| Author |
Message |
    
mikefromms
| | Posted on Saturday, July 05, 2003 - 7:02 pm: | 
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A lot of people are running I-max 2000's on this site. Tell me what you think about your I-max compared to what you have used? Also, tell me what you think about the GP-kit? Tell us your I-max 2000 owners opinion and advise to potential owners in the future.
"Unit 48 is clear."
mikefromms |
Alsworld
| | Posted on Saturday, July 05, 2003 - 11:13 pm: |
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Mikefromms,
I run the IMAX 2000 with the GPK. When I bought it from Coppers awhile ago, there was no GPK available. I read Tech833 review of the IMAX prior to buying where he stated sometghing to the affect that it would benefit from the GPK. When it became available, it spent the few extra bucks and installed it. My antenna feed point was 45ft.
Did I notice a difference myself? No, honestly I did not. But....and in all honesty, my local friends (1 was about 12 miles to the closest, all the rest 20+ miles) could always here me, very loud and clear). Skip, I normally ran barefoot but could talk just as much as they could, and most of them ran additional power. Yeah, that was probably all conditions in reality but I sure did talk alot. I was way away from them and could always talk especially on a quiet night or day) some pretty long distances on groundwave.
Was it the GPK that gave me the advantage? I cannot give you a solid answer. All I can say is my station went from being a mudduck to a large station within a year, running with no power besides stock (not tuned up, no clipped limiters or amps), but the heighth of the antenna, grounding, and low loss double shielded great quailty coax all went into play as well. This is compared to a Radio RipOff 1/2 wave 10M/CB ham antenna. For what it's worth, two of my friends (at 20+ miles) did run those same antennas and they worked great for them, but their heighth was the same or higher than mine.
My bottom line is this. I trusted Tech833's advise as an independant evaluator and spent the money. I cannot say if I noticed any difference in reality, but if I did it all over again, I would do exactly the same and purchase the GPK. I know that probably helps you none at all, but all I can say is I have some serious faith in that antenna. Is it the best? Heck I don't know as each will work in their own surroundings better than another, but it is a very good antenna for the price. With Tech833 doing antenna testing at a place designed for it, I followed his review and spent the cash. No regrets brother from me.
Alsworld |
Ironmask
| | Posted on Saturday, July 05, 2003 - 11:58 pm: |
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Mikefromms,
To add to Al's comments.
I ran the I-Max 2000 without the GPK before the review was written. My height and location caused a large TVI problem with out telephones. Not the TV.
Based on past experience I ordered the GPK, installed it and also had a long talk with the phone company. Result was no more TVI and better receive.
To clarify, We have had a total redo in our area of all power lines, phone lines and cable lines. There were some mistakes made during the rush to beat the time deadline.
With out the GPK and the wrong installation of the phone line I was using the phone line as a receive antenna thus the phone TVI. After the GPK was installed the angle of take off was changed thus not directing to the phone line. Then, they changed the phone line.
This is just my humble opinion and I hope it will help in some small way.
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Twa77
| | Posted on Sunday, July 06, 2003 - 6:53 pm: |
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i RAN mine with the gpk. the reason i put on the gpk was to try to get rid of tvi. as far as antenna performance i feel it may have improved my signal in the 25-40 mile range. but i have no scientific way to prove it.also when i put on the gpk i also raised the antenna 8 feet.that may bias my results. is still have the gpk, but my imax is dead we had a wind storm up here in south dakota with winds 60mph+. the antenna broke where the fiberglass goes into the metal piece at the bottom of the middle section. somewher on this forum i read there was a batch of imaxes that had been drilled out to much on that piece. i think i may have gotten one of the defects. my question to you is how is that astroplane? tx range rx etc. i might try one due to the high winds. as far as the imax it is a rock solid performer IT WILL TALK FAR. |
mikefromms
| | Posted on Sunday, July 06, 2003 - 11:17 pm: |
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Twa 77, sorry about your I-max 2000. Maybe you should try to get another one. Maybe it would not be defective.
You asked about the AP. Well, it's doing a great job for the height it's at. I still need to put the good coax on it and raise it a couple more feet away from the metal air fan on the house. I'm getting good comments out in dx and the locals say it is producing a good signal. Really haven't tried it out past 25 miles yet, but I'm confident it will do it.
My swr is running 3.0 on 26.000, 1.8 on 27.2050, 1.2 on 28.000, 1.6 on 28.500 and back to 3.0 on 28.940. That's a pretty good spread, but as I said, I still need to raise it up some more and change out the Rad Shack coax. I think no matter what we have, we probably find ourselves wanting something else. I think this antenna is going to be fine.
As far as wind goes, I think this think could stand up to a hurricane. The way it fits on a pole or around a pole makes it solid in the wind and it's very light.
You might want to check out the new Army Big stick. It's not quite as broadbanded, I don't think, but it gets good reports. Again, don't rule out another I-max. I think we are blessed with a good selection of antennas these days that get the job done.
Hope that helps.
Mikefromms |
Tech833
| | Posted on Monday, July 07, 2003 - 10:02 pm: |
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Twa,
I have an Imax 2000 middle section that would be yours for the cost of shipping. |
Twa77
| | Posted on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 1:31 pm: |
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thanks but i broke the top section to when i took it down. anyways i think i am going to wail until fall.then i think i will try something different, possibly aluminum. still undecided what to get. i have been seriosly thinking about the astroplane. have to get some stuff done around the house. reshingle etc. i had a tree that was uprooted in the yard the wind blew it over took the roots right out of the ground. the winds were over 100 mph. this left about a 15 foot wide by 8 foot deep hole in the yard |
Tech833
| | Posted on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 8:09 pm: |
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15 foot wide by 8 foot deep hole for the tower base you mean.... |
Twa77
| | Posted on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 11:28 pm: |
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hey theres an idea |
Twa77
| | Posted on Friday, July 25, 2003 - 6:19 pm: |
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heres something ive been pondering
if i got that middle from 833 could i use a ss whip for the top section. then i'd be back in buisness
twa77
357 south dakota |
Stickshift
| | Posted on Friday, July 25, 2003 - 8:15 pm: |
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twa77,
I've got a fiberglass top section you can have. Stop over sometime and pick it up.
73's
stickshift |
Kc0gxz
| | Posted on Friday, July 25, 2003 - 10:05 pm: |
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Twa77
Yes you can. Cut it down to the approximent of the original. Even though the SS whip is a bit heavier, the wind-load will not be as much since it is much thinner.
I haven't done this myself but I know a couple of operators who have.
One of them is a Ham who claims he is using the whole 102 inches and can cover 17 thru 12 meters. Personally, I would have to see that to believe it.
However, it would be interesting to know what the resulting wavelength is, not to mention the wave pattern.
Jeff, kc0gxz. |
Taz
| | Posted on Friday, August 01, 2003 - 2:30 am: |
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Without. When I ran it. |
Alsworld
| | Posted on Saturday, August 02, 2003 - 12:55 am: |
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I had the IMAX 2000 without the GPK when it was not available.
Then it became available and I bought/installed it.
Now I trashed the GPK putting it up in the new location because I was stupid, so now I run without it.
It rocks, bottom line, with or without the GPK.
If I can figure out how to get the GPK back up that tree without killing myself, I'll re-install it. If not, I'll run without it. Not that great of a deal to worry about.
Alsworld |
Bullet
| | Posted on Saturday, August 02, 2003 - 1:55 am: |
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as stated above trim it to stock length and it should work ive seen it done on antron 99's |
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