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Yes, the noise gets louder with the RF gain pegged all the way up. Less when I turn it down. But I still leave it all the way up for the same reason you do. I'll get one of those Walkie Talkie Cbs when I get a chance & try playing detective around the block if I can find a decent one.

As for my progress on my Imax, there hasn't been any this week due to my job schedule and mostly because of the bad weather here. It rained all this past week & has been cold. 22 degrees this Sunday morning & only in the 40's today. Plus, to totally tire me out, I've been working on my van all week replacing the right drive axle assembly & front motor mount. Aside from a few pulled shoulder muscles and a knot on top of my left shoulder, I did manage to get outside today before it got dark.

I re-connected the mast's ground cable, and hooked it back up to the House's service ground, ground bar. I also ran twin cables from this Neutral service house ground rod to the other seperate ground rod I was using. I also hooked up the equipment ground cable to the hous'e service ground. Yes, they are all tied together now to the house's service ground as the NEC says to do. So I thought you'd be happy to hear this.

As for the noise, it's still there, but I think it dropped a 1/2 db or so. The noise seems to not be as bad now as well. I did not hear the star wars light sabre sound today either. Perhaps, if it was a car alarm, they were nowhere in my vacinity today. So I was happy.

The skip came early today. I'd say around 10:00am or so & lasted all the way to 9:45pm or so before it disappeared again. I talked briefly to a guy from Cape Cod Massatuchetts and he told me I was loud & clear. I heard guys from Texas, West Virginia, Canada/New York border, Georgia, and Florida to boot. Being able to talk to people at these distances amazes me. Even with this P.O.C. Imax. I know the skip allows us to talk at these distances, but as I mentioned before, my President/Zachary T. Base radio has been re-worked and modified to go beyond the 40 channels, Has new caps, two high power caps installed in it. It has new seating compound for the caps and all the knobs have been cleaned. It also has a power increase knob installed in it. Allowing me a full 10 watts. So it's been fun lately when I'm DXing in the skip.

I still don't know everything about this unit yet, but I will in time. So for now, I have all my grounds tied to the house ground. I must admit, I do not see any increase in noise. But I do see a positive decrease in the noise level. When the weather gets a bit warmer I'm going to make my move with taking the Imax back down for all the modifications. I will also try to improve my SWR a bit. I know they say that 1.4 to even 2.5 is good, but I know better than that. Heck, with my old Astroplane, I got a constant 1.1 believe it or not. So I'm hoping I can tune this 2000 a bit better. Currently, I'm still getting a good 1.4 on my SWR.

Well, it's getting late & I'm working 1st shift today. The skip has been gone for an hour or so now & the locals are chatting on channel 10. We've got a few guys up here across the border into Kenosha/Racine WI who talk regulary every night. So I'm going to listen for a few and hit the hay.

Hope everyone had a great weekend.



James

__________________
"What we've got here is a failure, to communicate! Some men you just can't reach. So you get what we had here last week, which is the way he wants it! well, he gets it! I don't like my Solarcon IMAX 2000 any more than you men". (and that's no joke!).

Finally today,

The weather was nice enough to get up on the roof. I finally installed the GPK kit for my Imax 2000. I have not had a chance to see any differences yet. I will be installing the Balun & the better coax soon. I just needed to get the GPK kit out of the way. I still need to turn down the Delrin rod. I used the Vernier caliber & I need to take .125 off 12" of the 2' Delrin rod. But I do not have access to a lathe. I may try the Table saw like Loosecannon suggested or a belt sander. Will keep everyone posted on my progress. Sorry it's been so long since my last post as I have also been having computer problems at home and finishing up a work bench I've been building for the garage.

J.

__________________
"What we've got here is a failure, to communicate! Some men you just can't reach. So you get what we had here last week, which is the way he wants it! well, he gets it! I don't like my Solarcon IMAX 2000 any more than you men". (and that's no joke!).

well, hope things go your way!

good luck,
LC

__________________
"Man shall never reach the moon, for such a quantity of gunpowder would be needed as to gravely injure the crew."
~ Children's Encyclopedia, 1926

Thanks L.C.,

Well, the weather finally broke & yes! I was able to install the LMR-400 coax, and my home made RF choke balun. I have posted a few new pictures of my Imax 2000 & the mods in my profile if anyone cares to check it out. My oldest son & I did all of the mods last weekend but as I was nearing getting my radio back online, as fate would have it, I messed up the last PL-259 amphenol connector I needed to hook up my coax to the radio. Yes, L.C. I shorted it out from too much solder flow from too much heat. I am finding out that it's not so easy soldering these on. But I did learn a thing or two from my mistake. So I am not able to share with any of you any results from my efforts just yet. But as soon as I get more connectors in, I'll be here to share my findings. I am hoping tomorrow or so I will be back up and running. But this time, I will be taking my time.

James

__________________
"What we've got here is a failure, to communicate! Some men you just can't reach. So you get what we had here last week, which is the way he wants it! well, he gets it! I don't like my Solarcon IMAX 2000 any more than you men". (and that's no joke!).

thats a bummer james.

have you found anyplace locally that you can buy PL-259's and things at?

always good to have a local source for odds and ends.
LC

__________________
"Man shall never reach the moon, for such a quantity of gunpowder would be needed as to gravely injure the crew."
~ Children's Encyclopedia, 1926

Well LC, I did it now. The Imax 2000 is trashed. I tightened the coax connector too tight to the antenna and it shorted out my antenna. It wasn't my soldering job at all. I kept getting continuity after I soldered like three or four connectors onto the coax on the radio end. Eventually I started wondering what was up, so I went up to the antenna and removed the coax connector and rechecked the cable, it was fine. I put my meter on the antenna pl259 female feed connector and the antenna (was & is) shorted out.

When I put my balun on last week I over tightened the connector for the coax. I heard it crack a bit, but thought it was still ok. As some know, they are just crimped to the barrell of the antenna feed. Well, at this point, I need to get another antenna. I may get another Imax, but I was interested in your Top One. Is it a 5/8th wave? I read at an online store it said 5/8th. I thought the astroplane's were only 1/4 wave.

I've had nothing but bad luck lately. My own fault. I could really use your advice right about now. The Imax is coming down, and the weather is getting colder lately. I wanted your opinion on if I should replace the Imax, get a Top One, or a starduster? I'd rather not go with a duster. When I was little, they were the bottom of the line. Are they better these days? I am wanting to stay with a 5/8th wave though.

Anyways, I got's to get to bed now, I haven't been getting my sleep & I just have no time whatsoever lately with my job & all. I've been really tired lately & pressed for time every day. Been working 6 to 7 days a week lately.

I am posting this message out here so everyone can feel my sorrow & pain. I said from the beginning that I am here to learn & to give what I know, (pass or fail).

I hope it prevents others from screwing up as I have done here. Spank me while I'm down if anyone wants, I deserve it. I've come so far, but still miles away from my goal. A sad night indeed. They have a name for guys like me, (ACE).

ACE IN THE HOLE.

If anything, a few could get a few laughs here from all of this. It's on me. two thumbs eh? No worries, I'll feel better in the morn.

Night.

James

__________________
"What we've got here is a failure, to communicate! Some men you just can't reach. So you get what we had here last week, which is the way he wants it! well, he gets it! I don't like my Solarcon IMAX 2000 any more than you men". (and that's no joke!).

I buy the gold plated, Amphenol PL-259 connectors from buxcomm.com
They are about $2.39 a piece. I was able to solder the PL-259 this morning to the radio side of my LMR-400 coax again with no problems & no shorts. I also ordered a brand new Imax 2000 for about a little over a hundred bucks.

I am going to save the old antenna and see if I can repair it. If not, I'd like to send it out to Big Hair Antennas in Indiana to have him do his mojo on it but I've tried to contact him twice now & they do not respond. So at least if nothing else I will have spare parts.

I decided to get another Solarcon because (besides the fragile female feed connector on it) the rest of the antenna is fairly well built & strong. I also wanted to stick with a 5/8th wave. The Imax they say is a bit more than a 5/8th wave. The standard 5/8th wave is .625 of one wavelength & the Imax is a .64.

The Imax 2000 EXPOSED!


I see a lot of people put down the Imax, even myself at times. But I have heard the V58 macos break in the wind as well. And the astroplanes need reinforcement at the hoop.

Mmmmm, I owned the original Avanti Astroplane back in 1975 or 76. I never had trouble with the hoop or strength of that antenna. The original Astroplane & the late Hy-Gain Penetrator 500 were two of the best antennas you could get back then. Not any more though.

Using Fiberglass antennas, (like anything else), has it's pros & cons. Lightning wise, I believe it is safer than the aluminum ones. But that does not mean I wouldn't try a V58 Maco or a CTE Top One Astroplane.

LC, I admire your determination on strengthening your Top One. Who knows, I may just get one of those too one day. I hear they are great for 10 meters.

Well, looks like I'll be out of here for about a week. I will post back once I have the new 2000 installed and ready to go.

Later all


James

__________________
"What we've got here is a failure, to communicate! Some men you just can't reach. So you get what we had here last week, which is the way he wants it! well, he gets it! I don't like my Solarcon IMAX 2000 any more than you men". (and that's no joke!).

james! i feel for ya bro!

i have to admit to a little head shaking and "oh man you poor guy" chuckling when i read your post. LOL

the good news is that most likely, your IMAX 2000 is just fine.
the bad news is that you have most likely already pulled out a few hairs over this one.

you see, the IMAX is DC grounded for lightning protection.
this means that if you check the center pin and shield of the coax connector on the antenna, you will show a short in your ohmmeter.

this is ok because that short is through a coil and at 27mhz that coil is not an RF short.
sure, to DC that coil just looks like a piece of wire connecting the center pin and shield together. but to RF, that coil has characteristics and properties that allow it to form a 50 ohm load to match your coax.

take a look at the schematic drawing in the "imax 2000 exposed" down towards the bottom, just above where it says "closing statements".

you will see a coil connecting the center pin of the coax right to the shield.


so, you can see why when you had one end of your coax connected to the antenna, and were soldering on a new connector at the radio end, everytime you got done and checked it for shorts, sure enough, you had one!
mustve been very frustrating.

so, now im guessing that the old imax was taken down in frustration?

if its still up, check your SWR. if its still below 2:1, then you are fine, and can cancel your order for the new antenna. (hope you still can!)

sorry i didnt catch this post sooner, but im off work on fridays and dont use the net at home much at all.

hope i caught you in time,
LC

__________________
"Man shall never reach the moon, for such a quantity of gunpowder would be needed as to gravely injure the crew."
~ Children's Encyclopedia, 1926

Yeah, Not just a few hairs LC, but I actually had to go buy a knit hat to
cover up this old bald head of mine LOL!

Yes, your right, (Feeling really ignorant right now, but handling it), I was just looking at that schematic yesterday or so on the "Imax exposed" URL and I did see that. I just did not apply it far enough into what I was doing.

Well, I can assure you that I'm learning more here than I'm teaching.

Too late LC, I've ordered the new Antenna already and it's on it's way. I will go ahead & put it up as well. You see, this goes a bit deeper in the doo doo than meets the eye. You forget your dealing with a green horn here. There's even more to the story here bud, but I'll save it for you on another day.

Getting back to the antenna,
As I was putting on the GPK bracket on the antenna, I busted the Solarcon supplied
1 1/2" u-bolt clamp. Well, you could hear the swear words loud & clear that day last week or so after the u-bolt snapped

So I went to the hardware store, (ACE HARDWARE), "there goes that word again" :-) (ACE), but they did not have the correct size. So I reamed the holes out a bit on the antenna bracket to get the u-bolt from ( you got it! "ACE"!), to fit.

To make a long story short, I managed to get the new, larger u-bolt fitted on without any further damage & it was still straight & parallel with the mast. I was only waiting for the PL-259 connectors to come in before I made a simple job, "harder".

Thanks for informing me about the antenna LC. I will also go back and look again at the schematic. Maybe enlarge it and print it out. Anyways, my SWR has always been a good 1.4 on the meter and I've finally made the decision to go after getting my Ham License. I'd like to get into 10 meters to start. I heard your Top One is a good antenna for 10.

Anyhow, no biggie on another antenna coming, gives me a chance to start all over. I'm going to install the delrin rod as well. I'm going to offset the Delrin to the Mast and offset it back to the antenna brace using 4 two way pipe clamps. Saw a picture of someone who's done it. Doesn't look so bad actually. Who knows, maybe I'm ok without the antenna Isolated? or should I at least try it? I may just keep it the way it is for now.

Well, it is a thought & offsetting it would make it easier instead of looking for ways to turn down the diameter of the Delrin just to get it inside the mast. I've ordered the clamps already and will post new pics once I have it all together again.

Now that I know my Imax is ok, I will be testing it soon and let everyone know if my RF Balun choke and thicker, LMR-400 coax will be helping me or not. I have a feeling the better coax will definitely make a major improvement on the receive as well as TX. BTW you never did say, is your Top One really a 5/8th wave? I saw a store advertising it was. Was just curious. I may get one for 10 meters. But I think I've got enough on my plate for now.

Talk back atcha soon LC.
Sincerely,
"ACE"

__________________
"What we've got here is a failure, to communicate! Some men you just can't reach. So you get what we had here last week, which is the way he wants it! well, he gets it! I don't like my Solarcon IMAX 2000 any more than you men". (and that's no joke!).

the question you have to ask yourself about the delrin rod is, "how pissed will i be if i go to all this trouble to install the delrin rod and it doesnt make any difference at all?"

because it might or might not make a difference in your situation.
to be honest, this whole "isolate the antenna from the support structure" thing is debatable. i just find the arguments for doing it to make sense to me.

cb'ers have been mounting antennas to metal masts for many years, and doing just fine.

so, the best answer i can give you is, it might be worth a shot. LOL

i would say try it without it, and if its bugging you looking at that piece of unused delrin; clamp it up there on a day you are bored and looking for a project. also, i think it would be just fine to clamp it up there instead of turning the rod down. you know how we do it, we start with perfection and then compromise. LOL

as for the top one antenna, it has been debated for years by people much smarter than me as to what type of antenna it actually is.
i have read so much of those debates i dont know what to think anymore. LOL

i just know they work very well and are perfect for my particular situation.

if you want to use it on 10 meters you will have to do some modifications to it, as it is not tunable and is pretuned for 11 meters.

not too difficult though, it involves sleeving the vertical elements on the sides of the mast so you can vary their length.

keep your eyes out for an old style top one or astroplane on ebay and craigslist, and if you see one you can afford; buy it!!!
they are hard to come by so you know you could always sell it later.

because of their design, they also make great shortwave listening antennas.
an added bonus for sure!

hope all your efforts pay off.
have you found out if the transformer behind your house is making noise yet?

oh, i saw your new pics and i think you live near a big lake right?
could your noises be from homing beacons or some sort of beacon on a buoy that keeps boats from hitting it?
must be lots of things near a big lake that could cause noise.
just something to consider.

later,
LC

__________________
"Man shall never reach the moon, for such a quantity of gunpowder would be needed as to gravely injure the crew."
~ Children's Encyclopedia, 1926