Getting Ready for The Imax

[GarnerZ]

Well, about three weeks ago, came home and half the house was flooded 1 1/2 inches from a broken pipe in the bathroom. Damaged alot of new equipment i had in the closet. Anywho, went outside and did some measure for the antenna mounting and heres the spot i came up with.
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Theres 15' 9" from the ground to the top of the roof trusse. Plan to put 18 foot above ground and about 2 foot in the ground. So 18+24 for the imax= 42 feet to the tip. Should be alright. plan on running the coax through the vent and down to the room. gonna run 50' of rg 213

comments please!!! thanks guys!!!

[Dakota]

Well, about three weeks ago, came home and half the house was flooded 1 1/2 inches from a broken pipe in the bathroom. Damaged alot of new equipment i had in the closet. Anywho, went outside and did some measure for the antenna mounting and heres the spot i came up with.

Theres 15' 9" from the ground to the top of the roof trusse. Plan to put 18 foot above ground and about 2 foot in the ground. So 18+24 for the imax= 42 feet to the tip. Should be alright. plan on running the coax through the vent and down to the room. gonna run 50' of rg 213

comments please!!! thanks guys!!!

Comment=picture #5 is out of focus
Looks like a good spot...don't see any power lines near by. Let us know how it works out when it's done!

[Hard Drive]

Sorry to hear about your flood and it is good to see it’s not stopping you from getting that antenna up. Go for it.

[GarnerZ]

power lines are on the oppposite side of the house

[Night Hawk]

I have mine at the exact same spot, almost exactly the same measurements too........
It's got me talking all over the country and outside of it too, with ease................
You'll be fine with it there..........

[GarnerZ]

post pics!!! do you have a imax?

[busman]

garnerz, got mine in the same spot. works pretty good. go for it............

[GarnerZ]

awesome man! got me in the working mood

[LS1 TA]

Are you going to use a push up pole or a tower? That is a PERFECT spot to mount a 30-40 foot tower and put the IMAX on top of that. Height is might. Plus, after the first 2 minutes of using the IMAX you are going to want a 3 or 4 element beam when that skip starts rolling and you will already be half way there with the tower.

[GarnerZ]

oh yeah, im just gonna use gavanized pipe, like 2 inch. a 20 foot section

[LS1 TA]

Make sure you ground everything good.

[GarnerZ]

ground everything good, pole into ground what else to i need

[LS1 TA]

An eight feet long copper ground rod and some thick cable or grounding strap from that pole to the rod. Two feet in the ground is not a very good ground. Yes, it is grounded but that eight feet of copper is really going to help.

[lonesome 500]

i see only one issue......maybe..

when that oak gets it's leaves back........you may have a slight dead area...esp when wet


give it a go

[GarnerZ]

so the from the ground rod, run a ground strap to the pipe on the bottom???

thanks

[LS1 TA]

so the from the ground rod, run a ground strap to the pipe on the bottom???

thanks

Yep. If you use grounding strap you should try to find the widest you can, like at least an inch wide. I just use some super huge battery cable from my local battery shop. You can use ground rod clamps on both the pole and ground rod. Keep the run short around 24 inches or less.

[TwentyTwo-Zero]

oh yeah, im just gonna use gavanized pipe, like 2 inch. a 20 foot section

Looks like a great spot for the antenna.
In order to use a 2" pipe you may need to elongate the holes in the mounting bracket a bit and purchase different U bolts. If memory serves me correctly the bracket and U bolts that come with the antenna will accommodate a 1 to 1 1/2" mast.

[GarnerZ]

roger
1 1/2 pipe it is then

[209 first class]

An eight feet long copper ground rod and some thick cable or grounding strap from that pole to the rod. Two feet in the ground is not a very good ground. Yes, it is grounded but that eight feet of copper is really going to help.

**************************** co pp er from the pole to a ground rod is not worth the effort. you have to go right to the antenna with it. the joint between the poles will ruin any attempt at a good rf connection. if you ever plan to run more than a normal radio, (amp) i would suggest putting it in the tree. no one will see it, and you will only need one 10 foot section and it will be higher up. 36 feet (one wavelength) above ground is where vertical antennas start to become efficient. good luck with it. 2zero9

[TwentyTwo-Zero]

co pp er from the pole to a ground rod is not worth the effort. you have to go right to the antenna with it. the joint between the poles will ruin any attempt at a good rf connection.

Good advice here. And for the RF ground to be effective you should use flat solid copper or braid - not round wire - 1" wide minimum...

[lonesome 500]

any ground the antenna sees is better than no ground.....look at a marconi antenna....no flat braid used for rf ground....it sees the ground direct....all transmitted rf is looking for is a connection to ground

a good size....4 or 6 awg...coated....to protect from the elements.....will work...last 10x longer than any non coated flat braid.

solder the ends...to the ground rod.....and a ring terminal or ect...to the othr end...and attach with a bolt...seal over bolt and have no worries

will work perfect........been there done that..........as well as in a tree too......with 6awg to the ground

[GarnerZ]

imax or a99, that is the question

[GarnerZ]

im kinda get mixed reviews on which one to run

[Tezterz]

Most here will tell you to go with the Imax. They seem to have less static, farther range and cause less TVI than the A99. I have the A99, had it for many years. But if I had to choose I would go with the Imax and no more than a ground plane kit costs I would add that onto it as well. Or you can always do that later.

[GarnerZ]

alot of people are saying the imax will bleedd worse then a 99