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Message |
    
Hyperno_1979
Intermediate Member
Username: Hyperno_1979
Post Number: 452
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, October 13, 2007 - 8:58 am: | 
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Personal ~ Non - Technical Review.
By
Bob ~ Hyperno_1979
Max 2000 Base Station Antenna
Review.
Antenna was under test for a 4-week period up to 13/10/07 in the Hunter Valley NSW Australia. No super duper test equipment was used only my Dosy TC 3001-P, Hey I’m only a CB'er. 3 different radios were used as the home base, Pearce Simpson Super Bengal Mk 3 (Uniden Madison), Icom IC-725 and Magnum 357DX. Mobile radios were my Uniden AX-144 and on 2 occasions an IC-718 when my bro-in-law was in town. This antenna replaced my over 10 year old Megatron Aluminum 1/2 wave. Testing was 2 weeks without the GPK and 2 weeks with the GPK. SWR readings to me were 1.5:1 on 27.355, 1.3:1 on 28.360 and 1.6:1 on 24.975. Seems too fairly broad banded. As an experiment I tested the SWR On 14.265 and to my amazement it was 1.2:1. Dunno....I’m no expert just telling
you what I saw.
First 2 weeks.
Antenna was installed on the same mast in the same location with the same coax as always used without the GPK. Immediately there was a change in things. Background (white) noise was measured at S-7 on the Icom and S-5 on the Bengal. 357 was out of action at this time due to no mic. Even using the attenuator on the 725 only managed to drop it to S-2/3. This was day or night and never changed. My beloved Deb CEF 783 was manning the home base whilst I was out in the mobile taking readings on the trusty old AX-144. On the old 1/2 wave we could carry a qso up to about 30km from home but the noise in the base
made it impossible once I was out of town. I lost her transmissions after about 10km. My eldest daughter lives approx. 30km north of us and using the Magnum when the mic worked Deb sounded like she was in the car behind me, now using the 725 about 80% of her was unreadable and she could not copy me at all. Things thus far are not looking good for the Max.
Second 2 weeks.
On the second weekend I put the ground plane kit under the Max 2000. Straight away was another change. White noise had dropped to near zero....just a little as was the case for years previously. Enough to let me know the radio was on. I could hear things that were totally obliterated for the previous 2 weeks. Tests in the mobile were back to what they were with the old 1/2 wave. Deb was loud and clear at my daughters place as well as the usual spots noted
before. Seems the GPK makes a lot of difference to these antennae. Even managed to work the (at the moment) rare local rubbish skip on a couple of nights. Hmmmmm....things look a bit better.
Overview.
In my opinion the GPK should be part of the antenna, NOT an optional extra. Especially as they sell here from $259 to over $500...and that my friends is WITHOUT the GPK. Add approx another $150 for that and it can be a very expensive exercise. But as I have found, without the GPK, the Max 2000 is nothing more than a 24' stick. After installing the kit it transformed it
into something like an antenna. All the research I did before buying it all pointed to it being a good to great antenna. Sorry to burst the bubble guys but it is neither to me, almost good ....far from great. Close but no cigar.
I still can't get my head around having to buy the GPK as an extra just to get the thing to actually work....unbelievable!
Closing Comment's.
This is my first fiberglass home base antenna and I can tell you without reservation it will be the last. For my location and application it just doesn't cut the custard against aluminum vertical. As I said at the start, I am no antenna expert nor do I pretend to be. I'm just stating my own observations at my QTH. I'm expecting the hate mail to start flooding in shortly.
Cop ya's later on voice chat.
Respectfully Submitted,
Bob
Hyperno_1979
CEF#703 / CVC#026
Hunter Valley NSW Australia.
CEFFFCEF
Bob
CEF703/CVC26
NOT allowed to hold a passport....
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Starface
Senior Member
Username: Starface
Post Number: 1555
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, October 13, 2007 - 11:28 am: |
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Bob sometimes location isn't always the best for different antenna.
Over the years I have found 2 different antenna both being a 5/8 wave.
and one doing better then the other in the same location.
As you found that out under the test with the 2 antenna you have in the same location.
Your seeing a better antenna in Megatron Aluminum 1/2 wave there.
If I used that one here in Florida it may be the worst antenna.
And then their are those that live in a Hot Spot and can throw a hanger out the window and hit everything in the world, while others live in a dead spot and put up sometime like a maco 500 and never hear a sound.
Only thing we can do is experiment with different antenna till we find the one that works best at our location.
Nice Review, Thanks 73 George
STARFACE
CEF#476
KI4NBE
HAM#181
CVC#Ø14
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Dale
Senior Member
Username: Dale
Post Number: 1202
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, October 13, 2007 - 8:27 pm: |
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i agree with starface.however my imax is very nooisy on recieve.even with my 2510 the white noise is s1-s2.on my uniden 76 its almost unbearablke.so excessive noise is a p[roblem ive
heard before your not the first.good review
dale/a.k.a.hotrod
cef426
cvc#64
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Hyperno_1979
Intermediate Member
Username: Hyperno_1979
Post Number: 459
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, October 20, 2007 - 7:20 am: |
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So far guys it has been working ok with the GPK. Today had the US in on 38, 6 and 11. Didn't make contact but i heard ya's!!!!. Most of the locals i've spoken to about the Max all have a 3, 4, even 6 element beam underneath them so to me the GPK is essential. George...i agree. i used to live right on Lake Macquarie and could work with a coathanger....lol.And Dale...i wish you could come over here and hear the difference the GPK makes to the noise level. I honestly can't describe it well enough. Thanks for the input there gentlemen.
CEFFFCEF
Bob
CEF703/CVC26
269 Hunter Valley
NOT allowed to hold a passport....
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Dale
Senior Member
Username: Dale
Post Number: 1227
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, October 20, 2007 - 9:27 am: |
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glad everything is working out good forya
dale/a.k.a.hotrod
cef426
cvc#64
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Gijon
New member
Username: Gijon
Post Number: 9
Registered: 1-2007
| | Posted on Friday, January 11, 2008 - 2:48 am: |
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Has anyone had any experience with Solarcon customer service. My antenna collapsed during our recent storm here in California. The antenna is rated at 100mph and we did not encounter gusts over 50mph in my area. My I-MAX 2000 collapsed and folded over like a wet noodle. I contacted the manufacturer right away including photos. That was 1 week ago and they have not replied. I consider that to be poor customer service. I really am pleased with the performance of the antenna, but the quality on this one was not as good as I would expect. It is only 1 year old and we have not had any harsh weather that would deteriorate or degrade the integrity in that short amount of time. I have attached a photo. Anyone with ideas or experience on this subject?
MODERATOR NOTE!
Please see Gijon's REDUCED by 50% picture below in this topic.
It's Only a Hobby!
RC Man
919
CEF #874
N6ELO
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852
Intermediate Member
Username: 852
Post Number: 401
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Friday, January 11, 2008 - 12:23 pm: |
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Based on that pic, makes me ejoy my compact yet effective Top One Astroplane that much more!!!
Tommy~852~CEF 750
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Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 15066
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Friday, January 11, 2008 - 4:04 pm: |
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Gijon's picture below Reduced 50% by using the LINK below.
CLICK HERE > FREE online Picture Resizer
Lon~Tech808
CEF#808/HAM#001/CVC#002
Tech808@copperelectronics.com
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Hyperno_1979
Advanced Member
Username: Hyperno_1979
Post Number: 609
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, April 03, 2008 - 10:03 am: |
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Well....had to go to Newcastle for a doctor's appointment today. Weather beareau warned of gale force winds. Came home to the top of my Max 2000 180 degrees to where it was when i left.
WHAT A POS.
Ok i made my first and then some decent contacts into the US on it but really it should have stood up to more than the winds we got here today!!!!
Job for me tomorrow it to pull down what's left of the 2000 and put my 1/2 wave aluminium back up. Thank my lucky stars the council has a cleanup day coming so the Max 2000 will be top of the heap for them to take away. Talk about blowing my money up the latrine!!
CEFFFCEF
Bob
CEF703/CVC26
269 Hunter Valley
NOT allowed to hold a passport....
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Road_warrior
Senior Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 2177
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, April 06, 2008 - 12:17 am: |
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Jeez, sorry to see things like this happen...Does look like a wet noodle hanging there.
RoadWarrior
CEF 375
Tyrone, Pa 16686 |
