Well, I suppose most of us "modern" hams are pretty much all appliance
operators nowadays. Not many can say they build their own transceivers and
antennas. I have built mine in years passed, but cannot adequately compete
in DX pileups/contests without modern gear.
Support IS detrimental for an antenna such as the SteppIR. Their feed
system/controller is VERY complex. Compare this to a simple balun/hairpin
arrangement. I do not personally own one, but understand there have been
installation problems requiring considerable support.
Keith NM5G
-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-bounces@contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Joe - WDØM
Sent: Monday, November 08, 2004 2:07 PM
To: keith@dutson.net; TowerTalk
Subject: RE: [TowerTalk] New antenna system
I'm puzzled.....what the heck is "...an excellent appliance operator's
antenna"?? I'm not clear on the second half of your statement.....did you
mean detrimental NOT to have support? The feed system isn't complex - plug
the coax in and transmit....the controller does it all for you.
73,
Joe
WDØM
At 12:28 PM 11/8/2004, Keith Dutson wrote:
>Yes, it is an excellent appliance operator's antenna, although a bit
pricey.
>Also detrimental to have support if one is not adept at solving
>problems associated with a complex feed system.
>
>Keith NM5G
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: towertalk-bounces@contesting.com
>[mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Joe - WDØM
>Sent: Monday, November 08, 2004 12:49 PM
>To: towertalk@contesting.com
>Subject: RE: [TowerTalk] New antenna system
>
>Having an extended product line isn't what is important. SteppIR
>antennas cover all bands from 20 - 6 meters, and have essentially a
>monoband yagi on each band, with an SWR of 1:1. You only need one antenna
to do all that.
>Customer service is also a BIG selling point with SteppIR. I've had
>personal phone calls from the president of SteppIR when I mentioned a
>problem I was having on the SteppIR reflector. Anyone using any other
>yagis that can say that? I have a friend who had a problem with one of
>the elements, and SteppIR sent 3 replacements, no charge, and he
>resolved his problem. Talk about service??!!
>
>I've owned a bunch of beams over my 43 years as a ham, and the SteppIR
>is the best thing to come along. Definitely a keeper. I restarted my
>DXCC just 10 months ago due to relocating from Alaska to Colorado - in
>that time, in casual operating, I've worked 231 entities on 20 - 10
>meters, and
>39 states on 6 meters as well, all on one coaxial cable. Not bad.
>
>Choose the SteppIR, and you'll never regret it. I'm sure you'll get
>lots of recommendations from other satisfied SteppIR owners....and join
>the SteppIR reflector while you're at it:
>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SteppIR/
>
>
>73,
>Joe
>WDØM
>
>
>
>At 09:44 AM 11/8/2004, Keith Dutson wrote:
> >Force 12 is a long-established antenna development company that plows
> >much of their income back into developing new antennas. SteppIR has
> >an excellent design and is trying to get a foothold in the industry.
> >For a comparison of the two take a look at the number of products
> >offered by
>each.
> >
> >Interesting comment about your decision to change from Force 12 to
> >SteppIR and others based on returned phone call. I presume SteppIR
> >must not have answered your questions adequately or you would not be
> >asking
>here.
> >
> >Keith NM5G
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: towertalk-bounces@contesting.com
> >[mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Rob Santello
> >Sent: Monday, November 08, 2004 4:10 AM
> >To: towertalk@contesting.com
> >Subject: [TowerTalk] New antenna system
> >
> >Hello all,
> >
> > I'm new to the list. I originally sent this to the Force 12 list
> >and it was suggested that I send it here for all you to see and send
> >comments or suggestions you'd like. Here is my original message:
> >
> >Would like opinions and advice,
> >
> > I am going to put up an LM-354 54 foot tower on a relatively small
lot.
> >At first I was thinking about going with an XR-5 and EF-606 with my
> >old Cushcraft 11 element 2m beam on the top. But after 4 or 5
> >attempts to talk with a tech at Force 12 (never returned my calls),
> >I'm thinking about going a different route. Here is my current plan:
> >I have a 12 foot mast and I'll put 3 feet of it into the tower into a
Tailtwister.
> >Right on top of the tower I'll mount a 3 element SteppIR (They
> >returned my
>call within an hour).
> >So that now leaves about 8 feet of mast. At the top I want either a
> >Cushcraft D40 or Force 12 EF-140. Both seem to be nearly identical in
> >size, weight, performance, and price. Anyone know which is the better
> >antenna here? Then somewhere in between, I'll mount the 11 element 2m
> >beam. I'm thinking the 2m beam wont interfere too badly in the middle.
> >Probably about
> >5 feet above the SteppIR and 3 feet below the 40m dipole. Does this
> >sound reasonable? That setup will give me 40 - 2 meters. I'm not an
>"antenna guy"
> >so that's why I'm looking for help here. I just want to get the most
> >I can get in this small space. Thanks in advance for any thoughts
> >and/or
>advice!
> >I'd really appreciate it!
> >--rob--
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >
> >See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers",
> >"Wireless Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free,
> >1-800-333-9041 with any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >TowerTalk mailing list
> >TowerTalk@contesting.com
> >http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >
> >See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers",
> >"Wireless Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free,
> >1-800-333-9041 with any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >TowerTalk mailing list
> >TowerTalk@contesting.com
> >http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>
>See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
>Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with
>any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>
>_______________________________________________
>TowerTalk mailing list
>TowerTalk@contesting.com
>http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>
>_______________________________________________
>
>See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
>Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with
>any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>
>_______________________________________________
>TowerTalk mailing list
>TowerTalk@contesting.com
>http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
_______________________________________________
See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any
questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
_______________________________________________
See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with
any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk