Ron was kind enough to stick with Sommer until the web page came back up.

Now that I have viewed both their page and the one for SteppIR, I have a
question.

The Sommer has an interesting phase line approach like a log period
array and the spacing of the elements is also a critical design feature.

The SteppIR has fixed elements that vary in their length per each band.

The SteppIR is elegant in its simplicity, the Sommer elegant in its
complexity.

How important is element spacing for ANY design? Does the SteppIR suffer
at all because of fixed element spacing?

Totally impractical, I know, but would the ideal beam design vary
element length AND spacing?

John
AB8O

On Sat, 19 Aug 2006 15:23:32 -0400, jawod wrote:

Totally impractical, I know, but would the ideal beam design vary
element length AND spacing?

Hi John,

Yes, just like adjusting the length (element spacing) of a telescope
provides for focus and hence the best resolution for a given
magnification. Fixed designs, of course, have these considerations
nailed down ahead of time. Variable designs such as StepIR at some
point have to be recognized as being generalized rather than
optimized. That is, the spacing between elements has to be selected
to suit the many possible bands and lengths of the elements. This
spacing cannot serve all combinations optimally.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC

jawod wrote:

SNIPPED

Totally impractical, I know, but would the ideal beam design vary
element length AND spacing?

John
AB8O


Answer = YES!

As a general rule for a yagi antenna (assuming a fixed number of
elements) the longer the boom length the greater the gain. Forced by
economic matters yagis are more often squeezed into a smaller boom size
than is optimum for best performance. Hence I don't think it is a any
problem for the designers of the Step IR to optimize the performance of
a ten meter antenna using the element spacing and boom length of a 20
meter antenna.

AC7PN wrote:
As a general rule for a yagi antenna (assuming a fixed number of
elements) the longer the boom length the greater the gain. Forced by
economic matters yagis are more often squeezed into a smaller boom size
than is optimum for best performance. Hence I don't think it is a any
problem for the designers of the Step IR to optimize the performance of
a ten meter antenna using the element spacing and boom length of a 20
meter antenna.

Any votes SteppIR versus Sommer?

In my mind it is a no contest situation... The SteppIR is very well
thought of by the owners...

Another check point is what the serious contestors are running... I
know of no one using Sommer, but I'm starting to see them install the
SteppIR...

denny

"Denny" wrote in message
oups.com...
In my mind it is a no contest situation... The SteppIR is very well
thought of by the owners...

Another check point is what the serious contestors are running... I
know of no one using Sommer, but I'm starting to see them install the
SteppIR...

denny


My 4-el SteppIR has been up nearly two years.
I love it.
73
H.
NQ5H

My next antenna is a 3 element SteppIR with the 6m option and 40/30m dipole
option. I currently have a Hy-Gain Explorer 14 with 40m kit.

I vote SteppIR.
--
Pete . .
ZS5ACT

------ Reply Separator ------

"jawod" wrote in message ...
AC7PN wrote:
As a general rule for a yagi antenna (assuming a fixed number of
elements) the longer the boom length the greater the gain. Forced by
economic matters yagis are more often squeezed into a smaller boom size
than is optimum for best performance. Hence I don't think it is a any
problem for the designers of the Step IR to optimize the performance of
a ten meter antenna using the element spacing and boom length of a 20
meter antenna.

Any votes SteppIR versus Sommer?

On Mon, 21 Aug 2006 20:51:25 +0200, "Pete"
wrote:

My next antenna is a 3 element SteppIR with the 6m option and 40/30m dipole
option. I currently have a Hy-Gain Explorer 14 with 40m kit.

I vote SteppIR.
--
Pete . .
ZS5ACT


I have had a three element SteppIR up for three years now.
It replaced a pair of Hy Gain monobanders (4 element 20 and 5 element
15).
Biggest difference I noticed was that my mast doesn't bend anymore !!
And my rotor has about 1/3 the work to do because the torque is so
much less.
And I have one feedline and no antenna switches, and only one
lightning arrestor.
And I now get 10 meters, and 17 meters. Wow what a great band 17
meters is.
Yes, I DO notice the pattern is not as sharp as the big monobanders,
no question about it. Probably a db or so less gain.

On 6 meters (I DO NOT have the extra fixed length element for 6
meters) I also have a 5 element M Squared, mounted about 6 feet above
the SteppIR. It absolutely blows away the SteppIR. So if you are
serious about 6, and don't want another yagi on the tower, give
serious consideration to the advice of Mike at SteppIR and get his 4th
element. I guess you said that, you are getting the 6 meter element.

But I miss that shiny aluminum up there. Sometimes the early morning
sun would reflect off all those Hy Gain elements...... Man, that was
a beautiful sight.

But 30 and 40 meters with the SteppIR? Seems like the only advantages
are the ones I mentioned above about the single feedline and
simplicity. I can't really see all that much advantage to being able
to rotate those single element radiators on those bands. I
experimented with learning EZNEC last week and I didn't see hardly any
directivity at all in my 40 meter inverted vee.

Rick K2XT

Rick wrote:

On Mon, 21 Aug 2006 20:51:25 +0200, "Pete"
wrote:



My next antenna is a 3 element SteppIR with the 6m option and 40/30m dipole
option. I currently have a Hy-Gain Explorer 14 with 40m kit.

I vote SteppIR.
--
Pete . .
ZS5ACT




I have had a three element SteppIR up for three years now.
It replaced a pair of Hy Gain monobanders (4 element 20 and 5 element
15).
Biggest difference I noticed was that my mast doesn't bend anymore !!
And my rotor has about 1/3 the work to do because the torque is so
much less.
And I have one feedline and no antenna switches, and only one
lightning arrestor.
And I now get 10 meters, and 17 meters. Wow what a great band 17
meters is.
Yes, I DO notice the pattern is not as sharp as the big monobanders,
no question about it. Probably a db or so less gain.

On 6 meters (I DO NOT have the extra fixed length element for 6
meters) I also have a 5 element M Squared, mounted about 6 feet above
the SteppIR. It absolutely blows away the SteppIR. So if you are
serious about 6, and don't want another yagi on the tower, give
serious consideration to the advice of Mike at SteppIR and get his 4th
element. I guess you said that, you are getting the 6 meter element.

But I miss that shiny aluminum up there. Sometimes the early morning
sun would reflect off all those Hy Gain elements...... Man, that was
a beautiful sight.

But 30 and 40 meters with the SteppIR? Seems like the only advantages
are the ones I mentioned above about the single feedline and
simplicity. I can't really see all that much advantage to being able
to rotate those single element radiators on those bands. I
experimented with learning EZNEC last week and I didn't see hardly any
directivity at all in my 40 meter inverted vee.

Rick K2XT


You could also get a second mortgage on the house and get the Steppir
Monstir and rotate 4 elements on 40M. It might mean a tower and rotor
upgrade but one can always dream.

Paul

--
Paul S. Hinman - VE6LDS
long West 113 deg 27 min 20 sec
lat North 53 deg 27 min 3 sec
Maidenhead Locator DO33gk