| KC8ZKI |
Rating:      |
2006-01-13 | |
| UNREAL DX |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
First ten minutes of operation from my Ohio QTH I heard QSO's from:
Georgia, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Canada, Lousiana, and New Jersey.
2.0 VSWR on the MFJ analyzer 21.600~30.800, no other antenna I have tested has ever been so flat over such large bandwidth. Its 1.0 to 1.1 across 11M's and 1.2 to 1.3 across 10M!!
Broke the squelch of my local ham friends FM rig that was on his desk, without an antenna connected, 3.8 miles away. He said I was 5-7 into the RIG without an antenna and 5-9 40 over on the radio that was connected.
Don't believe others that try to badmouth this antenna and state that a dipole would do just as well, I have a well tuned commercial half wave 10M dipole and the MAX2000 is simply worlds better in performance and usable bandwidth without a tuner.
MADE IN USA is also nice to read even if I do think the build quality of my foriegn made Comet GP-3 is far superior.
By the way, all the QSO's I mentioned above were heard on 11M, 10M was empty, as is normally the case. Instead of trying to find a blank spot on 20 try calling CQ on 10, you might be surprised at the results.
I was pleasently surprised to hear the difference in operating practice between the CB LSB DX'ers and the regular AM locals.
73's all
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| N4NYY |
Rating:      |
2005-12-02 | |
| Great 10-17M antenna for $85 ! |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
I purchased this ($85) originally for my Uniden Grant LT CB when I talk to locals. I put it up about 36 feet, and attached the ground plane kit (more on that later). SWR was flat across the CB band. When I got my Icom 746, I decided to try it on 10-12-15-17. The SWR was flat at 10-12, 1.8:1 on 15, and 3.0:1 on 17. My Icom tuner tuned it no problem. I tried it on 20M, but forget it. Working DX was a breeze and great on 10-17M.
As far as the ground plane kit, I purchased it and attached it only because it would have been easier to put it on during the initial install. So I don't know if it helps or not. But it's sure isn't hurting. I have it grounded to a ground rod, and the receive is super quiet on any band I use it on, for both my radios. Based on my experience, I would recommend the ground plane kit.
I have since put up a Hustler 5BTV to use on 20-40-80M. I now use the Imax on the CB. But, I know one thing for a fact. When the cycle is favorable, I will use my Imax for 10-12-15-17 DXing. It does quite well on 11 meters for local distance. But the receive is where this antenna shines. For it's $85 price (plus $40 for the GP kit), you cannot beat it. |
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| VE9TS |
Rating:     |
2005-11-21 | |
| I have one used one .. |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| I have the Imax 2000 and it seems to work good, but I get a lot of static noise on mine. I talked with a chap in England, who he said he took his down and sold it for that very reason. One day a couple of CB radio guys came by and offered to trade me a new PDL-II beam for it. I thought about it, but changed my mind. One of them said I should get a 1/4 wave whip from radio shack and replace the one on the Imax because they have been know to break in a lot of wind? Anyway, other then the noise, I liked it's performance and how it tunes quite well on other bands. I plan to move it from 30 feet to about 45. Overall, a pretty good vertical antenna. |
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| SANBORN_EX_AD9DX |
Rating:     |
2005-02-08 | |
| Good, might need radials added for best performance |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
Comparison:
Same 213 coax
Same 4 local stations, 2-37 miles
Same 2 DX stations 350/1100 miles
Same power, swr, radio, install location
Same day
28.410mHz
SWR 1.15:1 all
~100 watts
Antron ......................... average S-6
Imax 2000 .................... average S-8
Hy-Gain 500 Alum 5/8 ... average S-9 to S-9+3dB
RX duplicated TX results.
I was disappointed I couldn't get Aluminum 5/8 performance from the fiberglass offerings.
-Might try adding 1/4 wave radials to the IMAX 2000 then retest and post results.
Rated 4/5 as it has not yet performed as well as Aluminum 5/8(with radials) -hope it will once 1/4 wave radials are added.
Too many local RF probs with Antron99, therefore it's rating of 2/5. |
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| FHWIII |
Rating:      |
2004-11-07 | |
| lived through Hurricane Ivan |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
Well, the Cushcraft R-8 with guy wires is down, the Cushcraft a50-5s 5 element 6 meter beam is down, the Cushcraft 124-wb 4 element 2 meter beam is down, the Diamond v-2000a 6&2 meter, 70 cm verticle is down. HOWEVER, the I-MAX-2000 is still standing tall. Hurricane Ivan twisted all the big guns into scrap but the I-max refused to give up to the 100 mph winds that lifted my front poarch off it's foundation and placed it on the top of my roof. I didn't get to see the devestation, but I'll bet the top section of the I-MAX was horizontal most of the time.
Get on the loud pedal, Fred |
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| KS4HY |
Rating:      |
2004-02-14 | |
| Great performer |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I have been using the Solarcon Max-2000 (no longer called I-Max) for over a year, and I am very pleased with it. This antenna excels at both local contacts and skip contacts in excess of 1500 miles. I have found that a 28 MHz 1/2 wave dipole at 20 feet above the ground will out perform the Max 2000 mounted at 75 feet when talking to skip stations closer than 1500 miles, but the Max 2000 will blow away the dipole when talking to skip stations 1800+ miles away. At about 1500 miles the Max-2000 seems to be about even with the dipole. I attribute the performance difference to the low angle of radiation offered by the .64 wave Max 2000 verses the high angle of radiation offered by a 1/2 wave dipole at 20 feet.
The antenna came up on 27.205 MHz with a 1.1/1 SWR with no adjustment. The SWR on 28 MHz is below 2.0 up to about 28.7 MHz. If you want to cover the entire ten meter ham band (28.0 to 29.7) without an antenna tuner you will need to shorten the top whip. The antenna is also usable on 12 meters.
Michael Rawls
KS4HY |
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| WA2JJH |
Rating:    |
2003-05-26 | |
| UPDATE AFTER @ YEARS OF USE |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
As others noted the construction has much to be desired. However add a few radials, and it will perform decently on 20 meters. Worked my share of DX.
I added their fiber glass continousely loaded radials. 6 feet long. The radial kit adds on in 2 minutes. You do not have to bring down the antenna.The radial kit is about $30
I also added some wire radials as well.
Yes the construction is cheap. However for a $100 investment(antenna+radials) it aint too bad.
Do not even bother using this antenna below 30 meters. A long wire will work better.
However for 10-20 meters, with radials added it is the cheapest vertical you can buy.
The all fiber glass construction is a big plus.
The top section swings around as others noticed.
However it has been on my NYC roof for over two years. It has held up ultra well. I had an all alumunum vertical that did not servive a NYC winter.
Like with any vertical, radials give lower angle of radiation and better impedence matching.
One can buy the antenna, then read many articals on EHAM on how simple wire radials will make any vertical really perform.
I have many 20 meter DX contacts with the IMAX-2000, with radials of course.
15 meters this antenna is as good as any vertical. It provides half wave performance.
That is why it loads up on 15 meters with no antenna tuner.
10-12 meters this antenna is second to none.
worked California regularly on 10 meter FM.
With only 100Watts, I get reports of 20 over 9.
For field use this antenna is great. One can assemble in 5 minutes, with the all important radials.
Yes, I do admit with the 3 fiber glass radials,,the antenna looks like a CB antenna.
I could care less!
Do not use over 100W with this antenna! The 1KW rating is bogus! Perhaps it handles the full kilowatt only on 10 meters, if you got a good IMAX-2000. Quality control is not great with this antenna.
The IMAX-2000 has such a great spread in opinion. If you got one that blew out or broke, it gets a 1 or a zero.
If you got a GOOD one, you will give it a 5 rating.
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| KB0QWD |
Rating:      |
2003-05-24 | |
| I-max 2000 great ant |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
| My I-Max2000 has been a very good antenna.It by far out performs the A-99. I do have the ground plane kit on the I-max 2000. The receive is a lot better and the audio out quality is alot better. I run a FT-847 that has moni on it so I can hear the audio.It works great on 11-meter.I did'nt use the washers that came with the antenna I used star washers. Just thought i'd throw that in. |
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| N2DY |
Rating:     |
2003-04-18 | |
| Very Good Performance for the Price |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I use the I-Max 2000 on 10 meters. I cut the whip down by about 11 inches so that it would resonate properly. Simply turning those tuning rings only matches the antenna and does not change the antenna's true resonant frequency.
Contrary to what some believe, this is not simply a copy of the A-99. The A-99 is a half wave antenna and the I-Max is a 5/8 wave antenna. I have used both mounted in the same location on my roof and the I-Max definitely outperforms the A-99. It doesn't matter whether you call it a CB antenna or an amateur antenna, a 5/8 wave radiator is still just a 5/8 wave radiator. Who it is marketed to does not change its electrical properties.
I agree with most about the wimpy construction. It amazes me that the antenna is still up after several years. It really bends in the wind. On the other hand, because of this, it is extremely lightweight for a 24 foot antenna and can be mounted on just about any mount.
The antenna is cheap enough that if it breaks, I will not be put in the poor house (provided it does not punch a hole in the roof). I have friends that use the Shakespeare equivalent and it appears to have much stronger, but heavier, construction. If the I-Max goes, I may try the Shakespeare. |
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| K9KJM |
Rating:    |
2003-04-18 | |
| Bends in the wind |
Time Owned: N.A. |
This thing really is longer than its strength
should allow...... In any type of wind it
REALLY whips about. I side mounted one, and had
to add a length of PVC pipe to the bottom of the
top section to keep it from banging in to the tower! (Mounted 36" out from the tower)
A plain old A 99 on top of the tower outperforms
the IMax 2000 (Not a fair comparison as the A99 is top mounted and the IMax is side mounted)
On 10-11-15 meters. The IMax 2000 seemed to work a little better on 11 meters, So that antenna went
to my son's CB radio, And I use the top mounted A99 for 10 and 15 meters.
The A99 seems to be somewhat easier to tune up on
10 and 15 than the IMax 2000.
Been up for more than 3 years now, And I am supprised that it is still up, As even with the PVC support, The top section still sometimes whips in to the tower! It might seem a little
better down near ground level......
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Earlier 4-star review posted by K9KJM on 2002-05-10
The I-Max 2000 antenna is a good performing antenna, but is BIG! very long and really whips around in the wind if left unsupported. I have one side mounted, with a PVC pipe section holding the top of the I MAX 2000 from whipping in to the tower......... Have not tried it with any type of ground radial kit, performs almost as good side mounted at 40 feet up as the A-99 with radial kit top mounted at 55 feet....... (Ground wave) |
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