I’ve been thinking of taking down my IMAX 2k and going with either Sirio 827 or a Maco BA1 . I have the IMAX up at 20 ft way over tge roof of my home and SWR is 1.3 . I do a lot of DX on LSB and if seems like I’m not getting any response when I ask for a radio signal report. I’m using a president Lincoln 2 + and I have the deal key set at 2 watts and swings 35 and amplifier set at 150 eatts . I’ve done a lot of research on both and I’m not sure of its worth my time to put up a ground plane or leave the imax up ?
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Base antenna
- Thread starter KOK5CY
- Start date
DX stations can't always hear you due to other, more powerful stations calling them. That won't necessarily be cured by putting up a different antenna. I remember having to call a DX station five or more times before they heard me.
How old is your IMAX? SWR of 1.3 is very good so the antenna does not appear to have any issues. Have you tried getting signal reports from locals?
How old is your IMAX? SWR of 1.3 is very good so the antenna does not appear to have any issues. Have you tried getting signal reports from locals?
The antenna might be 4 months old this is the 2nd one I had to replace because the 1st one fell down to the ground and split the tip and it was beyond repair so I bought another one just like it . Far as locals I don’t know what ch they run on but I’ll be listening later today and hopefully make a contact .
Thanks for your input
Thanks for your input
You can always try calling for a signal report on Ch 19. There could be truckers passing through who are listening, especially if you are near any major roads / highways. Also, the band has not been great in recent weeks for DX.
Good luck and keep us posted.
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I'd never count on just calling for a signal report on DX, that's too iffy. As was mentioned, try and find someone local and see what they think. The 10/11 meter bands are always up and down, and on any given day you may talk thousands of miles and the next nada as far as skip goes. I use an Imax 2K for 10, 11, 12, and 15 meters that's probably right at 30 years old now, works great for DX and does pretty well on local coms at only 20 feet up to the base.
707ways2Sunday
Member
I doubt your antenna is your problem. Conditions here have been anemic lately. It takes some work to make contacts. Been spoiled by the fall and winter conditions where I could make contacts virtually at will. Regardless of how much power I am, or am not running.
When conditions are low like they are a lot loose interest which further decreases the traffic Mother Nature has already attenuated. So under these conditions I make noise on even what appear to be dead frequencies. Never know who is out there with their radio on just waiting for things to pick up.
When conditions are low like they are a lot loose interest which further decreases the traffic Mother Nature has already attenuated. So under these conditions I make noise on even what appear to be dead frequencies. Never know who is out there with their radio on just waiting for things to pick up.
707ways2Sunday
Member
Just thought I would mention, the BA1 it’s just a halfwave dipole. Just my preference, but I pretty much always have an antenna horizontally polarized along with my vertical.. have never purchased a manufactured dipole though, too easy to make!!!
Mounted vertically, that antenna would perform, but not as well as your IMAX in most cases. But horizontally frommy experience there will be times with DX when it performs better then your IMAX. Point being if you get one of those my recommendation would be to use it in conjunction with your IMAX but mounted horizontally with a switch box.
Mounted vertically, that antenna would perform, but not as well as your IMAX in most cases. But horizontally frommy experience there will be times with DX when it performs better then your IMAX. Point being if you get one of those my recommendation would be to use it in conjunction with your IMAX but mounted horizontally with a switch box.
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^^^^^This, exactly this. You never know when you grab the mic and actually throw a call out who might answer. It costs nothing to put your signal out there and just see what might happen. I've stirred up some pretty rare 10 meter DX (these days) but used to do it on 11 meters all the time. If everyone just sits there and listens, yep the bands are dead!
prcguy
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I don't think you will notice any or much difference between the three antennas mentioned. They are all probably within a dB or so of each other.
niceguy71
Active Member
people love those IMAX antenna's... I wouldn't change it... highly doubt you would notice much of a difference between that and other antenna's.
If mine failed for any reason I'd replace it with another one and hope they still work as good as this one. I've had the opportunity to try many thru out the years (since 1971) and while there a couple I'd consider for ONLY 11 meters this is the only one I'd consider to use the way I use it now.
ind224
Member
There's also some live CB feeds on YouTube that you can try and do your own signal checks some AM some SSB and if you don't hear yourself you'll hear other people (maybe) and get an idea on conditions.
Great idea. Another option is to try and listen for yourself using an online SDR. The map in the link below lists available SDRs (Kiwi, Open Web RX and WebSDR). The Kiwi SDRs are great on HF, and all modes are available. They are also useful for seeing band conditions in other parts of the country or world. Since you are in Oklahoma, you could try an east coast SDR during skip conditions.
Today will likely be bad for checking skip. Minor G1 geomagnetic storm ongoing and expected for the next 24 hours. Planetary K peak of 7-/G3 storm conditions, current Kp = 5. Expect an elevated noise floor until conditions quiet.
Current X-ray flux is B 7.3 with a 24 hr max of C 7.09. These flux levels are below needed level for stable and sustained 11 and 10 meter propagation. Two large sunspots crossing from the left limb appear stable magnetically, no major flaring expected unless they develop mixing in their magnetic fields.
Current X-ray flux is B 7.3 with a 24 hr max of C 7.09. These flux levels are below needed level for stable and sustained 11 and 10 meter propagation. Two large sunspots crossing from the left limb appear stable magnetically, no major flaring expected unless they develop mixing in their magnetic fields.
slowmover
Active Member
Does anyone else hear his radio as having a kazoo-whistle attaching itself to the words spoken?
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niceguy71
Active Member
If you're just listening you will never hear anyone..... you can keep it on 19 for a month and not hear any locals.
Try asking for a radio check ... you have to almost beg for a radio check. ... most drivers don't want to get into a conversation.... and. Their afraid if they give you a radio check you will try to make conversation.
Today most truck drivers bolt a firestick to the mirror and call it a day.. so they have very limited range.... very limited.... so by the time you say hello their getting out of range.
I used to listen to 19 and never heard a sole???? I asked for a radio check out of frustration of there never being anyone on...... and had two different guys tell me it was working.
I always have my cb on channel 19 when I'm driving. I never shut it off. .. I just keep the squelch way up high..... I never hear anyone!
But as soon as I ask for a radio check 50% of the time I get one.
slowmover
Active Member
Base Antenna basics overview (when search result brings up this thread):
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