That has brought back childhood memories of holding the end of rabbit ear antenna to improve the reception on our TV and SW radio. Worked really well.VK4WDM wrote:Just make sure it is out of the jeans pocket before firing the 1KW into it!![]()
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
That has brought back childhood memories of holding the end of rabbit ear antenna to improve the reception on our TV and SW radio. Worked really well.VK4WDM wrote:Just make sure it is out of the jeans pocket before firing the 1KW into it!![]()
That leads me to believe that the product is only plug-n-play with an auto-tuner connected to your radio.The antenna will operate at all frequencies in the 1.8-54 MHz band without any adjustment with most modern external antenna tuners.
I'm reminded of a discussion of a T2FD broadband dipole antenna in one of Pat Hawker's columns (developed by the US Navy). Or others mentioning magnetic loops or loading up trees in the jungle - also often tried by the forces.VK2FABS wrote:Yes Roger, I was a bit suspicious. the base "blob" could well be an 1:9 unun, similar to some of the other homebrew vertical antenna designs. Or is it a loading coil? But the product does look pretty solid. I also note that they "borrowed" military antenna design. It made me wonder if that indeed is the case? What magic does the military vertical whips have apart from being solid and heavy?
I had a look at their website and, for a change, I don't think this company is making any extravagant claims (unlike some others). What users write in various reviews is another matter. If you look at the info on the CHA EMCOMM II antenna it tells you pretty much what you want to know:VK2FABS wrote:Came across another compact portable vertical whip antenna system - Chameleon CHA Hybrid-micro + CHA Mil Whip + CHA Mil Whip Ext. Good for 1.8-54MHz and weighs less than 3lb.
....
What I am curious is, what's the design of this antenna system? Isn't it just a loaded vertical whip? What's the secret ingredient to garner the good reviews on eHam? Anyone familiar with this product?
Well summarized!VK5ZD wrote:Bottom line; wind a 5:1 transformer, get some wire and a tuner and DIY.
To take the first of your links... the user guide gives an expectation of SWR.VK2FABS wrote:Came across another compact portable vertical whip antenna system - Chameleon CHA Hybrid-micro + CHA Mil Whip + CHA Mil Whip Ext. Good for 1.8-54MHz and weighs less than 3lb. Not cheap when all three components are combined.
http://chameleonantenna.com/PORTABLE%20 ... MICRO.html
http://chameleonantenna.com/PORTABLE%20 ... 20EXT.html
What I am curious is, what's the design of this antenna system? Isn't it just a loaded vertical whip? What's the secret ingredient to garner the good reviews on eHam? Anyone familiar with this product?
Lucky we now have the Internet and forums to cross compare reports and comments.VK2OMD wrote:Antenna advertisements are seductive to almost all beginners, and too many old hands.
If you want small antennas and performance, think VHF and above.
Iain it's nice to see that someone is actually taking the time to read the User/Operator Guides and the documentation that is on Chameleon Antenna website. Thank you for pointing that out. No where the word "magic" or "secret ingredient" is mentioned on their website. Everything that need to be known is right there. If it's not then you can always go on the following links:VK5ZD wrote: I had a look at their website and, for a change, I don't think this company is making any extravagant claims (unlike some others). What users write in various reviews is another matter. If you look at the info on the CHA EMCOMM II antenna it tells you pretty much what you want to know:
Ummm - you just wouldn't happen to be the owner/manufacturer of Chameleon antennas?KI6TRA wrote:Iain it's nice to see that someone is actually taking the time to read the User/Operator Guides and the documentation that is on Chameleon Antenna website. Thank you for pointing that out.
'their website' or 'your website'?No where the word "magic" or "secret ingredient" is mentioned on their website.
Used to be a huge 125ft log periodic out the back of Oxley here in Qld , military comms but all down and sold off years agoVK4WDM wrote:Simple does work. I had a vertical made with a 10m fibre-glass pole and wire, a 9:1 UNUN, ground-mounted with 12 radials. It tuned all bands with my internal tuner. 1500 QSO's in 12 months all over the globe, mostly with 30w of JT65, but also 100w SSB and some CW. Best fun I have had for years. Still use that system portable but have replaced it with a commercial metal vertical (Butternut HF-9V) at home QTH after the fiber-glass one was damaged by wind.
Other portable antenna is an end-fed wire - it works, and can be configured as a sloper or a vertical. Yes, it is a compromise, but like I keep saying to the OP, Get something in the air and improve later, you can't make contacts if the antenna is still inside your head (or jeans pocket).![]()
Re military antennas. Totally agree with PeterMost of their HF field antennas are for NVIS but they are being largely replaced by satellite comms. For long-range HF they have base stations with very large yagis or log periodics.
73
Wayne VK4WDM
So what did you end up purchasing? And what are the bits and pieces for? What type of antenna do you plan on trying?VK2FABS wrote:Thanks Wayne. My first HF transceiver is now somewhere in the postal system and so are the various bits and pieces for antenna builds. There's still some time to brew ideas in the head...
Ended up ordering an Elecraft KX-3. On the antenna and miscellaneous side, ordered a SARK100 Mini60 antenna tuner, various connectors/adaptors, cables (RG58/RG174), toroid, enclosure, BNC crimping tool and a 4200mAh LiFePO4 battery/charger. That should be enough to build a basic store for future projects. As suggested by many here, I'll start with an end fed long wire antenna, then gradually learn and try others. Suspect I'll need to work on a mag loop at some point. Saw annealed 3m copper tubing in Bunnings for $20 the other day and they are heavy. Whilst I understand that one needs to focus on a low resistance loop for mag loop antenna builds, I think I'll try some other material to minimise weight.VK4GJW wrote:So what did you end up purchasing? And what are the bits and pieces for? What type of antenna do you plan on trying?
Ended up ordering an Elecraft KX-3. On the antenna and miscellaneous side, ordered a SARK100 Mini60 antenna tuner, various connectors/adaptors, cables (RG58/RG174), toroid, enclosure, BNC crimping tool and a 4200mAh LiFePO4 battery/charger. That should be enough to build a basic store for future projects. As suggested by many here, I'll start with an end fed long wire antenna, then gradually learn and try others. Suspect I'll need to work on a mag loop at some point. Saw annealed 3m copper tubing in Bunnings for $20 the other day and they are heavy. Whilst I understand that one needs to focus on a low resistance loop for mag loop antenna builds, I think I'll try some other material to minimise weight.[/quote]A fixed install can be copper , aluminum is light strong and works extremely well imho . its a few % lower in efficiency but making the loop a little bigger helps , at your low power a simple air cap from a broadcast radio will do although a butterfly is better , but if you want automatic tuning then plan for a vacuum cap when you upgrade , I have just taken delivery of a 500pg 10kv vacuum for a very reasonable cost and it will handle anything I am likely to throw at it .VK2FABS wrote:So what did you end up purchasing? And what are the bits and pieces for? What type of antenna do you plan on trying?