Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2015 15:31:06 -0500
From: "David" <k4zzr@comcast.net>
To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] SteppIR
Several years ago I had a finely-crafted aluminum 11 element antenna (made in
Germany) that was supposed to survive 100mph winds. I?m in southeast Florida,
about two miles from the coast. In 2004, after hurricane Frances blew through
my area, I stepped outside to find trees, fence, and pool enclosure destroyed
and most of the shingles ripped from my house. I looked up at my antenna (that
was cranked down to 25 feet on the HDX-555 tower) and it looked like a pretzel.
The recorded wind on my Vantage Pro anemometer hit a max of 87 mph gusts at my
QTH. I have an HDX-555 crankup tower with fold-over and although I could have
cranked the tower over and removed all eleven elements as the storm approached,
it seemed like to much trouble at the time. ;-) A few weeks later we were
directly hit by hurricane Jeanne. Fun times in Florida.
After the 2004 hurricane season ended for the year, I replaced the mangled
antenna with a new 4 ele SteppIR. The next year, hurricane Wilma headed for us
and I this time I lowered the antenna, easily removed the four elements,
leaving just the boom, and raised it back up. Wilma destroyed our fence again,
and a couple of trees, but the Steppir boom was fine. I folded over the tower
and put the fiberglass elements back on - easy because they?re only held on by
8 hose clamps with rubber boots.
Since then, the only maintenance I?ve done to the 4 ele SteppIR is recoating
the fiberglass tubes with a high-quality epoxy paint a couple years ago.
Florida sun does take a toll on anything made of fiberglass. It?s really an
amazing antenna and I would definitely buy another one. Praying for no more
hurricanes though.
David, K4ZZR
### .....Finely crafted 11 ele yagi...made in germany, rated for 100+ mph
winds..and it ends up a pretzel... in 87 mph gusts ? Id be just pissed.
I hope you got all your $$ back...including shipping.
A ham in W7 land informed me several yrs ago......that he finally dug up a USA
based source for metric Aluminum tubing. Cant remember who it was, or what
sizes available. Sounds like a pita when using metric tubing.
Id stick with 6061-T6..or 6063-T832..which is available anywhere.... like dx
eng...or any US builder of yagis. . Then you are buying the ......real
deal..where tubing slides into each other..without swedging..and is 40 ksi
yield strength.
Jim VE7RF
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