Base New Imax wont tune 11m....this sucks

[Marconi]

My setup shows from 25.500 - 28.285 and varies from 1.400:1 - 2.00:1. The A99 is better on the low end, but you might have trouble starting at 10 meters. Of course, you would likely have to set the rings and then maybe trimming the tip some. Not sure about the New Imax length, but I hear in the link I posted that the Imax is also shorter and I assume it too is setup from the factory at 27.205.

So the Imax could be better, but my old original A99 had a lower SWR with about 3x the bandwidth of this new A99...being as it is shorter.

Good luck on finding a GPK if you decide later to add it...so a good choke might work better.

 

[YardDog]

Guess I either made a good choice or a bad choice for base/mobile application. We shall see.

 

[Marconi]

I don't know about mobile, but I've heard very few complain about their old original Imax, except a few that read, "The Imax antenna is a dummy load" on the restroom wall of their local truck stop.

 

[YardDog]

Welcome to the forum YardDog.

Could you do me a favor and measure and post the lengths for your new Imax from the collar to the tip of each section?

Suggestion, I would get new lock washer and make sure they are Stainless Steel.

Date of Mfg: 2020
Bottom section: 93.75 measured from the input.
Middle section: 92.0
Top section: 94.75
280.50 inches = 23.375 ft

I could be off a smidge on the measurements because I was in a hurry, but not by much. As soon as I can get decent coax I'll assemble everything and do a quick check for SWR on both 11m and 10m.

 

[Marconi]

YardDog, my 20 year old Imax was 284.5" inches and is reported today to be shorter by up two maybe 2' feet...and is reported to still work on 11 meters.

I might agree the new Imax will work on 11 meters, but I don't think it will still show the nice wide bandwidth anymore at 11 meters and without radials. It might be even show less BW if you add radials.

There is a generally accepted claim that less bandwidth produces more gain, and we see that in beams. So, that might be important to consider also. Only time will tell of the difference is detectable.

95.5" Base
94" Middle
95" Top and I measured from the base of the hubs to the tip, not including the threaded parts.

 

[Caliman409]

The technician from Bell's CB told me last week to not purchase the new iMax 2000, as they will not turn into the 11 m band! Can't understand why they did this but it is what it is and I'm keeping my old IMAX 2000 until it dies

 

[FredTx63]

It's true. I bought one late last year and the damn thing wouldn't tune on 11 meters for shit. Used them for no frills/easy up installs for years prior without issue.

 

[Big Kahuna]

SO an update again - I've heard a ton of reports from people that bought the latest Imax 2000 and had zero issues. A few people have reported seeing higher than expected SWR of 1.5 or higher but out of every 10 antenna installs there are always a couple of people that experience higher than normal SWR for whatever reasons so I have to assume that overall the antenna was still working as expected.

I also did talk to the factory again today and can share this news. Previously when I had talked with them they mentioned there was room in the box to extend the middle section to add additional length to the antenna again. Here is the most recent reply -

"We have not had any recent complaints on the Imax. We have added back a couple of inches to the mid-section that we discussed and that change has made it through the parts inventory and is now in current production antennas."

As mentioned previously the recent version should have performed well but fans of this antenna will be excited to know that it is closer to the original length again.

I don't have exact numbers on the length of the sections but have requested them.

 

[Caliman409]

SO an update again - I've heard a ton of reports from people that bought the latest Imax 2000 and had zero issues. A few people have reported seeing higher than expected SWR of 1.5 or higher but out of every 10 antenna installs there are always a couple of people that experience higher than normal SWR for whatever reasons so I have to assume that overall the antenna was still working as expected.

I also did talk to the factory again today and can share this news. Previously when I had talked with them they mentioned there was room in the box to extend the middle section to add additional length to the antenna again. Here is the most recent reply -

"We have not had any recent complaints on the Imax. We have added back a couple of inches to the mid-section that we discussed and that change has made it through the parts inventory and is now in current production antennas."

As mentioned previously the recent version should have performed well but fans of this antenna will be excited to know that it is closer to the original length again.

I don't have exact numbers on the length of the sections but have requested them.

Thanks for the update! I have however purchased a Antron 99 and cannot be more pleased! I get a 1.1 SWR reading! A 1.2 reading on channel 1 , I have talking to panama Mexico, Florida and Australia with no problem! I love the Antron 99, Plus it's only like 17'8" or something like that and it doesn't sway in the wind like the IMAX 2000!

 

[S&W357]

I’m right there with you “409” My A-99 works great for me.

I talk to some local folks that have taken down there A-99 antennas and replaced them with Max 2000 ones.

Some say it was a waste of time and can tell no difference. Others say their receive is better but the signal reports they receive from others say “can’t tell any difference”.

And of course some others say the Max 2000 works so much better than the A-99 they took down.

 

[Caliman409]

Thanks, yeah reports will differ, The main thing for me is to get the lowest possible SWR, when that is achieved you know your antenna is working at the most optimum performance level! Like I said before I really love the intro 99 because it is shorter than the IMAX 2000, And the ease of which a low SWR can be achieved! 73's

 

[lonestarbandit]

Bought a Imax 2000 from coppers stock couple days ago. It is now packaged as just solarcon MAX 2000 no ( I ) and currently on a 10 foot mast till my bracing gets here then will be on 20 foot mast and I cannot say if I got old or new stock but my SWR barely moves off 1.1 - 1.2 CH 1-40.
Now my only problem is MAN its dead out there.

 

[lonestarbandit]

Date of Mfg: 2020
Bottom section: 93.75 measured from the input.
Middle section: 92.0
Top section: 94.75
280.50 inches = 23.375 ft

I could be off a smidge on the measurements because I was in a hurry, but not by much. As soon as I can get decent coax I'll assemble everything and do a quick check for SWR on both 11m and 10m.

This about matches my measurements and mine is also a 2020 production year antenna.

 

[Big Kahuna]

I have a quick update for today.

I can verify definitively that the current length of the mostly recently produced Max 2000's is 280.50 inches.

It is roughly 4" shorter than the previous version I tested 8-10 years ago. This is almost identical to what Marconi, lonestarbandit (above), and others have reported for old vs new length.

Based on my early testing I would guess most users would be able to achieve a 1.3-1.4 SWR in the CB band with the current version (SWR will be lower above the CB band as some users have noted).

More info to come.

 

[techradioman]

The bottom line is the new ones tune just fine, just like the old ones.