John AB8WH wrote: Maybe I missed it, but I didn't see anyone mention SteppIR, though I seem to remember a mention of it earlier.
I do not have one, but I've seen articles showing one masquerading as a flag pole.... Seems many of us end up retiring in CCR environments. Who can argue with a good ol' American flagpole? http://www.steppir.com/ ----------------------------------------- Yes, the SteppIR design is a really intriguing idea. The verticals are apparently 1/4 wave verticals and a 1/4 wave antenna is highly-dependent on a good ground, both close in and at a distance, for optimum performance. Notice that their photos of verticals in action have them installed in "vertical Heaven" - at the seashore! Verticals do a very good job anywhere they are installed properly, but by or on salt water is where they really stand out! There are two issues with ground-mounted verticals - either one that is actually 1/4 wave long or one that uses traps to 'disconnect' the unneeded length on the higher bands. 1) On the higher bands, the active portion of the antenna is that part closest to the ground. So, on the higher frequencies most vulnerable to absorption by surrounding objects, the active part of the antenna is most likely down among such objects. 2) They still need a ground, and the closer to the ground the antenna is mounted, the more radials are required for equal performance. Tests have shown that it takes nearly 100 radials on the ground to equal the effectiveness of only four radials ten feet or so above the ground. "Flag pole" antennas are a popular idea among those needing a stealth antenna, but in some areas the developers have caught onto them. I occasionally deal with real estate CC&R's (Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions) and I've run across a number of places where they either deny all permission to install a flag pole without seldom-given permission or they specifically require that the flag pole be used *only* for the purposes of flying the flag and that the pole serve no other purpose including "...acting as an antenna for radio receiving or transmitting apparatus." So if someone lives in a home with such CC&R's, read them carefully! Sure, you can hire an attorney and challenge them, but I've got a hunch you'll need very deep pockets and no guarantee of getting the results you want. Ron AC7AC _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [email protected] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
