 25, 2005 - 8:40 am: |
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Road Warrior,
The Maco v can be tuned from 25Mhz to 50 Mhz according to my maco v instructions. mine is tuned from 25-28Mhz and SWRs are good throu these bands. |
Dale
Intermediate Member
Username: Dale
Post Number: 150
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Monday, July 25, 2005 - 10:22 am: |
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the pa curse lol .what part of pa are u in?in in
northwest pa right on pa/ohio line.i wanna be able 2 hear the cef net every sunday but all i hear is noise.yea i tried other radios my 2950 was quiter.my washington was louder.the washington had a 5db floor noise and the 2950 had 1 bar |
Airplane1
Advanced Member
Username: Airplane1
Post Number: 509
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Monday, July 25, 2005 - 4:49 pm: |
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I wish i could talk to all the west Pa folks, never had any luck. I guess too far for ground wave and to close for skip. |
Road_warrior
Advanced Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 710
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Monday, July 25, 2005 - 5:52 pm: |
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I live right in the center of PA.
25 miles southwest of Penn State univerisity.
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