SteppIR BigIR - MK IV Vertical Page 2 Instruction Manual Download

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Table of Contents

Topic

Page

Table of contents

SteppIR - Why Compromise ?

SteppIR Design

BigIR vertical components

Installing the BigIR

5-11

Installation of rain cap

Installing the element support extension tubes

Securing the telescoping pole to the element support tube (EST) extension

Element housing unit (EHU) wiring instructions

Ground mounting of the BigIR vertical

Recommended radials for ground and above ground installations

Installing the optional 80m Coil

16, 19

More about choosing radial systems for ground / above-ground installations

21-25

Using a vertical in or on salt water

DB25 control cable splice assembly instructions

Control cable wiring schematic

SteppIR Warranty

Installing the optional 1:1 balun

Polyolefin heat shrink procedure

Wind reinforcing kit installation instructions

11-16

2112 116TH AVE NE SUITE 1-5, BELLEVUE WA, 98004 WWW.STEPPIR.COM TEL: (425)-453-1910 FAX: (425)-462-4415

Summary of Contents for BigIR - MK IV Vertical

Page 1: ...evision 4 11 1 11 2112 116TH AVE NE SUITE 1 5 BELLEVUE WA 98004 WWW STEPPIR COM TEL 425 453 1910 FAX 425 462 4415 BigIR MK IV Vertical Instruction Manual BS7S Scarborough Reef VU7LD Laccadive ON8DS OY9R ...

Page 2: ...BigIR vertical 17 Recommended radials for ground and above ground installations 18 Installing the optional 80m Coil 16 19 More about choosing radial systems for ground above ground installations 21 25 Using a vertical in or on salt water 25 DB25 control cable splice assembly instructions 26 Control cable wiring schematic 27 SteppIR Warranty 28 Installing the optional 1 1 balun 20 Polyolefin heat s...

Page 3: ...ve vastly improved performance over existing fixed length yagis The ability to tune the antenna to a specific frequency without regard for band width results in excellent gain and front to back at every frequency The SteppIR design was made possible by the convergence of determination and high tech materials The availability of new lightweight glass fiber composites Teflon blended thermo plastics ...

Page 4: ...trol of each element length In addition the motors are brushless and provide ex tremely long service life The copper beryllium tape is driven out into a hollow fiberglass elements support tube see below forming an element of any desired length up to the limit of each specific antenna model a vertical uses only one side The fiberglass elements support tubes poles are telescoping lightweight and ver...

Page 5: ...r and when you are ready to reinstall the plastic pipe glue in a new coupler Now install the two section of the EST extension tube Figure 1 A C The first section goes firmly onto the EHT tube and the second EST goes on to the end of the first section Figure 7 and Figure 9 on next page Warning Be certain that the metal coupler on the extension ESTs firmly bottom out Figure 5 Figure 3 Installing the...

Page 6: ...e Rain Cap On the tip of the pole you will install a black cap Figure 19 with a piece of tubing passing through it The purpose of this vent cap is to keep the rain out yet still allow air flow through the foam plug into the telescoping pole Warning Press the cap on approximately 1 1 8 Figure 20 Do NOT press the cap down so hard as to crimp damage the cross tube preventing the pole from properly ve...

Page 7: ...FIGURE A 2112 116TH AVE NE SUITE 1 5 BELLEVUE WA 98004 WWW STEPPIR COM TEL 425 453 1910 FAX 425 462 4415 7 BigIR EST Extension Tube Instructions ...

Page 8: ...eat shrink as shown on page 7 This product requires a heat gun for activation of the adhesive When positioning the heat shrink place it so that the joint of the telescoping pole is centered in the middle of the heat shrink The pictures below exhibit how this is done Apply heat around the entire area of heat shrink Note There are 4 blue colored lines imprinted on the tubing The joint is considered ...

Page 9: ...until the screw clamp is past the aluminum ring and will clamp down onto the fiberglass Figure 21 C The upper screw clamp should be past the raised black ring to get the proper seal on the telescoping pole Figure 21 C Firmly tighten both stainless steel screw clamps Then test the connection by pulling and twisting it There should be no slippage at the joints NOTE You should re tighten each clamp a...

Page 10: ...2112 116TH AVE NE SUITE 1 5 BELLEVUE WA 98004 WWW STEPPIR COM TEL 425 453 1910 FAX 425 462 4415 10 Element Housing Unit EHU Wiring Instructions ...

Page 11: ...cal model was introduced in November 2011 All BigIR vertical antennas are now made to the specifications of the Mark IV This next section describes how to install the wind rein forcing kit for your BigIR vertical The pictures below show the completed wind reinforcing kit installation 2112 116TH AVE NE SUITE 1 5 BELLEVUE WA 98004 WWW STEPPIR COM TEL 425 453 1910 FAX 425 462 4415 11 ...

Page 12: ...5 16 x 4 Hex head bolt 2 60 0114 5 16 x 3 75 Hex head bolt 4 60 0046 5 16 Nylock nut 6 60 0033 5 16 Washer 4 10 1613 11 5 16 x 1 4 Aluminum spacer 2 10 1601 03 1 75 Aluminum saddle half 2 10 1601 32 2 Aluminum saddle half 1 09 1022 08 8 Coax seal 1 10 1502 11 EHU Gasket 1 10 1028 01 Anti seize packet BigIR EHU Wind Reinforcing Kit Hardware list Hardware included for BigIR without the 80m coil Addi...

Page 13: ...s into the short side of the reinforcing plate Insert a 1 4 aluminum spacer on each of the 4 hex head bolts located on the long side of the reinforc ing plate Repeat for the 3 75 bolts located on the short side of the reinforcing plate but on this side you will also need to insert 3 of the 5 16 stainless steel washer per bolt Be sure to plug the drain vent hole on the DB style mounting plate with ...

Page 14: ...e holes with the gasket and mounting plate as shown in figure 8 3 and figure 8 4 Be sure that your 4 conductor control cable is connected in side the EHU and properly routed using the cable tray that is molded into the EHU Refer to figure 8 14 for details There are two sizes of the 10 pan head bolt that secure the EHU to the DB style mounting plate five 3 4 long bolt are used for the portion of th...

Page 15: ...saddles 2 on the long side 1 75 on the short side on the 5 16 bolts You will not require the set screws for these saddles Figure 8 8 shows the completed task Do not tighten the short side saddle until the aluminum mounting post is inside the EST or you could potentially crush it Be sure to use anti seize on the bolts Thread the 5 16 nuts on and tighten to no more than 15 ft lb Slide the quick disc...

Page 16: ...hed as shown in figure 8 12 It is difficult for the nut to sit flat on the 80m coil cover so for the four 10 x 2 pan head bolts used for mounting we have you put the threads upward with the Nylock nut being attached on the EHU side of the connection Place the bolts through the 80m cover and the mounting plate wind reinforcing plate and tighten There must be a washer on the plastic EHU side of the ...

Page 17: ...y snaps Figure 31 With the mounting post is in place and level and your guy assembly mounted you are ready to erect the antenna Now slide the small end of the flexible coupler rubber boot to the mounting post Figure 41 This coupler is used to keep the antenna from potentially twisting in high winds Pick up the antenna at the base Figure 33 and slide the antenna housing onto the mounting pole until...

Page 18: ... spread 120 deg are the minimum dimensions required when positioning the guy anchors to achieve the stated wind ratings Figure 36 Anchor Anchor Anchor Antenna Guy 11ft Above Ground Bracket Supplied Second Guy 15ft Above Ground Bracket optional First Guy 7 5ft Above Ground Bracket Supplied Figure 35 Single Guy Configuration Figure 37 Double Guy Configuration 2112 116TH AVE NE SUITE 1 5 BELLEVUE WA ...

Page 19: ...oil to your element housing and tighten the new Nylok nuts as shown in Figure 45 Figure 47 Also refer to page 16 Figure 47 4 Nylon Spacers Figure 45 4 SS bolts with WARNING After connecting all of the wires please make sure that the Control Cable and the Coax do not touch each other this can cause the wires to arc and it will damage the Antenna 2112 116TH AVE NE SUITE 1 5 BELLEVUE WA 98004 WWW STE...

Page 20: ...When elevating the base of a vertical antenna above the ground When only a few radials are used When the coax run is shorter than the radials When the ground condition is poor Unusual SWR readings on one band Balun Installation To install the balun Figure 25 we suggest that you mount it as shown in Figure 27 There are two holes in the base of the balun that will line up with two screws in the end ...

Page 21: ...iciency As you will see in the following pages you can get fairly high efficiency with a relatively mod est radial system that will far outperform small counterpoise systems It should be noted that counterpoise systems are only good for curing near field losses caused by losses from the earth which is a poor conductor of RF even with good soil There is nothing you can do about far field losses tha...

Page 22: ... the vertical pick a spot that will allow you the best chance of spreading your radials evenly around the antenna and away from trees and other objects if pos sible Mount the antenna within one foot of ground if possible the closer to ground the better Next you will need to determine how much effort and wire you are willing to invest in this in stallation The tradeoffs are as follows 1 More radial...

Page 23: ...tort your omni directional pattern slightly but won t reduce your efficiency very much Lay the radials out in the best manner possible given your situation There are various ways to ac complish laying a radial system including turning corners etc Good results are limited only to your creative energy and determination Be aware that very high voltages can exist at the ends of radials so be certain t...

Page 24: ...raised off the ground the impedance drops fairly rapidly from 36 ohms Over perfect ground or with many radials it will be close to 36 ohms over real ground it is generally 40 60 ohms to about 22 ohms when 3 wavelength is reached This would make a pretty poor match to 50 ohms so a couple of tricks are in order Once you elevate a vertical two radials are all you really need It is important that you ...

Page 25: ...l to the dock and attach two radials per band of operation They can be stapled right to the dock if it is non metallic Mounting the vertical in ground flooded by salt water a couple of times per day can be equally effective Proximity to the ocean improves the far field loss of a vertical and allows very low angle radia tion get as close to the water as possible to enhance performance Due to the fa...

Page 26: ...2112 116TH AVE NE SUITE 1 5 BELLEVUE WA 98004 WWW STEPPIR COM TEL 425 453 1910 FAX 425 462 4415 26 DB 18 Control Cable Splice Assembly Instructions ...

Page 27: ...2112 116TH AVE NE SUITE 1 5 BELLEVUE WA 98004 WWW STEPPIR COM TEL 425 453 1910 FAX 425 462 4415 27 Wiring Diagram DB25 Cable Splice ...

Page 28: ...y ancillary equipment damage or any other costs incurred as a result of the failure of our products In the event of a product failure a return authorization is required for warranty re pairs This can be obtained at www steppir com Shipping instructions will be issued to the buyer for defective components and shipping charges to the factory will be paid for by the buyer SteppIR will pay for standar...

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Page 30: ...2112 116TH AVE NE SUITE 1 5 BELLEVUE WA 98004 WWW STEPPIR COM TEL 425 453 1910 FAX 425 462 4415 ...

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