[TenTec] Opinions on StepIR vertical

[Peter Frenning, OZ1PIF]

Don't know about the stepIR, so no comment on that, but on the mountain. On
the OX2K expedition, our QTH was located on top a 300m high granite
mountain. We used juryrigged deltaloops on 12, 17, 40 and 80m (we weren't
really prepared to work those bands, but conds turned out to be fairly
good). One evening, while going full tilt on a humongous JA pile-up on 40,
somebody comes into the cabin and yells that the deltaloop mast for 40 had
blown over, and the whole shebang was lying on the ground! Hadn't noticed a
thing, the signals were as strong as ever and the pile-up if anything
growing! (Yes I'm the infamous "shut UP!" operator)
Lesson learned: Being on ground like that is like having your antenna at
infinite height - you only need a support structure to keep it clear of
local obstacles, and to avoid frying you wife when she hangs the laundry on
it! And, boy oh boy, does it ever work.

So go ahead get a short tower and the StepIR or any other decent beam, and
enjoy your low emission elevation and all the DX landing on you doorstep,
not much fun ragchewing locally on 80 though HI HI

Vy 73 de OZ1PIF, Peter

**********  OZ1PIF **************
email: oz1pif(no-spam-filler)@get2net.dk
http://hjem.get2net.dk/oz1pif
Ph. +45 4619 3239
Snailmail:
Peter Frenning
Ternevej 23
DK-4130 Viby Sj.
Denmark
***********************************
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill Miner" <wg6h at postoffice.pacbell.net>
To: <dock0evz at earthlink.net>; <tentec at contesting.com>
Sent: Friday, October 10, 2003 6:43 PM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Opinions on StepIR vertical


> Doc,
>
> The performance of a vertical antenna is dependent on good ground
> conductivity out to 100 wavelengths!  With you mountain QTH  you will do
> much better with horizontal polarization.
>
> How about a one or two element StepIR  on a modest tower.
>
> 73 & GL
> Bill - K6WLM
>
> Doc K0EVZ wrote:
> >
> > Gang:
> >
> > I need help!  Am at a new location in the mountains east of Albuquerque,
> > NM.  Now comes the challenge of putting together an antenna farm.  I
> > believe a vertical or vertical dipole might be the best/fastest way to
get
> > going.  Cannot get the funds together right now for a quad or yagi.
> >
> > We are at 6630' ASL, on the top of a gently rolling hill with a good
> > 360-degree look from our house.  The ground is normally dry with lots of
> > large and smallrocks.  This is high desert country. Part of my question
is
> > whether to go with a vertical or a horizontal wire antenna, such as the
88'
> > doublet fed with ladder line, or maybe the IAC double bazookas I had
such
> > terrific results with in North Dakota for the past four years.
> >
> > Therefore, please make some recommendations.  I have successfully used a
> > GAP Titan DX in two previous QTH, with very good results.  Perhaps I
should
> > just buy another one for here.  OTOH, I have been sorta eyeing the
StepIR
> > antennas.  Can someone help me decide?  Or are there even better ideas
from
> > someone?
> >
> > Thanks in advance for any assistance.
> >
> > 73,
> > --Doc/K0EVZ
> >
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>
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