4 Element SteppIR Yagi 
Four element yagi from SteppIR using the adjustable stepper motor design with copper beryllium tape. This antenna is a yagi designed for the 20m through 6 meter ham radio bands and all frequencies in between. Optionally, the 40 meter and 30 meter ham radio bands may be covered with a U shaped dipole in place of one of the elements.
Telescoping fiberglass tubes are mounted to stepper motors on a boom for each element. The tape then adjusts within the fiberglass tubes as frequency is changed via remote control.
- Mechanical design and durability
- 80%
- Overall Value
- 80%
- Performance
- 100%
I have used many HF antennas in my 27+ years of ham radio at some great stations... Tribanders, monobanders, stacks of monobanders on rotating towers... I've had the opportunity to play with many HF antennas.
When it came time to put up at HF multiband antenna for 10 meters through 20 meters, I did a lot of shopping around. I finally settled on the SteppIR 4 element yagi. Why?
SteppIR yagi antenna "pros"
- Monoband performance... what better way to solve the gain vs VSWR vs front-to-back performance in a multiband HF antenna?
- 180 degree and bi-directional features. Want to convert your antenna into a "dipole" or point it the opposite direction without turning your rotator? This is a cool feature for contesters.
- Mechanical simplicity. Even though this antenna has some mechanical complexity (stepper motors, extra control cable, etc.) it is simple in a sense. That is, there are only 4 elements to install and maintain - and these go together fairly easily. This antenna is the equivalent of a 4 element monoband yagi on 20 meters, 17 meters, 15 meters, 12 meters, 10 meters and 6 meters. It replaces many elements... which adds up to a lot of mechanical complexity.
- Durability. Mine has only been up for about 4 months but has already endured two ice storms. The fiberglass elements drooped but came back to form after the ice melted.
- Performance. The antenna specs are very good and my on-air experience tells me that the antenna is living up to its reputation as a great performer.
- Factory and user forum support is great.
SteppIR "cons"
- Mechanical complexity. Extras required. Extra control cable, control box, interface cables, etc. These are obviously not required with a traditional antenna and add to the complexity of the antenna and potential for problems.
- Band changes are not instantaneous and require either manual intervention (push the buttons on the control box) or interfacing to a rig for automatic frequency changes. Additionally, it is a problem if you transmit with an amplifier into the SteppIR while it is tuning, so caution or preventive measures must be taken.
- Lead time. Due to the high demand and the nature of dealing with a small company still in growth mode, the lead times have been significant.
I did not list the cost of the SteppIR as either a pro or con. To me, it was certainly a significant investment. However, this antenna replaces the equivalent of several monobanders that would be more expensive to acheive the same performance (and require more tower/rotor capacity). I have always believed that the best investment in a ham radio station is in the antennas (as opposed to amplifiers).
My SteppIR 4 element yagi is installed at about 22 meters (72 ft). Details of my installation are on my blog and tower pages:
SteppIR 4 element construction
Mounting SteppIR on ANwireless tower
This antenna has been worth the wait, expense and effort to install it and I would certainly consider other products from SteppIR.
- Performance
-
- Overall Value
-
- Mechanical design and durability
-
- Time used when rated
- 4 months