Seen a thread today about NANO VNA testing an IMAX and almost posted there but decided to make a new one seeing it does not involve the NANO VNA. This is the post https://www.worldwidedx.com/threads/nanovna-first-scan-imax2000.270855/
I have both the Imax 2000 and a Maco 5/8. The Imax has a ground plane kit and a balun at the feed point (this is a must IMO). The Maco also has a balun at the feed point as well. These are both end fed antennas with a matching network. I can switch to either with my coax switches and switch in the same amp. I am NE Texas, when the propagation is good I have tested many times with them, both are at 26 feet to mast connection and both have LMR400 coax that are cut/tuned to be zero or close to it. They are 33 feet apart. Anyway, most far off location like the areas around New York and California say the Imax wins but its only just a tic on the meter and the audio is the same. Places closer to me say there is no difference as its a 50/50 split in options. When I work local there does not seem to be any notable difference either. When I do this test I just call them antenna A and antenna B so there is no bias and I dont disclose what the antennas are, I just say I put up a new one and need to compare. So take from that what you will but, the Imax needs a ground plane and both Imax and Maco should have a balun at the feed point as well IMO.
I have read and heard all the negative about the Imax and I am sure its true if its not setup right to get rid of the Common Mode and clean up the angle of radiation so you are not getting RF into unwanted areas under the antenna, this is where the ground plane kit helps, then you should really have some type of balun at the feed point to stop common mode. The ground plane kit does an OK job of this but the balun helps clean up the rest.
I have many wire antennas as well on the property to. All of them have roles that the others cannot fill, whether its band, polarized direction, and bandwidth. Normally my go to is my 572' Loop, it works on a few bands with really low SWR, 11M is one of them that is under 1.4 across the band and I use it often there to talk when the conditions are good. The internal tuner in the radio also tunes every band 160-6 meter, this took a bit tuning with wire length and 600 ohm feedline length but I got done. This antenna is my workhorse!!!
I find the Imax to be a useful antenna/tool when I need it. Its a great vertical for 15 meter with the tuner cleaning it up a bit when the 572 loop is just not cutting it with propagation across the equator.
I dont think the Imax or Maco are the end all be all antennas but they are both good tools to have when setup right. I have a DIY 1/4 wave for 11M that sometimes outperforms both the Imax and Maco depending on conditions and distance. I have a Tarheel screwdriver 160-10 setup 14 inches over my 32x24 steel roof that knocks it out of the park for overseas conditions, the roof is all bonded panel to panel with 1 inch braid along with the mount as well, then its got #6 going to four ground rods in the corners.
I am not trying to brag on the Imax being the best out there, I am just saying its a good tool if set up right with a ground plane and balun. I will also say that there has NEVER been a time when the Imax or the Maco out performed the other on any given conditions. In my setups of these two antennas I cannot say one works any better then the other when I have switched them out from one to the other.
When it comes down to it the Imax nor the Maco are my go to antennas for 11 meter when conditions are hot, my go to would be my 572' loop or my Maco VC-4 beam provided the conditions favor horizontal.
Anyway, please feel free to share your experience and be sure to note if your Imax had the ground plane kit as this really matters when comparting the two.
Please dont make this a post about bashing either antenna. I know some are going to post smith carts and all, I have a Rig Expert AA-650 zoom and looked at the two, they look vastly different for sure!!!!! By lookin at the smith chart the Imax should be a TURD!!!!
Also, I have lost the top section on 2 Imax antennas in hurricanes. Since I have replace the top sections with 102" steel whips this has not happened since. Every time a hurricane came through the Maco was down to make room for another antenna build going up due to the radials being in the way for deployment of wire and 600 ohm ladder line.
Let us see what you have experienced.
Kerry
I have both the Imax 2000 and a Maco 5/8. The Imax has a ground plane kit and a balun at the feed point (this is a must IMO). The Maco also has a balun at the feed point as well. These are both end fed antennas with a matching network. I can switch to either with my coax switches and switch in the same amp. I am NE Texas, when the propagation is good I have tested many times with them, both are at 26 feet to mast connection and both have LMR400 coax that are cut/tuned to be zero or close to it. They are 33 feet apart. Anyway, most far off location like the areas around New York and California say the Imax wins but its only just a tic on the meter and the audio is the same. Places closer to me say there is no difference as its a 50/50 split in options. When I work local there does not seem to be any notable difference either. When I do this test I just call them antenna A and antenna B so there is no bias and I dont disclose what the antennas are, I just say I put up a new one and need to compare. So take from that what you will but, the Imax needs a ground plane and both Imax and Maco should have a balun at the feed point as well IMO.
I have read and heard all the negative about the Imax and I am sure its true if its not setup right to get rid of the Common Mode and clean up the angle of radiation so you are not getting RF into unwanted areas under the antenna, this is where the ground plane kit helps, then you should really have some type of balun at the feed point to stop common mode. The ground plane kit does an OK job of this but the balun helps clean up the rest.
I have many wire antennas as well on the property to. All of them have roles that the others cannot fill, whether its band, polarized direction, and bandwidth. Normally my go to is my 572' Loop, it works on a few bands with really low SWR, 11M is one of them that is under 1.4 across the band and I use it often there to talk when the conditions are good. The internal tuner in the radio also tunes every band 160-6 meter, this took a bit tuning with wire length and 600 ohm feedline length but I got done. This antenna is my workhorse!!!
I find the Imax to be a useful antenna/tool when I need it. Its a great vertical for 15 meter with the tuner cleaning it up a bit when the 572 loop is just not cutting it with propagation across the equator.
I dont think the Imax or Maco are the end all be all antennas but they are both good tools to have when setup right. I have a DIY 1/4 wave for 11M that sometimes outperforms both the Imax and Maco depending on conditions and distance. I have a Tarheel screwdriver 160-10 setup 14 inches over my 32x24 steel roof that knocks it out of the park for overseas conditions, the roof is all bonded panel to panel with 1 inch braid along with the mount as well, then its got #6 going to four ground rods in the corners.
I am not trying to brag on the Imax being the best out there, I am just saying its a good tool if set up right with a ground plane and balun. I will also say that there has NEVER been a time when the Imax or the Maco out performed the other on any given conditions. In my setups of these two antennas I cannot say one works any better then the other when I have switched them out from one to the other.
When it comes down to it the Imax nor the Maco are my go to antennas for 11 meter when conditions are hot, my go to would be my 572' loop or my Maco VC-4 beam provided the conditions favor horizontal.
Anyway, please feel free to share your experience and be sure to note if your Imax had the ground plane kit as this really matters when comparting the two.
Please dont make this a post about bashing either antenna. I know some are going to post smith carts and all, I have a Rig Expert AA-650 zoom and looked at the two, they look vastly different for sure!!!!! By lookin at the smith chart the Imax should be a TURD!!!!
Also, I have lost the top section on 2 Imax antennas in hurricanes. Since I have replace the top sections with 102" steel whips this has not happened since. Every time a hurricane came through the Maco was down to make room for another antenna build going up due to the radials being in the way for deployment of wire and 600 ohm ladder line.
Let us see what you have experienced.
Kerry
