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Distributor SteppIR for the USA Distributor SteppIR for England and Europ

Other Dutch SteppIr-Users: PD9CN PA9JO

01 - Unpacking the SteppIr Kit

02 - Assembling the boom

03 - Steppermotors-wiring and bottomplate

04 - First test off the SDA-100 Controller

05 - Assembling some of the trustkit

06 - Placing the motors on the boom

07 - Assembling the ERT and mastplate

08 - Assembling 25P con. & terminalblock

09 - Motor-test with the SDA-100

10 - Own terminalbox; 2nd motortest

11 - Assembling & glueing CPVC-tubes

12 - Assembling the glasfiber-poles

13 - GFP's testing with QDB's

14 - Connecting the trombones to the GFP's

15 - Trustkit-rope assembling

16 - My trustkut with extra turnbuckles

17 - Preparing the mast for the SteppIr

18 - Testing SteppIr with miniVNA at groundlevel

19 - Putting the SteppIr on the cranck-up mast

20 - Testing SteppIr with miniVNA at 6M high

21 - The SteppIr on 12 M high from different sides

22 - Testing SteppIr with miniVNA at 12M high

23 - Stations I worked in one week with the SteppIr

24 - My friend the owl - keeping away the byrds from my SteppIr

25 - SteppIr in very strong winds secured to a wall

26 - Ceramic - a very nice hobby of my XYL

27 - Added a 6M passive element

28 -

29 -

30 -

When you like to control your SteppIr by your tranceiver

you need a S13 seriable-cable (link to the drawing)

but when you like to control your tranceiver & SteppIr

you need a Y-cable (link to the drawing)

Here is my one-cable-solution

A SteppIR Autocable-Switch

YAHOO-GROUP STEPPIR

STEPPIR-Antenna-kit has arrived 05-02-2011


*SteppIr-Antenna ordered in december and arrived 05-02-2011*	*Part of the trombone, controlcable , (Q)uick (D)isconnect (Bo)ots & trustkit*


*Trombones, Element Return Tubes, QDB's*	*Bottomplate of (E)lement (H)ousing (U)nit & EHU-sealing*


*New EHU: a first look inside*	*Control Unit SDA 100; comes now with every New SteppIr*


*6 Element Support Tubes: 4 for the driven and 2 for the director elements*	*Boom comes in 2 parts; also the CVPC-tubes* *Back to Menu*


*Assembling the boom*	*Use some grease for smooth sliding in each other*


Long bolt needs 5 washers under the head *Back to Menu*	*The parts of the (E)lement (R)eturning (T)ube*


*The new EHu's has a cable-tray and a plug for the controlcable*	*Both of the EHU's*


*The controlcable-plug and printconnector*	*The EHU for the driver-element*


*The sealing and controlcable in place with COAX-seal*	*Bottomplate secured with 2 screws with flat heads, the third need to be on 12 ó clock*


*EHU on the boom to see if the holes are matching* *Back to Menu*	*The CPVC-tubes with their diverter-cones*


*Backside of the SDA 100: antenna- radiocontrol- remotedriver- USBSofrwareupdate-plug*	*Frontpanel of the SDA 100*


*The very 1st startup of the SDA 100: selftesting the software; antenna not connected*	*Ready to connect the antenna*


*Setup menu: to choose 40M and 6M-options* *Back to Menu*	*A nice duo: the FT-950 and SDA 100; Take some more weeks when they will work together*


*All the parts of the trust together*	*Aluminium boomsaddles and turnbuckles*


*Closeup of the Boomsaddles*	*Closeup of the turnbuckles* *Back to Menu*


*Is'nt a beauty the EHU inside ?*	*Putting it all together: the EHU's on the boom*


*Don't overtighten the bolts !!!*	*The driver-EHU secured on the boom*


*Director-EHU waiting for his place on the boom*	*Well this more like a SteppIr* *Back to Menu*


*The place for the ERT*	*Lining out the ERT precisly with the Driver-EHU*


*The bottomside of the ERT-plate*	*Mastplate between DrivEHU and ERT; with 6m place on the other side of the ERT*


*Looktrough of the mast U-bolts 2"*	*Place mastplate at other side of ERT when you place a 6M passive element*


*All EHU's and ERT nice in line on the boom*	*Another picture of the mastplate*


*The XYL's hobby and mine close together*	*Waiting in the corner of my room for the next steps coming week* *Back to Menu*


*Assembling the control-cable to the 25P-connector and terminal-block*	*Connect the 12 wires to the 25P D-connector and the screen to a groundwire*


*Connect the 12 colored wires to the terminal-block using the wiringdiagram*	*Test wire by wire for connection and shortout with a Ohm-meter* *Back to Menu*


*Read the manual good, before using the "TEST MOTOR" option of the SDA100*	*All ready for the Motor-test: 25P D-connector not connected*


*Be sure the SDA 100-display shows this before connecting the 25P D-connector; switch off*	*Connect the 25P D-coonector . switch on and push "Setup" and scroll to "Test Motors"*


*Choose "D1"or "DVR" wich motor you will be testing*	*Driver-copper is extending out for almost 10cm*


*Director-copper is extending out for almost 10cm* *Back to Menu*	*My replacement of the terminalblock-box*


*I modified a 16P terminal-block to fit precisly in the watertight box*	*You need to place a 8mm flat washer on the U-bolts between the mastplate and box*


*Two 4mm holes at the left for the EHUcontrol cables,7mm hole at the right for controlcable*	*Preparing the wires with soldering at the tips and crimping sleeves*


*EHU-controlcables connected; (screen in the middle) and with tieribs secured to the boom*	*It can be easily removed, to loosen or tighten the nuts of the U-bolts for the mastplate*


*Connection-box closed and watertight*	*12P Controlcable connected; groundingwire at pin 6*


*25P D-Connector and groundwire connected under a extra nut*	*SDA 100 in "Test Motor" menu*


*Driver coppertape extending from the EHU-tube*	*Director coppertape extending from the EHU-tube* *Back to Menu*


*CPVC-tubes ready to be glued in the couplers and divertercones*	*SteppIr Antenna Systems The Best*


*Divertercone*	*Glued the wrong (longest) into the divertercones*


*CPVC glued into the coupler*	*I must cut-off the CPVC with a saw (how to get out that piece of CPVC ??) HELP ME !!!!*

*Thanks so much for all your help in the Yahoo-Group for the SteppIr*


*Collega Karel knows how to handle this problem*	*With lots of patience and good tools it can be done*


*Almost finished to separate the CPVC from the divertercone*	*There it is; a finishing touch and I can start it all over again, hi !!!*


*Always glue CPVC-connector first*	*Please mark the shortest CPVC for divertercones*


*You can see the CPVC will fit in the GFP*	*Divertercones now glued on the right CPVC hi hi* *Back to Menu*


*The two loops tested for this moment*	*Measureribbon and the GFP's*


*Aligned GFP's B4 assemblage*	*Finally nice weather to go further with the SteppIr*


*All GFP extracted as long as possible*	*First connection of all GFP*


*GFP's not all of the same lenght*	*Taping the GFP instead of glueing, Thats The Big Quistion !!!!*


*PA2JJB taping the GFP's*	*Stretching the tape to half of the widht*


*The four poles for the trombone*	*All poles taped, garden still in wintersleep*


*GFP's need to be cut to 213"or 541cm; Tape it first B4 cut it with the saw !!!*	*Right tools for the right cut*


*The first cutoff*	*4 Different lenghts*


*Finishing touch with very fine sandpaper*	*All GFP's 213" or 541cm*


*Need these more tape or shrinking sleeves???*	*It was a very nice day tot assemble the SteppIr (05-03-11)*


*Testing if the CPVC's fit well in the GFP's*	*Fits both very nice !!*


*As you can see: the divertcone fits perfect in the GFP*	*Attaching the loop for testing: looks OK though*


*Closer view of the loop*	*The boom and steppermotors readuy for the GFK's. XYL testing the length hi hi* *Back to Menu*


*GFP's of the director in the EHU*	*QDB's installed for testing*


*Two waterproof inlets for my connectionbox*	*I kit all the bolts for security*


*Mark the QDB's for easyer assembling in the mast* *Back to Menu*	*The blue PVC-tape and adhesive griptape*


*Mark the poles for the blue and griptape*	*griptape and PVC-tape in place*


*Just trying out*	*Aligning up the GFP's*


*Its very difficult to push it in the loop (take care)*	*213" or 541cm are very long poles hi*


*Thought this was wrong but a second time was also very difficult tp press it together*	*Can't press enough with the bolts (need some new ones with normal heads)*


*We'll enough for today; tomorrow is another day*	*Making place in my garden for the second one ; is this a BigSteppIr hi hi ???*


*Using two srewdrivers to open it enough*	*This must do it*


*The XYL and I must push very hard to get it in*	*Both couplers did well, but very open !!!*


*Save your fingertips, use a small blade of a screwdriver*	*Put in the eyebolts, but for the draconrope it must not already be installed*


*Thigten the screws, bit by bit, and the coupler will be neat closing*	*My XYL her passion and hobby: painting and ceramic* *Back to Menu*


*Seems the birds find my SteppIr already hi hi*	*How to loop the dracon-rope trough the SSring*


*Each end at his side*	*Pull it very hard to make a tight knot*


*How to connect the dracon-rope to the 4 eyebolts*	*Taped the coupler to prevent any moisture*


*The wires ready to be connected*	*This must give the trombone his strenght*


*The truss support placed on the boom*	*It's a long way to the end off the trombone hi hi*


*Really nice antenna-weather today 110311*	*The end still supported by the table*


*Turnout the turnbuckle to his full length as possible*	*Trust-saddles in the middle between EHU and ERT; I marked it*


*11,88M Lenght of the trombone*	*One half off the dipole connected to the trust*


*Another view*	*The other side of the trombone* *Back to Menu*


*Rotor waiting for his SteppIr*	*The trombone in perfect balance*


*Enough for today*	*Make at both sides a extra turnbucle*


*With this system I can easily disconnect the dracon-rope and disconnect the EHT's*	*Perfect inline both dracon-ropes*


*Crimp the eye off the turnbuckle in a vice, so that it can't come out* *Back to Menu*	*Wooden mast with pulley to lift the SteppIr "easily"*


*Wooden mast connected to my cranck-up mast with 4 ties*	*Rainy sundaymorning; will it be dry inside the SteppIr*


*Raindrops outside; dry inside by the tapes and tyribs*	*Checking the connectionbox for moisture; but its dry !!* *Back to Menu*


*Is he also waiting for the SteppIr; need a owl on the top to keep them off*	*CVPC ready to go in the EHT*


*Easily disconnecting the trombone*	*Alle EHT connected for the first time*


*All in balance by the trust*	*Controlcable and coaxcable temporily connected for the analyser-test*


*Analyser-picture from 1 - 180 MHz with elements complete retracted*	*Analyser-setup with the miniVNA*


*First test on 20M*	*A analyser is a MUST for every serious antenna-experimenter*


*SteppIR 40M SWR-Curve at groundlevel*	*SteppIR 30M SWR-Curve at groundlevel*


*SteppIR 20M SWR-Curve at groundlevel*	*SteppIR 20M 180dg SWR-Curve at groundlevel*


*SteppIR 20MBi SWR-Curve at groundlevel*	*SteppIR 17M SWR-Curve at groundlevel*


*SteppIR 15M SWR-Curve at groundlevel*	*SteppIR 12M SWR-Curve at groundlevel*


*SteppIR 10M SWR-Curve at groundlevel*	*SteppIR 6M SWR-Curve at groundlevel* *Back to Menu*


*A nice fridaymorning 110318: disconnected the EHT's*	*Both trust-cords also disconnected*


*Boom with steppermotors ready to place on the mast*	*It was easy to put it in my rotator; 1st director-EHT placed*


*This was the most difficult part; turning the boom and locking the nuts !!!*	*2nd director-EHT placed: peace of cake*


*Trombones and directors placed and now in perfect balance*	*Is'nt a beauty ?*


*PA2JJB connecting the control-cable for the steppers*	*Use some siliconengrease for making the connectionbox watertight* *Back to Menu*


*All elements retracted on a height of 6M*	*This picture you must see when all the elements are fully retracted*


*SteppIR 6M SWR-Curve at 6M*	*SteppIR 10M SWR-Curve at 6M*


*SteppIR 12M SWR-Curve at 6M*	*SteppIR 15M SWR-Curve at 6M*


*SteppIR 17M Normal SWR-Curve at 6M*	*SteppIR 17M 180 degrees SWR-Curve at 6M*


*SteppIR 17M BIDir SWR-Curve at 6M*	*SteppIR 20M SWR-Curve at 6M*


*SteppIR 30M SWR-Curve at 6M*	*SteppIR 40M SWR-Curve at 6M* *Back to Menu*


*Another nice painting of my XYL: "The Slufter" on Texel-Island*	*Coax and control-cable connected*


*The "Autotrack"works marvelous !!*


*It is a hugh antenna, also from a distance*	*The vieuw of the neighbours behind us*


*A look from the side in another street*	*AlphaSpid-rotor-control and SD 100 controlled by the FT-950* *Back to Menu*


*SteppIR 6M SWR-Curve at 12.5M*	*SteppIR 10M SWR-Curve at 12.5M*


*SteppIR 12M SWR-Curve at 12.5M*	*SteppIR 15M SWR-Curve at 12.5M*


*SteppIR 17M SWR-Curve at 12.5M*	*SteppIR 20M SWR-Curve at 12.5M*


*SteppIR 30M SWR-Curve at 12.5M*	*SteppIR 40M SWR-Curve at 12.5M* *Back to Menu*

*Stations I worked with this antenna the 1st week* *What I hear, I can work !!!*

*Date*	*UTC*	*Freq*	*Mode*	*Call*	*TXRST*	*RXRST*	*Power*	*Remarks*
*18-3-11*	*15:10*	20	CW	*II6ICA*	*599*	*599*	5	*Dom nr Acona*
*19-3-11*	*07:42*	17	CW	*SV1HAG*	*599*	*589*	20	*Giannis Athens*
	*12:24*	15	*SSB*	*PS2T*	59	59	50	*Contest*
	*13:38*	40	*SSB*	*G0UZL*	59	59	50	*Chris - Dorset*
*21-3-11*	*18:21*	20	CW	*W2BXA*	*599*	*579*	20
	*18:42*	20	CW	*WA2QQF*	*579*	*579*	20	*John - NY*
	*20:24*	40	CW	*RD4AAA*	*539*	*559*	40	*Alex*
*23-3-11*	*17:50*	10	*SSB*	*LU8EEA*	59	59	60	*Rubert*
	*17:52*	10	*SSB*	*LU9FFZ*	57	59	60	*George - Roasario*
	*18:31*	12	CW	*EA9ARY*	*599*	*599*	20	*Joe*
	*19:50*	20	*SSB*	*K9ARZ*	59	56	60	*Larry - Chicago*
	*20:09*	17	*SSB*	*FP/N9JZP*	59	59	80	*St. Pierre & Micheleon*
	*20:18*	17	*SSB*	*KC9KE*	55	58	80	*Jim - Holland*
	*20:27*	17	*SSB*	*K2DUX*	59	59	80	*Paul - Long Island NA026*
*24-3-11*	*15:37*	15	CW	*K8CW*	*599*	*599*	50	*Fred - Ohio*
	*15:50*	15	CW	*W6LFB*	*559*	*569*	50	*Jim - Denton - TX*
	*15:59*	15	CW	*K4DY*	*539*	*569*	50	*Les - NC*
	*16:29*	17	*SSB*	*K8CW*	*579*	*579*	50	*Fred - Ohio*
	*16:32*	17	*SSB*	*K6YRA*	59	58	75	*Allan Encino - CA*
	*18:54*	20	*SSB*	*W0XG*	59	59	75	*Eric Minneoapolis - MIN*
*25-3-11*	*09:54*	17	CW	*SV1AOW*	*599*	*599*	60	*Geo - Marathon*
	*12:20*	17	CW	*K4UX*	*569*	*569*	60	*Al - VA*
	*14:29*	17	*SSB*	*RX6AM*	59	59	75	*Mike Novo*
	*14:31*	15	*SSB*	*TG9IGI*	59	59	*100*	*Guatamala - City*
	*15:21*	15	*SSB*	*5R8XB*	57	57	*100*	*Marco - Madagascar QSL via ON8MB*
	*16:04*	15	*SSB*	*VA3WU*	57	57	*100*	*Rick - Niagara Falls*
*26-3-11*	*09:44*	17	*SSB*	*UR5EEZ*	59	59	70	*Vitaly*
	*12:14*	17	*SSB*	*K1GUN*	59	59	*100*	*John*
	*12:17*	17	CW	*CO8LY*	*599*	*599*	75	*Cuba*
	*12:36*	17	CW	*N5PST*	*559*	*559*	70	*Gary - TX*
	*12:52*	17	CW	*K3EL*	*599*	*569*	70	*Dave - NJ*
	*12:58*	17	CW	*RD3AV*	*599*	*599*	70	*Vic - Moscow*
	*13:09*	17	CW	*W9HA*	*579*	*579*	70	*Steve - Ill.*
	*20:52*	20	CW	*HK1X*	59	59	*100*	*Contest*

*Back to Menu*

*I warn you: This antenna will cost you lots of QSL-Cards hi hi.....*	*After 1,5 months working with the SteppIr* *Back to Menu*


*My friend the owl*	*My friend the owl protecting the rubber tape off the antenna*


*I added a homemade 6M passive element*	*The SteppIr on 13,5M* *Back to Menu*


*These are only empty tubes; and survived several of these storms*	*For a better nightrest I've made a rope to guy the SteppIr to a rainpipe*


*Closeup-view of my rope-connection*	*With a turnbuckle I tighten the rope*


*A neat and very clean sky and garden; the antennas covering 80 - 6M* *Back to Menu*	*One of the nice paintings of my XYL*


*Enjoy the other hobby of my XYL: Ceramics*	*You can see them on Texel-Island: Galery 56*


*Birds on wood*	*The 3 sisters* *Back to Menu*

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