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I know this has been talked about before and with new members here maybe we have more answers or info. I want to know or hear about any differences between the Imax 2000 and the Antron 99 I am asking because I have always and currently have a Solarcon 99 up for 10-17 meters and also have a Imax 2000 in the pile or collection of antennas and was thinking about if it would be worth taking the Antron 99 with Groundplane kit down and putting the Imax up in its place and if I should buy the groundplane kit adon for the Imax aswell.

Is there a big noticeable difference in the performance between these 2 antennas??? Ive always had good luck with the Antron 99 and have not one single complaint but if this Imax 2000 is better and worth swapping with the Antron Ide do it tomorrow. What are your thoughts and or experiences with these antennas compared to eachother??? Ive heard people say that locally the Imax was better and as far as skip or DX the Antron was better I imagine if this was true it would be due to the take off angle between the 2 antennas but it still does not seem that there could be such a dramatic difference between the 2 antennas as far as local or close talking.

What is the truth here what are the differences are they really that noticeable?? I figured since I have an Imax here if its worth putting up I will do just that but if its not worth doing then what is the sense?? Also what about the groundplane kit?? Ive been told The kit for the Antron 99 is a waste of money and makes no difference I wouldnt know because Ive always ran the kit on my Antron 99 antennas. Thanks for any input and info on this mystery.....Tony

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""""was not thinking of a cber sat with his makita screwdriver winding round the presets untill his meter said s9+60db from a guy on a handheld 15 miles away""""

Last year I replaced a slightly damaged A99 (cracked f'glass) with a used Imax. Locally I picked up "about" 1/2 S unit or so, according to a reliable source. Exact same mounting scheme, same coax, etc. FWIW.

I don't know about DX performance, I use my directional arrays for that. Just my $.02.

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Mobile #1: Galaxy 95T2, 2018 Extreme, Sirio P5000, 4x2879 LipZipper
Base: Cobra 2000GTL, D-104SE, A-99, 2 element quad,4 element yagi, Firebird 500, SB-220

Tony, these are signal reports I took last summer comparing some of my antennas. I compare two at a time using a switch box and I'll grant you this is not even close to scientific. They were taken over a 1-3 day periods in some cases and less than one day in others. I'm too old to go rushing around trying to change antennas and test on the same setup. Plus I get the advantage of comparing differences in the flip of a switch, and if you have never done that, then you just miss out on some, maybe all of the scuttle differences that can be noted between different antennas at times.

At my location I would leave the A99 up there bar none.

the 2000 is a better constructed antenna and most folks that have had both say the bigger imax is better . comments on adding the ground plane kit vary from no effect to big difference . both the 99 and 2000 will use your mast/coax shield for a ground plane if you dont add one . some folks that had splatter issues and bleeding into nearby electronics without the GPK said the were reduced or eliminated by add the GPK . a coax choke 9 feet down the coax from the antennas feed point is a good idea .

id want a proper elevated ground plane on any elevated omni antenna myself .

The Imax 2000 EXPOSED!

http://www.marktruett.com/files/a99.pdf

Wow very cool and thanks for sharing this!! And yes I do have different antennas set upfor different things but 3 are on a switch box and I do switch it up it seems each one has its pros and cons.

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""""was not thinking of a cber sat with his makita screwdriver winding round the presets untill his meter said s9+60db from a guy on a handheld 15 miles away""""

T225,
Tony,
I use a A99 after doing direct testing of both antennas at 5-10-15-20 & 25 miles to a mobile on both T & R on 11 meters. I tested an IMAX an a A99 on 10-12 -15 -17 & 20 meters an got a shade better SWR with the IMAX over a A99 for HAM needs eather antenna is a lot of bang for the buck..........Oldtimer

Again I have to agree with Walterb, I've seen very similar results with these two antennas at my location. I have added the GPK, both horizontal and slanted, to the A99, with little noticeable difference. I don't have a GPK for my Imax. I also never used these antennas for anything except 11 meters.

I just posted in another thread, my comparison results between my A99, and my I-10K, and I'll post it again here just as a reference. Like the I-10K, my Imax was not up very long, and I only have one signal report (#25) for it.

Recap of Signal Reports 20 - 23.pdf

Signal Report # 25.pdf

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Marconi,
I tried adding ground plane to both the A99 and the IMAX, a slight SWR change was noticed on 11 meters, more on other bands but that is understandable.
I did not detected changes against a reference antenna on R or T
on the A99 on 11 meters, do think the noise floor changed a little on the IMAX but I can't prove it ether, I had read that another person thought that he thought it did. Could have preprogramed myself to hear something like that................Oldtimer