[VHFcontesting] SteppIR on 6m

[Jon Casamajor]

Doug,

I am fairly new to VHF contesting having just started a year ago in the
September event so keep that in mind. I use the 3 el SteppIR + the passive
element on 6m. It flies at about 73'. Above it is a 2m12, a 402-CD 2 ele 40m
and 11x11 stack on 432. You can see a shot of the stack on my QRZ page.

I run 100W on 6m. My results have been good with the 3 el and it has easily
surpassed my expectations as a first 6m antenna. I'm sure that a long boom
wide spaced Yagi or two would be much better but the little SteppIR
certainly is no slouch. I've worked everything I can hear and have something
over 150 grids on 6 worked. I've been able to work a couple of JA's, 4 KH6
and a KL7.

I also should mention that I live in what appears to be THE 6m Black HOLE
here in Northern California and can only wish for the number of Q's I see
from north, south and east of me in contest openings.  So far the openings
in contests have been few and far between and even double hop from here is
pretty rare. I am very happy with the performance and would be even happier
if we could get a break on openings now and then! 

 

Regards,

Jon-K6EL

CM99br

k6el at comcast.net

 

-----Original Message-----. 

 

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Message: 5

Date: Sun, 6 Sep 2009 21:49:45 -0400

From: "Doug Rehman" <doug at k4ac.com>

Subject: [VHFcontesting] SteppIR's on 6m

To: <vhfcontesting at contesting.com>

Message-ID: <047d01ca2f5d$7ca347e0$75e9d7a0$@com>

Content-Type: text/plain;     charset="us-ascii"

 

Is anyone using a SteppIR antenna for contesting on 6m?

 

In order to add microwave bands to the tower, I need to consolidate some

antennas. I've got an 8 element Cushcraft log periodic for 20-10, a

Cushcraft D-40 rotatable dipole for 40, and a 5 element 6 meter beam that

I'm contemplating replacing by a single SteppIR. This is predicated upon

being able to get at least ballpark equivalent performance on 6 meters (as I

work VHF/UHF contests, I can't give up much on 6).

 

The antenna will be mounted at about 55' (where the log is now).

 

The SteppIR contenders are (all with the optional 6m passive kit):

 

1) DB-18 ($2,550 + $82/6m = $2,632)

2) 4 element ($2,285 + $375/40m + $164/6m = $2,824)

3) 3 element ($1,519 + $375/40m + $82/6m = $1976)

 

Since I don't work much 30m, I don't see the DB-18E as an option (the only

thing I see different on the E is an additional element on 30m for $400).

 

Comparing the gain figures (since it's gain figures from the same

manufacturer, I'd hope they compare...):

 

The DB-18 beats the 3/4 element by 4.4 dB on forty meters and 3.3 dB on 30m

(2 elements on 40m/30m versus a dipole).

 

The DB-18 and the 3 element are identical on every other band (20-6m).

 

The 4 element beats the DB-18 and 3 element by 1.6-2.1 db on 20-10m and 2.9

dB on 6 meters.

 

One thing I did notice about all three antennas is that the F/B is only 11

dB on 10m.

 

While I like the performance of the 4 element on 6m, the boom length (32')

is somewhat problematic. The tower is a Tri-Ex LM354-HDSP that pivots over

at about 8'. A 20' or shorter boom allows for me to lay the tower over to

work on the antennas along the 24' boom. The 32' boom would require me to

partially disassemble the boom before bringing the tower completely

horizontal.

 

For the $600+ difference between the DB-18 and the 3 element, plus cutting 2

sqft of wind load, the 3 element is looking like the winner- but the extra

4.4 dB on 40m is tempting.

 

Someday I'll get the 100' tower up in the pasture; when I do, I'll reassess

what to put on it. In the mean time, I need something that will be

comparable to my current 40-6m setup.

 

Thoughts from those using SteppIR's, especially performance on 6 meters???

 

Thanks,

Doug

K4AC