And to cap off an already nearly perfect antenna, the fiberglass
elements are so slick that the birds can't seem to get a toe-hold to
allow them to roost. They have found the aluminum boom,
however.
73,
Jim - K5LAD
On 28 Jul 2008 at 19:16, Rick Stealey wrote:
>
> SteppIR 3 element.
> I have the US Tower 72 footer, freestanding.
> You get 3 elements, 5 bands, instant 180 degree reversal of the pattern. A
> bi-directional mode which is very useful except when you need maximum gain.
> Been up 4 years not a single glitch of any kind. IF there should ever be a
> problem thats why you have a crank-up isnt it, so you can get to the antenna
> easily? And if you do you won't find a better person to have on the other
> end of the phone than Mike, the owner of SteppIR.
> Some other things to consider, hard to put a number on them - you simply
> don't turn the antenna much, less wear on the rotor. Your connections are
> all weather protected. IF you suspect a heavy ice load you can retract the
> elements and then IF the fiberglass should break there is only fiberglass
> damage, and that's all you have to replace. But see the picture on the
> SteppIR web site if it is still there showing the K2XT antenna with NO ice on
> it, with the pines here loaded and almost bent over to the ground. The ice
> just slid right off the SteppIR (different temperatures may have resulted in
> snow build-up but I haven't seen it yet in 4 years in NJ). It's only fair to
> say, however, that my SteppIR doesn't beat the 24 foot HyGain beams it
> replaced, but also keep in mind that I didn't have WARC bands, and lived in
> fear that those HyGains with all that torque were not going to stay up. One
> day when I looked up and saw my mast bent at a 10 degree angle I knew they
> had to com
e
> down. SteppIR - 3 element has been entirely satisfactory.
> I see Steve says there have been motor failures. I am sure he will agree
> that does not necessarily mean the motors are unreliable. Ask Mike what the
> overall failure rate is, and compare that with failures that could occur on
> conventional beams (corrosion, loose joints, mistuned). Remember you can
> tweak your SteppIR after it is in the air if you want to !!
>
> Rick K2XT
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Stay in touch when you're away with Windows Live Messenger.
> http://www.windowslive.com/messenger/overview.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_messenger2_072008
> _______________________________________________
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
"It's so simple to be wise. Just think of something
stupid to say and then don't say it." -- Sam
Levenson
=======================================
My Web Page - http://www.hayseed.net/~jpk5lad
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
|