| KM2B |
Rating:     |
2020-10-29 | |
| Long lasting, simple to install and can work on 10m-17m. |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
Solarcon Max 2000 or iMax 2000 Review.
When I returned to radio in 2012 after a many, many year hiatus, I first returned to CB radio. I had an old Cobra 148 GTL from the early 1990’s and decided to hook it up again.
After reviewing much on-line information using google’s amazing search engine capability, I settled on what seemed to be a good antenna: Something called the Solarcon Max 2000.
I ordered it from Amazon, for, at that time $105. It arrived well boxed, and, very easy to put together. I did not order the ground plane kit having heard that it made the antenna narrow banded in the 11m range. I had read the antenna was wide band covering a few higher amateur bands if used without radials.
I installed the antenna In September of 2012, originally, at 6 feet, there were still a few folks on CB radio. I began using the old GTL on various channels, chatted with a few folks, and, one day, as part of my reading, realized that the Amateur licensing exams had dropped the morse code requirement way back in 2007. It really is too bad I did not see it then. My kids were still little, 9 years old, perfect age to get into Radio.
Then Hurricane Sandy hit NY. Although I was in Rochester, Sandy roared over my area with winds in the 70-80mph range for 2.5 days. The antenna was at 6 ft on 1 inch steel pipe, not guyed. I saw it bent double many times during that storm, it whipped all over the place for 2 days. The antenna is very flexible and will bend to seemingly impossible angles without breaking. After the storm it stood straight back up and worked fine. So, I would say, now, 8 years later, that the antenna is robust to many, many high wind storms. In Rochester, every November, we get high wind fronts in the 50-70 mph. The antenna remains up, although, the fiberglass is starting to shed.
The antenna seemed to work very well on CB and at one point I chatted from Rochester to Buffalo and another time way up in the Adirondacks. Note, the solar cycle peak coincided with my re-entry into radio. But, I could work anything I could hear, and, we had not started importing lights from China that gave off S9 AM noise yet.
At any rate, I sat for the Amateur tech exam, and, passed. I then needed an Amateur radio and, as noted in my review on the FT-1000MP on my qrz.com page, found that beautiful radio. I drove a ground rod outside my basement window, removed the window and made a removable panel that passes coax through, and hooked up the FT-1000MP just in time for the 10m contest in December.
Wow, what a contest it was! Of course, it was also near the peak of the last solar cycle peak in the 2012-2014 time frame. But, the Solarcon, which had a great SWR in the 29-28.9 MHz region, worked very well. I made more than 100 contacts in that contest beginning my walk toward DXCC.
I used the Solarcon as my main antenna until 2014 when I installed a 40m dipole. The solarcon remains, to this day, the only antenna I have for contacts on 17m, 15m, 12m and 10m.
At this time I have DXCC mixed, 95 of the contacts made on SSB with 100Watts with this antenna. I managed to get Svalbard and FT5ZM both on 17m. FT5ZM was 11,000 miles away at the time. Most of this outcome is propagation, but, the antenna works when propagation is good.
As noted by W8JI (see references on my qrz.com page), the antenna IS affected by the surroundings including the mast. I have had four different SWR profiles from the antenna depending on what exists below it which I have posted at my qrz.com page as well. First, is the raw antenna profile mounted on a 6 foot post, which, amazingly, keeps the 17m SWR below 2.8. Usable. However, when I raised the bottom of the antenna to 30 feet with a push up pole, the absence of radials resulted in very high 17m SWR. So, I added 3 16foot radials in the form of wire wrapped around the guy ropes and the SWR for 17m promptly dropped to 2.4, again, usable. I then added a 40m dipole beneath the solarcon on the same mast and this made the min SWR occur at 15m, and, changed the propagation of the antenna. See my qrz.com page for more information.
Summary of SWR response. The Solarcon Max 2000, in its 2012 incantation, was very able to be used on 10m-17m with SWR response on those bands below 2.5.
NOTE: There is a report of a recent change to the antenna that has shortened each length of the three sections of the Solarcon so that the antenna now resonates naturally NOT on the CB band but on 10m. I have not tested this reported version which is 2 inches shorter on each section apparently. If that is true, it is unfortunate. Because, the old antenna worked just fine on 10m already.
I now have DXCC mixed, of which 95 of my contacts were made with this antenna. Assuming the original antenna that I bought can be purchased, I would recommend this antenna to anyone wanting to get into Amateur Radio at the top of a Solar Cycle. At the bottom of the cycle, the bands it covers are pretty dead. Not much activity.
I would offer that the only downside of the antenna is the shedding of fiberglass after 8 years of ownership. This can be countered, I think, by painting the antenna with a latex based paint at intervals.
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| WA4JUK |
Rating:      |
2020-05-05 | |
| Distance worked remarkable. |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| I placed an IMAX 2000 5 ft above ground with the radial kit almost touching the ground in heavy forested QTH. It is a quick replacement for 10 and 15 meters as the beam for those bands is down. Low sunspots but did make a Virginia to New Zealand (7,000 mile) CW contact 559 plus others bouncing in to South and Central American with good reports. Handles power well and the SWR reading all 1.5 to 1 or less. Assembled quickly seems able to handle weather well. |
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| K3TCR |
Rating:      |
2018-07-22 | |
| Versatile, effective |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| I bought my Imax 2000 for $30 used. It was painted black and came with a ground plane kit too. I was told it was 10 years old. Been using it for nearly 5 years. mounted on 20' of pipe that is rested in the highest crotch of my maple tree that I could reach with a 36' bucket truck. I use it on 10 through 15 meters (15M with a tuner). At approx. 80' to the tip it performs extremely well, and I always hear stations anyone on my area can hear and occasionally some they can not. Ground wave or DX, this think excels. When it gives up the ghost I will replace it with a new MAX2000. |
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| KG4BFR |
Rating:     |
2018-03-04 | |
| Lightning Rod |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
This is a fiberglass antenna with a copper wire running inside....and attracts lighting .....The Maco V58 Aluminum Ground Plane Antenna made in USA is a better Antenna and for about $100....I have a V58 in service 28 years....and parts are available if needed.
73 KG4BFR |
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| K5RWD |
Rating:      |
2018-03-04 | |
| Best Veritcal Easily |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
This antenna is hard (almost impossible) to beat. I have used may verticals but this hands down beats them all in most categories. It's light, easy to install, has the best gain factor your can get in a vertical, and is inexpensive. I see a few others on here giving it a bad review, which is just crazy. They must have had a botched install or live in a bad location. This antenna is DC grounded, so it's not really a lightning rod like some would think. Yes, it's in the air and is susceptible to lightning, however if you run an Alpha Delta or some other lightning protector to a 9 foot ground rod, that will draw the electrons away from the antenna and also helps keep it a bit quieter.
BTW..the Antron 99 is nowhere near the performance of this antenna at my location. |
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| K8ZPO |
Rating:      |
2017-01-14 | |
| Good deal |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| For an inexpensive vertical you just can't beat it. Mine has been swinging like a cane pole in the wind with no ill effects for 12 years. I even have another new one in the box for when this one gives up the ghost. |
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| KK4EYX |
Rating:      |
2016-10-21 | |
| Excellent 10m antenna! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I have had this antenna for about 2 years now. Being new to Ham, I wanted to get onto 10m the easiest way possible. I ordered this (and the ground plane kit) and stuck it atop a 20' pole that is attached to the side of my house.
My install was a bit cumbersome with using the tuning ring, sticking the antenna up, and then checking it with an analyzer but after 5 or so tries, we got it flat on 28.500MHz.
Paired up to my TS-940, this is a GREAT 10m antenna. Flat 1.1SWR all over 10m, I can make Phone and PSK31 contacts all over the world on 10m. I can force it onto 12, and 15, and sometimes on 17 (albeit with a horrible SWR). I have managed ONE contact on 20m with it, but it was unbearable. But for 10m, I cannot recommend it enough.
The only negative is the hardware is not stainless steel on the ground plane kit and I will be taking it down for a multi-band antenna here shortly and all the screws are rusted. But I would buy this in a heartbeat again.
Also, living in Florida, it has been through 3 Hurricanes/Tropical Storms with sustained winds up to 60mph and it hasn't budged. It is flexible and will whip but after almost 3 years in the Florida sun, the fiberglass hasn't failed yet. |
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| W1UFL |
Rating:      |
2016-06-08 | |
| Excellent Antenna |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
| I've had this for about 3 months. I consistently use it on 10-20 meters. Even on 20 meters it makes contacts easily, but requires an external tuner to bring the SWR's flat. It's certainly a compromise on 20 but it works. SWR's are ok without a tuner from 10-17. Mine is about 35' to the tip with no ground plane kit. I drive it with about 1kw out of an SB-1000. Can't say enough good about the IMAX. We'll see how long it holds up. |
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| W2PSK |
Rating:      |
2016-05-24 | |
| Great antenna! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I purchased this antenna in 1999. It made it through 2 winters in a cold a blustery Newport, RI and have been used in several locations since. 17 years after purchasing it, it's still working great! With a tuner, I use this antenna from 10 - 17 meters. Most of what I use it for is digital mode and that is mostly DX.
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Earlier 5-star review posted by W2PSK on 2009-11-08
I've had this antenna since 1999. It's withstood the cold windy winter in Newport, RI as well as many winters in New Jersey. I've seen the antenna bend quite a bit and it has never cracked or broken. I used it on CB before techs were allowed on 10m and now I use it on 10m. It works great without any tuning required. I only talk 28.3 - 28.5, but the SWR is fantastic. It has no problem handling the 100w from my FT-857D.
As a 5/8 antenna for 10m, it outperforms any other 10m vertical. I've got mine mounted about 7 feet about the crest of my roof and I talk 40 - 50 miles ground wave. |
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| KK4PIV |
Rating:  |
2015-12-25 | |
| average for a year?? |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| I started Ham in 2013. I put up a 45 year old Antenna Specialists Super Magnum which my brother and I had used as teen agers. The antenna was great and performed great at 20 ft. I switched to the Imax 2000, had trouble with my local contacts, daily on 28.358 9pm eastern, at the same 20 ft. I moved the antenna up to 30 ft. to match the performance of the oldie. The antenna is broad-banded, I think that is it's claim to fame. The antenna failed in about a year, coil issue. I just purchased a Super Penetrator and wished I had at the beginning. I have friends that are satisfied with the antenna, one other had a failure. Will review the HPT-500(super penetrator) in the next week or so. |
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