OT - K3 SteppIR Vertical and Elecraft Products

[Mike K2MK]

"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:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

[dave.wilburn]

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
>

... [show rest of quote]

______________________________________________________________
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

[WILLIS COOKE]

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 <[hidden email]> wrote:

> From: David Wilburn <[hidden email]>
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] OT - K3 SteppIR Vertical and Elecraft Products
> To: "Elecraft Discussion List" <[hidden email]>
> 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:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list:
> http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

... [show rest of quote]

______________________________________________________________
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

[dave.wilburn]

Thanks.  I get that.  How does it interface to the K3?  How does it
know it should change bands when you change the rig?  I'm thinking
back now, and recall some posts about a splitter cable.  I'll hit nabble.

Thanks

Dave Wilburn
NM4M

WILLIS COOKE wrote:

> 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 <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> From: David Wilburn <[hidden email]>
>> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] OT - K3 SteppIR Vertical and Elecraft Products
>> To: "Elecraft Discussion List" <[hidden email]>
>> 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:[hidden email]
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list:
>> http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>

... [show rest of quote]

______________________________________________________________
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

[Mike K2MK]

"Thanks.  I get that.  How does it interface to the K3?  How does it
know it should change bands when you change the rig?  I'm thinking
back now, and recall some posts about a splitter cable.  I'll hit nabble."

Hi Dave:

You can order the SteppIR controller with an optional interface board that
provides a serial port. You can also order a serial cable from SteppIR to
match the K3. It is the S13 cable.  You would also need the SteppIR "Y"
cable to split your PC serial port to the K3 and to the SteppIR controller.
This enables you to run any kind of rig control or contest software and also
use your K3 Utility Program while maintaining communication with the SteppIR
controller. You could also make these cables yourself.

The SteppIR controller follows the band changes and minor frequency changes
that you make on the K3 and adjusts the length of the antenna on the fly. On
some bands the antenna changes length every 10KHz and on other bands it
changes every 50KHz. It is a totally hands-free operation.

73,
Mike K2MK

______________________________________________________________
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

[dave.wilburn]

Awesome stuff.  Thanks much, just what I was trying to find out.
Maybe I have already heard the antenna, when I worked you last
November.  Guess it depends on what antenna you use on 80m.  ;)

73

Dave Wilburn
NM4M

K2MK wrote:

> "Thanks.  I get that.  How does it interface to the K3?  How does it
> know it should change bands when you change the rig?  I'm thinking
> back now, and recall some posts about a splitter cable.  I'll hit nabble."
>
> Hi Dave:
>
> You can order the SteppIR controller with an optional interface board
> that provides a serial port. You can also order a serial cable from
> SteppIR to match the K3. It is the S13 cable.  You would also need the
> SteppIR "Y" cable to split your PC serial port to the K3 and to the
> SteppIR controller. This enables you to run any kind of rig control or
> contest software and also use your K3 Utility Program while maintaining
> communication with the SteppIR controller. You could also make these
> cables yourself.
>
> The SteppIR controller follows the band changes and minor frequency
> changes that you make on the K3 and adjusts the length of the antenna on
> the fly. On some bands the antenna changes length every 10KHz and on
> other bands it changes every 50KHz. It is a totally hands-free operation.
>
> 73,
> Mike K2MK
>

... [show rest of quote]

______________________________________________________________
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