The motor unit has a stepper motor and a roll of beryllium-copper tape with evenly spaced holes (about 0.75 in apart). A sprocket runs the tape in and out in response to pulses from a computer in the shack. The computer keeps track of the tape position and the tape runs up a fiber-glass tube to 1/4 wave length long. You can step it up or down one unit at a time to get the best match with a couple of buttons or push a band button to run to the set position for that band. I don't have a SteppIR vertical, but I do have a 3-element SteppIR beam. The beam has two tapes to make a dipole. The beam has a balun but I would not think you would need a balun for a vertical. There might be some kind of matching, but I can't remember as I have not seen inside a vertical since last field day. The SteppIR products work great, but maybe require a bit more maintenance than an aluminum antenna.
Willis 'Cookie' Cooke K5EWJ --- On Sat, 5/16/09, David Wilburn <[email protected]> wrote: > From: David Wilburn <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] OT - K3 SteppIR Vertical and Elecraft Products > To: "Elecraft Discussion List" <[email protected]> > Date: Saturday, May 16, 2009, 12:39 PM > How does the antenna interface to the rig(s)? I have not > looked at > what is going on with the control box, need to understand > that better. > If it connects to the rig via the serial port, not sure > how the rig > would then be used by control program or for contesting. > > Thanks > > Dave Wilburn > NM4M > > K2MK wrote: > > "I am also curious of the experience of the group > with the SteppIR > > verticals. There is similar up front cost as the > vertical / remote > > tuner solution (assuming a new weather proof > tuner)." > > > > > > Hi Dave: > > > > Sometimes it's hard to tell this Yahoo Group from > the SteppIR Yahoo > > Group. There are so many of the same call signs > posting messages. > > > > I've had my BigIR with 80 meter coil for almost 2 > years and I am > > extremely pleased with it. No internal tuner, no > external tuner, no > > tuner period. Just excellent SWR everywhere on 80 > through 6 meters. And > > not just part of each band, the entire band. > Performance is probably the > > same as any similar sized vertical. You get out what > you put in. Lay > > down a lot of copper and you'll be rewarded with > excellent performance. > > > > The transceiver tracking feature works perfectly with > the K3. I know it > > works perfectly with the K2 as well. The antenna > length automatically > > changes as you QSY. > > > > 73, > > Mike K2MK > > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[email protected] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: > http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
