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Reviews For: CHAMELEON SKYLOOP

Category: Antennas: HF: Verticals; Wire; Loop

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Review Summary For : CHAMELEON SKYLOOP
Reviews: 7MSRP: 125
Description:
Base HF Antenna 3.0-54 MHz The CHA SKYLOOP is a 250' (14 gauge) full wave loop antenna cut for 80M. A yard of at least 60' X 60' will be required to install and support the antenna With the help of an antenna tuner the CHA SKYLOOP will cover all the bands between 80M and 6M included. To match the loop to the coax cable a high power 4:1 air core balun (1000W CW) has been inserted in a waterproof container at the feeding point of the antenna Even if the antenna can be installed at a minimum of 10' above ground the antenna should be ideally installed at least 30' to 40' off the ground for maximum performance. The antenna will be suspended by four evenly spaced support points The main advantages of a sky loop are the reduced background noise and a better gain over a dipole. A minimum coax length of 25' of RG-8X (or better) is recommended. Specifications: Frequency: 6M - 80M Power: 1000W CW RF Connection: PL-259 VSWR: Tuner required Length: 250' Weight: 3 Lbs. Mounting Configuration: Horizontally The antenna system consists of: 1 X CHA SKYLOOP matching unit 1 X 250’ wire
Product is in production
More Info: http://chameleonantenna.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0075
F1QM Rating: 2020-03-16
Wonderfull is the new version 265 Ft ! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
(UPDATE 2)
A new CHA SkyLoop UNUN for DeltaLoop design!
The New 265-foot CHA square SkyLoop, model 2.020 with a Delta loop design deployment ( Z=120 Ohms) require to use the new CHA UNUN transformer 2.5:1 High power 1 Kilowatt PEP.
With any more adjustments, very good results were immediate on the 80 meters band and on the harmonic bands. The antenna operates well also on 7.1-7.2 Mhz.
The stationary wave measurements are as follows:

SWR and noise with the 2.5:1 UNUN not connected to the ground
Frequency SWR Ground not connected, the Noise level is S6 to S7

3.500 3.9
3.600 1.9
3.650 1.32
3.700 1.03
3.750 1.44
3.800 2.03

SWR and noise with the 2.5:1 UNUN well connected to the 0.6 Ohms ground

Frequency SWR Ground connected, the Noise level is S1 or less

3.500 3.91
3.550 2.8
3.600 1.9
3.650 1.29
3.695 1.01 This is the antenna resonance or perfect matching Frequency 3.695 is 81,19 Meters the wire Velocity factor is 0.993 wire lenght is 80.77 meters.
3.700 1.04
3.750 1.44
3.800 2.02

No major change on all Harmonic frequencies only noise level is less than S1

7.000 5.54
7.050 4.58
7.100 3.7
7.150 2.29
7.200 2.30


(UPDATE 1)
On the 7.150 MHz, with 600 watts PEP and in less than 2 hours, we can contact 16 countries, day 2020:02:08 GMT 20 to 21:47
Netherlands Madeira Island Uruguay United States Saudi Arabia Antigua and Barbuda Canada Serbia South Africa Russia Bonaire Serbia Australia Japan Italy
PF9W CT3KN CX4DI N1GTY HZ1TT V2WW VY2WW YU1XA ZS3Y R3XE PJ4KY YT2KMD VK2BY JE6HJT IZ8WGS
Signals where 57 to 59+20 dB !

After replacing the 250-foot wire with the 265-foot new wire, using the same balun as the 250-foot Skyloop, very good results were immediate on the harmonic bands and the antenna now operates on 7.0-7.2 Mhz, 14.0-14.3 Mhz.
The stationary wave measurements in 80 meters are as follows:

3.500 > 1.88
3.550 > 1.30
3.600 > 1.15
3.650 > 1.56
3.665 > 1.76
3.675 > 1.90
3.690 > 2.13
3.700 > 2.28
3.725 > 2.69
3.742 > 3.04 ACOM S plus ATU cannot tune
The Skyloop deployment is not a square but a non-symmetrical Delta loop. Pictures on the QRZ.com F1QM page https://www.qrz.com/db/F1QM


Quick feed back from Chameleon, now I wait better Wheather to deploy the new size Sky Loop.

I receive the new antenna 265' and new balun yesterday free of charges. But the balun for the skyLoop is the EMCOMM III balun 5:1 up to 500 Watts SSB ( SkyLoop Balun is 4:1 up to 1 kilowatt SSB) and before to start the installation I wait more informations from Carl.

OH6MR said: "After adding 7m (15ft) more wire" but 15' is not 7m it is 4,572 m What is the right extra lenght required? 7 m 23ft or 4.75 15ft ?

Le 14/11/2019 à 19:46, Carl Lavoie a écrit :
Jean,
This SKYLOOP will be replaced by a version 2.0 after Christmas. The NEW version will be 265’ long and the transformer will be totally different.
I’ll be sending you a sample next week.
Cheers,
Carl

We have problems with 80m and 40m. the antenna size 250 feet is tuned on 4.05 MHz with an SWR 1.1
Only upper part of 80m is tunable and 40m is totally out of range. All of another suppliers or OM provide antenna size with more wire:
Center Frequency Total Length in feet
3.5 MHz 287
3.6 279
3.7 272
3.8 264
3.9 258
Antenna wire can be #14 hard-drawn antenna wire. Use #12 wire for large loops on 160 or 80 meters.
I wait the answer and the help from CHAMELEON.
OH6MR Rating: 2020-01-27
too short from factory Time Owned: more than 12 months.
(Update) At the beginning I had problems with 80m and 40m. Only upper part of 80m was tunable and 40m was totally out of range. After adding 7m (23ft) more wire, this really started to shine. Now all the bands have swr under 2, even 40m. Biggest difference when adding more wire is that I get much better reports. Before there was 10 to 15dB difference between rx/tx reports but now I get even reports. Look like when swr is ok then I get much more power to air.
What I really like is that this is a DX antenna and noise floor is 2 to 3 s units lower compared to dipole. Best wire antenna I have ever had (after adding 7m). When I read reviews it look like others have also problems with 40m. Try adding more wire.
W7ACA Rating: 2019-09-09
SIMPLY THE BEST Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I HAVE OWNED MINE FOR 4 YEARS TOOK ME 2HRS TO PUT UP. ALSO MINE WENT DOWN IN A BAD STORM TREES MESSSED IT UP PRETTY GOOD I DECIDED TO SHIP BACK TO THE COMPANY AND SEE IF THEY COULD FIX IT AND THEY PUT NEW WIRE AND ITS UP AND WORKING LIKE NEW AND DIDNT EVEN CHARGE ME FOR SHIPPING SO I HAVE TO GIVE CHAMELEON A 10 AND WOULD RECCOMEND AND WILL BUY FROM THEM WITHOUT HESATATION ! EVERYONE I HAVE TALKED TO HAS BEEN 100% ON THE PHONE VERY QUALITY COMPANY TO DEAL WITH AGAIN 100% ! I GET NOTHING BUT GREAT SIGNAL REPORTS ALWAYS 9 TO 10 OVER THE 20 MARK VERY LOUD SIGNAL AND A VERY VERY QUITE ANTENNA ON RECIEVING AND I ONLY RUN STOCK 100 WATTS . CANT WAIT TO POUR SOME POWER TO IT WITH A AMP BUT I REALLY DONT NEED IT . IF YOU DECIDE TO BUY ONE THEY ARE WELL WORTH THE MONEY SPENT !!! W7ACA 73s
KC1ACL Rating: 2016-04-16
skyloop works!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I had to wait a week to install the skyloop at my qth.it was very worth it.it took me about 2hrs to get it up under windy conditions.i still have one end to go up in my trees,its laying on my roof.i was getting 59 signal reports in Germany,england,etc.this antenna replaces a ocd 80 meter and a g5rv jr.im happy with the results!!buy one if you have room.
PY2FXE Rating: 2015-12-30
Very quiet and great customer support Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I ordered the Skyloop on November, 6 and it arrived in Brazil on November, 19. Very fast, considering the distance and customs clearance. I always wanted a good multiband antenna and this loop was the answer. Assembly took one and a half hours, the instructions manual is well detailed and easy to follow, even for someone whose native language is not English. Due to the shape of the terrain, house and trees positions, the antenna was not mounted as a square but in the form of an irregular diamond shape. The feeding point is 20 feet high. Over the house the antenna is only 4 feet above the roof. I will rise it in the future.

Here the results:
- low noise antenna, the noise is at least 5 S-units below of my previous two dual band dipoles
- very good TX reports on 80 and 40m. Until now I haven't tested it with QSOs on the higher bands
- as the manual indicates, an antenna tuner is required. In my particular case, the worst band is 40m with a SWR of 4.5:1. But hey, the tuner can handle this, I can hear and be heard by the other stations. That's good for me.
- excellent customer support. Thanks Carl for all the pre sale informations and extra mounting hints.
- no RFI at all during TX

This antenna is a keeper.
73 PY2FXE - Edgar
VE7MKD Rating: 2015-11-08
SKYLOOP Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I just set up the skyloop to test it out before I find a permanent home for it. I have to tell you I was impressed with how well it worked for me. Now to find a permanent setup. Living in an HOA it's not easy to find a place for this antenna..but maybe moving so have to see where I move to, to find a place for the antenna...I really love Chameleon products. A lot of time goes into making the products the best they can be.

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Earlier 5-star review posted by VE7MKD on 2015-10-01

I found this antenna easy to put up and easy to use. One thing is you need space for this antenna. Also you need to get it up pretty high...the higher the less noise. Like all Chameleon antenna this one is built very well.
KK4YMB Rating: 2015-10-25
Best Commercial 80m SkyLoop Available Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Despite a lot of the "internet forum" types recommending against a skyloop I have to say the performance on reception is simply mind blowing. Switching from my vertical to this is simply amazing. s9 noise becomes s2-s1 while signals are generally slightly stronger as well. With 250ft of wire in the air it is amazing. My antenna is merely 18ft off the ground and I am able to work clearly barefoot 80-6.

This antenna is an absolute dream on 80/60/40/20/10. I have yet to really get a chance to work 6m during an opening so I can't really comment on the performance.

All in all for the price being asked and a made in USA product with outstanding post purchase support you can not go wrong with this antenna. A 60x60x60x60 space will be needed.