[Towertalk] Need Antenna Advice!

[n4kg@juno.com]

ANY and ALL designs represent trade-offs between
COST, SIZE, WEIGHT, WINDLOAD, PERFORMANCE,
MANUFACTURABILITY, and probably several other 
considerations, including the ability to make a profit
for the manufacturer.  This is true for ANY product
built by ANY company.  

The SteppIR 3L autotune antenna is a NOVEL design
which allows coverage of a wide range of frequencies,
reasonable performance, and LOW Windload.

As VE4XT said, " If you like the SteppIR idea, fine. Buy one."
If you don't, then buy something else.  In the end, if there are
enough buyers who like and appreciate the features of the
SteppIR antenna and feel it is a good value for their money,
the company will succeed.  That's how the FREE MARKET
works.  

Tom  N4KG


On Sat, 14 Sep 2002 "Kelly Taylor" <ve4xt@mb.sympatico.ca> writes:
> Hi,
> 
> First step? To what end? Motorized booms and elements to achieve 
> what? Higher after-sale profits?
> 
> This all seems like a move to make antennas more complicated than 
> they need to be in a bid to increase margins and after-sale parts
business. 
> There are some fine-performing antennas in the SteppIR's weight class
that 
> have no moving parts and much less chance of failure. And that cost a
lot 
> less than the SteppIR.
> 
> Perhaps the SteppIR extracts a little more gain, or a little more 
> F/B. I
> don't know. But knowing there's a limit to how far any 3-ele beam 
> can be
> pushed, I'm not sure it's worth the cost of increased price, 
> increased
> complexity and increased odds of failure.
> 
> If you like the SteppIR idea, fine. Buy one.
> 
> I don't mean to impugn the reputation of the company that builds the
> SteppIR. I'm sure they are all fine, upstanding folk.
> 
> I just don't see the point.
> 
> 73, kelly
> ve4xt
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Carl -K8AV-" <cfwb@cox.net>
> To: <n4kg@juno.com>
> Cc: <towertalk@contesting.com>
> Sent: Saturday, September 14, 2002 10:02 AM
> Subject: Re: [Towertalk] Need Antenna Advice!
> 
> 
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: <n4kg@juno.com>
> >
> >
> > > The SteppIR 3L Yagi has a 16 ft boom.
> >
> > > This corresponds to 0.46 WL on 10M,
> >    0.34 WL on 15M,
> >    0.23 WL on 20M.
> > > The SteppIR can be optimized for each band
> > > given it's FIXED boomlength, but remember that
> > > for full optimization ALL parameters (including
> > > Boomlength) must be varied.
> >
> > Is there any antenna made today you can vary the boom length on ?
> >
> > > This is NOT the case with the SteppIR antenna.
> >
> > Nor with any antenna.  At least with the SteppIR you can vary the 
> element
> > lengths for all five of the bands it covers.
> > ( 10-12-15-17-20 )(plus 6 meters)
> >
> >  On 20M, it's F/B can be made to be near optimum.  On 15M,
> > > it can achieve good gain and intermediate F/B,
> > > on 10M it can achieve good gain but LOW F/B
> > > as originally stated.
> >
> > I think the SteppIR is the first step in the right direction in a
> transition of
> > antenna's!  Down the road I'm sure will come boom length 
> adjustment.
> >
> > 73,
> > Carl
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Self Supporting Towers, Wireless Weather Stations, see web site:
> http://www.mscomputer.com
> > Call 888-333-9041 to place your order, mention you saw this ad and 
> take an
> additional 5 percent off
> > any weather station price.
> > _______________________________________________
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> 
> _______________________________________________
> Self Supporting Towers, Wireless Weather Stations, see web site: 
> http://www.mscomputer.com
> Call 888-333-9041 to place your order, mention you saw this ad and 
> take an additional 5 percent off
> any weather station price.
> _______________________________________________
> Towertalk mailing list
> Towertalk@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
> 


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