[TowerTalk] SteppIR and SO2R

[Jim Brown]

On 7/24/2019 9:55 AM, W0MU Mike Fatchett wrote:
> SteppIR is not what you want for contesting with multiple radios and 
> quick band changes. If you don't care then it is fine.  As I get 
> older, I am only 54, and young I have less and less desire to climb or 
> do antenna stuff.  The SteppIR's can require more service. 

Several thoughts. First, a SteppIR Yagi can be used on only one band at 
a time, so if you can have only one tower and only one Yagi on the 
tower, it doesn't support SO2R. I'm doing SO2R with the 3-el straight 
SteppIR on one tower and monobanders for 20, 15, and 10 on other towers. 
I have the real estate to do that. With your limitation of a single 
antenna for the higher bands AND SO2R, a multi-band antenna with 
triplexer seems the only practical solution.

Second, my straight 3-el SteppIR has been up for 10 years, and I've 
never had a problem I could blame on the antenna. By the time I bought 
it, it was a mature design mechanically. That was NOT true of the bigger 
"trombone" versions, which are more complex mechanically. As recently as 
four years ago, local contesters were having failures. W6GJB received 
one with infant mortality of all three motor assemblies within the first 
year, and it took a LONG time to get them repaired under warranty.

Third, a SteppIR is a very good choice as a DX antenna for the WARC bands.

Finally, if you can put two Yagis on that tower, I would consider two 
SteppIRs, one with trombones, one without. Or a tri-band Yagi with 
triplexer and a straight 3-el SteppIR.

73, Jim K9YC