I live in Wisconsin and have had my 3 element SteppIR up for a year now.
I haven't noticed any problems with the antenna working differently in
the heat or cold.
I also belong to the SteppIR reflector and one of the guys lives in
Mesa, AZ and I'm pretty sure he has had about as much heat as you'll see
anywhere.
The element spacings that don't model to perfection are offset in MY
opinion by the elements adjusting for whatever frequency you are on.
Model your perfect antenna at 14.025 and then see how great the pattern
and gain are at 14.345. Now do this on every band 6m to 20...
Now if I would have bought a less expensive antenna I might have sold my
Omni VI and bought an Orion. It doesn't make sense to have a great rig
without a great antenna so another 6 months or so with the Omni VI won't
be too bad...
I had a GAP challenger up for the first month after I put my SteppIR on
a 50 foot tower and the only signals I heard better on the vertical were
when I listened off the "back" or side of the beam. I NEVER found a
signal 6-20 m that was louder on the vertical and many of them were
inaudible on the vertical and I worked them on the beam.
The challenger is now in my garage. I'm planning on hauling it up to
our lot and camper just to have an antenna up there but I certainly
don't think it will ever be my main antenna again.
73,
George / KF9YR
-----Original Message-----
From: tentec-bounces@contesting.com
[mailto:tentec-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Phillip Sikes
Sent: Friday, October 10, 2003 8:35 PM
To: tentec@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Opinions on StepIR vertical
I just helped a friend install a 3 element SteppIR and all I can say
is it's a great antenna. It uses stepper motors which have a very
long service life and everything is enclosed to protect it against
the weather. One of the neatest things is a reverse switch which
swaps ends of the antenna in seconds rather than turning the beam. It
also works 20 - 10 including the WARC bands. All antennas are
compromises, pick the compromise that works best for you.
Phil
--
N7UX
Phillip Sikes, psikes@whidbey.net on 10/10/2003
Reality is what doesn't cease to exist when you stop believing in it.
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