The review above addresses the quality and performance of the antenna itself; not shipping or customer service. Perhaps you can have somebody read the title of the thread to you.
I'd hope not. And nobody should have to explain the differences between a 1/2 wave mobile mounted at under 8' contacting a similar station, and a 5/8 wave base antenna mounted at 100' contacting a similar station. I'm certain you are one of the CB'ers that already know everything there is to know - that's why you're a
CB'er, right? I notice however that you posses the brilliance required to comment here on a topic mentioned on an entirely different forum.
Unless of course one before making the claim had already mapped and researched the elevation levels (using any number of readily-available GPS mapping tools) between the two points and found that the elevation of land between the 2 antenna is in fact
not higher than the location of either antenna.
Sea level is a standard base point. The absolute zero. There is no fixed land level to use as a reference point. I don't expect you to understand that though.
As I said before, I'm not gonna argue with such brilliant kids about the review. I registered and posted a review of a product at a current members request, the reasons I refrained from registering here previously are evident (I decided at the age of 12 to not associate with people suffering from insecurity issues).
I'm aware that trolls occupy every forum, so go ahead - have fun with it and do whatever it takes to feel better about yourself.
And lets not forget the bullshit artist on these forums. If you take time to search these forums, 90% of the press on the I10-k is about bad customer service and not about the fantabulous virtues of this antenna.
08-27-2008, 07:57 AM
gc505
Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 217
Ordered my new Interceptor 10k base antenna...
I ordered my new Interceptor 10k base antenna yesterday. At $377 shipped, the price wasn't quite as bad as I was expecting.
I should receive it FedEx in 7-10 days. I'll post pics of the "Imax2000 Replacement Project" when the I-10k arrives.
Can't wait!
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09-02-2008, 01:51 PM
gc505
Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 217
Haven't received the antenna yet, but I regret to say that so far I am
NOT impressed with their customer service.
I placed the order and paid in full $376.35 on Monday, August 25. When I placed the order I was told that the antenna would be shipped via FedEx within 1-2 days and I should receive it by the end of the week or early the following week.
Eight days have passed and I have received no communication whatsoever (shipping confirmation, tracking number, etc). I was finally able to reach Steve today via telephone and I was told that they were
"short some parts and the antenna will probably be completed and shipped tomorrow" - Nine days after placing the order for an antenna that according to their a1antennas website is "in stock and ready for delivery":
Screen shot clip from the sales website (a1antennas.com):
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09-08-2008, 09:08 PM
gc505
Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 217
Update:
One week later and two weeks since paying for the antenna advertised as
"in stock and ready for shipping", the antenna still has not been shipped.
I finally reached Steve by telephone and was told for the third time that the antenna will ship out tomorrow. The reason this time: They were out of manuals and he just got more printed. I was told today that the I-10k should be here by the end of the week.
I'm sure they probably have other jobs and a life outside of the "antenna garage" so I am still offering a level of understanding and forgiveness for these delays. However, it sure would be nice if they communicated with their paid customers. A telephone call or an email explaining the delay would more than suffice. As it is, I have had to send emails (with no response) and make repeated telephone calls (usually with no answer) to contact them and request information about the repeated delays in completing my order.
I remain eagerly waiting with fingers crossed. Hopefully I will actually receive a FedEx tracking number tomorrow!
__________________
"A ruler, to stay in power, must convince the people that the enemy is ever at the door." - Nicollo Machiavelli
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09-10-2008, 05:11 PM
gc505
Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 217
Two days after the third promise of
"it will be shipped tomorrow", I still have not received a tracking number.
The FedEx tracking numbers are issued automatically to the recipient's email, so I can reasonably assume the antenna has not yet been shipped.
__________________
"A ruler, to stay in power, must convince the people that the enemy is ever at the door." - Nicollo Machiavelli
Click HERE and HERE to see my favorite new toy: The GC505 / W9SFA Antenna Tower.
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09-10-2008, 11:33 PM
gc505
Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 217
They don't seem to have any desire to answer emails after payment has been made. It took 2 days to get a shipping quote via email, but I haven't had a single response to my emails since then. Even most telephone calls result in a recorded message.
Nonetheless, here is the email I have just sent to
jay123a@qnet.com from a1antennas.com:
Dear Sir:
On 08/25/08 I placed an order for an Interceptor 10k and paid via Paypal. I was told on that date that the antenna would be shipped the following day and I should expect delivery of the antenna via FedEx within 3-5 business days.
After no communication from a1antennas for a week, I was finally able to reach Steve by telephone on Tuesday, 09/02/08. He said there had been a shortage of some hardware, but the antenna would be shipped the next day. Again I was told to expect delivery within 3-5 business days.
Another week passed with no communication and no tracking number. I again reached Steve via telephone on Monday, 09/08 and was told there was a shortage of manuals but more had been received; the antenna would be shipped the next day. I was once again told to expect delivery within 3-5 business days.
It is now Wednesday 09/10, still no communication and no tracking number. I have now been told three times that the antenna would be shipped "tomorrow".
What is the hold up? When paying nearly $400 for an item that is advertised as "in stock and ready for delivery" and after three separate promises that it will be shipped "tomorrow", one should expect either the delivery of the item or at the least some communication from the seller detailing the reason for non-shipment.
Please let me know what the problem is so I can decide whether I should proceed with obtaining a refund through Paypal or actually expect delivery of the antenna I purchased.
Sincerely,
Sad to say I'm almost to the point that no matter how great the antenna performs, I would almost feel guilty recommending them to
anybody due to the run-around and their complete lack of customer service. If I don't have a tracking number in my Inbox within the next day or two, I will demand a refund and/or file a claim through Paypal for non-shipment.
__________________
"A ruler, to stay in power, must convince the people that the enemy is ever at the door." - Nicollo Machiavelli
Click HERE and HERE to see my favorite new toy: The GC505 / W9SFA Antenna Tower.
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15
09-12-2008, 01:26 AM
gc505
Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 217
About friggin' time, I
finally received a tracking number.
The FedEx tracking website says the antenna was shipped yesterday (09/10/08) and is scheduled for delivery Tuesday 09/16/08... Nine days short of a full month since I paid for it.
Hopefully I'll finally be able to put the damn thing up and post a review of it's quality and performance.
__________________
"A ruler, to stay in power, must convince the people that the enemy is ever at the door." - Nicollo Machiavelli
Click HERE and HERE to see my favorite new toy: The GC505 / W9SFA Antenna Tower.
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#
19
09-13-2008, 11:04 AM
gc505
Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 217
I received a telephone call today from Jay, owner of a1antennas.com. He received my email (as posted above) and seemed genuinely worried about whether I had received my antenna.
Jay was extremely apologetic for the repeated delays and equally apologetic for the lack of communication throughout this transaction. He explained that he travels a lot and is often forced to leave the operation to Steve (a highly skilled machinist and antenna builder) who takes great pride in his work, but apparently a bit less pride in his communication with the customer.
After 10 minutes on the telephone with Jay, I feel a1antennas has redeemed themselves. My order just happened to come in at the wrong time when supplies were low, and this coupled with Jay being on the road and Steve being a great antenna builder but less than an effective communicator I am one of the (very rare) buyers who had an issue with the order.
He left his personal cellphone number and stressed that should I have any problems with assembly, tuning or installation to give him a call and they would gladly give step-by-step assistance.
Only three more days to wait until this badass antenna is in my hands and on it's way up the tower.
__________________
"A ruler, to stay in power, must convince the people that the enemy is ever at the door." - Nicollo Machiavelli
Click HERE and HERE to see my favorite new toy: The GC505 / W9SFA Antenna Tower.
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09-16-2008, 03:02 PM
gc505
Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 217
Finally!
I received the I-10k this morning, and after a run to the hardware store to pick up a few bolts that were missing from the kit I put the thing together.
First off, let me say this thing is built
SOLID! I've put several old Super Penetrator 500's together, and this thing makes them feel like aluminum foil.
I built it according to the specified measurements and I have a 1.1 SWR on channel 1 and a 1.2 on channel 40. There is still some fine tuning to be done, but I needed a break.
I have the antenna temporarily mounted on a piece of mast 6' above the ground, and I can already tell it is kicking ass compared to the Imax2000 that is about 100' in the air.
Using the Imax2000 with at 100' with 1kw, I got a radio check from a guy on a base station 22 miles away and was giving him a 20 pound dead key on his meter. I then switched to the I-10k mounted at 6' and was giving him about 18 pounds. That tells me that when this thing is atop the tower there will be a tremendous improvement.
I probably won't get the thing mounted on the tower today as it's a bit breezy, but hopefully within the next day or two it will go to it's permanent home in the sky.
Here is a pic of the I-10k as it stands at the 6' mark, I'll post a more detailed review and more photos after it is fine-tuned and installed on the tower.
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Last but not least the bullshit stories start.
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09-17-2008, 09:11 AM
gc505
Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 217
Made my first long distance ground wave contact using the I-10k this morning at about 7:30 on channel 8, 27.055 AM.
I talked from Benton, Illinois to unit 444 in Fowler, Indiana. 444 was running an eight element JoGunn 8 at 70' pointed straight South, I am a little more off to his S/W.
Running 1700 watts through the I-10k at 100' I was giving him 1 s-unit, he is running about 600 watts through the JoGunn 8 element conventional in the vertical position and was giving me 1 s-unit on my Galaxy 99 meter. I did not catch what radio he was running.
According to the mileage calculator at maps.google.com.com this is a straight-line distance of about 220 miles and by far the furthest ground wave contact I've ever made.
I'm
really liking this I-10k.
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09-17-2008, 03:53 PM
gc505
Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 217
Not that anybody cares, but in the interest of providing information for those interested in the I-10k here is another long distance ground wave contact I made today around 1:30 pm on channel 25, 27.245 MHz (AM).
The station I made contact with went by "Bulldog" and was in Poplar Bluff, MO, about 118.5 miles from me "as the crow flies" according to the distance measurement tool at maps.google.com.
Bulldog was running a Maco 200 amplifier through an Antron99 at 55 feet and was hitting my receive at barely above 0 s-units. Running 1700 through my I-10k at about 100 feet, he said I was giving him about 3-4 on his RCI-2980 meter.
I have never been able to make these kind of contacts with the Imax2000, which makes me love this I-10k even more
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Ok now lets talk about the 1700 watts you claim and with your Imax 2000 at 100' high and this guys A-99 at roof height YOU claim to hear him but he does not hear your 1700 watt station with it's superior Imax at 100' and then you put up your I10-k and just barely make it to his recieve, why does his station have such better transmitt? and better reception?
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52
09-21-2008, 09:57 PM
gc505
Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 217
Tonight at about 8:40 I made a contact to fellow forum member
Bluestallion in Mount Carmel, Illinois (Distance: 70 air miles) and gave him S2 on his meter. Bluestallion says he runs a low Antron99 at about roof level.
We have tried several times before using my Imax2000 and he could never hear me.
The Interceptor 10k made it happen!