[Elecraft] CrankIR?

[Don Butler]

I’ve never owned a Buddipole, but bought one of the first CrankIRs almost 2 ½ years …. And I love it.   I have no doubt that both antennas (Buddipole and CrankIR) work equally well, but a significant plus that comes with the CrankIR is the ease and simplicity of changing bands ...... it will typically take me less than a minute to retune the CrankIR to another band and get back on the air ….. compare that to the Buddipole where you pretty much have to take it down, rebuild the elements, and put it back up again virtually EVERY time you change bands.

I made this video soon after buying my CrankIR ….. and the SteppIR folks still have the link on their website.   Realistically it will take about 20 minutes from start to finish to get the CrankIR up and on the air …. 

https://vimeo.com/album/2915832/video/87038860

Don, N5LZ


Sent from Mail for Windows 10

From: David McAnally
Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2016 3:30 PM
To: Lynn W. Taylor, WB6UUT
Cc: <Elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] CrankIR?

On Thu, May 26, 2016 at 12:44 PM, Lynn W. Taylor, WB6UUT <
KX3 at coldrockshotbrooms.com> wrote:

> Hopefully quick question:
>
> We see a lot of praise for the BuddiPole (and the AlexLoop), but don't
> think I've ever seen mention of the CrankIR for portable use.
>
> Anybody try one?  What's the deal??
>
> 73 -- Lynn
>
>
​Lynn,​

​I have owned a CrankIR for almost two years.  When I go traveling by auto
for more than a couple of days, it goes with me along with my K3, plus
KPA500 and whatever else I decide to pack. I previously took a dipole, with
fiberglass poles, since I didn't always ​have access to wire supports.  The
CrankIR is a nice compromise. It packs down to a small bag plus the
optional fiberglass extension for 80M. I now pack it in a small rifle case.

Operationally, it seems to perform well.  I had QSO's with New Zealand a
few weeks back while I was in Arizona. I've checked into the Elecraft SSB
net from time to time.  As Dave C. mentions, the dipole is more
lightweight, rugged and may perform better. I can't compare to the Alex
loop as I've never used one. The CrankIR tunes 10M through 80M, but that is
a manual process. There are markers on the wire and I've gotten pretty good
at tuning it, using my Rig Expert antenna analyzer.  There are trade offs
in whatever you choose though.  I doubt I'll ever go hiking or backpacking
with the CrankIR and K3.  But they travel well in my Avalanche. I'm trying
to find a way to justify the KX3, or now KX2 as my portable secondary
radio.

David M.
WD5M
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