The Solarcon MAX 2000 Has Arrived, Let's Take A Look.
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 พ.ค. 2018
- Well, its almost time to take down the old Antron. My new antenna has arrived and I'm excited to get it put together and install it this summer. I'm still working on the tower, so for now its sitting in the garage waiting for the big day.
- แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
Glad to see someone do videos on CB radios. I used to get a lot of contacts from North Carolina to here in Southern Illinois. May give you a shout when I get my new tower complete. CB radio is a lot of fun!! Maybe these videos will ignite some interest in a great hobby. Keep up the good work!
I hope to hear you on the air someday!
Eight years of service with no adverse effects due to weather , wind or tree contamination, well worth the money for the great performance. Mounted on pipe at twenty feet .
You get what you pay for- this one has been a trouper for me
My Max 2K arrived lastTuesday. In the proccess of building a tower as well. I'm in northern Georgia. Hope to hear you soon. Thanks a million for all of your super videos!
Cool! maybe I'll hear you on the air someday.
Hello Eric, I’m a fan and watch your channel often. I think you just saved me a bunch of headaches and money so thanks! I have one of these and it’s been sitting in my office for more than a decade. I purchased it for CB but later I was told it wasn’t compatible. Another TH-camr said I needed the iMAX 2000. Your comment about the i 👀 for Apple was key! ✌️
glad that I could help.
You are going to love it, I have had one for a few years now, best vertical I've ever owned!
Glad to hear it! I don't often spend this kind of money on my hobbies, but if it lasts about as long as the A99 I will be a very happy camper.
I have made many contacts on it on 10 meters as well, if something was to happen to it, I will definitely be replacing it with another one. Keep up the good work Sir, really enjoy your videos! 73 Fordman aka W4HBG waving at you from the Bam Bam state!
Mine is 25 years old , maintain it with polyurethane varnish! Don’t use the lock washers. Butt the sections together and weather tape it
Good idea! I need to take mine down to clean it up. The SWR has been slowly climbing.
you will love that antenna :-)
Good straightforward video.
Another great video😋
Alright get it in the wind put a little 🔥 fire in the wire and let's talk good video
You are a TH-cam video producing Machine my friend. I enjoy your videos.
I try brother, I try... 3 or 4 a week for the summer and at least 2 a week in the winter. I'm almost at 2 million views and 200 videos! I'm considering doing a live show to celebrate sometime this summer. Maybe we can chat then.
just put the imax 2k up in a tree 22 feet and today heard brazil and mexico -gulf coast Canada east very well on ten meters and it works good on 15 m 21mc pretty good as well , using only 50 watts they are hearing me good too , no tuner inline
tony turtle hey I’m gonna be doing the same thing . Did you putt a ground plane kit on it or did you even ground it , and what’s your swr . I appreciate any help or info
hello Nick Franks ,no I did not add the G.P. kit and no I did not ground the antenna separately ,the rig is grounded but the antenna bolted right to the trunk of the tree ,its best to have things grounded to equal out any potentinal difference , or it will become a lighting rod ,swr is very low from 27,mc thru 21 mc , I really should have it on a tower separate from the tree but the tree is all I have right now ,its a great ant good luck with yours , maybe I will hear you on the air .
tony turtle thanks for the reply but I’m am new to the hobby and I only know swr numbers like 1.5 or 2.0 swr , could you explain better what the 21mc through 27 mc means I’m sorry but any and all help is appreciated
hello Nick Franks ,im new to the hobby to so I know how it is , there is an endless amount of information to acquire , electronics and radio is always changing too, so there is always new information to keep up with lol lol ,the best way to get the answers you want are from research thru your local radio club or from your own through research on the internet or books , a elmer helps to if you can find one ,i was just trying to give my results of this product i recently installed last year , to try and explain theory here would be insane , lol agn good luck with your antenna and 1.5 to 1 is a great match !!!!
Tony Turtle- that was exactly my experience with the I Max 2000 - very broad band, it simply worked.
Just got mine a couple of months ago, yet to install!
I have an old I MAX -2000, When they were called IMAX. Got it in 2000 at $68 from Copper. It 's done very well on both the CB band and the Ham band. On Hand band I could talk from 10 -- 17 meters just fine. The 2000 is close to a true 5/8 wave antenna. The A- 99 is a half over a 1/4 wave antenna. I like the 2000 better. It now 23 years old. It always a choice on what you want.
I have both, and oddly I prefer the A99.
Eric, it's been a while on this particular vid, but would u happen to remember WHERE those tuning rings were SET when u first opened that box for the Max 2000? The reason I ask is, when I had to relocate my antenna, the tuning rings loosened & I don't remember WHERE they were originally set from the factory☹️ So u might say I'm just trying to do a "factory reset" on them! Many thanks, a long-term follower😃🇺🇸
I am not sure, my memory is not what it used to be.
make sure you check that end fed bottom section, had to send 3 of these back to copper all had fine vertical cracks in them.
ended up just getting the maco 5/8 from someone else
no BS i put a 4 ft mobile whip ( coiled 1/4 wave mobile antenna) at the top and it outperformed the 8ft stock whip ( tested with friend 20 mi away and had antenna 20 ft above ground), for some reason it gets out better louder etc... look at the "fire stick mod" for the a99 i think the concept is similar, may lower the angle of radiation. at some point the wind may snap the 8 ft whip off, if that happens a steel 102 inch whip or my crazy mod might be worth trying. in genera, putting the tuning coils all the way to the bottom is best too.
if you have not put it up yet don't plan to put it in a tree, the ground plane kit makes a big difference for long range communication/receive. mine is in a tree so it is just the stick, no ground plane.
Nice!
Nice 👍Antennae .. Bob
I have heard that 5/8 wave is quieter than the A99 antenna.
Have you found that to be the case?
My A99 is not a noisy antenna, but it's not super quiet either.
I run about a 3 S-units of noise on all channels which isn't bad.
Living near Chicago that also could have something to do with it.
Holy shit, this was posted on my birthday, lol
Is this the full 24 ft or the new now shortened on because of the shipping issues?
im about to put one of these at the top of a tree,, can i bolt a ground wire to the aluminum plate at the bottom of the antenna? size wire? Eric, why recommend no ground plane for this? thx
how do you find the antenna vs the antron?
What is the inside measurement of the U-bolt? A tilting tower set-up is my next project and am considering using the top rail for chain link fencing as a mast, if not too wide for the U-bolts supplied.
i have one on top of 33 feet of fence top rail tied up to a tree, it hooks up just fine 1and 1/4 or 1/2 inch top rail fence post
I have an iMax2000 and I haven’t used it in years! I have to find out a way to put it up and then and than I don’t have a CB or any coax because I did it all wrong first! Then I watched how to properly use a CB and then I’m better at it now
I got an iMax 2000 for 60 bucks. I haven’t used it for years it’s been sitting and it’s got some scratches. I hope it’s not wrecked
I'm not sure if you're adding the ground plane kit for it but I can tell you, adding one makes a big difference in receive and transmit. Adding one changes your radiation pattern and also helps cut man made noise and static and will also help with RFI. It's definitely worth it in my opinion.
^^yup if mine was not in a tree i'd do it. proven to work better.
what ground plane kit do you use with this? Thinking of ordering this antenna.
Also sometimes it creates a higher SWR I know a few people that put them on it and once they removed them SWR dropped back to normal
What’s the max size of antenna you would recommend just mounting to a building?
I think that I would stick with this one or the A99- I think that I would do the A99 as I have had better long term results with it
Thanks!! Trying to get a base station set up for my garage!
They should've renamed it the Eye-Max2000 - lol
Wanna HAMMER DX? Put up 2 Max 2000s horizontally and opposing each other going opposite directions - making a 46 foot wide horizontal!!
- In order to avoid one cancelling the other you have to feed one Max2K 1/2-wave out of phase, plus to get 2 Max2Ks to match 50Ω you have to drive each one with a 1/4 wave of 75Ω RG-11 coax (times the velocity factor of the 75Ω coax or about .8 x 9 feet or about 7.2 feet of 75Ω) each, *plus an additional 1/2 wave of 50Ω (18 feet times the velocity factor of the 50Ω coax - usually .66 so 12 feet) between _ONE MAX2K_ and it's piece of 75ohm.
Attach both pieces of 75ohm to a coax *T* and from the *T* run 50ohm RG-8 to the radio.
So, two Max2Ks, both laying horizontal with their mounting tabs side by side.
One Max2K tip pointing North, the other Max2K tip pointing South. (or East / West)
One Max2K has a 7.2 foot piece of 75Ω RG-11 coax connecting it to the *T* connector.
The other Max2K has 12' of RG-8 connecting it to a barrel connector to the other 7.2 feet of 75Ω RG-11 - which is then connected to the other side of the *T* connector.
RG-8 50Ω coax from the 3rd connection on the *T* down to the radio.
Make certain everything is tuned and cut identically and when you switch over from any Vertical to the "Flat-Max4K" the DX performance will be so much better *_You vill schitt!_* 😎👍
- Just make sure it's *_broadside_* toward the DX!
Sounds like a cool setup!
👍👍
I just got the solarcon A99 17’ tall it looks identical to what you have. But, the plate on the bottom is different. I know mine says 1/4 wave stacked. Urs says 5/8 did u get a length on the new one. I remember the Imax 2000 was like 22’ I believe. Is this new one taller then the old A99?
Altitud recommended on that max2000 base antenna
I have had 2 of them , I lost the first one due to moving , the second one I think I damaged it using an antenna tuner
Mine is still holding on. I think the A99 is better built, but this one talks better.
Now if iam not mistaken, not only is there a base radial kit, but i hear there is a new acessory that replaces the top antenna element, the top is like a tunable firestick, its called the Antron Fire up kit???.I just found a guy in England "Fred in the shed" here on TH-cam said his Antron/imax/max is receiving stations hes never been able to hear.
how does this antenna perform against the antron 99?
It's a 1db gain over it in my tests.
Amazon says :
Antron 99 - 8.2 DBI gain (with GPK)
Max 2000 - 5.1 DBI gain
Got my I- Max from Walmart . Com. Came in 11-7 - 20 split badly in bottom and mid section. I think it was returned and re packed
Eric,…. did you also get the Ground Plane Kit with this antenna / or does it work well with out it. ?
Watching your videos from Kentucky “ The Bluegrass State “ ,….. thanks my friend .
No, just the antenna and 3 years later, I still love it!
They actually put a mounting bracket on
Hey bud are you gonna run a ground plane kit or are you just gonna ground it really good ?
I plan on just grounding it good. The metal roof of my garage should act as a bit of a ground plane though.
When that Delrecho with 93+ mph winds came thru snapped my Imax 2000, just got off the phone with them earlier today they said they'd replace it ship a new one with a ground plane kit free of charge
That is GREAT customer service for sure!
Did you notice a big difference between the Antron A99 and the IMAX 2000?
Honestly, not enough to warrant the price. Stick with the A99.
@@FarpointFarms thank you! I will.
"And it didn't cost a lot to ship this thing..."
Famous last words. Guess what? UPS has recently applied a very nasty surcharge for shipping on this antenna due to the length of it in unassembled' form. It is my understanding that shipping is now over $100. That also explains why some CB/Ham radio shops no longer sell it and it they do... some of them refuse to ship it due to the now very high cost of shipping.
Man, that sucks. I had no idea!
So hows it held up over the past couple years?
Wonder what it would do with the Ringmaster plugged in and tuned up......
Just experimentally ?
Hmm... I may have to try that!
You may need a tap'ed tunable coil before the antenna. I had been playing with Talking House Units, I picked 3 then found 4 in a bundle, never used in org. boxes. hoped to make do with them in small towns and lakes near me fed with my programming over the interwebs on wifi. I experimented a lot, heard they will transmit a few miles with the sadly, not available ATU units. So I messed with 10 foot Copper pipes up the tower and coils at the back of the TH, unit feeding RG 6 from the internal auto tuner (same Tuner is in the pole mounted ATU's).
Any way the Range Master, feeding your new toy would be interesting. let me know if you do.
I want one but I hear they cant take high winds they snap is this true
Would spraying this with a clear coat hurt the function of the antenna? Don't want a hand full of fiberglass in the future due to sun damage.
I have no reason to think that painting or clear coating this antenna would effect it's performance.
Has no effect on performance. Sprayed mine.
So I was looking to buy a Max2000 but decided to go with the tram 1498 instead. Mostly because we get a lot of high winds and I can't afford to upgrade my coax (yet) just for a hobby. I watched you video about the tram, and wondering how do the two compare?? Should I have sprung for the max2000 and waited to get the rest? Or is the tram going to be OK for local and approx 50 miles? Haven't been into this stuff in a while so starting fresh with and old Cobra 89gtl base.
Forgive any spell checks, apparently I can't edit?!
The Tram is a fine antenna. I have a lot of mobile Tram antennas, and have used Solarcon (A99 and Max 2000) for my base setups, but the tram 1498 is nearly the same as a Solarcon Antron A99. I'd bet a dollar they are about equals.
Alright sweet. Like everything else there's mixed reviews all over the place about both but tram seems to be mostly good. I ordered through Lowe's with free shipping! So if any hardware is missing, or I need a return I'll go to customer service at Lowe's half mile away! Thanks for the positive feed back! I enjoy your videos btw
Good , how much u paid for it ?
Really good Antenna I get more the 10m & 11m I get 12m & 15m & 17 to on my FT-DX10
While researching the internet to learn all I can about the Max 2000 I came across this review from July of 2016. I would love to hear your input on his recommendations for the length of the coax and the height of the antenna tip. Highly regard your opinions! Thanks. Raven 949.
5.0 out of 5 starsGet the RIGHT COAX CABLE!! ...RG 213...!!
July 8, 2016
Verified Purchase
ATTENTION!! make sure you buy good quality RG213 cable for this antenna!!! (the THICK stuff) I spoke to the guy who designed this antenna! He says it's set-up specifically to use RG213 coax! It's also tuned for use of 75 to 100 ft of cable and the antenna tip should be at or around 35 to 40 ft up in the air!... (No higher, no lower!) I bought the RG8X stuff (el cheapo) and got horribly high SWR readings! Haven't set up the new cable yet... so we'll see if that fixes the problem .. I burned up a transistor running the cheap cable which forced me to re-check my SWR meter... I was using it wrong from the start.. Yikes! This is the real poop straight from the guy who makes this antenna... :) Good luck and have fun!!
Thanks, most helpful post I’ve read to date! Prior to reading this I would’ve thought LMR-400 would’ve been the ultimate choice. 🤷♂️
If you have a way test it before you put it up on the new tower
No, its going to be a leap of faith.
Just put up a brand new one and it was dead out of the box the bad part we had a way to test it and just didn't do it
put it up 10-20 ft first and tune it/ get it right before putting it up. odds are you don't need too but its the best if you want it perfect/best.
Is there a difference between the IMAX 2000 and the MAX 2000? I understand that Solarcon was purchased by another company.
They are the same. The name was changed due to pressure from Apple and the "I" being a trademark. Slave labor scumbags that they are. Anyway Solarcon bowed to pressure and dropped the I part of Imax.
hello, what is the size of the antenna close ( not open ) please thank
I think it was 9 feet.
Thank you :)
New at this but interested. Does it need a ground plane?
No, these are OK by themselves.
Farpoint Farms Thanks for the reply. I’m one of your many subscribers. I’ve ordered the max 2000 and 100’ of RG 213. I plan on burying about 60’ + or - in pvc conduit. Also purchased a small mast that I plan to mount to the side of a 40’ metal conex storage container. I believe the mast is only 20’ maybe a little longer. I have 2 old cb’s that have been stored in a closet for about 10 years or so. A cobra 29 Ltd classic and a Galaxy DX 959. I hooked the cobra up in my truck and it still works. Haven’t tried the galaxy. I probably don’t know enough about this but it’s too late now. I’ve already spent the money. I enjoy your videos, and hope to fumble my way through getting everything hooked up and running without spending another small fortune. Mast $175.00, RG 213 $99.00, IMAX 2000 $219.99, Mounting brackets $30.98. The only meters I have are on the radios. Do you have any advice that you can offer before I delve into this installation? I’m in south Ms and will be going by the handle Led Lobber.
hey WWS /world wide side band 124, CHICAGO HEIGHTS,,just came across your video, nice antenna , where`s? the install video and how hard was it to get the good SWR,s
I'm still working on getting that new "tower" finished. Hang in there!
Is it worth the extra money versus amtron 99
YES!
where do you get the imax 2000 from?
Ebay, some times you can get some great finds.
My Max 2000 shows continuity between the center wire and outer shield after I connected the coax. Any ideas why it would?
Apparently that is normal for these antenna's It should not be an issue once it's hooked up.
Are you ready to sale your antron now that you have this new max
Very soon. I hope to get the old A99 down sometime in the next two weeks.
Farpoint Farms take your time..when your ready if you want..let me know how much to send plus shipping....glad to help support the channel in the process if you desire to let it go
I just got my max 2000 also have it up and running . Maybe when skip starts running between ireland and the use we might talk on the air . Reg Shannon In Dublin ireland call sign 29vlf21
I hope to hear you on the air someday. This is Northstar707 in the mountains of North Carolina.
That name sounds like a hot new Chinese submachine gun .
How do i get one in South Africa
Walmart sells them, maybe they can ship?
Do you have to tune max 2000
It comes pre-tuned for the 11M band. So for CB radio its ready to go!
most of the time no, it's pretty forgiving, the tuning rings just help if you want more 10 or 11 meter. mine is right between the two so it works on both with the rings all the way down. gets 1.3 on CB and 1.4 on 10 meter to 28.5.
95% of the IMAX 2000 already Factory tune you might find a few you might have to tune the Rings but that could be down in the CB area might be something down there so you might have to change it up on the antenna but most of them 95% Are tuned I've owned a few Antron 99 and a few IMAX 2000 and I never have to tune them always got a 1.3 to a 1.4 with the amplifier and and flat or 1.1 without it
Isn't that really an antron by a different name. My mistake the antron is a half wave. The solarcon
Is a 5/8th. But same not much different except length between 18and 24foot length. Solarcon 99are available. Rebrand to the name antron 99 that is business.
Exactly. Antron became Solarcon. The A99 is a great antenna, and hopefully the MAX 2000 will be the same.
IMAX is 24 ft and it's a 5/8 wave Antron 99 18 ft and it's a 1/2 wave. I've owned both IMAX better antenna than to Antron 99
Que precio tiene
Mine worked great for 3 yrs then the wind got r good this winter and shattered the fibreglass
Bummer. It gets pretty darn cold here so I wonder it mine will suffer the same fate.
@@FarpointFarms Shattered at the beginning of the 3rd section. Worked amazing at 1st. We are on the north shore of Lake Erie and skip was great. Hear clear down to Mexico. Gona put up my 102' whip on the 50' tower. Bet that will last. Love your channel. We have to much in common. Farmer to farmer!!
Mine lasted about 5yrs before the top whip broke off right above the knuckle.
73 Eric, de kb0wzh
Man why would you buy a junk antenna should have bought a Maco v-5000 or pony up some cash and buy a shockwave or mr.coily but no gotta have that fiberglass junk
Biggest problem I've had with the aluminum antenna's like the Maco 5/8 is anytime it would rain or snow the swr would climb well over 2.5 to 1.
Hollin how do you set you swr with
Alex I use an mfj antenna analyzer to set the swr. I have a diamond antenna swr/watt meter inline to monitor the swr.
I tried a Maco 5/8 - nothing but trouble. Had to run a MFJ antenna tuner to keep the SWR within reason. My gut tells me it had to do with the feed wire and the way it was clamped to the ring. Probably worked great in a lab, but not in real life. The I-Max lasted nearly 20 years - no reason to use a antenna tuner, just effing worked and was broad band.
The Maco was a 'true' vertical- were the I Max is a vertical di-pole. All the research you can find would suggest the true vertical with ground radials (which the Maco has) would outperform a vertical di-pole, and in a lab, perhaps. But in real life, I never seen the advantage while using the Maco. I 'wish' that wasn't the case, as I'm a purest and loved the fact that it was a true vertical antenna.
fiberglass antennas perform almost as good but are way more tough and tree worthy. height (line of sight) makes the most difference. an a99 will be way better than a maco if the a99 is 10-20 ft higher. being able to stay there makes even more difference.
I hate Apple..😒
I hate that stupid mount.
Nothing but a big lightening rod!!!! Next time, think smart, GO WITH THE MACO V- ALPHA 5/8 !!!!!!!!!!