SteppIR antenna: up and running! Chasing the LRA36.

Living on a small city block is a challenge - there is only a room for one small tribander + a vertical. After 3 years (and many thousands of QSOs) the time has come to replace the good trustworthy Cushcraft A3S tribander with a directional antenna which will provide access to more than just 20/15/10m. Ideally, one which will cover it 'all': from 20m-6m. Obvious solution: SteppIR !

The SteppIR arrived on Monday and took me ten hours over 3 days to lower the tower, rebuild the rotor, assemble the new antenna and to get it all up in the air. SteppIR does not look large on the photo, but each element is 11m long.

One man job!

The wiring of the 3 motors which 'drive' the elements and connection to control box went smoothly (SteppIR motors can be tested on the ground which is a cool thing).

Even at the modest height of just 12 meters, the new antenna performs well.

Unfortunately, on the first scan, no traces of Argentina LRA36 from Antarctica (15476 KHz) or the Israeli Galei Tzahal Radio, but will continue for look for these two from now on.