| M0SUF |
Rating:      |
2008-02-24 | |
| Fantastic Antenna |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I have opted for a 2 element SteppIR antenna – and have it mounted approx 42 feet in the air. I have been mightily impressed with its performance – with many comments like ‘you are one of the stronger stations from Europe’ etc – and that is with our 400 watt limit in the UK, modest height and only 2 elements. Usually I am able to work stations clearly if they are above S1 on the meter. Also getting noticed in pile-ups has become easier – and initially caught me out several times when the DX station responded to me only after the first few calls. I worked a special event station on Cyprus from England on 17m using 10 watts and was given 57.
Furthermore aesthetically the antenna looks tidy and neat – important when you have neighbours..
The SWR on the antenna appears good as you would expect, although I *slightly* reduced the driver dimensions to allow the SWR to vary between 1 to 1.4 on 20m and 17m – no doubt because of some sort of coupling in my environment. This was a straightforward task using the Fluidmotion controller. The higher bands needed no alternation. I notice an oscillating SWR as I vary the VFO – and on 20m this is seen as the SWR ranging from 1 to 1.4 and back to 1 as you sweep the frequency. In practice this appears to have no effect on the performance of the antenna or the transceiver or power amp driving the antenna. I have found the Bi-Directional mode to be of slightly higher SWR – typically 2 to 2.5 but again in practice I have not found this issue as I switch to forwards or backwards before I transmit.
Are there any negative points? Well the fibreglass elements droop more than I would prefer, and there is some variation between elements, also there is a noticeable rustling noise from the antenna in windy conditions – but these really are rather minor points.
Time will tell with respect to reliability – but so far I am a very happy customer..
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| NI6S |
Rating:      |
2008-02-18 | |
| Awesome Combo |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I've had the 3 ele/Dipole combo up for a week now, playing with it mostly on weekends. I have this mounted on a 70' tower, at 100' above sea level and in an urban dwelling. It is, by far the best antenna I have ever had. No other beam for reference, but features, such as the 180 degree reverse feature and bi-directionality, make it ideal for monitoring two DX zones simultaneously. Once DX is identified, I emphasize a particular direction. I am usually 59+ with just 200w, most of the time on 20m. Saves the rotor, too and I can point and shoot very quickly.
As for the dipole, I am thrilled, especially on 40m. I have a Cobra Ultralite Senior for reference (140' linear loaded dipole), and has gain over a standard dipole. It is also up at 70', configured as an Inverted Vee. It plays nicely in its own right, but with the Steppir Dipole, I hear things the Cobra cannot. Either that or signals are typically 2 s units better with the Steppir. I 've done this test several times and the Steppir always wins!
The performance on 30m is also awesome, though I wish it had lower SWR. It's currently about 2.3:1. But this is mostly psychological, being spoiled by the flat SWR on the other bands. The internal tuner takes care of this problem. The factory default settings have worked well for me, so no further adjustment has been required.
The 3 ele with dipole has a small footprint, so it shouldn't offend the neighbors too much. I suppose they're getting used to it. Steppir Customer service is also the best! (Jerry-you do a superb job....keep up the good work!). E-mail me if you have any questions. This antenna has made a believer out of me!
73,
Ed NI6S
navydude1962@yahoo.com
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| VE4MM |
Rating:      |
2007-12-13 | |
| LOVE IT! |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
I am in Jamaica now on a holiday,
2 element to the north
Work what I hear
Love 17M
73
Mike |
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| IW1QN |
Rating:      |
2007-11-19 | |
| ABSOLUTELY FANTASIC! |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
Very good antenna and works very well.
I setup my antenna in 30 July and i make a big test in CQWW SSB 2007 in SO15m LP.....
Very good, with only 100W I make 850Qso's and 210000 point, for me is very good results.
Remeber when you not use the antenna, Retracts all the Elements, and when you are out of your QTH or when there is a LightStorm I think is good if you disconnect the controller od the antenna. |
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| K8RDD |
Rating:      |
2007-10-25 | |
| Perfect ! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| I waited 15 weeks. I got the 3 element up last Saturday. Went together easily. All holes matched up nicely. It replaced a 10 element Log. Beamwidth is narrower than the log. F/B is better than my log. 180 deg is great. I put the log up several years ago and not a Steppir due to the new design. I wanted to wait and see. I've been watching the reflector for any problems and it seemed that there were few. So I took the plunge. If it lasts I will never try anything else. I'm sure you would love one also! |
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| KB3IFH |
Rating:      |
2007-08-18 | |
| ABSOLUTELY FANTASIC! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I've had my 3el SteppIR since 12/05. Have to confess we didn't get it in the air until 5/06. Put this together in the front yard with little to no issues. Everything tested great on the ground the first time. No problem after we put it on the rooftop tower. It has worked flawlessly.Recently added the 6m passive element as well. It's so nice to hit a button and be able to work 180 in seconds or work Bi Directional while listening and never have to turn the antenna.
I did recently have to replace the main board in my controller due to lightning. Now I have a lightning arrestor on the controll cable and I unplug it when not in use. Something I should have been doing anyway.
Guys...when you order... be prepared to wait... BUT it's well worth it.
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| W5AAT |
Rating:      |
2007-08-01 | |
| WONDERFUL! |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
| Ordered the 3el right after New Year's Day. It took approx 4 months to arrive. I ALMOST cancelled and ordered a LPA instead. Big mistake there! This antenna is absolutely phenomenal. It has a much smaller footprint than the LPA and from on the air comparisons seems to outperform it. The 180 deg function is great and even the bi- directional setting works well. The XYL and I built it in about 4 hrs. Everything fit and all parts were there. I have mine at 50' and worked over 30 countries in less than a week just operating in a very casual manner. You can break pileups running barefoot. One call does it all! (usually) This was the wisest purchase that I have ever made for a station in almost 40 yrs of operating. Yeah, they're a LITTLE big, (36' element housings) but they really perform as advertised. By the way, all my neighbors here in the cul-de-sac (including the HOA president) think it looks "cool" up there! GET ONE!! |
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| KF4HR |
Rating:      |
2007-07-03 | |
| Fantastic Antenna |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I've had my 3-element SteppIR yagi for well over a year now and I can't find any fault with this product. I only have it mounted at approximately 50 feet and even at this low height it has provided excellent performance. I've found I rarely need to call a DX station more than once or twice to get a response, (and rarely need my HF amp either).
I decided on the 3-element model (over the 4 element model) for several reasons; minimal gain increase vs cost for the 4th element, less wind loading, and also I felt the 3-element would lend itself to performing better when I activated the 180 degree reversal, and end-fire modes. By the way, the 180 degree function is great for speeding up the process of getting the antenna pointed correctly. So far, I have not regretted getting the smaller (3-element) model. This antenna works exactly as advertised. The F/B, F/S gain ratio's, as well as the forward gain figures seem to be perfectly in line with what the company claims.
I also purchased the 4th (non-motorized) optional element for 6 meters. A nice bonus for the magic band. Next I plan to add the 30&40 Meter folded dipole driven element.
During storms it's nice to be able to retract the elements completely inside the motor assemblies. This effectively reduces the antenna's "lightning target" area.
Another nice touch is being able to link the SteppIR Control Box to a modern transceiver. Switching bands is virtually seamless. Select a band (or a 50khz band segment within a band) and the SteppIR adjusts itself to the proper length automatically. After awhile you forget the antenna's control box, or the antenna itself, is even there... until you get a nice signal report! :^)
Over the last 40 years I have used several brands of yagi antennas. Rarely have I run across an amateur product that is this amazing. Order one, you won't regret it.
KF4HR |
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| VK2GWK |
Rating:      |
2007-06-13 | |
| The best ever |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I have one (3 el) now since november 2004. Easy assembly, no problems and excellent results.
Recently we had gale force winds (> 100 km/h) and no problems (had retracted the elements just to be on the safe side). |
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| IZ5CML |
Rating:      |
2007-05-23 | |
| Nice job ! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I'm using the Steppir 3el since 2 years now, my old setup constisted of a 3el trap tribander + 2el yagi for warc bands.
I'm very happy, performance are very good, with one "small" antenna you can work 6 bands (6 to 20m) with excellent results.
It's always very hard to make a comparation between antennas, expecially when you can't test both at the same time,
but after 2 years and some thousands of qso, I can say that it's outperforms completly my old system, on the WARC
bands but also on the classic ones.
Without traps you don't have any kind of loss, much easier to work Dx with "only" 100w than before,
you don't have to warm up the traps :)) and you can use your 2x3CX800 PA without reserve.
No significant SWR change when it rains and also no raining noise, the element is not directly exposed to the air :)
The 180° function...is amazing, you can check long-short path in 2-3 seconds, very interesting in contest,
where often you can work multiplier without rotate the beam, or call "CQ test" with bidirectional function,
to cover a large part of the path.
It's true that it's quite mechanical complicate, but it's well build, parts quality is very high,
very easy to install(you must read the manual b4!), and very strong.
Many OM in the world use Steppir yagi since some years(4-6y) without problems.
Mine has survived a 110km/h(70 miles) wind last winter, fiberglass rod are very strong !
In accord to Eznec simulations, and on the air test, you can compare this antenna to another one that works
3el x bands on the 5 bands, but with only 3el on the air(not like the multielements..) and 5m boom.
The "perfect antenna" doesn't exist, everyone must evalutate their needs and their budget, there are many competitors on the market
and many great antennas, for me, with not many rooms on the roof, it's a great deal.
You can find more impressions, tips and Eznec plot on the dedicated page of my web site www.iz5cml.it/steppir.html |
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