[TowerTalk] [Bulk] Re: SteppIR

[W0MU Mike Fatchett]

Being able to bring any antenna down to ground level when it is having 
trouble is a huge help!

I regret now not saving a few extra $$$ and buying a crank up.

Mike W0MU

On 3/1/2015 3:47 AM, Doug Turnbull wrote:
> Kevin,
>      I agree that being able to bring the SteppIR down to ground level is a
> big help.   I have owned a four element SteppIR Yagi for seven years now and
> also have a BigIR vertical.   I like the antenna very much and reckon it
> gives me the best bang for minimum wind load.
>
>      Two EHU units have failed on me over the years.    One of which is the
> current design.    All my EHUs have been upgraded to the current design.   I
> never had a problem with a boot but I replace them any way every few years
> as they are inexpensive an available from local hardware stores in the USA.
>
>      It is my experience that even using new Nylock nuts that the screws
> holding the EHUs to the mast and holding the EHUs closed can work loose over
> the year.
>
>      My SteppIR is at 80 feet on a crank up tilt over tower designed to be
> stayed.   The tower is capable of 112 feet but has never been this high.  I
> use to have it at 88 feet but age makes me more cautious.   Taking the Yagi
> down involves a good bit of work and maybe it will sometimes go two years
> without being lowered but my preference would be to take the antenna down
> for an inspection each year.
>
>      SteppIRs do fail.   SteppIRs do work very well.   They have a smaller
> wind load than many aluminum antennas and they are a multiband antenna which
> can be used across all the ham bands from extreme to extreme on each band.
> My SteppIR has the trombone for 30 and 40 which works very nicely at 80
> feet.
>
>      Never just replace roach poles on the SteppIR without making sure they
> have the same velocity factor as those you have been using and that the
> replacement units match the controller you are using.   I was burnt on this
> issue.   I replaced the original controller with the newer model and found
> all my lengths were off so needed to make adjustments - with SteppIR help it
> all worked out.
>
>      I am a SteppIR fan.   My antenna provides 40 through 6 meters and does a
> good job.    The antenna holds up very nicely to the winds here in EI on a
> good height.
>
>      Everyone has their own decisions to make.   There is no one answer but
> for minimum windload; good performance and multiband the SteppIR is hard to
> beat.   Are they inexpensive no - no antenna with these capabilities is.
>
>                 73 Doug EI2CN
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: TowerTalk [mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Kevin
> Stover
> Sent: 01 March 2015 00:33
> To: towertalk at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] [Bulk] Re: SteppIR
>
> If you are a member of the SteppIR Yahoo group you would get the idea.
> Unless things have changed and questioning the SteppIR way is verboten
> over there.
> Be that as it may I wouldn't own one without a crank-up/tilt-over tower
> under it.
> I think it's a take it down once a year antenna.
>
>
> On 2/28/2015 4:04 PM, Kim Elmore wrote:
>> Several have mentioned potential failure points for the SteppIR antennas.
> I haven't heard about many failures. In fact, I can't think of any. There
> are a fair number in us by now. How often are failures encountered?
>> Kim N5OP
>>
>> "People that make music together cannot be enemies, at least as long as
> the music lasts." -- Paul Hindemith
>