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I 10K ANTENNA
- Thread starter mayco1
- Start date
DXman
Yes, that's 3100 degrees F. Nine yrs of hard work.
You are paying for superb construction and materials that will stand up to a hurricane and power handling ability that will stand up to a broadcast transmitter. What you are not paying for is more gain then any other well designed 5/8 wave although the antenna is one of the top performers in the omni class.
Well..
I have had mine for many years..
It Always has worked Exceptionally good..
-------------------------------------
Originally Posted by 359 View Post
I've never heard of a complaint, but I hear that they are getting hard to get a hold of.
That's been a long running complaint.
Indeed it took me several months to get mine (and that was about 7 years ago ).
However..
I would do it again if i needed another one and had to wait !!
Because that is how good they are ( Period ! )
------------------------------------------
Originally Posted by quiksilver View Post
Best 5/8 Vert. Worth every penny!
IMO
Yes it is very expensive as 5/8's wave gp's go.
So What..
Excellent antennas are worth every penny they cost...Period !!
-----------------------------------------
You are paying for superb construction and materials that will stand up to a hurricane and power handling ability that will stand up to a broadcast transmitter. What you are not paying for is more gain then any other well designed 5/8 wave although the antenna is one of the top performers in the omni class.
I can vouch for that ... for a Fact !!.
Mine has been in extreme weather conditions..
including 2 tornado's (not direct hits but extremely close..and they were quite small tornado's )
Mine has been through some extreme thunder storms..
Has been through some crazy extreme Icying..
Heck one day i heard it moving all over...and when i went to look at it thinking it had collapsed or something...Only to find it was so windy that i actually saw it where the top hat/top of antenna was bent over upon the rest of the antenna where the top was whacking my roof..
So i figured that was the end of the antenna..
Following day i looked at it...it was in perfect condition..
I was Amazed..
( but my chimney mounts were trashed..so i bought 2 more sets of chimney mounts..as well as fixed the twisted to hell ones..and my antenna was fine again )
However....
I understand many have issue in paying what they think is a crazy price..
yet when i use it..people in skip land do not believe i am using only a ground plane and say i am indeed using a huge beam...for my signal seems to not fade and just stomp on all the others when skip is rolling in ( and i am talking from nyc area...on down to texas..mexica..carribian...africa...europe ) and have often been accused by others on my end to be talking to ghost skip ( only to have them over and be like...damm or wow )..
But also..
It seems at times ( many times ) to even cause its own skip..
Yes there are many great beams out there..
But i have only ever encountered one other antenna that might be comparable to the I-10K and that is the wolf .64..
When talking to another I-10K or with a wolf .64 it is like having a direct party line 1-300 miles away regardless of skip or conditions..
Oh and no rotor or huge tower is needed..
Mine is simply on my roof at a height of 52 ft ( at its base)
Although i have 3 guy lines to help keep it properly in place..
So what is the down side..
for one maybe is price ( not to me though )
the other maybe is it is indeed a huge antenna and the wind takes to it like lightning to a lightning rod and so the I-10K MUST be properly installed..
Figure to mount it at least 2 times stronger then you had first considered..
and then guy it extremely well..
Then simply sit back...turn on the radio...and press on the mike and have fun..
You can almost be sure to not have TVI issues and you do not require crazy power ( most i use is 135 watts )
I have had mine for many years..
It Always has worked Exceptionally good..
-------------------------------------
Originally Posted by 359 View Post
I've never heard of a complaint, but I hear that they are getting hard to get a hold of.
That's been a long running complaint.
Indeed it took me several months to get mine (and that was about 7 years ago ).
However..
I would do it again if i needed another one and had to wait !!
Because that is how good they are ( Period ! )
------------------------------------------
Originally Posted by quiksilver View Post
Best 5/8 Vert. Worth every penny!
IMO
Yes it is very expensive as 5/8's wave gp's go.
So What..
Excellent antennas are worth every penny they cost...Period !!
-----------------------------------------
You are paying for superb construction and materials that will stand up to a hurricane and power handling ability that will stand up to a broadcast transmitter. What you are not paying for is more gain then any other well designed 5/8 wave although the antenna is one of the top performers in the omni class.
I can vouch for that ... for a Fact !!.
Mine has been in extreme weather conditions..
including 2 tornado's (not direct hits but extremely close..and they were quite small tornado's )
Mine has been through some extreme thunder storms..
Has been through some crazy extreme Icying..
Heck one day i heard it moving all over...and when i went to look at it thinking it had collapsed or something...Only to find it was so windy that i actually saw it where the top hat/top of antenna was bent over upon the rest of the antenna where the top was whacking my roof..
So i figured that was the end of the antenna..
Following day i looked at it...it was in perfect condition..
I was Amazed..
( but my chimney mounts were trashed..so i bought 2 more sets of chimney mounts..as well as fixed the twisted to hell ones..and my antenna was fine again )
However....
I understand many have issue in paying what they think is a crazy price..
yet when i use it..people in skip land do not believe i am using only a ground plane and say i am indeed using a huge beam...for my signal seems to not fade and just stomp on all the others when skip is rolling in ( and i am talking from nyc area...on down to texas..mexica..carribian...africa...europe ) and have often been accused by others on my end to be talking to ghost skip ( only to have them over and be like...damm or wow )..
But also..
It seems at times ( many times ) to even cause its own skip..
Yes there are many great beams out there..
But i have only ever encountered one other antenna that might be comparable to the I-10K and that is the wolf .64..
When talking to another I-10K or with a wolf .64 it is like having a direct party line 1-300 miles away regardless of skip or conditions..
Oh and no rotor or huge tower is needed..
Mine is simply on my roof at a height of 52 ft ( at its base)
Although i have 3 guy lines to help keep it properly in place..
So what is the down side..
for one maybe is price ( not to me though )
the other maybe is it is indeed a huge antenna and the wind takes to it like lightning to a lightning rod and so the I-10K MUST be properly installed..
Figure to mount it at least 2 times stronger then you had first considered..
and then guy it extremely well..
Then simply sit back...turn on the radio...and press on the mike and have fun..
You can almost be sure to not have TVI issues and you do not require crazy power ( most i use is 135 watts )
I considered an I-10k 5 years ago but opted for a .64 wolf gp and to this day it still functions as well as an I-10k for less than half the money.
I considered an I-10k 5 years ago but opted for a .64 wolf gp and to this day it still functions as well as an I-10k for less than half the money.
I am not saying the wolf .64 is not a good antenna...
it is in fact the only other Vertical 11 meter antenna worth talking about..and i know for a fact the .64 works Excellent..
Given the extreme weather in my area (it seems lately my area is tornado alley) & my I-10K just seems to laugh at the crazy weather.
Way i figure it..
The antenna is the most critical part of a two way radio system..
So it pays to get the Best..(i wish i didnt have to wait as long as i had to get it though..but if you had seen how this antenna was nearly folded over..anyone would have written it off..and yet it is just fine)..
after antenna...one needs adress coax ...radio and then mike
(my weak point if any is my mike)
I am not saying the wolf .64 is not a good antenna...
it is in fact the only other Vertical 11 meter antenna worth talking about..and i know for a fact the .64 works Excellent..
Given the extreme weather in my area (it seems lately my area is tornado alley) & my I-10K just seems to laugh at the crazy weather.
Way i figure it..
The antenna is the most critical part of a two way radio system..
So it pays to get the Best..(i wish i didnt have to wait as long as i had to get it though..but if you had seen how this antenna was nearly folded over..anyone would have written it off..and yet it is just fine)..
after antenna...one needs adress coax ...radio and then mike
(my weak point if any is my mike)
Im with Mack on this aswell to get on a waiting list and pay big money like they are asking for a Groundplain Vertical like this particular antenna. A beam antenna of most makes will eat a vertical up and spit it out for that kind of money a nice beam can be had a simple 3 element or simular beam would out perform a vertical but theres always the issues of wanting to keep the antenna stealth or hidden as best as possible or limited space as another issue.
I would say for that kind of money for a vertical a person could look at a nice amateur antenna of the vertical build and if you chose to advance you can and not need another antenna for a few bands because its already there!! Or if you just like to spin the dial or VFO and just listen in and monitor you can do that aswell and have more coverage.
Im sure these I-10K antennas are a nice antenna but as far as the wait and the money there are some nice antennas that are readily available and will work just as good and if properly put up and assembled will last a lifetime if not damn near.
I have alot of antennas and have messed with several and always seem to run these Antron-99 and Imax- 2000 beacause they are simple and work well for me without any issues as far as noise or receive and they work all across a good portion of the amateur bands for me aswell.
I have 4 Superscanner beams and I am keeping onne thst id better than new and Im getting rid of the others and I will say even these will perform better than a vertical as far what I use most well I have to admit I run a Gizmotchy beam but have a new Jogunn 5 or 6 element I have never tried its still in the box and I have a Maco shotting star 4 element dual polarity.
I prefer the beams but can honestly say that a vertical is way more simple with less gadgets and extra stuff to run they day Ide pay 300 + dollars for a vertical its going to be a multi band vertical like a titan DX ETC. Ive heard good things about the I-10K but then again Ive also heard good things about several other antennas so just do your homework and shop around and for pete sake read the reviews there free!!! then make a decission
I would say for that kind of money for a vertical a person could look at a nice amateur antenna of the vertical build and if you chose to advance you can and not need another antenna for a few bands because its already there!! Or if you just like to spin the dial or VFO and just listen in and monitor you can do that aswell and have more coverage.
Im sure these I-10K antennas are a nice antenna but as far as the wait and the money there are some nice antennas that are readily available and will work just as good and if properly put up and assembled will last a lifetime if not damn near.
I have alot of antennas and have messed with several and always seem to run these Antron-99 and Imax- 2000 beacause they are simple and work well for me without any issues as far as noise or receive and they work all across a good portion of the amateur bands for me aswell.
I have 4 Superscanner beams and I am keeping onne thst id better than new and Im getting rid of the others and I will say even these will perform better than a vertical as far what I use most well I have to admit I run a Gizmotchy beam but have a new Jogunn 5 or 6 element I have never tried its still in the box and I have a Maco shotting star 4 element dual polarity.
I prefer the beams but can honestly say that a vertical is way more simple with less gadgets and extra stuff to run they day Ide pay 300 + dollars for a vertical its going to be a multi band vertical like a titan DX ETC. Ive heard good things about the I-10K but then again Ive also heard good things about several other antennas so just do your homework and shop around and for pete sake read the reviews there free!!! then make a decission
If you Need a 5/8 wave ground plane that has to stand up to brutal winter weather Jay`s I 10-K is built like a brick shit house.
Once you put it together and put it up it is very worry free and you can dump a lot of watt`s into it and never have to think about it.
If you are on a budget, there are other 5/8`s wave ground planes that will function as well, they are just not constructed as well as far as fit and quality of materials used.
If you have the money, it is a great antenna, if you are looking for more gain, then as tony has said, a three or four el yagi will preform much better.
73
Jeff
Once you put it together and put it up it is very worry free and you can dump a lot of watt`s into it and never have to think about it.
If you are on a budget, there are other 5/8`s wave ground planes that will function as well, they are just not constructed as well as far as fit and quality of materials used.
If you have the money, it is a great antenna, if you are looking for more gain, then as tony has said, a three or four el yagi will preform much better.
73
Jeff
Humm...
This past summer 13 tornados were said to hit the area..4 of them confirmed twisters (last week alone they said maybe as many as 11 but only 2 have been truly confirmed)
Yet my I-10K is happy as can be..
Now winter ill be with us soon ( winters can get brutal with the nor-easters) and again the I-10K simply takes it in stride..
Try that with even your smaller beams..
and as i said earlier..
When skip shoots in...i will put this against all but the largest of beams..and skip land refuses to believe i am on a vertical..saying how i am stronger then anyone ( yet am bare foot )
This past summer 13 tornados were said to hit the area..4 of them confirmed twisters (last week alone they said maybe as many as 11 but only 2 have been truly confirmed)
Yet my I-10K is happy as can be..
Now winter ill be with us soon ( winters can get brutal with the nor-easters) and again the I-10K simply takes it in stride..
Try that with even your smaller beams..
and as i said earlier..
When skip shoots in...i will put this against all but the largest of beams..and skip land refuses to believe i am on a vertical..saying how i am stronger then anyone ( yet am bare foot )
My .64 wolf was up for near 4 years and sustained many,many tornadic thunderstorms and the only damage it ever sustained was what I assume was a large bird possibly a great horned owl (we have tons of them here) which bent it slightly just above the top ring.
Not bad for a $145 antenna, granted the gama I had on it was rated for 1kw but you could get one rated for 5k for only $25 extra.