Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: SteppIR Fluidmotion 6-20mtr Yagi

Category: Antennas: HF: Yagi, Quad, Rotary dipole, LPDA

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
Review Summary For : SteppIR Fluidmotion 6-20mtr Yagi
Reviews: 117MSRP: 1099
Description:
Remotely ajustable 6-20 mtr continuosly...available as Dipole-2 elements or 3 elements Yagi.Copper tape length inside fiberglass tubing controlled by stepper motors. 1500W rated!
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.steppir.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
22.51174.6
W7PSK Rating: 2011-04-27
I am Pleased as Punch Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Even with the couple of OOOPS I had, I am pleased as a kid on Christmas with my 3 element SteppIR. I can only imagine what a 4 element or a DB42 does on the bands. This antenna is head and shoulders above the A4S it replaced, its not even a close race. Its like the A4 was a piece of wire on the ground. Ive gone from a 1970 VW bug to a 2011 Porsche.

Ive heard and worked DX that I have never even heard before. These stations were active the 2 or 3 weeks before I changed antennas so I know its not the condx improving its my antenna improving. My first call was to a SV9 and he came right back to me stating I was the strongest on the band. Ive since worked 3 new states I never heard on 17m towards my WAS. I switched to the vertical I was using and I couldn't hear them.

Some thoughts.

First off, if your reading this contemplating the beam and wondering how hard it is to put together. Don't worry about it. Just read the hints and comments from the members here and the directions and it will be a piece of cake. The New Fiberglass elements look exceptional and are UV protected now. I do wish there was another way to secure them rather than taping the snot outta them.

The Optional connection box. This should be standard. It made connecting the antenna wiring together 100 times easier than I would have had with the old system. I would however suggest to SteppIR to use a little heavier gauge wiring. That thin stuff is wicked to work with.

The rig control. Its a nice enough looking system, and I have not tried it but I wouldn't say its a must have. Ive been manually tuning the antenna as I go and its easy peasy. I'm sure it will come in handy during tests though when I band hop and dont want to stop in the middle to tune.

Optional 6 meter element, As I was told by SteppIR if your serious about 6 meters, the 3 element may not be the best choice, better with the 6 meter add on. But for Casual state hunting it will be more than good. Ill be putting the 6 meter extra element on later.

I didn't get the optional 40/30 trombone as I have my vertical, but if you dont have any 40/30 access it may be a good thing.

Overall Id give this antenna a 9.5 outta 10. It didnt get a ten due to a few niggles but not enough to lower it any further.


Ill review it further after 6 months of use
WU5E Rating: 2011-03-04
best I've own! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I got the Steppir 3 element used at HRO in Anahiem. once I got it up the world came alive me. S51ZZ ask me did I get a new amp? I said now just NEW antenna. No tuner!!!! love this antenna. you will not go wrong getting this antenna. My setup is 3 element Steppir at 40 feet with a Hazer tram system.
G0VQY Rating: 2011-01-09
Truly Awesome Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have been using my 3 element SteppIR for about six months now, I don't think there has been a day when I haven't been on the band since the antenna has been installed.

I got the antenna from Ron At Vine along with a heavy duty 18 m Radio Structures Tower, plus a PST rotator.

The antenna stands at just over 60 feet when the weather is good, about 50 feet during winter time, when it's ready windy, somewhat lower, but it always performs well at whatever height.

I live about 300 feet from the edge of a cliff overlooking the sea so I already have a good operating advantage (the equivalent to someone using a four element SteppIR inland, so I have been told by people in the know)

So how does the antenna perform? Absolutely superb! I have nothing but praise for this fantastic antenna. A day doesn't go by when I am not complemented on the strength of my signal, whether this be in Europe, or further afield. I have absolutely no problems working into Australia, New Zealand, the USA, anywhere really.

Whereas I don't normally with pileups, if I can't get in first time, three or four shout normally does it using the ICOM 7800. I also have the SPE 1k automatic linear amplifier and I feel that my station is now complete.

If you can afford one of these antennas then don't hesitate, go for it, you will not be disappointed, I can promise you that.
KD7ATL Rating: 2010-09-07
one supper anttenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I had nothing but good outstanding reports
G2YC Rating: 2010-06-08
We'll see about the antenna but Vine customer service was good Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I posted a review on April 16, 2010 titled ‘Beware dodgy SteppIR antennas and poor customer service’ (see text at bottom). Two months later, I now have the antenna working and want to update my previous review to recognize what really was excellent customer service from the supplier, Vine Antennas in the UK.

After my previous review, Ron at Vine and I re-started a dialogue and began trying everything to find the source of the fault (high SWR on all bands). I took down the antenna, re-checked the wiring, checked for obstructions in the fiberglass poles, checked and re-checked the motors individually, and checked the control cable and connections. Everything checked out OK, and the control cable supplied by Vine—-contrary to previous information from SteppIR—-was perfectly within tolerances. We then focused on the controller unit. First I replaced the entire controller board with a new one sent by Ron. No change in SWR. As a last ditch effort, I replaced the processor chip with one he had also sent and that did the trick—-low SWR on all bands.

It has taken three months but I now have a working antenna. Had I followed the earlier advice to use the 'create/modify' function, I may never have found the faulty chip. There is no doubt that Ron spent much time and effort helping me troubleshoot the antenna. So I completely withdraw any previous statements about bad customer service at Vine. In fact, customer service at Vine Antennas is exemplary.

I wish I felt as good about the antenna. Even with the best quality control possible, faulty equipment can slip through any manufacturer’s net. But my problems with this antenna seem a little like buying a new car and getting it home only to find that the engine doesn’t work. To me it again raises a question I had before I bought the antenna—-is the SteppIR just too complicated to be reliable? Time will tell, and I hope the answer is 'no.' But if I had it to do all over again, I don’t think I would buy a SteppIR.


Original review posted 16 April 2010:
I bought a 3-ele SteppIR in Dec 09 and have had nothing but problems. The antenna has high SWR on all bands, and neither the supplier nor manufacturer seem to be bothered much about my problems. I'll give you the short version of a long story.

I carefully followed the most dreadful instruction manuals I have ever seen and the antenna was up. It looked great but had high SWR on all bands. I tested it and found it was resonant between 200 and 900kHz higher that the frequency display on the controller. The supplier said I must have mis-wired the antenna as the SWR shouldn't be that far out. I was sure I had wired it correctly but he convinced me that I hadn't, so I swapped the wires for director and reflector. A quick test showed that SWR was still between 3:1 and 4:1 and it was now resonant BELOW the frequency on the controller display. He agreed that it must have been wired correctly before but didn't know what was wrong.

So I phoned SteppIR in Bellevue, Washington. Calling during office hours I got voicemail, so as requested I left a message for them to call back. After a few days with no response I tried again--still voicemail. After a week or so I stopped leaving messages as obviously no one was responding to them. Instead I sent an email with all the facts. No response after 11 days so I phoned, expecting to get voicemail again. However, someone answered and assured me he was planning to respond to my email that day--hmmm. We spent twenty unproductive minutes on the phone (at my expense). I wanted to know if my experience was typical of SteppIR antennas--he said it was not. So why won't my antenna work? He had no idea and said I needed to manually adjust all bands to make it work. He got me to check resistance on the control cable, and said this was so high that it will reduce performance of the antenna--even if I get the SWR problems sorted. He said I must have lower quality control cable which is not suitable for a 51m run like I have.

So where do I go from here? It seems my antenna has problems other SteppIR antennas don't have but I am not offered any explanations as to why nor solutions to correct it except the 'bandaid' approach--using the 'creat/modify' function to manually adjust the antenna. It's hard enough to get them to even respond to my requests for assistance, so why should I expect solutions. Good customer service you say? What customer service? There was nothing wrong with the money I paid over but I have an expensive antenna that won't work.
WB6MMV Rating: 2010-04-26
Very Reliable Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I put my three element steppir up in April of 2003. I did not have any troubles assembling or installing the antenna. It worked the first time and has done so now for 7 years. I also have not upgraded the controller from the original. My antenna is very reliable and works well.

I recently brought the antenna down to check the fiberglass coatings and they did degrade in the Arizona sun after 7 years of exposure. I put a couple of coats of paint and UV protection on the antenna and put it back up.

My experience with this antenna has been very positive.

Ken WB6MMV

----------------------
Earlier 5-star review posted by WB6MMV on 2007-12-17

I purchased my 3 element Steppir back in 2004. I purchased it without the 6 meter element. It was installed at my second home in Arizona. It has been down for inspection only once. I checked the boots (Fernco)and the fiberglass elements. Mine are the 5 element fiberglass versions and I have seen almost no deterioration of the elements due to ultraviolet rays. I have never had a problem with the antenna and its performs flawlessly. I agree with many of the other reviews that this is a great product. I highly recommend one.
WA7NDD Rating: 2010-04-26
WA7NDD Up 7 years no problems! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had a SteppIR up for 7 years with no problems, I have not even upgraded the control box. I live in Idaho where snow, Ice, and strong winds have attacked the 3 elements up at 35 feet. I have talked all over the world. I retract the elements when I know strong wind is about. Other then that it works. I don't know about service because I've not needed it, but it could be they are quite busy with few people because of today's economy. I am happy that so many ham radio outlets are still in business.
Jim, WA7NDD
QRPNEW Rating: 2010-04-25
lightning prone rubbish Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
In Short a very expensive unreliable product.

I was very nervous placing my order for this antenna after reading all the reported problems. I must be jinxed because I had the whole range of issues with this antenna,.

Elements falling off
Element fibreglass tube breaking
Water getting in
Elements cracking
Tape breaking
Wind damage and subsequent tape damage.
Then the final straw lightning and motor damage.

That was the last straw. When I made the insurance claim and got my money back I sold it as a repair job and bought a Optibeam. No climbing towers in the middle of winter fixing things!


My only comments to STEPPIR, is that they need to improve their products. Its not a cheap product and for the money that you are paying you would expect much better construction.

Another issue is that I have.All the lightning protection options that they sell should not be a option. It should be provided as standard and not as a option with the antenna. Its clear that they just milking people with stupid prices for the lightning protection options. These parts you can add yourself for a fraction of the price, they just ordinary parts available from anywhere. This is the equivalent of buying a car with brakes as a option, when you crash and complain the manufacture will tell you that we warned you that you needed these options. Lightning protection should be mandatory on a product that cant survive and work without it. What is annoying was that i got hit 3 times none of them were direct hits, even my rotators and switch boxes survived these direct and indirect strikes on the tower. The steppir licks up lighting and its lightning sensitive antenna that does not belong on a tower!

The BIG weakness of the STEPPIR is lightning protection which it lacks. What adds insult to the excessive pricing is a 5% fee for parts on foreign orders? 5 % for what? Its rip off mentality that makes an already expensive product cost prohibitive. It does not cost 5% more to ship overseas, once you have bought the antenna such a sting on spare parts adds insult to injury. Its gross profiteering that will hurt STEPPIR with its overseas sales. All I can see is that steppir is doing so well that they dont need foreign orders so they price gouging for those desperate enough to buy. If you have other antenna options dont get sucked in by this 5% rip off.


So the final word is this, if you have lot of lightning and heavy ice and wind dont go near a steppir. You will be on constant maintenance duty. Get a M2 squared, force12 or a optibeam. These are antennas you can put up for 10 years and forget. I had a K34XA which was 15 years old and when i took it down it was in perfect condition. It has been through many storms and severe icing without issue. My one year with a STEPPIR has been nothing short of nightmare.

If you do have a crank up tower that where you can easily get to your antennas it might be a option. If you need to pay someone to do this work forget about the STEPPIR, you will be going broke! I would suggest a tilplate which
I installed after the many failures.

The STEPPIR is great concept that will have its time and place. At the moment the construction is terrible and the antenna is failure prone. Until something about using parts that can withstand lightning you will always be carrying expensive exposure on your tower. While the economies around the world are bad the last thing you need to be doing with your hobby money is throwing it down a black repair hole because the concept is Micky Mouse.


N3ZC Rating: 2010-03-02
Outstanding! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I bought the 3-Elenent with the 30/40M add on, the SDA-100 Controller (with the Tuning Relay, Transceiver Interface & ALP options) and the Connector Box option. I did buy the beefier boom to mast clamps from DX Engineering, and added a bit more Tommy Tape to the joints. I also sprayed (several coats) the fiberglass tubes with the Krylon Clear UV Spray.

It arrived with all parts (none missing). I assembled it & John Crovelli W2GD got it up on the tower for me on December 8th. It has worked flawlessly and performance-wise kick's butt (compared to the A3S it replaced). Of course I've been told it's not the antenna giving me great performance, but propagation improved coincidently right when I swapped out antennas..so...believe what you want ;-)

First contact I made with it was KC4AAA, & I've since snagged South Korea, Burundi, and just yesterday, H44MS (Solomon Islands). Never heard em' before on the A3S..

So, work's great!

Any questions?..Just email me..

73'..Tom N3ZC
KK7P Rating: 2009-12-13
Two Thumbs Up! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I replaced my ancient TH6DXX (I'd purchased new in 1978) with a recent production, used SteppIR 3 element Yagi with the 40/30 meter driven element. I had to purchase replacement fiberglas tubes for the reflector when I re-assembled the antenna. I added a home-brew extra director for 6 meters.

High winds drove the antenna/mast/rotator out of alignment, with no damage to the antenna. I have since added Slipp-Nott clamps at the antenna and at the rotator. So far, there has been no further wind-driven misalignment.

I am very satisfied with the antenna's performance and features.