I'll second N6RK's comments plus add a few of my own.
I just used a SteppIR for SS. It was sure nice being able to flip the
beam 180 degrees in a couple seconds to work KH7X. Also, my beam is
parked at 70 degrees (aimed at East Coast USA) most of the time. I can
quickly and easily do a 180 shift and hit VK/ZL/KH6/Oceania without
rotating the yagi.
For me, being inconspicuous is important since the city I live in refuses
to permit towers. Mine is a relatively small crankup which I keep nested
most of the time to avoid drawing attention. Having 7 bands efficiently
available on a 3 element yagi is also very "neighbor friendly" and so
far has keep the local code enforcement officer away. I seriously doubt
I would get away with a C31 or something similar.
The primary downside is that it takes longer to switch bands than if
you had separate antennas (or separate elements on one antenna) and you
can't run S02R with only one SteppIR. Other than tha, it's a winner in
my book.
On Tue, 4 Nov 2003 07:52:16 -0800, "Richard Karlquist" wrote:
>
> > >>I wouldn't buy a Steppir. Moving parts outdoors, out of reach, make
> > me nervous. Just think how much more could go wrong.
> > Barry W2UP
> >
>
> Having just put up a Steppir and run it thru
> CQWW and SS, I would never go back to a
> conventional antenna. One feature alone
> makes it worthwhile. I can reverse direction
> 180 degrees in a few seconds. In CQWW, this
> allows me to switch between Asia and S. America
> at will. In CQ SS, it allows me to work
> San Francisco area stations who call me off
> the back of the beam without losing time rotating
> the beam or getting fills because I can't copy
> well, etc. (I am 70 miles east of SF). BTW,
> I probably could NOT copy these stations well on
> some auxiliary vertical omni antenna. Too far
> away on ground wave for that, and cross polarized.
>
> I bought the 4 year warranty, so if the motors
> break, I'm covered. It's on a Hazer, so repair
> is an easy job.
>
> Plus, the customer service is great.
>
> Rick N6RK
> _______________________________________________
>
> See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
> Weather
> Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any questions
and
> ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
_______________________________________________
See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless Weather
Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any questions
and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
|