[TowerTalk] step away from steppir, Son

[Bill Turner]

ORIGINAL MESSAGE:

On Wed, 13 Jun 2007 18:17:05 -0400, Jim Jarvis
<jimjarvis at optonline.net> wrote:

> 3 el SteppIR is still noticeably (measurably) better
>than anything else on a 16' boom, in a real A/B comparison.

------------ REPLY FOLLOWS ------------

Better how? Gain? F/B? Width of main lobe? Absence of side lobes?
What?

Nearly all antennas are 100% efficient at squirting out the RF, it is
just a question of what percentage of your RF goes in what direction.
Gain is not the be-all and end-all of antennas, nor is F/B ratio or
any other single parameter. 

Those who lust after gain should use optimized monobanders. Those who
want maximum F/B should use a yagi with two reflectors, etc, etc, etc.

A SteppIR is a compromise on everything except tuneability, so if
tuneability and the ability to switch 180 degrees faster than you can
turn a rotator, that's your baby. For every other parameter, there is
some antenna out there  - many for less money - this will beat it.

You pays your money and you takes your choice. 

Bill W6WRT