Master Chief said:
Hey there MC,
Well I saw about a full S-unit improvement here over a new MACO V5/8 with the IMAX 2000, and at a local friend's, his V5/8 fatigued and snapped about 4 feet up the radiator so I found him a used but quite fresh IMAX 2000 for $40 and installed it in the same place, same coax, same mast, same radio, ...consistantly 1 S-unit stronger here on the IMAX 2000 than he has been for well over a year since he bought & installed the V5/8 new.
Another friend, Matt, has both an A99 and a V5/8 and there's right about 1 S-unit difference between them, mobile or base, and in every direction I've talked to him from, the V5/8 being better. They're both mounted on 20' telescoping masts, one on each side of his roof, same coax & length.
NOW, I saw TWO full S-units difference between my A99 & IMAX 2000 both in Reno and here in Northern Cali., and Stu, Novakor on this forum, will testify to it as he was one of 4 ops who all saw that 2 S-unit improvement on the IMAX 2000 which is 1 S-unit more than what I've seen repeatedly between the V5/8 and A99.
I've tested these on multiple occasions and locations and I'm convinced, match efficiency theory not withstanding, that the IMAX outperforms the V5/8, and I was NOT using any additional radials on the IMAX.
I bet it would even increase the IMAX'S performance, especially locally, to add 60* 1/4 wave guy wire radials, probably lowering it's take-off angle, and possibly allowing a better match adjustment possibly also providing better efficiency from it's matching coil with the addition of a 1/4 wave counterpoise for that .64 which SHOULD have one anyway.
I bet an IMAX 2000 would look cool with the radials from a V5/8, but you'ld have to mill off the mounting tab and use an A99 type of mounting, or just slide it down into the top of the mast with the coax protected inside the mast, and secure it with another thru-hole bolting ring. That would sure be a clean installation. A lower take-off angle would be better to Aussie land, too!!
