Elecraft

CrankIR?

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Lynn W. Taylor, WB6UUT

CrankIR?

Hopefully quick question:

We see a lot of praise for the BuddiPole (and the AlexLoop), but don't
think I've ever seen mention of the CrankIR for portable use.

Anybody try one? What's the deal??

73 -- Lynn

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NK7Z

Re: CrankIR?

On Thu, 2016-05-26 at 10:44 -0700, Lynn W. Taylor, WB6UUT wrote:
> Hopefully quick question:
>
> We see a lot of praise for the BuddiPole (and the AlexLoop), but
> don't
> think I've ever seen mention of the CrankIR for portable use.
>
> Anybody try one? What's the deal??
>
> 73 -- Lynn

Let me first preface this with I don't own one, nor have I used a
CrankIR.

I have used a Alex Loop for outings, and various portable dipoles
though... I have always avoided verticals for hiking because I don't
want to spread out a bunch of radials. It is simpler for me to hang a
portable dipole, or set up the Alex Loop... If I can hang a dipole I
use that first, then the loop...

--
73's, and thanks,
Dave (NK7Z)
For software/hardware reviews see:
http://www.nk7z.net

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David McAnally

Re: CrankIR?

In reply to this post by Lynn W. Taylor, WB6UUT

On Thu, May 26, 2016 at 12:44 PM, Lynn W. Taylor, WB6UUT <
[hidden email]> wrote:

> Hopefully quick question:
>
> We see a lot of praise for the BuddiPole (and the AlexLoop), but don't
> think I've ever seen mention of the CrankIR for portable use.
>
> Anybody try one? What's the deal??
>
> 73 -- Lynn
>
>

Lynn,

I have owned a CrankIR for almost two years. When I go traveling by auto
for more than a couple of days, it goes with me along with my K3, plus
KPA500 and whatever else I decide to pack. I previously took a dipole, with
fiberglass poles, since I didn't always have access to wire supports. The
CrankIR is a nice compromise. It packs down to a small bag plus the
optional fiberglass extension for 80M. I now pack it in a small rifle case.

Operationally, it seems to perform well. I had QSO's with New Zealand a
few weeks back while I was in Arizona. I've checked into the Elecraft SSB
net from time to time. As Dave C. mentions, the dipole is more
lightweight, rugged and may perform better. I can't compare to the Alex
loop as I've never used one. The CrankIR tunes 10M through 80M, but that is
a manual process. There are markers on the wire and I've gotten pretty good
at tuning it, using my Rig Expert antenna analyzer. There are trade offs
in whatever you choose though. I doubt I'll ever go hiking or backpacking
with the CrankIR and K3. But they travel well in my Avalanche. I'm trying
to find a way to justify the KX3, or now KX2 as my portable secondary
radio.

David M.
WD5M
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Don Butler

Re: CrankIR?

I’ve never owned a Buddipole, but bought one of the first CrankIRs almost 2 ½ years …. And I love it. I have no doubt that both antennas (Buddipole and CrankIR) work equally well, but a significant plus that comes with the CrankIR is the ease and simplicity of changing bands ...... it will typically take me less than a minute to retune the CrankIR to another band and get back on the air ….. compare that to the Buddipole where you pretty much have to take it down, rebuild the elements, and put it back up again virtually EVERY time you change bands.

I made this video soon after buying my CrankIR ….. and the SteppIR folks still have the link on their website. Realistically it will take about 20 minutes from start to finish to get the CrankIR up and on the air ….

https://vimeo.com/album/2915832/video/87038860

Don, N5LZ

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

From: David McAnally
Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2016 3:30 PM
To: Lynn W. Taylor, WB6UUT
Cc: <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] CrankIR?

On Thu, May 26, 2016 at 12:44 PM, Lynn W. Taylor, WB6UUT <
[hidden email]> wrote:

Peter Pauly

Re: CrankIR?

In reply to this post by David McAnally

I have the AlexLoop and just ordered the CrankIR. The AlexLoop can only do
20 watts because of the small variable capacitor. The CrankIR does 1KW and
has a much wider bandwidth after tuning. You shouldn't need to fiddle with
it after you change bands like you would with the AlexLoop for small QSY's.

On Thu, May 26, 2016 at 5:58 PM, Don Butler <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I’ve never owned a Buddipole, but bought one of the first CrankIRs almost
> 2 ½ years …. And I love it. I have no doubt that both antennas (Buddipole
> and CrankIR) work equally well, but a significant plus that comes with the
> CrankIR is the ease and simplicity of changing bands ...... it will
> typically take me less than a minute to retune the CrankIR to another band
> and get back on the air ….. compare that to the Buddipole where you pretty
> much have to take it down, rebuild the elements, and put it back up again
> virtually EVERY time you change bands.
>
> I made this video soon after buying my CrankIR ….. and the SteppIR folks
> still have the link on their website. Realistically it will take about 20
> minutes from start to finish to get the CrankIR up and on the air ….
>
> https://vimeo.com/album/2915832/video/87038860
>
> Don, N5LZ
>
>
> Sent from Mail for Windows 10
>
> From: David McAnally
> Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2016 3:30 PM
> To: Lynn W. Taylor, WB6UUT
> Cc: <[hidden email]>
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] CrankIR?
>
> On Thu, May 26, 2016 at 12:44 PM, Lynn W. Taylor, WB6UUT <
> [hidden email]> wrote:
>
> > Hopefully quick question:
> >
> > We see a lot of praise for the BuddiPole (and the AlexLoop), but don't
> > think I've ever seen mention of the CrankIR for portable use.
> >
> > Anybody try one? What's the deal??
> >
> > 73 -- Lynn
> >
> >
> Lynn,
>
> I have owned a CrankIR for almost two years. When I go traveling by auto
> for more than a couple of days, it goes with me along with my K3, plus
> KPA500 and whatever else I decide to pack. I previously took a dipole, with
> fiberglass poles, since I didn't always have access to wire supports. The
> CrankIR is a nice compromise. It packs down to a small bag plus the
> optional fiberglass extension for 80M. I now pack it in a small rifle case.
>
> Operationally, it seems to perform well. I had QSO's with New Zealand a
> few weeks back while I was in Arizona. I've checked into the Elecraft SSB
> net from time to time. As Dave C. mentions, the dipole is more
> lightweight, rugged and may perform better. I can't compare to the Alex
> loop as I've never used one. The CrankIR tunes 10M through 80M, but that is
> a manual process. There are markers on the wire and I've gotten pretty good
> at tuning it, using my Rig Expert antenna analyzer. There are trade offs
> in whatever you choose though. I doubt I'll ever go hiking or backpacking
> with the CrankIR and K3. But they travel well in my Avalanche. I'm trying
> to find a way to justify the KX3, or now KX2 as my portable secondary
> radio.
>
> David M.
> WD5M
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

Doug Turnbull

Re: CrankIR or AlexLoop

Hi OMs and YLs,
I find this discussion of interest and the positive points about the
CrankIR seem correct in all respects. I use an AlexLoop for travels as it
is small you can install it on a hotel balcony, park bench in front of a
hotel window, inside a timber frame, concrete block or stone house and the
AlexLoop will work. The antenna is only one meter in diameter. As I use
a KX3 with this antenna the power limit is not a problem. As I operate with
the antenna adjacent or very close by, the adjustment for frequency change
is no hardship - it takes but a few seconds. So changing bands with the
AlexLoop is faster.

No antenna tuner is needed with the AlexLoop and if you have one it
should be disabled.

I am certain the CrankIR is a more efficient antenna but it is not as
compact and can not be used indoors. Just about anywhere I go the AlexLoop
can be used without upsetting people or embarrassment. I have worked across
the Atlantic multiple times with the AlexLoop indoors and have done this
from both sides of the ocean.

So there are tradeoffs and thankfully we have choices. The CrankIR
will outperform the AlexLoop every time but you can easily use the AlexLoop
and it does work.

73 Doug EI2CN

-----Original Message-----
From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Peter
Pauly
Sent: 26 May 2016 22:34
To: Don Butler
Cc: <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] CrankIR?

I have the AlexLoop and just ordered the CrankIR. The AlexLoop can only do
20 watts because of the small variable capacitor. The CrankIR does 1KW and
has a much wider bandwidth after tuning. You shouldn't need to fiddle with
it after you change bands like you would with the AlexLoop for small QSY's.

On Thu, May 26, 2016 at 5:58 PM, Don Butler <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Ive never owned a Buddipole, but bought one of the first CrankIRs almost
> 2 ½ years . And I love it. I have no doubt that both antennas
(Buddipole
> and CrankIR) work equally well, but a significant plus that comes with the
> CrankIR is the ease and simplicity of changing bands ...... it will
> typically take me less than a minute to retune the CrankIR to another band
> and get back on the air .. compare that to the Buddipole where you pretty
> much have to take it down, rebuild the elements, and put it back up again
> virtually EVERY time you change bands.
>
> I made this video soon after buying my CrankIR .. and the SteppIR folks
> still have the link on their website. Realistically it will take about
20

> minutes from start to finish to get the CrankIR up and on the air .
>
> https://vimeo.com/album/2915832/video/87038860
>
> Don, N5LZ
>
>
> Sent from Mail for Windows 10
>
> From: David McAnally
> Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2016 3:30 PM
> To: Lynn W. Taylor, WB6UUT
> Cc: <[hidden email]>
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] CrankIR?
>
> On Thu, May 26, 2016 at 12:44 PM, Lynn W. Taylor, WB6UUT <
> [hidden email]> wrote:
>
> > Hopefully quick question:
> >
> > We see a lot of praise for the BuddiPole (and the AlexLoop), but don't
> > think I've ever seen mention of the CrankIR for portable use.
> >
> > Anybody try one? What's the deal??
> >
> > 73 -- Lynn
> >
> >
> ?Lynn,?
>
> ?I have owned a CrankIR for almost two years. When I go traveling by auto
> for more than a couple of days, it goes with me along with my K3, plus
> KPA500 and whatever else I decide to pack. I previously took a dipole,

with
> fiberglass poles, since I didn't always ?have access to wire supports.
The
> CrankIR is a nice compromise. It packs down to a small bag plus the
> optional fiberglass extension for 80M. I now pack it in a small rifle
case.
>
> Operationally, it seems to perform well. I had QSO's with New Zealand a
> few weeks back while I was in Arizona. I've checked into the Elecraft SSB
> net from time to time. As Dave C. mentions, the dipole is more
> lightweight, rugged and may perform better. I can't compare to the Alex
> loop as I've never used one. The CrankIR tunes 10M through 80M, but that
is
> a manual process. There are markers on the wire and I've gotten pretty
good

> at tuning it, using my Rig Expert antenna analyzer. There are trade offs
> in whatever you choose though. I doubt I'll ever go hiking or backpacking
> with the CrankIR and K3. But they travel well in my Avalanche. I'm trying
> to find a way to justify the KX3, or now KX2 as my portable secondary
> radio.
>
> David M.
> WD5M
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

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