[TowerTalk] SteppIR Redux

[Bernard(wtrone)]

    Just as a point of reference, I ordered a 3 element SteppIR on March 1,
2004.  I called, again, last week and was told that it would be about
another 2 weeks.

    For what it is worth.

            73,


            Bernard, WA4OEJ


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Joe Subich, K4IK" <k4ik at subich.com>
To: <jimjarvis at ieee.org>; <frohro at wwc.edu>; "'Towertalk'"
<towertalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, May 06, 2004 5:13 PM
Subject: RE: [TowerTalk] SteppIR Redux


>
>
> > 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
>
>
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>
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