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Reviews For: SteppIR Fluidmotion 6-20mtr Yagi

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

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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
W0RER Rating: 2006-02-16
Two Element Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
All has been said so just for kicks: First contact on CW with my old Triton IV at 100 watts was 9A2HF in Croatia. My second contact on CW was with 3Y0X on Peter One. Both on 20 meters and antenna up about 35 feet.

Flat SWR across entire band, easy construction for a "Non-Technical" ham like myself (with a little help from W0KU!), and cool looking to boot.

I bought the two element due to space limitations with a plan to go to four elements at the proper time. That is all.

AWESOME!

David, W0RER
W1ITT Rating: 2005-11-22
Meets all claims Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The SteppIR keeps all its promises. The BoomSlide installation fixture is also well worth the money. It makes assembly aloft an easy one man job. Quality on all components is excellent and the array really plays!
WW3S Rating: 2005-10-30
never seemed so loud!!! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Just finished my first contest effort since switching from my Force 12 C3. In spite of poor sunspot numbers, I never seemed as loudas I did this weekend. Heard upteen " big signals" as I broke pileup after pileup. Only operated Sunday and rates were as high as I ever had them. The auto interface with my Kenwood worked flawlessly. push of a button (180 deg) and while beaming southeast, I could instantly work JA. This is as big or bigger ju,as when I went from a vertical to my A3, then from my A3 to my C3. This is by far the best antenna I've owned. And it simply rocks on the WARC bands. It is expensive, but well worth it. Believe this, and the other reviews, you simply cannot get a better, more versatile antenna.
K3XR Rating: 2005-09-17
IT'S ALL YOU READ ABOUT Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
It is difficult to add to what has already been written. Among the first couple of contacts, Algeria, Morrocco. I have the 3el mounted at about 40 ft.. Very impressed with the quality of construction even the packaging is first class, best I have seen in 46yrs in the hobby. You may think this is a difficult antenna to assemble, it is not. Take your time, follow the directions, and before you know it...it's time to go up on the tower. No problem as a one man operation from start to finish. These products are a huge step forward in antenna design and may very well impact the hobby in the same manner that computers and cell phones have made an impact on the general population.
KD6WD Rating: 2005-08-11
Superb Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
My stepper has only been up for 2 days and I can already tell you it is super. I got the two element yagi because of hurricane activity here in Florida. I have built several tuneable wire antennas over the years because I am quite familiar with cnc and stepper motor and dc drive motor circuits. I can honestly say this 2 element beats my best efforts hands down. The thing that impressed me most was the ease with which it goes together. No tuning, no messing around with element lengths and matching exercises. You just put this jewel together and it plays first time up. Even though mine is a two element it still reverses in a few seconds (on 17 meters). This feature alone save a ton of wear and tear on your rotor. The bi-directional feature is really spiffy when you are between two stations such as the UK and Columbia. I know I am preaching to the choir here but I thought I would just add two cents worth. Will I still mess around with wire antennas, you bet. That is just in my nature. Would I buy another Steppir, You bet. 100 watts and a Steppir and you can work the world even with bad band conditions. Add a small amp with the Steppir and you can rule the world! With the flat match ability of this antenna, every milliwatt of power you send up goes out as a signal. The results are also great on receive.

One of my friends, wb4qda, has had a steppir for a few years. I now understand why he has been singing the praises of the steppir.

Dealing with the guys at Steppir is super. You kind of feel guilty taking up their time because they are just plain fun to talk to as well as being helpful.

Try one, I promise that you will not be disappointed.


John kd6wd/4
N6DT Rating: 2005-07-28
Outstanding Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
First commercially built yagi I purchased in 49yrs of hamming--am 65 yrs and alone I put the antenna up on aluminum tower-a few hrs hanging from harness and it was done-- a breeze-wrks great while barefoot--staff at FM are flat out the best for assistance, reminds me of the classy bunch at Collins Radio in the 1960's--u will not be dissapointed

73, Don Thomas N6DT
W5JON Rating: 2005-06-29
Problem solved Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
There is not much I can add to all the great reviews that are already posted, it just simply works great.

The SteppIRis at 75 Feet, stacked between a 4El, 20 Meter, M2 at 85 Feet, and a 2 Element 40 Meter CushCraft at 65 Feel.

The interaction with the other other two beams, shifted the SteppIR about 200 to 400Hz depending on the band. With the ability to "tune" the SteppIR, the interaction was "tuned out" and the SWR is better then 1.3:1 on all bands.

When I am on 40 or 20 Meters I set the SteppIr to 6 Meters and it is invisable to the 40 and 20 Meter beams, unlike the 10/15/17M TriBander the SteppIr replaced.

On 20 Meters, when the 3 Element, SteppIR (16' boom)is compared to the 4 Element, M2 (34' boom), all reports are great, with the M2 wins, but with a "very hard to see a couple of DB difference".

So it sure did solve all my antenna interaction problems.

GREAT PRODUCT....and GREAT SUPPORT....
K5ZCJ Rating: 2005-06-25
A REALLY GREAT ANTENNA Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
While I can't say much that hasn't already been said before, it is just a super antenna. I have the 3 element steppIR up 70 feet and am hearing stations I never heard before. My old TA-33 had been up a long time and needed replacing. The preformance on the SteppIR is better than I expected. It is light weight and the control box has great features to help the Tail Twister Rotor work better. Another thing that is really nice when the storms roll in and the lightning is a concern, you just retract the metal elements into a roll and you don't have all that metal hanging out there for lightning to hit.

While this antenna has been up only one month, I really enjoy it and I certainly like the professional Service Fluidmotion backs their products up with. They are a great bunch guys to deal with.
K4KAL Rating: 2005-06-03
Wonderful Performance Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I own the SteppIR 3 Element Beam with 6M Passive Element.

I don't know what else I can say about this antenna that has not been said already! I would just be repeating what other people have said already. My overall view.... It performs great, and love the features. I just enjoy the fact I can go longpath at a push of a button. I frequently use the Bi-Dir mode to receive/transmit two directions at once.

Handles Full Legal Limit output with no problems.
I suggest you join the Yahoogroups for SteppIR and learn more about the antenna if you have not made the plunge yet.

I am waiting for the announcement of the new BiggIR Vertical that will support 6-160. That will be my next purchase.
N3KS Rating: 2005-06-03
Excellent Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I've had my 3el SteppIR up for 3 months now - height is 53' above ground. It has been a great performer and solid. I have a fairly long cable run (330') from the shack to the antenna, and it is no problem to control the antenna.
I use the factory default settings for element lengths and they are right on.
Tech support has been great - I had an issue with a lightning strike and also what ended up being a cut control cable - the SteppIR guys were very quick and helpfull in giving me the info to troubleshoot where the issue was.
It's remarkable how many of these antennas I hear on the air.