[TowerTalk] SteppIR failures

[RLVZ--- via TowerTalk]

I'm really happy to hear that many hams like Bob- W3YY are having good  
longevity with their SteppIR yagis. 
 
I've had some problems with mine.  1) the controller went  out when only a 
couple of months old, that was easy to replace and SteppIR  provided a free 
replacement.  2) When the antenna was 6 months old,  two elements blew off 
in an 80 mph windstorm.  SteppIR was great  and provided free replacement 
parts, but it was a pain to drop the antenna  in order to repair it.  
 
About 5 years ago, a local ham: W1MO had several SteppIR gears strip or  
break on his new Yagi within the first year of use.  I've heard of many  other 
hams reporting SteppIR gears broken  In Norm's case, he had  3 out of 6 
SteppIR gears broken when we opened the motor  boxes.  
 
 
About 2 years ago, SteppIR announced that they had  developed a much 
improved SteppIR gear that is much 
tougher than the old plastic shaft and gear.  Hopefully, that will  resolve 
the broken gears and shafts.

 
Here in Florida, the SteppIR boots need to be replaced every  other year.  
I learned the hard way, that failure of a  boot, causes the loss of an 
element.  (and potentially the loss  of a motor if the element is extended or 
rain gets in)  
 
All that said, I love the performance of the Steppir Yagi's and  the BigIR 
Vertical.   
 
73,
Dick- K9OM  
 
 
 
 
In a message dated 3/1/2015 4:24:51 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
w3yy at cox.net writes:

My 4-el  SteppIR has been up for 11-1/2 years without any need to take  it
down.  

73, Bob - W3YY