[TowerTalk] HF LOG-PERIODIC ANTENNAS Comments Please

[Keith Dutson]

I don't think the moving parts are a red herring at all.  I am glad to hear
about the reliability.

Not sure what you are saying about the C-4XL regarding linear loading and
helical hairpin.

My only gripe about the loading device on the 40 meter elements is that the
u-bolts holding the alumoweld wire to the shorting bar have rusted which
makes retuning a problem.  I purchased stainless steel replacements and that
problem is solved.  The antenna has been up since 1999.

The "hairpin" on my antenna is nothing but a coil of copper wire across the
feedpoint and you spread or collapse it as needed to achieve lowest VSWR.

I must admit that I have one moving part on my C-4XL.  I installed a relay
box to switch between CW and SSB band segments. <grin>

BTW, does your SteppIR cover 7 MHz?  I thought that was only covered on the
new MonstIR.

Keith

-----Original Message-----
From: Joe Subich, K4IK [mailto:k4ik at subich.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, June 22, 2004 11:31 PM
To: keith at dutson.net; Towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: RE: [TowerTalk] HF LOG-PERIODIC ANTENNAS Comments Please



> You obviously have never drilled out a rivet.  

Believe me, I have drilled out rivets, separated seized element tubes, and
waited weeks for an antenna manufacturer to do a "run" of a specially swaged
element section or a bracket used only in one antenna.  

> You also do not seem to care about the need to climb your tower to do 
> repairs on your antenna.  And, finally, you must have little to no 
> experience with construction or durability of the C-4XL.

I have climbed many a tower to do repairs ... however the SteppIR has an
excellent record of reliability.  The first ever unit was in daily service
for three years with zero failures until its owner took it down a few weeks
ago to move it.  SteppIR antennas have had far fewer problems than the
linear loading and "helical hairpin" failure in C4 variants.  

> I was being sincere, not sarcastic.

As am I ... Force12 advocates always raise the "moving part" red herring
with the SteppIR but ignore the often reported mechanical issues and tune-up
problems with Force12's antennas.  

73, 

   ... Joe, K4IK