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Post by Night Ranger on May 4, 2008 12:55:23 GMT -5
Has anyone tried the Solarcon Max-2000 CB vertical with and without the radial kit? If so did it make any difference? I have been skeptical of the radial kit since the radials are not even cut to a resonant 1/4 wave length on th CB band. From what I have read the radials are about 6 feet long. The correct length for 1/4 wave radials on the CB band should be around 8 feet 10 inches.
468 / 27.205 MHz / 2 = 1/4 wave length for a wire antenna.
I am familiar with the I-Max 2000 exposed website, but I wanted to see if anyone could tell any difference in the real world.
P.S. Why does everyone call the Solar Max-2000 antenna an "I-Max 2000". The box that came with my antenna when it arrived from Copper plainly says "Max-2000" in large print on the outside of the box and not "I-Max 2000".
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Sandbagger
Administrator/The Boss 
Posts: 6,250 
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Post by Sandbagger on May 4, 2008 14:02:30 GMT -5
P.S. Why does everyone call the Solar Max-2000 antenna an "I-Max 2000". The box that came with my antenna when it arrived from Copper plainly says "Max-2000" in large print on the outside of the box and not "I-Max 2000". Probably for the same reason people still refer to all the clones of the original Antron 99 as an "A-99" (The one that actually claimed to have 9.9 "db" (db what?) of gain)....... |
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Post by Tinker53 on May 4, 2008 17:01:37 GMT -5
I got the same thing from the same place. So I went looking around and all I found is they are both one in the same. Though I did notice some claim they don't call it the I-Max anymore. Coulda' fooled me.  |
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Post by mrgumby OT21 on May 4, 2008 20:15:38 GMT -5
well mines about 3 yrs old and it says solarcon I max 2000 in black on the antenna and I max 2000 in the paper work as well...got me ...whats the difference?
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Post by Tinker53 on May 4, 2008 21:59:47 GMT -5
I just sent Solarcon and e-mail asking the reason.
I'll let you know when the reply arrives.... ;D
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Post by Tinker53 on May 5, 2008 8:18:08 GMT -5
Ok! Here's what I got from Solarcon about why the I-Max 2000 is now the Max 2000....
"when we applied for a trade mark on I-max, IMAX theaters sued us and made us change the name."
So there's no difference between the two.... ;D
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Post by Tombstone (R.I.P.) on May 5, 2008 9:06:42 GMT -5
Wow, that's all pretty neat information. I would think that the antenna should work better with the radial kit installed. That will probably change the angle of radiation but it should help with better receive and probably won't cause as much interference as if you just used the stick. Just my guess fellas.
Tombstone
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Post by twentytwozero on Jun 11, 2008 14:36:42 GMT -5
I realize this thread hasn't been posted to in awhile, but wanted to relay my experience with/without GPK on the Imax 2000...
When I first put the antenna up I didn't use the GPK. I got a complaint from a neighbor saying I was causing TVI, and every time I keyed up I would turn my daughter's night light on. After installing the GPK I no longer caused TVI with the neighbor and no longer turned my daughter's light on when I keyed up. Another benefit I gained was that it lowered my noise floor by about 2db, making it easier to communicate with distant stations that used to be mixed in with the white noise. Some say they aren't worth the money or time, but in my particular situation installing the GPK was beneficial.
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Post by mark4 on Jun 30, 2008 16:36:34 GMT -5
The ground plane radial length is not that critical with the Imax 2000. It does not rely on the radials. Try shortening the length of your Maco ground radials greatly and your swr's will climb sky high.
But I will tell you I had an antenna with 4ft ground radials. What joke! Still got into everything. The radials on the Imax kit are long enough to have a beneficial effect.
I got into everything when I had a Imax and Antron-99 without ground plane radials.
When I switched to a Maco V5/8 that all went away.
A good ground plane will lower your angle of radiation.
Greatly reduce your chances of causing interference.
And make better use of your signal concentrating your signal at the horizon.
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Post by dgtr43 on Sept 5, 2008 2:08:09 GMT -5
Has anyone heard of the Thunderpole 8 made by Astra Communications? Suppose to be a 5/8 wave base antenna? Any information on this antenna? Worth the purchase?
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