N8YXR

  Call: N8YXR Operator(s): N8YXR, KC0RBV Station: N8YXR Class: Multi-Single LP QTH: MI Operating Time (hrs): 21.5 Summary:  Band  QSOs Mults ------------------------------   160:                       80:    108    4                   40:    291    48                   20:    79      22                   15:    22      3             10:             ------------------------------ Total: 500 77   Total Score = 77,000 Club: Mad River Radio Club Comments: Had a great start. Spent the first two hours CQing. We were able to CQ several times. Mi...

Last August, I purchased a used three element SteppIR with a passive 6m element. It included a 2005 vintage Fluid Motion controller. Over the winter, I sent it to SteppIR to be checked out for recommended repairs and any upgrades that made sense. The controller is very old and will eventually need replacing (See Figure 1). Figure 1 FluidMotion Controller SteppIR assembled and tested the entire antenna at their facility to verify it worked. The found it in good condition overall and suggested several replacements and a couple upgrades that I went with. They told me to buy the cable for the K3S since I didn't have one when I bought the antenna. As part of my process, I reassembled most of the antenna in the basement and verified the controller moved the elements like they are supposed to. Everything checked out. I then proceeded to connect the controller with the S26 cable to the K3S and just the controller. The antenna was still in the basement. The idea was to verify radio to contr...

Call: N8YXR Operator(s): N8YXR, KC0RBV, K8AVJ, KB8AWE Station: N8YXR Class: Multi-Single LP QTH: MI Operating Time (hrs): 23:15 Summary:  Band  QSOs  Mults -------------------   160:    0     0    80:   41    33    40:   69    43    20:  233   82    15:   52    31    10:    7     1 ------------------- Total:  402   190  Total Score = 229,140 Club: Mad River Radio Club Comments: Much better than last year. Seemed like conditions, while not perfect, certainly helped us. Had a pretty good feeling at 10am local on Saturday that we would be in good shape. Jennie and I did most of the operating, but we had a chance to have two hams over to get an introduction to contesting on Sunday. Should be a good enough score to claim th...

I had been eyeing a three element SteppIR for some time. Purchasing one was part of my long term station improvement plans. In August 2019, I noticed a unit being offered by a fellow MRRC member. He was helping another ham dismantle his station in preparation for moving into a condo. The price was right and I purchased the unit. The system was a 2007 vintage unit. It had given the previous owner years of performance and was still working when it was brought down. The trip to Ohio was nice and the timing worked out that I could attend DX Engineering's hamfest. The wife (KC0RBV) and kids came with me. My son and daughter were okay with the ham radio stuff, but loved seeing the cars in Summit Racing. We also did a quick visit to Cuyahoga Valley National Park . I highly recommend it if you are in the area. SteppIR offers a free service where you can send your older unit in for them to evaluate it and make recommendations on needed repairs and upgrades. You pay for shipping and par...