I've got an A99 up at one location and an IMAX 2000 up at the other. No fiberglass antenna of mine goes up unless it is wrapped in plastic wiring loom. edited for brevity; not to say yer long winded,u AH
Are they the best talkers or ears out there? I doubt it, but they have done their jobs well for years. I don't remember how old my A99 is, but I paid $55.00 for it new. I paid $106.00 new for the IMAX. Both have years of use and are still going strong.
I wish I'd gotten several Imax 2000 when they were as cheap as my 1st.
I'm ignorant of any other fiber glass antennas other than A99 and Imax 2000?
I'd long believed the 5/8λ was the better of the two. Most recently I'd read, on the all truthful internet, the 5/8λ is short range challenged; whatever the "short range" unit of measurement is? Since I upgraded the GPK it's got the ears I hadn't realized before. See recent post: Imax 2000 GPK 103.
Wire loom; what color, the braided sort? I'm a fan of several cured coats of Carnauba wax. Very long lasting, possibly approaching the scale of forever; when not subject to > 200d F and abrasive automatic car wash detergents. Quite possible oxidizing inorganic aerosols aren't healthy for the wax. Once upon a time I saw the accumulation of coal soot, power plant nearby, on non-treated fiberglass GPX radials; but, not on the antenna. I upgrade the GPK recently.
Taking yours down for hurricane threats suggests you are in sand country. Another one of them abrasives.
Speaking of hurricanes; my 1st Imax 2000 met it's match during decaying tropical storm winds in C. AL. Couldn't stand the match-up with oak tree branches it had become surrounded by over it's long life. Twisted up like a pretzel when I got it down and I'm sure the carnauba wax was no help.
Never accused of being long winded; but, self-diagnosed with diarrhea of the key-stroke.