Pictures of my Shack and other Hams working in Audio
Shack Photos
Photos of Other Hams
Photos of OZ
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2005 Dayton Photos
2007 Dayton Photos
My interview with ICOM

 
Transceiver Setup
Icom 
Kenwood
Yaesu

Setting up Audio Gear
DEQ 2496
Murf Box
Setup for HamAlyzer
Connecting it all together
EQ Behringer 1100/1124
Recording

SteppIR Info
Taking down old antennas
Tour of SteppIR factory
Building the antenna
Putting all up again
Adding the 30/40 upgrade

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Help with Audio Related Problems
Grounding and RFI
Questions answered #1
Questions answered #2
Questions answered #3  

How to fix DSP-100 problems (NEW) in Questions answered #3

Stories about Me and My Family  
Shameless tribute to me  
True stories and confessions
Grandkids Photos
Genealogy
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Here are photos of putting up the SteppIR 30/40 Upgrade 

 

I purchased the 30/40 upgrade when I got my 3L. The upgrades were not ready for shipment and because I had lost my other monobanders in a storm and the replacement was an insurance job, I could not wait for the upgrade to ship to get the antenna in the air. Of course the regular 3 element worked very well, and I was hesitant to even go through the upgrade. I do not work 40 that much and the expense of hiring someone to do the tower work was just not going to be cost effective for me. I don't know exactly how it happened, but Rob KL7NA heard that I needed someone to do the tower work for me and he wanted the old driven element assemble for a project he is working on so we worked out a deal that we both could get what we wanted. He put the element up for me with my help and he got the old driven element for his work.

This is kind of a poor photo but you may be able to see how high on the mast we put the pulley that did all the work. Don't try it unless you have a set up something like this. Using a Gen Pole may be the answer. 

Here is Rob just starting to take the old driven element off the boom

The new element is supported with a temporary boom that I made out of a piece of 1 by 8 pine. It was used just to provide some more support as we pulled the new element up the tower. You can see the 4 mountaineering slings that are looped around the elements that is attached to the rope used to raise the new element. We balanced the new element on the slings before it started up but even with having to swing it around the guy wires, it was very stable and did not slip. Rob put one hand on the element as he walked it up the tower to 70 feet.

Once the element was up on the tower it was laid across the existing elements for support as the temp boom was removed.

Moving the new element into position. Note that the slings are still on and the weight of the element is on the rope and pulley that was attached on top of the tower so all Rob had to do was move the element into place. Also note that the 2 meter beam is above the SteppIR and we never had to move it. 

Bolting the motor assembly to the mast plate, and hooking up the coax and control cables.

Part of the ground support crew. Actually Rob's kids but the little girl Araya, is a ham and had a handheld that she used to talk to her father with. These kids are as smart as anything and are giving me faith that maybe at least some of the youngsters growing up these days will be of value when they grow up. The little girl wants to be an EE when she grows up and we had a nice discussion about Ohm's Law. The little boy William wants to be a marine biologist. We talked about the attributes of Pacific Tree Frogs. He is 5, I think, and could pick out flowers and plants in my yard by name. Amazing Kids. 

Rob KL7NA after it was done and I was ready to clean things up.

    Up and working

This is what it looks like completed at 70 feet. I connected my wire antennas to the system and fired it up. After a little adjustment I found the SWR on all bands to be just about 1 to 1 everywhere except 30 meters where it was 1.6.1. What a wonderful antenna design. I would not consider any other manufacture. I have had antennas of all kinds and brands in my 50 year ham life and this is the best antenna in all ways that I have ever used. Some guys who are just trying to make excuses for not being smart enough to put one up think that it is a mechanical monster with all those motors and things. Well actually with far less coax connectors and wires floating in the air the chance of failure is actually lessened. Just think about all the aluminum elements I would have to have in the air to equal all bands 40 to 6 meters. Think of the weight and wind load. Think about the strain on the tower and systems. I had a large stack up for a long time and believe me if you think it is plug and play for 10 or even 5 years well you are very lucky. Also tell me where you can go from the CW part of 40 to the top of 10 meters all at almost flat SWR in 30 seconds or less with any other system, let alone checking long path any time you want without turning the rotor. I know guys who have complete contest stations with spotter beams at other beam heading just for this feature. The SteppIR can do the same thing almost as fast with one antenna.