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Wanted Imax2000
- Thread starter RC4
- Start date
You can still buy them new.
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
vagrant
ker-muhj-uhn
I used an Imax2000 for at least five years. I worked stations around the world on the amateur 10 meter band. It worked well for 15 meters too. I never used it for CB, but it worked very well for local chat on 10 meters as we all used vertical antennas if we had them.
Unfortunately, there was water ingress. All sections were tight and taped with Scotch 33+ and Temflex. Still, there was water ingress. When it worked, I was pleased with the results. The sun cooked it pretty bad and the fiberglass was getting ugly. I could have gotten more years out of it if I had painted it from the start.
* Holy cats! They‘re over $300 now! I purchased mine for around $100 in 2012. I expect the next vertical I purchase for 10 meters will be aluminum.
Unfortunately, there was water ingress. All sections were tight and taped with Scotch 33+ and Temflex. Still, there was water ingress. When it worked, I was pleased with the results. The sun cooked it pretty bad and the fiberglass was getting ugly. I could have gotten more years out of it if I had painted it from the start.
* Holy cats! They‘re over $300 now! I purchased mine for around $100 in 2012. I expect the next vertical I purchase for 10 meters will be aluminum.
I used an Imax 2000 for many years on 11m DX and local over 200 countries worked and confirmed. I just took it to landfill last week after being in storage for 20 years along with a Maco 105 and Avanti Moonraker IV. Had no idea they were priced at 300$ now. Mine was less than 100$ when I purchased it many moon's ago.
prcguy
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The Colossal 10K is a nice antenna but I believe the Hy-gain Penetrator is still the most efficient 5/8 wave vertical made. Most have a circular matching ring and Hy-Gain knows there is some radiation off the matching section since its at the lowest impedance part of the antenna where the current is highest and they made the matching section vertical. All the other mfrs with a circular halo type matching waste some power in the horizontal plane.
Many years ago several 5/8 wave ground planes were tested like the Avanti Sigma 5/8, MACO 5/8 and a few others and the Hy-Gain was a little bit better. The Colossal is heavy duty and made for higher power but that doesn't mean it radiates any better than a MACO or old Avanti.
Olden days when I dabbled in CB, my vertical omni was Hi-Gain's super magnum. Hands down, the best performer you can find
Its only downside was a 125 watt limit. (Marketed by Antenna Specialist then)
Teamed up with Hi-Gain's "Long John" 5 element beam. Only difference with 5 element Yagi is a longer boom, It did have a slight better side lobe and front/back gain properties. you would have to look through old CB adds to even find one today.
The super mag got retuned for 10 meters and worked over 75 countries with it at 65 watts or less.
The beam go traded for a Mosly tri band for amateur work. (wish I hadn't done that)
but I do agree with prcguy, there are other antennas out there that could compete with my setup.
Its only downside was a 125 watt limit. (Marketed by Antenna Specialist then)
Teamed up with Hi-Gain's "Long John" 5 element beam. Only difference with 5 element Yagi is a longer boom, It did have a slight better side lobe and front/back gain properties. you would have to look through old CB adds to even find one today.
The super mag got retuned for 10 meters and worked over 75 countries with it at 65 watts or less.
The beam go traded for a Mosly tri band for amateur work. (wish I hadn't done that)
but I do agree with prcguy, there are other antennas out there that could compete with my setup.
Last edited:
RC4
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Kinda what I was thinking. Guy trying to tell me it’s an imax2000
OK, after reading all the related threads, I'd still recommend the Colossal. @prcgis correct about all ⅝ radiating pretty much the same. The reason I recommend it if some says price is no object is simply the durability. A friend back in Houston has one of the early models that's been through Rita, Ike, and Beryl, along with a derecho. It's still working great after all these years.
RC4
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Right but it’s just a picture. I think he believes it’s an iMax but like you said it looks like an 99
prcguy
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If I were running 5kW or similar I would consider the Colossal, otherwise it costs over $500! I have two late gen Penetrators here and although they are not as rugged as the 1970s originals they were about 1/4 the cost of the Colossal when I got them.
RC4
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They are so massive lol
DeeEx
Member
I’ve used the “poor man’s IMax” for decades with good results. That is… have the wisdom to know the top section of the Antron 99 is threaded 3/8-24, and buy a quarter wave stainless steel whip to put on top.
K6GBW
Off Grid Kid
The base mounting plate is offset, so it's an iMax. The A99 has no base mounting plate.
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