2-element SteppIR model 202
 

Today I started thinking about maybe putting up a 2-element SteppIR beam
rather than the 3-element tribander I was considering earlier... main
reason for this is the need to be able to operate on MARS frequencies that
are a ways outside the 20-meter band, too far outside to use normal
triband beams.

I'm wondering if the 2-element SteppIR (30 lbs weight, 4 sq. ft. area)
with a Mam-II or Tailtwister rotor (turns out I have both) will be
suitable for my 50-foot Rohn 25G.

The tower is currently guyed at 30 feet with heavy-duty stranded steel guy
wire (the real stuff, not that flimsy stuff Radio Shack sells) and I'm
planning to add another set of guys at the top perhaps using that
Phillystran (gotta look that stuff up and learn more about it...).

Do any of you have experience with the 2-element SteppIR and if so, how do
you like it?

It seems to me that the boom is mighty short at only 57 inches (1.44
meters). That spaces the elements less than 1/10 wl apart at 14.2 MHz
(actually only about 0.07 wl) which seems way too close to me.

2-element SteppIR model 202
 

On Wed, 15 Aug 2007 13:39:39 -0400, "Rick (W-A-one-R-K-T)"
wrote:

That spaces the elements less than 1/10 wl apart at 14.2 MHz
(actually only about 0.07 wl) which seems way too close to me.

Why should it matter if it works?

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC

2-element SteppIR model 202
 

That spaces the elements less than 1/10 wl apart at 14.2 MHz
(actually only about 0.07 wl) which seems way too close to me.

Don't say "It seems." Run it on a modeling program, but remember it is only
tuned for one frequency, you can tweak it for gain or f/b. I think if you
don't need any bandwidth (well at least no more than 3 KHz) you can do quite
well with a short boom.

When you consider a SteppIR you need to throw out the old conventional
thinking, ecause you have the flexibility to reconfigure the elements the way
you want them.

I have a 3 element SteppIR. It is on a 16 ft boom. My HyGain 4 ele on 20 and
5 element monobanders on 10 and 15 had cleaner patterns than the SteppIR, but
they were 1.5 times as big. And they didn't work 12 and 17 meters.

Rick K2XT

2-element SteppIR model 202
 

On Wed, 15 Aug 2007 10:59:09 -0700, Richard Clark wrote:

Why should it matter if it works?

Good afternoon, Richard.

Well, that's my question! :-)

How well does it work really, compared with, say, an optimum-spaced
2-element fixed-configuration yagi, or a TA-32 type 2-element trap
tribander?

After all, a thousand bucks is a lot of money, at least for me...

2-element SteppIR model 202
 

On Wed, 15 Aug 2007 19:57:26 +0000, Rick wrote:

I have a 3 element SteppIR. It is on a 16 ft boom.

Good afternoon, Rick.

What kind of a mast or tower is it on, and what rotator are you using to
turn it?

2-element SteppIR model 202
 

"Rick (W-A-one-R-K-T)" wrote in
:

....
I'm planning to add another set of guys at the top perhaps using that
Phillystran (gotta look that stuff up and learn more about it...).

Rick, something to keep in mind in this day and age is that synthetic guys
are somewhat more at risk of vandalism, and to counter that, the section of
the guy that is reachable to a person is often made of flexible steel wire
rope (FSWR) where vandalism is a risk.

If you decide to use their pre-formed dead ends, read the instructions on
installation including end sealing of the guy material.

Owen

2-element SteppIR model 202
 

On Wed, 15 Aug 2007 17:17:22 -0400, "Rick (W-A-one-R-K-T)"
wrote:

On Wed, 15 Aug 2007 10:59:09 -0700, Richard Clark wrote:

Why should it matter if it works?

Good afternoon, Richard.

Well, that's my question! :-)

How well does it work really, compared with, say, an optimum-spaced
2-element fixed-configuration yagi, or a TA-32 type 2-element trap
tribander?

After all, a thousand bucks is a lot of money, at least for me...

Hi Rick,

You could ask the same question for any decision - just means its the
wrong question.

We could all pitch in innumerable suggestions to a variety of "won't
works" from you, and will it move you an inch away from the SteppIR?

In engineering, if you can fully qualify your question, it has the
answer built in for free (you don't even need to ask for advice).

Clearly you have made a choice and this is more about validation,
hence my response to "why should it matter about picayune details."
The SteppIR's claim to fame is being infinitely variable. You freely
twist knobs until you achieve a match, what you get is what you get
(sort of a SteppZen outcome, isn't it?). If you cannot adjust the
distance between elements - what more is to be said? It sucks?

Probably, but then again, not so much as to discard it as useless
because it probably works better than a dipole. Even if it works only
as good as a dipole, it's resonant and rotatable. If that isn't good
enough, then you are buying a pig in a poke.

The real question is, do you know the performance of the SteppIR at
the frequency of your choice? If not, then it is an expensive pig in
a poke.

To this point, you have through various threads identified you need to
be frequency agile and quick. Myself, I haven't seen many choices you
have lead yourself toward that really qualify in that regard - so I am
suspicious of those qualifiers. The SteppIR certainly doesn't even
come close to the span of frequency you've identified (2 MHz to
20MHz), and you are beginning to accumulate quite an antenna farm as
it is.

There are an infinite variety of antennas, and some actually do
achieve exactly those criteria but you hedge away from them and space
considerations seems to rise here. It would seem you have to come to
terms with space restrictions and those choices left are going to have
some pain involved. You may achieve frequency agility, but not speed,
and not for cheap.

You want to try again? When I was teaching electronics in the Navy,
we had an acronym to advise our students during tests:
RTMFQ
For the easily offended (although I didn't know many in the Nav, there
seem to be some here), it should read in your case WTMFQ
Write The Meticulously Formulated Question.
If you cannot find the answer within, you weren't meticulous enough.
My bet is it will mean beaucoup bucks or you are going to shave off
"must haves."

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC

2-element SteppIR model 202
 

I said:
I have a 3 element SteppIR. It is on a 16 ft boom.

The other Rick said:

What kind of a mast or tower is it on, and what rotator are you using to
turn it?


It's on a 72 ft US Tower crank-up, the medium sized tower, not the biggest
one. And the rotator is the Yaesu G-1000SDX. No problems with either.
Photos if you want them.
Incidentally, mine is shown on the SteppIR web page, showing me building it,
with the tower tilted over, and in QST ads showing pine trees all around bent
over from the wet snow but the SteppIR is clean. The snow did not accumulate
on the slick fiberglass elements! Been up 3 years now - perfection.

Rick K2XT

2-element SteppIR model 202
 

On Wed, 15 Aug 2007 15:03:40 -0700, Richard Clark wrote:

We could all pitch in innumerable suggestions to a variety of "won't
works" from you, and will it move you an inch away from the SteppIR?

Of course. I don't know what makes you think I'm set on the SteppIR. I
only just started considering it two days ago. And a thousand bucks
really is a lot of money to me... might not be to some people.

Clearly you have made a choice and this is more about validation,

Nope, far from it.

If you cannot adjust the distance between elements - what more is to be
said? It sucks?

If it sucks, then yea, that's what needs to be said.

"Probably works better than a dipole" isn't good enough to spend a big one
on. As for being resonant and rotatable, that's not worth a thousand
bucks (to me) either.

To this point, you have through various threads identified you need to
be frequency agile and quick. Myself, I haven't seen many choices you
have lead yourself toward that really qualify in that regard - so I am
suspicious of those qualifiers. The SteppIR certainly doesn't even come
close to the span of frequency you've identified (2 MHz to 20MHz), and
you are beginning to accumulate quite an antenna farm as it is.

That would be true if I had actually put any of them up. So far I have
two inverted vees, one dual-band NVIS dipole, and a 144/220/440 vertical.

I have more than one need. The general need is to be able to operate on a
list of CAP and MARS frequencies from 2 to 24 MHz. That one doesn't need
any gain or directivity, or any specific level of power (I routinely
participate in CAP and MARS nets with my inverted vee and 5 watts out of
my FT-817). I'm considering the T2FD only because then I can load all the
needed frequencies into the radio and put it on scan, and if someone I
need to talk to shows up on one of the channels I can pick up the mic and
hope for the best. But I'm not about to spend $300 for one (sorry if that
sounds like I'm "hedging away"... whatever that means...).

The more specialized need requires higher power and a rotatable,
directional antenna, in the frequency range from something below 20 meters
up to 24 MHz, in order to be able to offer a specific MARS service. If
you're in MARS you know which service I'm referring to, and if you're not,
for some obscure and relatively bizarre reason I'm not allowed to say, but
it's an easy guess. In any case, I have been informed that I probably
won't be able to participate with a wire antenna and 150 watts, so since
it appears that's their story and they're stickin' to it, I'm looking for
some alternatives that don't involve buying a whole separate antenna just
for MARS.

It would seem you have to come to terms with space restrictions

Not sure where that impression came from, either. Actually I am quite
fortunate regarding space, with two acres of land arranged in a square 300
ft on a side, and lots of tall pine trees. I could put up a pair of the
biggest SteppIRs, stacked, on a 150-foot tower but there will never (ever)
be money available to do stuff like that, so I have to settle for what I
already have, or can afford... and what I have is several random sections
of Rohn 25G so that's what I put up.

You want to try again?

Thanks, but I guess not. I'm doing my best already, to gather information
and make a decision I can afford and will work reasonably efficiently for
me. I'm sorry if you find my questions unclear or "hedging" or whatever
but think I've been pretty clear on my questions up to now, and I've
learned a lot from reading you guys.

The fact is I have more than one question (surprise!), each of which has
been formulated meticulously enough, and each of which serves a different
though related need. This latest one is the simple and
meticulously-crafted question that says, simply, "Can a 2-element beam
work efficiently with only 0.07 wl spacing between elements?". The
related question, which I think is equally clear, was "Any of you guys
have the SteppIR 2-element and if so, what do you think of it?".

I can't think of a way to meticulously craft either of those questions
that will yield a self-contained answer on its own.

2-element SteppIR model 202
 

On Thu, 16 Aug 2007 14:18:16 -0400, "Rick (W-A-one-R-K-T)"
wrote:

"Probably works better than a dipole" isn't good enough to spend a big one
on. As for being resonant and rotatable, that's not worth a thousand
bucks (to me) either.

Hi Rick,

This is what I mean by meticulous (in any formulation): What "is" good
enough? One could fill a book with what is wrong with a suggestion
and we would be no nearer an answer.

you are beginning to accumulate quite an antenna farm as it is.

That would be true if I had actually put any of them up. So far I have
two inverted vees, one dual-band NVIS dipole, and a 144/220/440 vertical.

OK, I suppose that's another way of saying having four antennas
covering up to 6 bands isn't enough - that is why we have our own
newsgroup, because many share that feeling.

I have more than one need. The general need is to be able to operate on a
list of CAP and MARS frequencies from 2 to 24 MHz. That one doesn't need
any gain or directivity, or any specific level of power (I routinely
participate in CAP and MARS nets with my inverted vee and 5 watts out of
my FT-817). I'm considering the T2FD only because then I can load all the
needed frequencies into the radio and put it on scan, and if someone I
need to talk to shows up on one of the channels I can pick up the mic and
hope for the best. But I'm not about to spend $300 for one (sorry if that
sounds like I'm "hedging away"... whatever that means...).

You have a need, but you are not going to spend $300 to fill it.
Again, you say what is wrong, but not what is right. Will you spend
$299? This threatens to call this portion of the game 300 questions.
So to practice the engineering form of Jeopardy: "in the form of a
question respond to 'I might spend more than $150 but less than
$300'?" (answer: "What is a binary search?" Thank you Don Pardo.)

Spending aside, a lot of performance be can be built for less if you
discount the value of your time (that is why they call it a hobby).
The trouble I have here is that you don't want to spend money (neither
would I), but then you ask about spendy items like the T2FD or
SteppIR. Say What?

I see the 2 to 24 MHz requirement trotted out, and strictly speaking
it is exceedingly obvious you won't buy that solution on the open
market for $300 or less (unless it is a bribe to a Government official
that has the power to surplus gear).

So it stands to reason you would have to build it. That can be done
to the limitations you offer above (and probably exceeding the
performance of the T2FD).

Doubling the dimensions of:
http://home.comcast.net/~kb7qhc/ante.../Cage/cage.htm
would satisfy 3/4ths of your spectrum requirement and the ambitious
amateur could erect it without too much care for precision or cost. If
you were to come back to me with a negative reply ("it won't....")
what is one to do?

The more specialized need requires higher power and a rotatable,
directional antenna, in the frequency range from something below 20 meters

Tell me that you want to spend less than $300 for this and we can all
have a chuckle. About the only thing that qualifies was described as
having a Gaussian Array (no suggested retail price - and for good
reason).

I have been informed that I probably
won't be able to participate with a wire antenna and 150 watts, so since
it appears that's their story and they're stickin' to it, I'm looking for
some alternatives that don't involve buying a whole separate antenna just
for MARS.

I hope you didn't hear that story here, it qualifies as fiction in the
library. There are wire solutions that are steerable, and certainly
power is not an issue (especially if you were going to pour it into a
T2FD).

You want to try again?

Thanks, but I guess not. I'm doing my best already, to gather information
and make a decision I can afford and will work reasonably efficiently for
me. I'm sorry if you find my questions unclear or "hedging" or whatever
but think I've been pretty clear on my questions up to now, and I've
learned a lot from reading you guys.

Your questions tend toward seeking validation:
"Will X work for Y?"

To which some responses offer
"Um, yes, but why would you want to do that?"

"Because I don't what Z."

"OK, X for Y without Z can be found with model A."

"Model A will do, but it doesn't give me B."

"OK, X for Y without Z but with B."

This can go on for a long time.

The fact is I have more than one question (surprise!), each of which has
been formulated meticulously enough, and each of which serves a different
though related need.

We are up to model XY(/Z)+B+specialC, then.

This latest one is the simple and
meticulously-crafted question that says, simply, "Can a 2-element beam
work efficiently with only 0.07 wl spacing between elements?".

The W8JK works quite well at 0.10 wl spacing between elements and has
been around for more than 50 years. How much can squeezing it to 0.07
spacing hurt? The free version of EZNEC can answer that in less than
a minute (none).

If you build it wrong, then the answer is no, it cannot work
efficiently.

You can even buy one that won't work for the same reason - you as a
builder of the package of bits and pieces that arrives UPS. In this
world of free competition and lead painted toys for children, you can
also buy one that won't work - irrespective of your construction
talents.

Being meticulous about "efficient" would have you expressing what loss
is allowable. By inference to your tendency to select a T2FD (loss in
the ballpark of at least 3dB), then yes (and with proper design and
construction), 0.07 wl spacing between elements is efficient (even if
it loses 1.8dB along the way in getting there). If 1.8dB is too much
loss (another negative reaction), then you weren't very meticulous at
all. On the other hand, it would serve you well to know that doing
better would probably cost beaucoup bucks more than $300 (or even a
grand).

The
related question, which I think is equally clear, was "Any of you guys
have the SteppIR 2-element and if so, what do you think of it?".

I can't think of a way to meticulously craft either of those questions
that will yield a self-contained answer on its own.

Thus this newsgroup has a benefit - at least from my habit of
rhetorical excess. (a tip o' the hat to Myles for flowers.)

Your one-question-at-a-time is easy to respond to and satisfactory in
most respects, but when you combine the separate answers into this
goal of a Grand Unification Theory of MARS/CAP operation, it is like
watching someone on rubber crutches. I cringe, but laughing is one of
those involuntary reflexes.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC

2-element SteppIR model 202
 

On Thu, 16 Aug 2007 12:46:26 -0700, Richard Clark wrote:

You have a need, but you are not going to spend $300 to fill it. Again,
you say what is wrong, but not what is right. Will you spend $299?

I will investigate collecting together the parts from hither and yon and
building one myself, for less (sorry, can't define "less" but, like
pornography, I'll know it when I see it).

That was the objective behind whatever my original question was that had
to do with T2FDs. I'm pretty sure the original question had to do with
where I can buy suitable terminating resistors and bizarre-ratio baluns,
and which of the various and assorted configurations (390 ohm resistor
and 4:1 balun vs some higher resistance and ever more obscure
impedance-ratio baluns) is "best" (which is to say, least "bad"). But if
there was other stuff in my original question, please do me a favor and
don't toss it up in my face, OK? Answers to those questions (which I got,
both here and elsewhere) are sufficient for now.

The more specialized need requires higher power and a rotatable,
directional antenna, in the frequency range from something below 20
meters

Tell me that you want to spend less than $300 for this and we can all
have a chuckle.

Come on, Richard, can't you see the apples-to-oranges comparison?

I'm willing to spend $1000, if I have to, on a two element beam that
claims to work efficiently from 14 to 24 MHz (and beyond), IF it works as
advertised, because I have limited alternatives.

I'm not really willing to spend $300 on a radiating dummy load, because I
have LOTS of alternatives including building one myself for a lot less.

That can't be hard to understand, or differentiate between the two, can it?

Your questions tend toward seeking validation:
"Will X work for Y?"

To which some responses offer
"Um, yes, but why would you want to do that?"

"Because I don't what Z."

"OK, X for Y without Z can be found with model A."

"Model A will do, but it doesn't give me B."

"OK, X for Y without Z but with B."

This can go on for a long time.

I think it's called "doing some research" where questions beget answers
that then raise more questions that perhaps weren't thought of before,
until finally everything falls into place.

You want me to go away and come back with a full IEEE-STD-830-1998
requirements analysis before asking any questions. I've been doing that
kind of stuff for a living for a very long time and I'm pretty sure it
doesn't work that way... you ask questions, challenge the answers, come up
with more questions, and eventually you end up with what you need.

Is it the fact that I tend to challenge the answers ("Ah, yes, but what
about...?") that seems to bother you so much.

I'll tell you what, Richard, I appreciate the help you have provided so
far, I really do, but if it's all going to bug you so much may I suggest
that it's OK if you just stop responding to me? I'll miss your sage
advice but I guess I'll live with that...

Being meticulous about "efficient" would have you expressing what loss
is allowable.

2 db loss is unacceptable if it means I can't hear the stations I need to
hear, and they can't hear me.

18 db loss is fine if I can still hear them and they can hear me.

By inference to your tendency to select a T2FD (loss in the ballpark of
at least 3dB), then yes (and with proper design and construction), 0.07
wl spacing between elements is efficient

This is what I mean. Two completely different requirements, two completely
different solutions. Apples to oranges. And I have no "tendency to select
a T2FD". It's one of many options. But I think you knew that and you're
just having some fun at my expense, which is fine but it's over now. :-)

2-element SteppIR model 202
 

On Thu, 16 Aug 2007 12:46:26 -0700, Richard Clark wrote:

Doubling the dimensions of:
http://home.comcast.net/~kb7qhc/ante.../Cage/cage.htm
would satisfy 3/4ths of your spectrum requirement

At the risk of sounding negative again, is it OK if I point out that one
of my early needs involved NVIS operation (it's in one of my early posts),
and verticals in general and cages in particular aren't really suitable
for that?

2-element SteppIR model 202
 

Dear WA1RKT:

For less than $1000 you may purchase and use a LPDA that will
accomplish what you specify. Several such antennas are on the market or you
could construct one from scratch.

Some positive aspects of a LPDA:
1. no moving parts
2. "instant" BW so you may use the scanning you mentioned
3. using anything that is at all of a reasonable size, the antenna
inherently has low sensitivity to minor construction and other errors (much
favored in ice country because their performance degrades slowly with ice
coverage - not found to be true with a critically "tuned" yagi)
4. performance as constructed is close to that predicted with NEC -
tweaking is usually just not needed (occasionally, the shorting strap needs
to be tweaked)

Consider the conventional solution for the BW requirements you have set
out.

The StepR antennas work, but questions remain as to how well and for how
long. If I were to go on a trip to a salt-water DX entity, I sure would use
their vertical right on the beach. In other words, they are a solution to
some problems.

Good luck. 73, Mac N8TT

--
J. Mc Laughlin; Michigan U.S.A.
Home:
"Rick (W-A-one-R-K-T)" wrote in message
.. .


I'm willing to spend $1000, if I have to, on a two element beam that
claims to work efficiently from 14 to 24 MHz (and beyond), IF it works as
advertised, because I have limited alternatives.

2-element SteppIR model 202
 

On Thu, 16 Aug 2007 18:58:26 -0400, "Rick (W-A-one-R-K-T)"
wrote:

On Thu, 16 Aug 2007 12:46:26 -0700, Richard Clark wrote:

Doubling the dimensions of:
http://home.comcast.net/~kb7qhc/ante.../Cage/cage.htm
would satisfy 3/4ths of your spectrum requirement

At the risk of sounding negative again, is it OK if I point out that one
of my early needs involved NVIS operation (it's in one of my early posts),
and verticals in general and cages in particular aren't really suitable
for that?

A review of my response at that time offered a dipole of similar
construction in its place. It doesn't take much math (or rotation) to
shift from monopole to dipole.

There is NOTHING about a cage that makes it unsuited for NVIS. It may
be intractable, but that goes with the turf.

I wonder though about why this is so agonizing. If you work MARS/CAP,
it would seem that solutions would be there in pile-ups for the QST
tossed into radio land. That, or everyone is wandering in the
wilderness.

It is not like I haven't seen these questions about MARS/CAP asked
before, but most were satisfied with the air-cooled resistor and
didn't show much interest in efficiency (what for? there was no real
choice in the matter without several kilobucks of investment anyway).
Go to Salvation Army and buy toasters for lossy loads (they come in
1KW values for $5).

BalUn? When you characterize allowable efficiency as being between
-2dB and -18dB, then you don't even need a BalUn anymore. It's going
to cost you $1000 to rotate it (whatever "it" is). And if crisis (I
gotta hear them and they gotta hear me) drives the design, then you
have to open the wallet. Does anyone else in MARS/CAP get by with
less? In a dozen years I haven't seen a single post by one to claim
they do (or admit they couldn't hear or be heard).

You are going to have several many antennas. None are going to be
whole solutions. Some are going to be slow to tune. Some may never
tune. Some may never be heard. Propagation will be a cruel arbiter.
Guarantees won't be honored. This is pretty much the same fate in the
Ham bands, and out of band frequency doesn't alter this reality very
much.

Decide to build a farm efficiently. Select ranges of frequency
suitable to octaves, not decades. Point immovable antennas towards
your expected traffic. Or if you are filling in a network's uncovered
areas, point them in those directions (that is what a network is for,
isn't it?).

I taught HF/VHF/UHF comm systems in the Navy and served as senior
Petty Officer in CIC. There is no such thing as a single solution.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC

2-element SteppIR model 202
 

On Thu, 16 Aug 2007 18:54:28 -0400, "Rick (W-A-one-R-K-T)"
wrote:

This is what I mean. Two completely different requirements, two completely
different solutions. Apples to oranges. And I have no "tendency to select
a T2FD". It's one of many options. But I think you knew that and you're
just having some fun at my expense, which is fine but it's over now. :-)

I haven't got a clue just what your apples and oranges are, actually.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC

2-element SteppIR model 202
 

On Thu, 16 Aug 2007 23:22:43 -0400, J. Mc Laughlin wrote:

For less than $1000 you may purchase and use a LPDA that will
accomplish what you specify. Several such antennas are on the market or
you could construct one from scratch.

Good morning, Mac.

Yes, the log periodic was my other alternative to the SteppIR (in fact,
the SteppIR was something I've been considering to mitigate the size of
the LPDA). It should do well for the higher frequencies of interest (14
to 24 MHz).

At one time I considered a wire log periodic, pointing straight up, as an
NVIS antenna for the lower range (2 to about 8 MHz). Then I went to
lie down until the thought went away. :-)

2-element SteppIR model 202
 

Richard;

Thank you.

73,

Rick WA1RKT

2-element SteppIR model 202
 

Dear Rick:

Small (six element) LPDAs exist that have been used over the frequency
range of interest by amateurs and military. The SWR tends to oscillate with
frequency and the gain is reduced wrt to a larger LPDA, but they will work
for what you wish to do. Perhaps I have not interpreted "size" correctly.

I have some experience with wire LPDAs that point straight up. Many
years ago, a three (insert giggle) element was constructed to cover 4 to 6
MHz. Two towers. Three wires. It produced noticeable gain over a doublet.
I no longer remember how high the towers were.

An aside: 2:1 or 2.5:1 frequency coverage by a single LPDA is straight
forward. Larger ratios require one to consider more factors.

Perhaps one of the best antennas for covering the 4 to 5 MHz range is
the classic tropical broadcast antenna. At center frequency: two one WL
dipoles (fed in phase), 0.3 WL high and separated horizontally by 0.5 WL.
Bring the two, equal feeds to a central pole and place them in parallel. It
is possible to have a resulting impedance that is very acceptable. An
advantage of this system is that the coverage is close to being equal in
azimuth (at the TOAs of interest) and it has low sensitivity to distant,
interfering stations.

Consider investing in EZNEC and learning to use same.

Do let us know what your antenna system ends up being. 73, Mac
N8TT

--
J. Mc Laughlin; Michigan U.S.A.
Home:
"Rick (W-A-one-R-K-T)" wrote in message
.. .
On Thu, 16 Aug 2007 23:22:43 -0400, J. Mc Laughlin wrote:

For less than $1000 you may purchase and use a LPDA that will
accomplish what you specify. Several such antennas are on the market or
you could construct one from scratch.

Good morning, Mac.

Yes, the log periodic was my other alternative to the SteppIR (in fact,
the SteppIR was something I've been considering to mitigate the size of
the LPDA). It should do well for the higher frequencies of interest (14
to 24 MHz).

At one time I considered a wire log periodic, pointing straight up, as an
NVIS antenna for the lower range (2 to about 8 MHz). Then I went to
lie down until the thought went away. :-)