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Re: [TowerTalk] SteppIR DB18 Increased SWR

To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] SteppIR DB18 Increased SWR
From: W0MU Mike Fatchett <w0mu@w0mu.com>
Date: Mon, 22 Mar 2021 00:00:43 -0600
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
I would agree.  I had the same thing happen to me in Montana.  The spindle broke on the reflector.  This was on a much older antenna 4 ele SteppIR.

I would also suggest joining the SteppIR list https://groups.io/g/steppir

You can also email SteppIR Tech support.

Mike W0MU

On 3/20/2021 10:38 PM, RVZ via TowerTalk wrote:
Hi Steve, The 500hz rise in frequency that you're experiencing is common for SteppIR Yagi's when the 
Reflector quits working.  I second the recommendation to join the SteppIR Forum and post your problem 
there as they will provide great information on how you can test various components of your antenna without 
taking it down.  73, Dick- K9OM  In a message dated 3/21/2021 12:28:07 AM Eastern 
Standard Time, towertalk@contesting.com writes:
Join the SteppIR forum on groups.io. You will find plenty of
troubleshooting history there with a quick search. Also plenty of
SteppIR experience to tap into.
I am assuming you've done an calibrate....
73,
Steve
W1SRD
I have a SteppIR model DB18 that I put up in mid-January.?? It's
3-elment 6-40 meters.?? Controller is an SDA 2000.?? It was working
great for two months until the SWR increased recently, increasing to
the 1.5-2:00 range.?? For example, the best I can do on 20 meters is
1.98:1 .?? I use a RigExpert AA-55 antenna analyzer to sweep over the
band plus a little more on each end.?? It's odd that the SWR dip is
usually around 500 kHz away.?? ??Clarifying that, I set the Controller
to 14.500 and the best SWR is 1.98 at 14.020 on the analyzer.??
??Setting the Controller to 14.600 results in the lowest SWR of 2.00 at
14.100.?? it was never like that before.


I used to be able to get it down to 1:1 by using the SDA 2000
Controller to tweak its frequency a little thus matching the antenna
element lengths to the transmit or analyzer freq.


It has rained recently, and that is a thought.?? But it rained several
time before, and even iced several times, without any impact.


I was very careful when building the antenna to securely wrap all of
the connectors to waterproof them,.?? The coax is new RG-213 purchased
from DX Engineering.


Could it be the Controller, or some part of the coax/antenna combo?


Would appreciate your opinion to help me troubleshoot and solve the
problem.


tnx es 73
Fred w3ICM
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