See SteppIR knows how to pack and ship their ant.because this one is well protected against bad handling and the well labeled bags of parts is a real blessing for assembly. I am suitably amazed and impressed. I see a silver coated SO-239 socket is not provided. When my big expensive radios arrive to me, they have silver coated sockets and protected by plastic caps over them. That is a very nice touch which would really impress me as I unpacked my expensive, dare say the word, vertical.
How exciting for all of us!!! Christmas comes early for sure. Yes expensive but seeing it in action will be valuable. 32 feet and no Tower puts it in a spot for serious thought. Thanks so much.
Looking forward to the other videos on this antenna, Dave. Coincidentally I bought a CrankIR @ Pacificon which gets to me this Friday. This will be my introduction to the SteppIR products so I am thrilled that you are going to use the BigIR as your reference antenna. The SteppIR company was responsive, informative and willing to work with me at every moment. I have been a Subscriber for some time now and I have donated to you before and will continue to do so in the future to keep your well presented info coming into my shack! You are so thorough and so devoted to your many Ham fans. 👏🤝
Thanks Dave: Looks like a unique antenna with the gear drive. Like your videos, couple ladies at our club who just got their ticket said they watch your videos to help understand things. Must work they just upgraded to Extra. 73
This was very informative as I bought the BIG IR MARK IV and asking questions about the control wire and what is involved with a longer cable are not being answered quickly. I would like to pull a 9 cond 18g stranded cable and RG 213 to the antenna site before the actual antenna arrives. Looks like long but interesting hours to assemble. Looks well made. Which end is the computer plug on (control cable?)? The controller or at the base of the antenna assembly? I have no interest in 80 M. I have a VEE antenna for 80 down to 160M and too many crazy things on 75M. If You think I'm crazy spending $2400 on this antenna you will get a shock by me telling you I cancelled an order for an almost QRO rated magnetic loop antenna for $3300!!!!!!!!!!!!! The BIG IR advantage is a continually variable antenna where adjustments are made in the comfort of my shack for anywhere on the ham bands. No traps or coils to waste RF power. HUGE ground screen...(ACTUAL Stainless STEEL WELDED screen). 3 feet wide and 50 feet long in 4 directions
Great news Dave, really looking forward to seeing how the build went, and hearing your thoughts on the antenna's performance...... M0KED, Lincoln, U.K.
That's a high quality piece of kit right there. I'm looking forward the the upcoming videos on it. How do they get around the possibility of the metal tape eventually sawing it's way through the pole? Does it have a teflon coated tip or something?
Hello again Dave, Very nice looking unit! One thing however I am concerned about with your lung issues that I have clipped direct from a gov't health site... You should wear a filter mask & gloves! "Direct contact with beryllium fumes or dusts may injure the exposed areas of the body, such as the eyes or the skin. Skin sensitization may also occur. Beryllium is also a known cancer causing substance, with higher levels of lung cancer being reported." Obviously, you don't need any of that! I look forward to seeing it up! 73 - John - N7GHZ
Usually when a company sends me something to review they send it for free. But SteppIR could not bring themselves to do this. So we negotiated a low price. I tell you that to be completely straightforward about the deal. Clearly that was a special price, because they wanted the antenna reviewed. I still paid more than I would have paid for a verticals such as the AV - 640.
73 Dave, I too am disabled but I have problems with mobility so installing an Antenna to difficult for me. I will probably go with a vertical for HF, but it will be limited by my inability to change frequency in shack. Tried MFJ loops but the don’t seem to work well with all the stucco and wire on my house.
Stucco homes are usually covered with chicken wire first and then the stucco sticks to the chicken wire, so that can create a problem. If you have a mag loop is there a possibility of setting it outside? I know someone who disguised their mag loop as a birdfeeder.
If i see at all the parts of that antenna then there is a lot of work to do. Looking foreward to the other videos of assembling and working with that antenna. It must work great as otherwise you would not give your exellent comment about it, even with the huge discount. Have fun. 73's ON3FOX
My Steppir BigIR has worked very well for over 8 years...Purchased the 80 meter coil a few years ago...It never has worked....Even talked with the help desk at Steppir.
Thanks Dave for the awesome detailed info on the steppIR BigIR . I am in the market for a new HF antenna . Have had this one at the top of my list . KC1LLW
When you say then a vertical antenna is your best one, then I will know how to evaluate the rest of your comments. I am the proud owner ohh wait tower that takes my antennas up to nearly 100 feet....... And then on the tower is a five element mono bander for 20 meters, a five element yugi for /15, and I took down the five element 10m and replaced it with a single boom with four elements on 10 and 5 on 6 meters.
See SteppIR knows how to pack and ship their ant.because this one is well protected against bad handling and the well labeled bags of parts is a real blessing for assembly. I am suitably amazed and impressed. I see a silver coated SO-239 socket is not provided. When my big expensive radios arrive to me, they have silver coated sockets and protected by plastic caps over them. That is a very nice touch which would really impress me as I unpacked my expensive, dare say the word, vertical.
How exciting for all of us!!! Christmas comes early for sure. Yes expensive but seeing it in action will be valuable. 32 feet and no Tower puts it in a spot for serious thought. Thanks so much.
Looking forward to the other videos on this antenna, Dave. Coincidentally I bought a CrankIR @ Pacificon which gets to me this Friday. This will be my introduction to the SteppIR products so I am thrilled that you are going to use the BigIR as your reference antenna. The SteppIR company was responsive, informative and willing to work with me at every moment. I have been a Subscriber for some time now and I have donated to you before and will continue to do so in the future to keep your well presented info coming into my shack! You are so thorough and so devoted to your many Ham fans. 👏🤝
Thanks, Dave. Great teaser! I’ve been lusting for a Step IR antenna for years. Anxious to see more of it. 73, Tom KE0ABA
Thank you and wow I have been looking at this antenna. I look forward to your build to and performance to share.
I'm really looking forward to testing this antenna. You'll see the videos very soon.
Thanks Dave: Looks like a unique antenna with the gear drive.
Like your videos, couple ladies at our club who just got their ticket said they watch your videos to help understand things. Must work they just upgraded to Extra.
73
This was very informative as I bought the BIG IR MARK IV and asking questions about the control wire and what is involved with a longer cable are not being answered quickly. I would like to pull a 9 cond 18g stranded cable and RG 213 to the antenna site before the actual antenna arrives. Looks like long but interesting hours to assemble. Looks well made. Which end is the computer plug on (control cable?)? The controller or at the base of the antenna assembly? I have no interest in 80 M. I have a VEE antenna for 80 down to 160M and too many crazy things on 75M.
If You think I'm crazy spending $2400 on this antenna you will get a shock by me telling you I cancelled an order for an almost QRO rated magnetic loop antenna for $3300!!!!!!!!!!!!! The BIG IR advantage is a continually variable antenna where adjustments are made in the comfort of my shack for anywhere on the ham bands. No traps or coils to waste RF power. HUGE ground screen...(ACTUAL Stainless STEEL WELDED screen). 3 feet wide and 50 feet long in 4 directions
Great news Dave, really looking forward to seeing how the build went, and hearing your thoughts on the antenna's performance...... M0KED, Lincoln, U.K.
Keep us up to date with a future video when you have used it for a while. Thank you Dave for the video. Mike N6IMY
Thanks for feedback
That's a high quality piece of kit right there. I'm looking forward the the upcoming videos on it.
How do they get around the possibility of the metal tape eventually sawing it's way through the pole? Does it have a teflon coated tip or something?
I suspect over time there can be a bit of buildup of dust in small pieces of the metal. Beryllium by itself is poisonous.
Looking Forward to future videos. Hurry Snows a'comin
We had about 6 inches this morning, so winter is here.
Great video Dave
Thanks Dave. I am a very happy owner of a SteppIr Urban Beam, love it to death. 73 VK6MMB
Hi Dave would love to see this in your video @ 3:20 high wind support kit.
A fellow ham has one of these antennas. It is something else. N0QFT
How is the centre of the coax connected to the copper strips?
Hello again Dave,
Very nice looking unit!
One thing however I am concerned about with your lung issues that I have clipped direct from a gov't health site...
You should wear a filter mask & gloves!
"Direct contact with beryllium fumes or dusts may injure the exposed areas of the body, such as the eyes or the skin. Skin sensitization may also occur. Beryllium is also a known cancer causing substance, with higher levels of lung cancer being reported."
Obviously, you don't need any of that!
I look forward to seeing it up!
73 - John - N7GHZ
So Dave is that kind of discount available for any Ham if we negotiate ?
Usually when a company sends me something to review they send it for free. But SteppIR could not bring themselves to do this. So we negotiated a low price. I tell you that to be completely straightforward about the deal. Clearly that was a special price, because they wanted the antenna reviewed. I still paid more than I would have paid for a verticals such as the AV - 640.
73 Dave, I too am disabled but I have problems with mobility so installing an Antenna to difficult for me. I will probably go with a vertical for HF, but it will be limited by my inability to change frequency in shack. Tried MFJ loops but the don’t seem to work well with all the stucco and wire on my house.
Where are you?
Stucco homes are usually covered with chicken wire first and then the stucco sticks to the chicken wire, so that can create a problem. If you have a mag loop is there a possibility of setting it outside? I know someone who disguised their mag loop as a birdfeeder.
Nice
If i see at all the parts of that antenna then there is a lot of work to do. Looking foreward to the other videos of assembling and working with that antenna. It must work great as otherwise you would not give your exellent comment about it, even with the huge discount.
Have fun.
73's ON3FOX
A 60% discount is rather sweet deal for you. I am covetous to say the least. 73 from W5KCC
It's contingent on doing reviews.
Hi Dave,
Sure looked like quite a few pieces to be assembled. Wonder if there were a few choice words spoken during the assembly. :-) 73 WB3BJU
Oh, there might've been. Just one or two. Maybe three.
My Steppir BigIR has worked very well for over 8 years...Purchased the 80 meter coil a few years ago...It never has worked....Even talked with the help desk at Steppir.
Thanks Dave for the awesome detailed info on the steppIR BigIR . I am in the market for a new HF antenna .
Have had this one at the top of my list .
KC1LLW
Nice project David. KB8AMZ
When you say then a vertical antenna is your best one, then I will know how to evaluate the rest of your comments. I am the proud owner ohh wait tower that takes my antennas up to nearly 100 feet....... And then on the tower is a five element mono bander for 20 meters, a five element yugi for /15, and I took down the five element 10m and replaced it with a single boom with four elements on 10 and 5 on 6 meters.
So you can see then I may look down my nose at a vertical.
TOO EXPENSIVE for my pocketbook.
I have been told not to get real cozy with the beryllium-copper strap because I am told Beryllium is poison to people.
DX Commander anyone ?
yikes! that is a bit high. $2.5K for another $1.5K you can own K4 .
A 6-40 meter BigIR can be purchased for $1,250. You will need control cable.
The HF-9V shown here th-cam.com/video/A_VfuEXj1Fk/w-d-xo.html
Great teaser👍. de w6leo