What's to say that Fluid Motion can't take a few of these suggestions,
like more memory in the controller and "protected" outputs and upgrade their
product?
I know that they monitor these boards from time to time. I think that
these would be worthwhile improvements.
By the way, does anyone know how many 2, 3 and 4 element beams they have
sold. Some of us were talking about that the other day and no one had a
good idea of the number.
73s
Bernard, WA4OEJ
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jerry Keller" <k3bz@arrl.net>
To: "(Reflector) TowerTalk" <towertalk@contesting.com>; "Floyd Sense"
<fsense@copper.net>
Cc: "(Reflector) SteppIR" <steppir@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, November 09, 2004 5:17 PM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] New antenna system
> Floyd... OK, I plead guilty. I'm a member of the SteppIR "cult". But I can
assure you (because I
> moderate it) that the SteppIR reflector tolerates ANY and ALL comments,
thoughts, questions, and
> suggestions.... positive or negative (as long as they're polite)...
concerning Fluidmotion's SteppIR
> antenna products. Nothing is edited. Nothing is screened. And you know, in
a more than a couple of
> years now, and with more than 4000 postings by more than 600 members...we
have never had a flame
> war, not even a skirmish. I think that's because so many of us are in
substantial agreement... the
> SteppIR antennas are pretty good. Sure, they have limitations... what
antenna doesn't? Sure, they
> have idiosyncrasies... what piece of gear doesn't? But they are new and
cutting edge and fascinating
> and efficient and fun and not everybody has one.
>
> I'm with you, Floyd.... I'm absolutely astounded that these antennas have
so few negative comments.
> But I assure you, it's not because of our "cult" status.... I think it's
because the SteppIR
> antennas are just that damn good. Wait until you've had yours a while....
I bet you will wear the
> funny hat and dance around the fire with the rest of us....
>
> 73, Jerry K3BZ
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Floyd Sense" <fsense@copper.net>
> To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
> Sent: Monday, November 08, 2004 6:25 PM
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] New antenna system
>
>
> > Well, as a new SteppIR owner, I can't resist inserting myself into this
"lovefest". While the
> > SteppIR is certainly a good product and their customer service is indeed
first-rate, it seems to
> > me that a cult has developed around the SteppIR that doesn't tolerate
any negative comments or
> > thoughts. When I obtain a new product, I usually try to learn as much
as possible about how it
> > works and what its limitations are - and there are always limitations.
Reading the comments on
> > this forum would lead one to believe that there are none with the
SteppIR, but that would be
> > incorrect.
> >
> > When checking out my new 3 element SteppIR, I noticed that the SWR was
higher at one point on one
> > band than elsewhere. So, I used the controller function to change the
length of the driven
> > element to reduce the SWR and sure enough, that worked just as expected.
So then I thought - why
> > not do the same for the driven element on all the segments of all the
"antennas" in the
> > controller. In doing that, I found that the controller software is not
capable of storing all
> > those changes to just one element per "antenna". If you are a real
modeler/experimenter figuring
> > to play around with different antenna definitions, how many experimental
antennas can you
> > configure and store? Apparently, not many - a known problem in the
software (known to FM, not to
> > you). Researching this problem led me to another after chatting with FM
support. Oddly enough,
> > the antenna dimensions FOR THE EXACT SAME FREQUENCY IN THE EXACT SAME
BAND are DIFFERENT when you
> > are in "Amateur" mode vs. "General Freq" mode. What's more, the
dimensions for at least one point
> > on one band are better in the Amateur mode than in the General mode. So
what? Well, if you're
> > using the PC or your rig to control the SteppIR frequency, you MUST run
the controller in General
> > mode.
> >
> > When I asked a related question on the SteppIR Yahoo forum, one wag
explained to me that a .3 dB
> > difference is insignificant. It certainly is to me, but I'll bet it
isn't to you if you're
> > interested in implementing your modeling results.
> >
> > The SteppIR has a few other "warts" that you won't read about, but no
need to go into them here.
> > I'm just amazed that it took this long for someone to come up with this
revolutionary design at an
> > affordable price. But my amazement doesn't blind me to the
shortcomings.
> >
> > Just to keep to the purpose of this reflector, my new SteppIR sits on
top of a guyed Rohn 25 and
> > all of the new and used pieces/parts of the tower installation were
obtained from folks on this
> > reflector.
> >
> > K8AC
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> >
> > 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
>
_______________________________________________
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.
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