(or max. height)
8 with 80m option
Antenna with 30/40m Radiator
30/40m Radiator alone for retro fitting
SteppIR manufactures freely tuneable multiband beams with 2, 3 or 4 elements for 40 to 6m or 20 to 6m. With the continous mechanical tuning of the element lengths SteppIR Yagis achieve the performance of comparable monoband beams - but on many bands. The similiar contructed λ/4 verticals offer always perfect match as tuned groundplane. The small packing size and the lightweight construction with glassfibre tubes makes these antennas an ideal companion for dx-peditions and fielddays.
Traditional multiband beams require traps, interlaced elements etc. to work on multiple bands. With these elements such an antenna is usually a compromise in respect to the possible maximum efficiency of an antenna. Monoband beams like the ZX Yagis would be an alternative, but who can put up three or more such beams?
FluidMotion, the manufacturer of SteppIR antennas has solved this problem in an elegant way. SteppIR vary the mechanical length of each element by means of a retractable metal band. This allows the antenna to be adjusted for any frequency (within the range) and work near the perfect optimum.
Each element of a SteppIR antenna consists of lightweight glassfibre tubes, the metallicc band run in these tubes. That means of course that the absolute size of the antennas does not change, the glasfibre tubes are not changed in length. The metallic bands are made of a special Copper Beryllium (CuBe) which withstands millions of movements. The excellent electrical contact is achieved with four self cleaning slider contacts for each element. The metal band itself is perforated, a sprocket wheel spools up the band. The sprocket is driven by a precision stepper motor, allowing for very precise positioning.
Each single element is controlled by a 4 wire cable, i.e. the 4-element SteppIR yagi requires 16 wires. Down in the shack a supplied controller is used to adjust the antenna. For the amateur bands various presets are available for each band. Further a "general" mode allows adjustment of the antenna to any frequency (within the specified range). Antenna setups can be stored for later recall, other functions allow the quick reversal of direction or the bi-directional mode where the gain is evenly distributed in two directions. An optional CAT interface for the controller allows direct control from most amateur rigs: the antenna is continously adjusted when the frequency on the rig is changed.
This replaces the standard radiator and allows operation down to 40m. Available in two version: one as option when buying a new antenna and one as replacement part for an existing antenna.
| Dipole | 2 Element Yagi | 3 Element Yagi | 4 Element Yagi | MonstIR 4 Element Yagi | SmallIR Vertical | BigIR Mk3 Vertical | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frequencyrange (continous) | 13,8 - 54 | 13,8 - 54 | 13,8 - 54 | 13,8 - 54 | 6,9 - 54 | 13,8 - 54 | 6,9 - 54 | MHz |
| Max. Power | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | kW |
| Tuning speed | 1,17 | 1,17 | MHz/s | |||||
| Weight | 4,5 | 13,6 | 19,0 | 34 | 98 | 5,44 | 6,8 | kg |
| Antenna surface | 0,17 | 0,37 | 0,57 | 0,90 | 2,22 | 0,09 | 0,17 | m2 |
| Max. Windspeed | ~ 160 | ~ 160 | ~ 160 | ~ 160 | ~ 160 | ~ 160 | ~ 130 | km/h |
| Longest Element (or max. height) |
10,97 | 10,97 | 10,97 | 10,97 | 21,50 | 5,49 | 9,75 | m |
| Turning radius | 5,48 | 5,53 | 6,00 | 7,35 | 12,20 | - | - | m |
| Boom lenght | - | 1,44 | 4,87 | 9,75 | 10,46 | - | - | m |
| Boom diameter | - | 4,5 | 4,5 | 4,5 & 5,7 | 6,3 & 7 | - | - | cm |
| Max. Mast Diameter | 53 | 53 | 53 | 53 | 53 | - | - | mm |
| Control cable | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 4 | 4 8 with 80m option |
Wires |
| Balun included | No (optional) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | |
| Order No. | 12100.1 | 12100.2 | 12100.3 | 12100.4 | 12100.4M | 12120.V20 | 12120.V40 | |
| Price | 946.57 (919.00) | 1368.87 (1329.00) | 1914.77 (1859.00) | 2882.97 (2799.00) | 5407.50 (5250.00) | 822.97 (799.00) | 956.87 (929.00) | Euro |
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| Order No. optional 6m Elem. | 12100.63 | 12100.64 | ||||||
| Price | 101.97 (99.00) | 164.80 (160.00) | Euro | |||||
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| Order No. Antenna with 30/40m Radiator |
12105.3 | 12105.4 | ||||||
| Price | 2394.75 (2325.00) | 3367.07 (3269.00) | Euro | |||||
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| Order No. 30/40m Radiator alone for retro fitting |
12110.3 | 12110.4 | ||||||
| Price | 668.47 (649.00) | 668.47 (649.00) | Euro | |||||
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The SteppIR Dipole and Yagis are available in five different versions, from one to 4 elements, covering different ranges. Each element is variable in length by using a motor driven metal band (Copper Beryllium). The metal band is protected by a glasfibre tube, the length of this tube does not change of course.
Like with all SteppIR antennas the glassfibre tubes have to assembled and isolated at first set up. This makes the SteppIR antennas very compact, that nice for shipment cost and expeditions.
One of the most frequently asked questions is "Shouldn't the distance of the elements also change when changing element lengths?". To answer this question it is important to understand that Yagis can be designed to maximise different values. That can be max. gain, best Front/Back ratio, good bandwidth etc. But - these goals cannot be achieved all at once with the same design. Either you optimize a yagi for best gain, useful bandwidth and not so good F/B ratio. Or excellent F/B ratio at narrow bandwidth and mediocre gain etc. etc.
With a 3-element beam the optimum gain would be reached at a boom length of 0.4 λ. The best F/B ratio is achieved with a boom length of approx. 0.25 λ, but only at limited bandwidth. This results in 0.3 λ as a good compromise, with this it can be shown that a variable element length results in much greater effect than variable distance. Bandwidth is of no importance with a SteppIR antenna because the antenna can be adjusted to any operating frequency (within specified range). So a narrow bandwidth design can be selected which results in the best compromise solution at a given element distance. That is much more than what you can expect from a traditional monobander.
| Dipole | 2 Elem. Yagi | 3 Elem. Yagi | 4 Elem. Yagi | 4 Elem. Yagi MonstIR | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gain | F/B ratio | Gain | F/B ratio | Gain | F/B ratio | Gain | F/B ratio | Gain | F/B ratio | |
| 40m | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 7,8 | 25 |
| 30m | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 8,2 | 20 |
| 20m | 2,1 | 0 | 4,2 | 18 | 5 | 42 | 9,5 | 21 | 9,5 | 21 |
| 17m | 2,1 | 0 | 4,2 | 19 | 5,5 | 44 | 10 | 20 | 10 | 20 |
| 15m | 2,1 | 0 | 4,1 | 14 | 5,7 | 44 | 10,2 | 27 | 10,2 | 27 |
| 12m | 2,1 | 0 | 4,0 | 13 | 6,2 | 17 | 10,4 | 21 | 10,4 | 21 |
| 10m | 2,1 | 0 | 3,8 | 10 | 6,3 | 15 | 10,6 | 11 | 10,6 | 11 |
| 6m | 2,1 | 0 | 2,6 | 1,5 | 3,0 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 10 |
Besides the SteppIR Yagis two vertical are available which work with the same elegant principle. In a vertically mounted glassfibre tube a metal band made of CuBe is extended or retracted. The band is wound with a stepper motor, changing the electrical length of the antenna, without lossy traps, loading coils etc.
This type of antenna of course requires a good radial network (not included). The radial network strongly affects the performance and critical values like radiation angle of the antenna. And especially vertical antennas are known for the low take-off angle, good for DX.
Radials networks can be designed either as elevated radials or ground radials. Elevated radials require tunes lengths at λ/4, at least two per band. Ground radials can be of any lengths, but at least λ/10 in length, the more the better. The operators manual of the SteppIR verticals gives many more useful hints for constructing a good radial network.
Two verticals are available: the SmallIR covers 20 to 6m, the BigIR covers 6m to 40m (with option up to 80m). Technical data see table above.
80m Option for BigIR
Extension coil for BigIR vertical antenna, enables operation also on the 80m band. Max power load 500W (1600W with new BigIR Mk3). Requires 4 additional wires in the control cable.
SmallIR Vertical 20-6m incl. controller
822.97 (799.00) EURBigIR Mk3 Vertical 40-6m incl. controller
956.87 (929.00) EURBigIR Extension Coil 80m
410.97 (399.00) EUR
The controller is supplied with each SteppIR antenna. It offers various modes for operation on ham bands or general frequency selection. For each ham band an own button is provided, stepping through three presets for that band (e.g. 14050, 14200, 14300). The Up/Down keys allow fine tuning in 25kHz steps. Other functions of the controller are calibration of the tuning system, full retraction of all elements (good during thunderstorms!), storage of own antenna models etc.
An option for the controller is a serial CAT interface. With this option the controller can be connected to most radios, the antenna adjustment is following the tuning of the radio. SteppIR does offer suitable cablöes for most radios. The simultaneous use of the CAT interface for the antenna controller and a logging program requires a "Y" connector (order no. 12146).
CAT interface for SteppIR controller
97.85 (95.00) EURCable SteppIR - Icom
20.09 (19.50) EURCable SteppIR - Yaesu FT-897
20.09 (19.50) EURCable SteppIR - Kenwood TS-480
20.09 (19.50) EURSerial Cable 9pin f/f (suitable rigs see list)
3.09 ( 3.00) EURSerial Cable 9pin. f/f crossover (Null modem, psuitable rigs see list)
3.71 ( 3.60) EURSerial Cable 9pin. m/f (suitable rigs see list)
3.71 ( 3.60) EURReplaces the supplied 24V power supply, recommended for cable lengths over 60m.
33V Power supply
103.00 (100.00) EUR
Each element of a SteppIr antenna requires four control wires. We offer cables with 6, 12 or 16 wires with 0.14mm² or 0.2mm² cross section. This is sufficient for cable lengths up to 20m. For larger distances the manufacturer suggests to use larger diameter wires or use of a voltage booster (optional 33V power supply).
Unfortunately we don't carry 8 wire control cables for this purpose (the 8 wire rotor control cable is too large). Best is to use our 12-wire cable and use only 8 of those wires. Control cables are here.
6-wire 0,14mm² per Meter
0.82 ( 0.80) EUR12-wire 0,22mm² per Meter
1.85 ( 1.80) EUR16-wire 0,22mm² per Meter
2.94 ( 2.85) EURDue to the new working principle of the SteppIR antennas it can happen that something is misunderstood or incorrectly asembled. For cases where the antenna is not working as expected, SteppIR offers this document (PDF, english, 120KB) which helps you locating the trouble. ALthough this document was written with 3-ele and 4-ele Yagis in mind it is helpful for any model of SteppIR antennas.
SteppIR offers a Software Upgrade Kit for all antenna controllers. This upgradee is mainly adressed to customers who use the passive 6m element and who plan to use the new 30/40m dipole element. The upgrade requires the exchange of the CPU chip (see below).
Among others the following features were added or improved:
SteppIR Software Upgrade Kit for 2-Element beam
36.98 (35.90) EURSteppIR Software Upgrade Kit for 3-Element beam
36.98 (35.90) EURSteppIR Software Upgrade Kit for 4-Element beam
36.98 (35.90) EURA1: The 6m option is enabled in the setup menu. SOme controllers might require a software upgrade.
A2: Same as for the other antennas. The 30 and 40m band are access via the menu.
A3: A new chip with a new firmware has to be changed in the control box.
A4: The windload increases by 0,2m2 (2 ft2), the weight increases by approx .4kg.
A5: Together with the new firmware chip (see Q3) a decal is supplied for the control box.
A6: Voila:
A7: Yes. We are clarifying the details. Watch this space for further announcements.
A8: SteppIR antennas are in use since about six years (as of summer 2006). In the beginning there were slight problems with the insulation of the glass fibre tubes, but that has been solved.
SteppIR antennas are in use worldwide by radio amateurs and commercial services, also under severe conditions. Just chek the pictures... (click for a larger view).
A9: The noise is known, it is caused by wind moving the elements slightly. Unfortunately there is no remedy for that, the radiating copper band has to run freely in the glassfibre tubes. The best suggestion is to fully retract the elements when the antenna is not in use.
A10: The elements of a standard SteppIR yagi (20-6m) have a sag of up to 8" (20cm), the elements of a MonstIR (40-6m) yagi up to 20" (50cm).
A11: No, the manufacturer strongly discourages this for a whole plethora of reasons. It is not known if any ever tried or succeeded doing so. SteppIR and WiMo do not support installations like that.
A12: According to SteppIR (as of July 2006) these elements will be available late autumn 2006.
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