[TowerTalk] SteppIR Redux

[Joe Subich, K4IK]

> From: Jim Jarvis
> 
> Unspoken is the ability to design an antenna to work on 40 and 30
> meters...using longer BeCu tape than the SteppIR can fit in its
> molded motor housing.

SteppIR have already done that.  The MonstIR was advertised in the 
May 2004 QST.  The cost is high but without careful shopping I do 
not think that one could purchase equivalent performance (a stack 
of 32' boom yagis for 40 - 6 meters) for a lower price. 

> Rob also observed that the price of parts from SteppIR was a 
> bit higher than he felt reasonable.  Might be true, might be 
> they don't want to encourage experimentation which would require 
> support.  

Other than the custom molded housings and specific mechanical 
mounting implementations, I don't think there is anything in 
the SteppIR that can't be purchased elsewhere (or substituted 
for) if one is willing to do the research.  It may even be that 
another designer could find wider BeCu tape with edge sprockets 
vs. the center sprockets in the SteppIR design which would permit 
brushes with larger contact areas than that of the SteppIR design. 
Similarly, one might find a different BeCu alloy with improved 
conductivity, greater flexibility, or some other desirable trade 
off.

> It's also possible that they haven't reached the region where
> they can start to squeeze out manufacturing efficiencies, or 
> they haven't tried, yet.

It's my understanding that they are trying very hard just to 
keep up with orders.  Even the original 2/3 element antennas 
and the verticals have been running 6 to 8 week delivery times. 
It is certainly difficult to work on production efficiencies 
when fighting to keep up with demand (e.g., when one is up to 
one's ass in alligators, it's hard to remember the goal was to 
drain the swamp). 

73, 

   ... Joe, K4IK