[SEDXC] SteppIR Antennas

[Grant Bright]

Hi Jim and Dxers,

I have a 4L since early January at 78 ft on crank up with no 
guys. Also have the 40/30m dipole and 6m elements.

No problems.

Best Antenna I have ever had including 5L 46 ft boom on 20m 
or a 6 element Telrex tribander. Changing the direction by 
hitting the 180 button is great. Changing bands is a breeze. 
I have excellent SWR and F/B. I did not hook it up to the 
rig, but that can be done easily. It is so flat across 20m 
and several other bands, it is easy to have the wattmeter 
barely move a needle width on the 20 watt full scale 
setting.

It was not a 3 hour job to put together--I think the manual 
or web site has a comment about the time...maybe that is for 
a 3L with no add ons.

That said...it was not easy to put together. The factory was 
closed due to bad weather and the Christmas holidays, so I 
had to figure out several things myself...which I did...it 
just took time. Probably had about 15-18 solo hours in 
putting it together. One experienced and one non-experienced 
person could put a 4L with 30/40 up in a day--before it is 
90 degrees. You do need a nice open space for the 4L.

Chaz has some excellent pictures and comments about putting 
up/together which I didn't know about at the time.

Manual is relatively complete and pictures are relatively 
usable. Having put together other beams in the past may 
help, but the Steppir is different...consequently, there is 
only some "carry over" of knowledge. The list serve is also 
helpful with questions--although many questions/comments are 
about the verticals.

My 30/40 m element sags...some have commented that they 
don't like this and have devised methods with Phillystran to 
hold the elements more level--or as level as the other 
elements. At 78 ft, I don't see much sag, so it doesn't 
bother me, or the performance.

I built it on two saw-horses and did all the wiring 
carefully! Then taped the wiring (carefully) to avoid future 
problems. I use a tailtwister which seems to handle it 
swell. I have had no slippage using an aluminum mast. I did 
torque the attach bolts/rotator bolts with a 18" break over 
bar--tight!

I would give quality control an "A" for packaging and 
labeling of parts packages. Quality control in the past was 
not A, but that was a year ago. Delivery took from April to 
Thanksgiving of 06. Since then, the time lag is reported to 
be much better.

It weighs 93 lbs but I handled it all by myself. I cranked 
over the tower to the ground and bolted it on the mast with 
the elements parallel to the ground. Cranked vertical the 
tower, and then climbed the tower to move the elements to 
the horizontal.

As the boom is not rigid and is supported by Phillystran, I 
was concerned the boom/elements would do ok in the 
transition. I asked an installer on the west coast (Steve 
K7LXC,TOWER TECH ) about installing it in this fashion. He 
said he thought it would be ok...and it was. I would rather 
climb a short distance, than heft 93 pounds!

The 3L is much easier to install, but I love that 32 foot 
boom. It makes working the "weak ones" much better.

I would suggest you join the Steppir Yahoo list, read a few 
of the comments, maybe ask the group for thoughts. If you 
order, talk to Jerry--K3BZ. He is the one who will know best 
about delivery.

If you want to chat about Steppir, please feel free to 
telephone....770-663-0736.

73,

Grant
W4OJC

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "James Streible" <k4dli at earthlink.net>
To: "SEDXC" <sedxc at contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2007 10:38 AM
Subject: [SEDXC] SteppIR Antennas


> HI gang,
>
> I would like to compile a list of SEDXC members who have 
> SteppIR
> antennas, any type.
> If you have one please send me an e-mail and give me the 
> following:
>
> Type
> How long it has been up
> Any problems
> How it performs( in your opinion)
> Height
> Any other comments you have
>
> Thanks 73,
>
> Jim  K4DLI
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> SEDXC mailing list
> SEDXC at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/sedxc
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