| KG6HXN |
Rating:      |
2013-04-20 | |
| Like This Antenna |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| I have the Chameleon Hybrid base with the Chameleon Mil whip. It's mounted on the roof about 18 feet above the ground. We have had a lot of high winds lately, but the antenna doesn't seem to mind. First contact with this antenna was to Magadan Russia. This is a good antenna if you don't have a lot of room and or need to keep a low profile. This antenna also lends it self to experimenting if you so choose. Overall i'm happy with this antenna. I think i'm gonna buy A second one to use portable. Thats how much I like it. |
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| W2SOC |
Rating:      |
2013-03-31 | |
| Excellent! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| I have owned the HYBRID base, V1L whip and MIL whip for over a year now and still can not understand how this antenna does what it does. It was the star at field day last year, and has been loaned out too many times to count. Everyone who tries it loves it. I'm buying another in the next few weeks to place on a 38' tower. I'll also add a note about the customer service: Unbeatable! My emails have always been answered the same day, even weekends and holidays. I am glad to have purchased something that does what it says! |
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| N5QWA |
Rating:      |
2013-03-23 | |
| Carencro, LA to California...Hybrid Mini |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
Another great QSO on 20 meters from Carencro, LA to San Diego, CA! Distance of about 1500 miles. Using the Hybrid Mini with a Yaesu FT897 / LDG AT-897 Tuner. Peak of shack to chimney...mostly NVIS but working great today on long haul.
My second Chameleon, and may consider another for the go bag. |
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| PU2NBU |
Rating:      |
2013-03-19 | |
| Great performance & flexibility |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
During my family vacation at NY City, I ordered the full and complete Chameleon package, taking couple days to receive it at my hotel:
The CHA package was composed by HYBRID + V1L + CHA MIL + CHA CAP-HAT + JAWMOUNT + TRIPOD + HD CARRY BAG + COUNTERPOISES KIT.
After some weeks using it, lots of rx / tx.
Very easy and fast to deploy, very compact to carry in my trailer, work either as a fixed base or portable field antenna, very flexible to switch RF connector to the vertical stick mode (used in higher HF bands) to the slope / horizontal wire mode (used in lower HF bands), and my LDG YT 450 tuner handles all bands.
Perform is quite similar to my Comet CHA250B.
If you like to go HF portable or have it at your backyard or around your swimming pool, this CHA package is very convenient and will put you on air!
73! |
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| G7VZS |
Rating:      |
2013-02-04 | |
| outstanding stelth antenna |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I needed an antenna that would not upset the neighbours. So after reading about this antenna on eham. I must admit I was sceptical.
But after emailing the company many times. I got lots of emails back giving me advice on how I would fit it. I finished up with the hybrid 30 ft up on my chimney running a 81 ft wire across the street to a old disused GPO ceramic isolater pot. And it really does work a treat. Tuning it with my Z11 PRO 2. 160 - 80 METER SWR READS 2. And 40- 10 METER SWR READS 1.5. Across all the bands.
Works much better than I thought it would. And looks just like a telephone wire. And no verticals or radials.
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| AF6SW |
Rating:      |
2013-01-13 | |
| Start of a multi-band phased array |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| I was looking to build the 'one-ring' of portable antennas. Something that could work all bands and be set up in a phased array for directing my energy and steering nulls onto sources of interference. To make such a product viable you would need phasing harness, and to set the two verticals at different specific distances, and a low Xs or said better, wide band resonance. Today I finally got to play with the gift from the XYL. I am in love. Little does she know that a second one will be on my birthday wish list... One for the Jeep, the other on a tripod, changing bands or steering the null becomes a snap! (not to mention the NVIS capability for ECOM work) I used a MFJ manual analyzer and set up the antenna on a mag-mount, on top of the BBQ. This setup would represent about the worst possible ground, thus show me the least resonance. to my utter surprise, Xs was never over 24, with the SWR being all over the map as expected. Next I plugged it into my little LDG and attached the IC7000, a good mobile setup. It tuned up on all bands from 10M down (did not try anything else) and I was able to hear a AK station here in Oakland Ca. (a first for my QTH) Anyone thinking they should buy a bunch of 'ham sticks' should seriously look at the Chameleon products, much better construction, and better suited for advanced antenna phase systems. |
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| VE7GNR |
Rating:      |
2012-11-01 | |
| Great base for longwire or vertical antenna! |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
Garnet Ryder, VE7GNR
Icom 703 Plus (HF+6M 10W QRP transceiver)
Used as Chameleon Hybrid base + 34 wire at first. Worked very well, I simply tossed wire over edge of rooftop deck (4th floor) to hang. Also took to park to hang from tree branch approx 10ft from ground.
Mostly use Hybrid base + Chameleon V1L base + MIL Whip + 2 counterpoises/radials mounted on top of a 5ft aluminum pole.
Anyone looking for a simple, easy to use antenna system should consider the V1L + MIL whip + Hybrid base!
I live in a condo on the top floor (4th floor) with a rooftop deck. HOA rules prevent me from putting up a permanent antenna. I have the coax, mount & antenna on a 5ft painter's pole. When I want to use the antenna I simply connect the V1L base & MIL whip to the pole mount and clip into brackets on my deck for the evening/afternoon.
My Chameleon antenna operates as an elevated vertical. Radials are hanging over slanted roof & over the edge to hang. I'd like to have more radials, but can't because I don't have rooftop access or permission.
Weekend of 20-21 Oct 2012 on 10M SSB with 10W.
Spoke from Vancouver, BC, Canada to Chicago OH, St. Louis MO, Kansas City KS & Paris TX.
Signals were 59, loud & clear.
The best feature is that I don't have to do anything at the antenna when switching bands. I simply change bands on my radio & adjust the antenna tuner for the band.
I also love how portable this antenna is because it allows me to take to park in the summer, or hiking/camping, or setup at a friend's house during a contest.
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Earlier 5-star review posted by VE7GNR on 2012-11-01
Garnet Ryder, VE7GNR
Icom 703 Plus (HF+6M 10W QRP transceiver)
Chameleon V1L base + MIL Whip + Hybrid base + 2 counterpoises/radials mounted on top of a 5ft aluminum pole.
Anyone looking for a simple, easy to use antenna system should consider the V1L + MIL whip + Hybrid base!
I live in a condo on the top floor (4th floor) with a rooftop deck. HOA rules prevent me from putting up a permanent antenna. I have the coax, mount & antenna on a 5ft painter's pole. When I want to use the antenna I simply connect the V1L base & MIL whip to the pole mount and clip into brackets on my deck for the evening/afternoon.
My Chameleon antenna operates as an elevated vertical. Radials are hanging over slanted roof & over the edge to hang. I'd like to have more radials, but can't because I don't have rooftop access or permission.
Weekend of 20-21 Oct 2012 on 10M SSB with 10W.
Spoke from Vancouver, BC, Canada to Chicago OH, St. Louis MO, Kansas City KS & Paris TX.
Signals were 59, loud & clear.
The best feature is that I don't have to do anything at the antenna when switching bands. I simply change bands on my radio & adjust the antenna tuner for the band.
I also love how portable this antenna is because it allows me to take to park in the summer, or hiking/camping, or setup at a friend's house during a contest.
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| K2ECO |
Rating:      |
2012-10-09 | |
| NY to CALIFORNIA |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
Had my Chameleon Hybrid+ V2L combo on an NVIS set up in my Prius just in time for the California QSO Party. Wasn't surprised that I was working regional stations only (East Coast 400 mile radius) on 40 meters. The surprise was on 20 meters. Logged 7 California Contacts average 2500 mile distance, 100 watts. I wasn't on contesting mode, just getting on the air in between Family time. LOVE THIS COMBO!
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Earlier 5-star review posted by KC2NBE on 2012-02-07
On a recent road trip, I used the Chameleon Hybrid and V2L combo on a Mobile NVIS Test set-up. I had arranged for several friends to give it a try. I had three stations actually participate and here are my results:
Brooklyn to Hancock NY, 40 meters QRP from a Buddipole in Brooklyn to my Mobile in Hancock: 2/2 on the Buddipole...Chameleon in Hancock to Buddipole in Brooklyn: 20 watts got a 4/5 report.
Brooklyn to Rochester NY, 40 meters Brooklyn QRP, Non NVIS set up (station had a Carolina Windom)
got a 2/2 Report... got a 4/5 to 5/5 report for Chameleon on an NVIS set up to Brooklyn on 20 watts.
But this is the kicker for me...
I drive a Hybrid. Notorious for RFI/EMI...I was able to have a QSO on 80 meters with 0 to 2 noise level for the first time with the engine running!
Am I happy??? Oh yeah! Hope to get more stations to do the test with me next time. I will update then...73! |
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| KF7IWZ |
Rating:      |
2012-09-22 | |
| Great antenna system! |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
I purchased the hybrid as I had a need for a versatile all around antenna that I could put up anytime anywhere. I was so impressed with the hybrid and its flexibility that I now have two.
I have found for me that I can run one vertical and the other horizontal on the same tripod mount and never run out of opportunities. I can't say that it is the best antenna for any particular situation.
But I am comfortable that I can make it work in any situation, on any frequency from 6 to 160m and that is just what I was looking for.
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|
| KA3NXN |
Rating:      |
2012-05-04 | |
| Fantastic performance! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
This is a well made piece of equipment. I am using the Hybrid along wit a Chameleon V1L mobile antenna on my truck. I just got rid of a HI-Q antenna because the motor quit on me. This setup definitely outperforms the HI-Q
Hooked up my home brew manual tuner this evening. On 18.145MHz I landed my first contact and what a doozy it was!!!!! A rare Dxpedition, this is one for the books……………..7O6T Received a 59 from them and I was getting them at 10 over S9. Setup is a Kenwood TS-50 with a home made manual tuner and the Chameleon V1l with the Hybrid base, all only running 100 watts. I'm elated with the ease of setup and performance. With the home made tuner it tunes from 160-2 meters inclusive. I have a Kuranichi laboratory grade SWR/Impedance analyzer and I was able to get a flat match through out the entire range of the analyzer, which is from 1-170MHz. I am impressed. I have already told my friend who also has a broken HI-Q to make the switch. I'm sold and I'll be recommending these to all my friends. Fantastic job, Carl. Great engineering and excellent production and manufacturing.
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