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