[TowerTalk] SteppIR Yagi

[Keith Dutson]

No need to bash F12, or any other reputable (still in business after several
years) ham radio dealer.  Those folks are all we have to supply us with
equipment we desire.

BTW, I offer testimonial to the quality of Force 12 riveted construction.
No wobbly elements seen with my 7 antennas over 6 years.  I dropped one Yagi
from 30 feet and the fall broke the reflector and severely bent the bracket
holding it to the boom.  The rivets were intact and tight.  To repair I
drilled out the rivets, removed the bracket, straightened in a large vise,
replaced with aluminum rivets from Lowes, and put back in service with a new
reflector received from F12 in less than a week.  The antenna was damaged
September 5 and back in service on the 19th.

Met FM owners at Dallas HamCom in 2003.  Nice folks.  They donated a 2-el to
our DXpedition to Yap last year (see
http://www.gtdx.com/dxpeditions/2003/yapPhotos.html).  Subsequently, Paul
W5PF purchased a 3-el for his home QTH, and he loves it.  It does sound good
on a local club Monday night 10 meter net.  But he also put a new Orion into
service at the same time, so who knows.

Keith NM5G
Gtdx.com webmaster

-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of jimjarvis at comcast.net
Sent: Tuesday, November 09, 2004 7:34 AM
To: towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: [TowerTalk] SteppIR Yagi 

TT'ers:

It's amazing to me, how folks who never owned one of these have strong
opinions about how their support is critical.   

FACT:   I owned a 3 el.   It went together and up in under 2 hours.  Worked
fine through VT winter.   Never had a problem.   Wouldn't have another yagi.

Communications with the firm was prompt and helpful, when needed.   Around
Dayton and Visalia time, the Mertel's are at the show, so things can be slow
then, but otherwise most helpful.  
       
FACT:   The design itself is quite simple.   And, it's efficient.  

FACT:   Fixed element positions WILL compromise the f/b somewhat, somewhere.
If that compromise is on 10m....so what?   Propagation generally provides
the f/b on the upper bands...it's fwd gain you need.   

I won't waste bandwidth skewering Force 12.   They've fallen on their own
sword,  which apparently was assembled with pop-rivets and is just a tad
wobbly now.  

N2EA
_______________________________________________

See: http://www.mscomputer.com  for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
Weather Stations", and lot's more.  Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any
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