[Mldxcc] Tri-Bander

[Rick Tavan N6XI]

Here's my take on the SteppIR: I had an early 3el 20-6 including 17 and 12.
It worked well, drooped under ice loading but bounced back in the sunshine.
No problems. I replaced it with a 4el - twice the boom length. That one was
significantly better - more gain, more pattern, lower noise. I can tune it
to different places in the bands. After a few years, the rubber couplings
that hold the fiberglass tubes to the motor housings degraded to the point
that one tube fell off. It was pretty easy to replace on my crank-up,
tilt-over tower and SteppIR provided replacement couplings for all elements
under the (by then expired) warranty. They had switched to a different
rubber that survives longer. I love this antenna but it is certainly more
maintenance-prone than a C31. Also, you can't use it on multiple bands
simultaneously like you can with a conventional tribander and triplexer.

/Rick

On Thu, Dec 20, 2012 at 6:50 PM, Robert Hess <w1rh at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Doc,
>
> For what it's worth, I have a Mosley Pro-67B I may be selling.  This is a
> compromise antenna.  Covers 10/12/15/17/20/40.  11 elements total.  2
> elements on 40.  24 foot boom.  One of the guys in our club has one and
> swears by it.  I have not had this antenna in the air, but I did hoist it
> about 15 up the tower for a test and it checked out OK.  W6BO used one in
> at a contest station in ZF and said it performed well.
>
> If you want a serious contesting antenna, however, I'd take the C31XR
> myself.  I have the little sister, a C19XR that has performed really well
> for me.  The down side of these antennas is that they are only tribanders,
> and do not work on the WARC bands.  But, you're asking for a tribander.....
>
> I know many with SteppIr's, and they swear by them.  Some who have had
> them up for awhile are now running into mechanical problems, however.
>
> I still think the TH-6 I had years ago was one fine antenna.  You can find
> these, or a TH-7, for $150-$300 or so.
>
> Bob
>
>
> ________________________________
>  From: Doc Dashiell <placerdoc at sbcglobal.net>
> To: MLDXCC <mldxcc at contesting.com>
> Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2012 2:21 PM
> Subject: [Mldxcc] Tri-Bander
>
> A question for the group.
>
> I would like recommendations for a tri-bander..
>
> thanks
>
> doc
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-- 
Rick Tavan N6XI
Truckee, CA