+- W1NRG Forum (https://www.w1nrg.com/forum)
+-- Forum: Meriden Amateur Radio Club Main Forum (https://www.w1nrg.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=1)
+--- Forum: MARC Club Area (https://www.w1nrg.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=3)
+--- Thread: StepIR Issue I'm Stuck On 20 Meters (/showthread.php?tid=512)
StepIR Issue I'm Stuck On 20 Meters - N1API - 06-04-2015
IF you were on the 10 meter net Tuesday, you remember me saying my SWR was high. Yesterday I noticed high SWR on all bands. I got a hold of StepIR IT Technical Support and they sent along some tests to check the antenna and controller. Well it seems that the controller is, (almost), dead, only one element is being driven. While I was checking the controller again today I could see some whiffs of smoke coming out of the air vent. It looks like I am going to have repair, replace or swap out the controller and with shipping from WA this could take about a week. The antenna was sitting at the high end of 20 meters when I disconnected the box so it looks like I won't be able to get back to 10 and 6 meters for the nets at least for a week.
Someone please call the 10 meter net next Tuesday.
Thanks
Al
Update: I Could Be Back On By Monday - N1API - 06-05-2015
The best option for me was to swap out the controller for the new SD-100 Controller at a discounted price. With priority shipping I could have it by Monday if it goes in the mail today.
Fingers crossed!
No StepIR Controller Yet - N1API - 06-08-2015
It looks like the new controller did not get shipped Friday, and I'm not sure when it did or will go out. It may be toward the end of the week that I'm able to get back on full operation. I'm limping along on the 20 meter County Hunter's Net doing some SSB and Digital.
Al - N1API
HOORAY!! Back In Business Again! - N1API - 06-10-2015
The New SD 100 Controller from StepIR arrived about an hour ago and I've got it up and working.
I can hear and be heard again!
This one is a little different from the original model as it is always in "Manual Mode" unless you have the transceiver interface which I don't but you change bands up and down and then adjust "coarse" for 100 kHz changes and then "fine" for 10 kHz changes. It seems to be modeled close to the antennas actual physical length as the SWR is close than it was with the first box. I still may have to do a couple of modifications though.