[TowerTalk] w2irt's antenna dilemma

[Jim Jarvis]

Peter, w2irt wrote:

>I feel
> as if I either have to settle for the lower performance of the SteppIR or
> risk marital disharmony and a lot of aluminium. Are there options aside
> from these two that I should seriously consider, or do you think I've
> written of the SteppIR unnecessarily?

I think you're under-rating the SteppIR, Peter.  As I said in my private
mail, I had a 3 el in Vermont and was quite pleased with it.  I'd STILL
have it, if it weren't for relocation...and another one is in the plan.

* it's the quickest antenna I've ever put together.  No field fiddling with
	tuning.  It's all done in-situ.

* it performs quite well...although I couldn't do an a/b comparison,
	I felt it was better than any yagi I've had up.  That includes
	multiple KT34A and XA's, and an 8 el LPDA.  I don't feel you'd see
	a difference, except in the visible spectrum.
	(cleaner lines of the steppIR)

*  Bear in mind that fixed aluminum provides its best performance over
	only a very limited frequency range.  The steppIR meets its specs
	over the whole range, due to active tuning.  (or, at least a much
	wider range...vswr bandwidth is removed from the equation, leaving
	only the impact of element spacing on pattern.  This can be compensated
	by tuning the reflector and director(s)...and then tuning the DE for
	match.  This is done automatically by the default parameters...no fiddling
	required, unless you want to make your own setup.

* My recommendation would be a ma55 tubular mast, base rotated,
	with the steppIR on it.  3 el or 4 el, as your aesthetics and budget
	dictate.

*  If in doubt, try visiting someone with a steppIR in the air, and see
	how it works.  Mine was sold, and found its way to W2ZQ, which is
	a club station.  Perhaps you know, or can connect with someone there.

*  And the piece de resistance...what Pete Smith said about doubling
	the cost of the tower to get to the real project cost is not far
	wrong for guyed towers.  But with a self-supporter, you
	CAN estimate a bit better.   Just don't tell your wife what the
	whole project will cost, or you'll be back with wires again!

*  Have fun.

n2ea
jimjarvis at ieee.org