Phil,
I have owned my BigIR since 2006. Great antenna, no issues with steppir motor.
It has survived countless upstate NY wind, ice and snow storms. Fiberglass
monopole is a bit weathered but what else to expect.
My vertical has 70 radials, transmit 200 watts and achieved DXCC with this
antenna. It works well as a compliment to my full wave loop.
I thought about adding the 80 meter coil but for the price I opted to raise a
50 foot top loaded aluminum monopole for less $$.
Overall, I don't think you'll be disappointed if you purchase one.
Denis
W1WV
----- Original Message -----
From: "towertalk-request@contesting.com" <towertalk-request@contesting.com>
To: towertalk@contesting.com
Cc:
Sent: Saturday, May 14, 2011 3:00 PM
Subject: TowerTalk Digest, Vol 101, Issue 34
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Today's Topics:
1. SteppIR BIGIR or 43ft vertical (Phillip Zminda)
2. Re: SteppIR BIGIR or 43ft vertical (Tom Osborne)
3. Re: Vertical with 1 radia (David Gilbert)
4. Re: SteppIR BIGIR or 43ft vertical (Barry Merrill, W5GN)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Sat, 14 May 2011 10:26:56 -0400
From: Phillip Zminda <phil-z@comcast.net>
Subject: [TowerTalk] SteppIR BIGIR or 43ft vertical
To: towertalk@contesting.com
Message-ID: <D6F16C2D-97E9-4690-B197-40B3EEBDC180@comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes
I have had a Zero-Five 43 ft vertical for the past few years. I have
plenty of space around the vertical and have 57 radials of 33 to 43
feet. I run 100 watts, mostly work 40 and 30, but occasionally work
80 and 20. This antenna does very well on 40 but not as great on other
bands. I was able to get a low SWR on all bands with the Un-Un and
tuner in the shack, but all the discussion on this antenna points out
the coax losses and low efficiency so I added an MFJ-927 remote tuner
at the base last year. My results have been good on 40 and 30 but the
tuner can't match on the CW end of 80 and 160 won't tune at all even
with added inductance at the base. That may be a limitation of the MFJ
tuner. Now that the higher bands are improving, I'd like to start
working 20 through 10 more often. All the models of this antenna point
out the high radiation angle above 20 meters so expect results may be
disappointing. I don't have the desire to put up a tower and have no
trees for adding any wire antennas. The long term reliability and risk
of static damage for the MFJ-927 also concern me.
I have recently been researching the SteppIR BigIR. Although it's
shorter than the Zero-Five, the fact that the length of the radiating
element changes to 1/4 or 3/4 wave-length seems like an advantage on
the higher frequencies. The ability to tune 6 meters also interests
me. I know that 80 is a compromise with this antenna height, but it
may be no worse than the 43 footer. I also like the ability to
retract the element in stormy weather instead of actually lowering the
antenna rather than using a tuner. An amp is also possible without the
need of a high power tuner.
I am looking for comments from any BigIR users on the long term
reliability of the SteppIR and over-all results. I am not totally
ready to replace the Zero-Five, but the BigIR looks like a possible
option. I realize that one antenna working great on all bands is an
impossibility but the BigIR looks pretty versatile.
Thanks,
Phil N3ZP
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Sat, 14 May 2011 09:23:54 -0700
From: "Tom Osborne" <w7why@frontier.com>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] SteppIR BIGIR or 43ft vertical
To: "Towertalk" <towertalk@contesting.com>
Message-ID: <745F29507E36442AB4A6480D46CA1117@Tom>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=original
Hi Phil
Why not consider something like a Buttrnut HF-9V? They seems a lot less
complicated and a LOT cheaper. I have a friend who has one and it works
pretty good. He usually brings it to FD with him. I think the only band
that doesn't have full coverage is 80. 73
Tom W7WHY
I am looking for comments from any BigIR users on the long term
reliability of the SteppIR and over-all results. I am not totally
ready to replace the Zero-Five, but the BigIR looks like a possible
option. I realize that one antenna working great on all bands is an
impossibility but the BigIR looks pretty versatile.
Thanks,
Phil N3ZP
towertalk
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Sat, 14 May 2011 10:23:48 -0700
From: David Gilbert <xdavid@cis-broadband.com>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Vertical with 1 radia
To: towertalk@contesting.com
Message-ID: <4DCEBAA4.5090703@cis-broadband.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Yup. Nostalgia has a way of derailing objectivity. Some hams seem to
think that the best antennas, the best ops, and the best rigs are those
that came into being right around the time they got their first ticket
... back when they were still willing to learn and investigate.
Thankfully, almost by definition most of the folks who subscribe to a
reflector like this don't fall into that category but there are clearly
some exceptions.
73,
Dave AB7E
On 5/13/2011 3:32 PM, Rich NU6T wrote:
> If I understand the stories I read, all the most effective antennas were
> designed and built in the late 1950's and early 1960's. Later antennas
> just can't compare<grin>.
>
> Rich
> NU6T
> (Ham since the decline of SS 23).
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Sat, 14 May 2011 12:33:24 -0500
From: "Barry Merrill, W5GN" <w5gn@mxg.com>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] SteppIR BIGIR or 43ft vertical
To: "'Tom Osborne'" <w7why@frontier.com>, "'Towertalk'"
<towertalk@contesting.com>
Message-ID: <005b01cc125d$075744c0$1605ce40$@mxg.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
I replaced an early BigIR and 80 meter coil with the Zero-Five 43 foot
vertical
and have been totally pleased with the performance on 80-10, and, by adding
a 95 foot top wire, it plays well on 160. And the zero five doesn't have
the
mechanics to jam its copper strap, as the BigIr did twice, nor did the zero
five
break in half in 80 mph winds that the Zero Five survived.
Barry, EI/W5GN
-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-bounces@contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Tom Osborne
Sent: Saturday, May 14, 2011 11:24 AM
To: Towertalk
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] SteppIR BIGIR or 43ft vertical
Hi Phil
Why not consider something like a Buttrnut HF-9V? They seems a lot less
complicated and a LOT cheaper. I have a friend who has one and it works
pretty good. He usually brings it to FD with him. I think the only band
that doesn't have full coverage is 80. 73 Tom W7WHY
I am looking for comments from any BigIR users on the long term reliability
of the SteppIR and over-all results. I am not totally ready to replace the
Zero-Five, but the BigIR looks like a possible option. I realize that one
antenna working great on all bands is an impossibility but the BigIR looks
pretty versatile.
Thanks,
Phil N3ZP
towertalk
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End of TowerTalk Digest, Vol 101, Issue 34
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