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Reviews For: Chameleon MIL Whip

Category: Antennas: HF Portable (not mobile)

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Review Summary For : Chameleon MIL Whip
Reviews: 20MSRP: 99
Description:
The CHA MIL whip is a broadband monopole antenna designed for portable or manpack radios requiring compact but rugged antenna systems.

If used in a stand-alone setup the antenna will cover 28-54 MHz with an external antenna tuner. To enhance RF propagation and antenna performance a ground-plane is required.

The CHA MIL whip can also be used as accessory and replace the upper section of the CHA V1L & CHA V2L to increase the performance between 1.8-7.5 MHz. Combined only with the CHA HYBRID the CHA MIL will whip cover 1.8-54 MHz (limited performance from 1.8-3.5 MHz).

Its design has been borrowed from similar antennas utilized by many armies all over the world. The CHA MIL is very hardy, sturdy and portable (being collapsible). Un-mounted the entire antenna length is less than 29”. The 5 aluminum sections are hold together by a piece of 1/8th inch US GI MIL SPEC shock cord that can be replaced by the operator if necessary. But its 85% elongation and break point of 95 pounds properties make the 1/8th inch US GI MIL SPEC shock cord the best on the market.


Specifications:
Frequency: 6M - 160M with CHA HYBRID, 6M - 10M stand-alone.
Power: 1500W SSB
RF Connection: 3/8-24 Thread
VSWR: Subject to configuration
Height: 10’8”
Weight: 1 Lb.
Mounting Configuration: 3/8-24 Thread
Product is in production
More Info: http://chameleonantenna.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00205
K7KSG Rating: 2020-01-26
Fastest Field Deployment Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Took several antennas out to a dry lake bed (south of Las Vegas) for Winter Field Day 2020. My CHA-MIL Whip was up and ready to connect in a few moments. The others ... not so much.

The antenna works. From southern Nevada I've reached Hawaii and Vermont. It goes up and takes down fast. Light weight and easy to transport. Great field solution and I use it at home to work around the HOA.
KI4SLJ Rating: 2019-05-03
Great service Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought a mil whip when it was first introduced several years ago, after many backpacking trips with this antenna setup the shock cord frayed and broke. I contacted customer service about how to replace shock cord. the customer support quickly responded by asking my address so they could send me a replacement whip. I was really surprised by this considering how long I've had it. the response I got from them was great, communication was very fast and best yet I'm getting the replacement just two days after sending the email. this is what companies should try to achieve in customer service.
AC9DE Rating: 2018-10-04
An update Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
An Addendum... My Cha Mil Whip for the evening and 80 meters is: Cha Mini Hybrid, TWO Mil extensions, Cap Hat and mil whip. I use this setup for RMS Express and Pactor. During the day, to hit 40 & 20 meters, I subtract one Mil Extension. Last night was the first night I put out three 60 foot radials. Got much more crackle on 80 meters that was due to thunder bumpers starting to come through, maybe. Performance is great on 80 with two extensions.

Rig is FT-857D, LDG YT-100 & SCS PTC IIIusb
WB4RFQ Rating: 2017-03-17
Great with a remote tuner Time Owned: more than 12 months.
At my QTH in downtown San Francisco, I mounted the MIL Whip plus MIL whip extension on top of the Hybrid base, with an LDG remote tuner right at the base. As I had very limited access to the roof of my apartment building, I needed something that was zero maintenance, zero tweaking required. This system delivered. Performance was as expected -- able to make worldwide QSOs, in spite of the high noise level around my QTH. It survived high winds and rain.

True to what Chameleon says, though, this setup will suffer if left outdoors for a long time. I applied conductive grease to all joints, but after a year or so, when I took the antenna down, I was unable to separate the joints of the MIL whip. Chameleon never claimed it was weatherproof, so I'm not upset. Will buy another one for sure.
AC2KK Rating: 2016-11-13
This is an excellent antenna. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought this antenna about 2 years ago to go with the hybrid matching unit base. I have used this antenna extensively since that time with no issues at all except that the very high monsoon winds here in Arizona bent the jaw mount, which I replaced. The manufacturer told me at the time that it is not weatherproof and I would have trouble if I tried a permanent installation in the Arizona weather. I have used the recommended protective goop to keep the antenna sections lubricated. I have had excellent signal reports almost always, and with very low noise on Rx.
I am very happy with the purchase.
VA3MPG Rating: 2016-04-12
Excellent for Portable use Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have used this antenna religiously since January 2016 while on a UN Mission in Haiti. Both the Cha Mil, and Cha Mil Ext along with the Hibrid Mini have served me well thus far logging over 2,000 QSO both HF and Digital modes. Have made contacts in Europe South America, North American and Indonesia. Used a single counterpoise wire, and attached the jaw clamp to two pieces of re-bar that are embedded into the concrete wall of the compound where I live. Pic's can be seen at both QRZ pages.
HH2/VA3MPG, Jim
N4KGL Rating: 2015-11-11
Easy to deploy antenna Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I operate outdoors portable and sometimes moveable (Rapid Deployment Amateur Radio aka RaDAR). I have used The CHA MIL whip and CHA MIL whip extension in conjunction with the CHA Hybrid Micro and CHA jaw mount. I also have the CHA four wire counterpoise kit. There are situations where you don't have much room or supports. This is where the whip comes in handy. In fact, I enjoy taking advantage of the saltwater effect for verticals at beach and bays here. I use the CHA Hybrid Micro/Whip combination with the internal tuner on my Elecraft KX3 and the LDG external tuner for my Icom 7100. I just pick a frequency and tune. The whips are the shock cord type and fold up nicely. They are very rugged. I have had success with the whip on many outings. I would take a look at this antenna component for RaDAR, EMCOMM and SOTA.
VE3FAL Rating: 2015-11-08
Nice antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I own the MIL Whip along with a number of the CHA HyBrid Coils. I use the MIL Whip also in conjunction with a CHA CAP HAT, it allows me to work the lower bands with my PRC-104 with ease of tuning. I use the CHA HyBrid Micro with the V1 bottom, CHA CAP HAT and the CHA MIL WHIP on that.
I have had luck with all my Chameleon products as well as my CHA F-Loop.
W7MCK Rating: 2015-09-11
Awesome! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I use this with the V1 base and the Hybrid Mini.
Everytime I've used this setup, I've always made a contact no matter what.
I've talked from Reno NV to Tokyo Japan with this and 100 watts many times and they cannot believe that this is all I use.
I originally bought this after I had asked Carl the owner for a suggested setup for my HOA situation.
Now that I don't live in an HOA area and I can put up whatever I want, I still use this. LOL.
I have it on a 16 foot painters pole and use an umbrella stand as my base.
I've also used it on field days and in the park running at only 10 watts and have made contacts up to 1000 miles away.
Great product, hands down.
NY2MC Rating: 2015-01-03
Use on my Backpack Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I use the Chameleon Mil Whip on the Hybrid Mini Base and it works great. I have used it on the pack at the park, pedestrian mobile, even strapped it to a stick to stick it in the snow. On top of Hadley mt. the wind was blowing hard and I had to strap the pack to the fire tower guy line. The antenna system withstood the wind with no problems. Great product. Video of my pack on youtube. NY2MC