[TenTec] Opinions on StepIR vertical

[Mark Erbaugh]

I've not used the StepIR antennas, but the technology does interest me.  I
think part of the attraction may be the physical tuning to resonance. Though
I've read many of Kurt Sterba's Aerials columns and tend to agree with him
and Walt Maxwell of Reflections, there's still something to be said for an
antenna that adjusts itself. Most other vertical antennas have some sort of
final tuning that needs to be done to compensate for the variations in the
location.

If you go with a fixed vertical, I would certainly recommend the Gap's.  I'm
quite happy with my Challenger and they do seem to hold up. The winter
before last, one of the tent pegs that I was using to hold one of the guys
pulled out when the ground was real soft and the wind was blowing.  The
Challenger was whipping around and bent  over at a 45 degree angle.  I
re-anchored the guy and all is fine.

My one concern is that the StepIR does depend on a moving part and at one
time or an other all moving parts quit moving properly.

Mark