IMAX 2000 vs. MaCo V 5/8 CB Antennas 

Changing the radiator diameter will change the bandwidth,

the v58 rusts out all the time. the Imax gets out and receives good

the #12 long copper wire is metal. we use wire to talk all over the world on the ham bands. you really have no idea what you are talking about.

I know about #12 gauge wire but used in an a-99 it has narrow bandwidth. V-58 better antenna

@@xjohn1970 I didnt know aluminum antennas rust out...I have a vintage WILSON v58 before maco bought them its been up since 1982, and I can assure you your Imax will be long gone by then with your matching capacitor failing and have to replace the whole antenna...funny thing if mine gets bent or broken I can just order a piece of tubing, not have to order a whole other antenna.....

just a noobie as always

Respectfully, the most "efficient" antenna is one without a matching network. A quarter wave monopole mounted against a flat ground will have an impedance of around 36 ohms, but by bending the radials down at an angle of 45°, we increase this to around 50 ohms, a perfect match to 50 ohm coax. Since no matching network is necessary, it is, without any doubt, the most "efficient" antenna. A typical 1/2 wave antenna is around 2000-3500 ohms, requiring a lossy L/C circuit or high ratio impedance matcher such as a 64:1 unun to match the antenna to 50 ohms. The increased capture aperture or gain for single radiating element increases as the radiating element length is increased until the length of the radiator exceeds the magical 5λ8 wave length at which point the increasing radiator length causes the radiation pattern to begin breaking up into a number lobes and nulls. The optimum length is, in fact, equal to or just slightly less than 0.6λ, the .64 is a myth as antenna modeling software will confirm. The trick is to make the 5/8 radiator 'appear' to the feed line as if it were a 3/4 wave length; establishing a good impedance match while at the same time achieving the ideal low angle of radiation that can be realised through the 5/8 wave radiator. By add a series loading coil at the base of the radiator to compensate for the lost 1/8 section, a match of close to 50Ω can be obtained. It is also much easier to design a matching circuit for a 5/8 wave radiator than the more extreme impedance presented by the 1/2 radiator. So, a properly constructed 5/8 antenna will have gain over a 1/4 or 1/2 wave antenna, but remember, physics demands that nothing is created without a loss. Also 5/8 wave antennas are an excellent choice for mountain top or tower mounting. Using a 5/8 antenna in a valley is a recipe for a very bad signal.

@@timmack2415 Very good information, *_mostly._* The problem with a 5/8 is that it has a very low angle and a very high angle, and unfortunately the high angle (when the ionosphere is at the right conditions and height) will cancel the low angle at certain distances, therefore 5/8 waves are known to have a "Dead Donut" area which unfortunately is also an intermittent and can never be counted on because it varies from there to not there, and from a certain distance to less or more than that distance, depending upon the "mood" of the ionosphere. Now, if you're referring to a 5/8 wave like the Sirio GainMaster design, well now you have a completely different beast than a standard bottom-fed 5/8 - which is closer to a balanced dipole, but an eighth wave longer than a half wave, and with all currents in phase. Against THAT Omni I know of none which can favorably compete. A full size half wave can be an efficient antenna if you use a J-pole style matching Network beneath it, such as the Sirio Vector style, unfortunately I do not care for gamma matches - but there are other ways which it can be driven, and one option in particular can be Directly-driven, but that is my secret 😜

Your v5000 may not work either. Your coax may be bad.or you have a I max used with bad matching coil

@@robinbrown7019 nope the new IMAX 2000 is 9 inches too short for 11 meters. The v-5000 works great but after lengthening the max 2000 it blows the maco away. Coax is 120 ft of times microwave LMR400.

I saw more than a full S-unit improvement from the Imax over the maco in several antenna installations.

i bet you didnt seal your connections and waterproof them your PL-259 might even be loose... maco is better for high winds ..everything has good and less good points. video i just saw showed maco had better SWR. i want narrow bandwidth btw...buying a maco tomorrow.

You are correct I bought a "Faco v58" tuned it for 11 meters. You are correct about the SWR When it rains it shoots up between a 2 & 3 to one every time. Most any 1/2 wave would out perform the maco v58. The so called tuning ring does not tune this antenna the bottom section of the main radiator " that's adjustable does" & like you already stated is not broadbanded. These tuning specs are for 40 channels & that's all you get. It hears pretty decent talks skip ok transmits short distances well & over hills but the SPT-500 or Vector 4000 Blow this antenna away.

MaCo. The metal antenna lasts longer and performs better. We've seen a lot of IMAX's break during thunderstorms.

@@coupescuts the reason why the IMAX 2000 breaks in high winds and the Antron 99 survives is simply because the IMAX 2000 is like six feet longer that extra six feet has enough leverage on the joint where the two sections go together it breaks it and time and time again when I see pictures of an IMAX that has broken or one that I've seen in person they all break right at the joint. if it was me, I know guys that use both, I would rather have the Antron 99. Imo

@@rondellschuyler7074 and guess what when it breaks you have to buy a whole new antenna...a maco just goto antenna parts outlet and order a new piece of tubing that broke...

Disagree

The iMax 2000 is a .64 on 10 meters, not on 11 meters (5/8 wave on 11) See K3DAV's big secret on .64 wave The .64 is the longest and most efficient single radiator antenna, then a 5/8 wave, then a 1/2 wave, then a 1/4 wave. Keep up the good work Rekindling The Reformation !!

Had my imax 2000 up for 10 years.works like the best .I had all the others .took them all down except my imax 2000. .64 wave

How much does Solarcon pay you for advertising? Lol. By the way, the .64 wave thing is a myth and antenna modeling software proves it, 5/8 is the most gain efficient wavelenght and the rest is old "antenna gurus" tales. , there are several antennas with better performance than the Imax 2000, especially in receive, which is the most important aspect that an antenna should give, with an amplifier you can go far with any antenna, but good reception is another story, don't be silly.

Swinging Backwards 98% of The time is due to a mistuned Radio. Try hooking up another radio you know ain't been "Tweeked And peaked" And see if they still show backwards swing.

If the person on the receive has back swing that means he better turn down his rf gain .because you have a great signal. Over what his Metter can handle. Kick but signal from you.