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Reviews For: Chameleon Hybrid Micro

Category: Antennas: HF Portable (not mobile)

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Review Summary For : Chameleon Hybrid Micro
Reviews: 21MSRP: $230
Description:
The CHA HYBRID-MICRO is a lightweight highly portable
broadband antenna system designed to offer maximum
portability and performance. The antenna weights about 1 lb.
The antenna will operate at all frequencies in the 1.8-54
MHz band without any adjustment with most modern external
antenna tuners. No masts or guying are required.
The antenna will work successfully supported by trees,
masts, the tops of vehicles or any convenient object or
structure. The antenna works most effectively when elevated
at a reasonable height.
Product is in production
More Info: http://chameleonantenna.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00215
VP9NR Rating: 2023-12-06
Another great product by Chameleon Antennas Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Great for Portable Operations: I used the Cha Hybrid Micro, Cha SS17 antenna with a Yaesu FT-891 and a Bioenno Power 12V 12Ah battery pack. I was vacationing in Inverness Scotland during the month of Oct 2023 and made contacts into Europe, USA and my home Bermuda while there. Was very pleased with the performance of these Chameleon components.
73’s Paul VP9NR, MM/VP9NR
Update: Dec 6, 2023
Have also used the Hybrid Micro in a Tactical Delta Loop configuration and the results have being outstanding on all voice bands. Radios used were Icom IC-705, IC-7300, Xiegu X6100.
VE1RSG Rating: 2023-11-21
Excellent company, good service and an excellent product. Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
This is the second Hybrid I have purchased within the last 15 years. I have been away from HF for about 10 years and am starting again
Living in a 5th floor apartment and no antennas permitted. Night operation only. I am using Chameleon antenna parts, vertical, about 12' high. SWR below 2 and on most between 1.5-1 and 1-1. 60,40, 20, 17,15,12. These figures are without tuner.
I also use a 63' wire on a pole and back to balcony with similar SWR ratios.
I use a G90 which tunes to 1-1 easily and also a TS-50 same.
Recently purchased an EMComm 111, 63' spare wire, and will be purchasing OCF40dipole POTA model
N3KDN Rating: 2023-11-15
Great Antenna Can be used in Multiple modes and ways Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Obtained a Chameleon Hybrid micro blemished(cant find why blemished) Being a residenceat at a HOA condo in a retirement complex I operate strictly qrp..I use this setup in numerous ways with a military whip or a 17 foot stainless whip or take it to the beach mounted to a 3 foot ground rod driven in wet sand. using salt water as both a ground and reflector works amazing for qrp. 5 watts to europe on ssb routine from clearwater florida.. Swr on 40-10 ranges from 1.8 on 40 with no tuner to 1.2 from 20-10 meters.. i recommend it..
KI6LXY Rating: 2023-11-15
Great for Quick Outdoor Deployment Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have the hybrid mini, and it works great, but was a little big for just doing 20 watts when at the park. I got the Micro, and the size is perfect. Less weight, and less space taken up in the bag. Lately I've been using it with the spike, 17' whip, and ground plane wire. It is a quick deployment when you just want to get on the air. It performs awesome, like all other chameleon products.
LNXAUTHOR Rating: 2023-02-17
excellent element for a poor ham's tactical delta loop Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
i purchased this CHA offering just before the insane price increases of the last year or so... i pair this transformer with 25-ft of wire w/clips, a CHA spike and stainless head, two manpack folding antennas, a Goture tankara 23-ft fishing pole, a Wally World metal beach umbrella sand spike, and 25 feet of RG174 BNC coax... this creates a budget tactical delta loop that is readily usable on 40 and 20 and all other bands w/an ATU-100 tuner hacked for QRP tuning levels

i have used this antenna many times... it takes a few more minutes to set up vs my portable MFLAs - i put out little orange cones around the antenna as a safety measure as i run QRP /p in a local park, but my logbook shows hundreds of contacts over the course of my hour and a half /p sessions (moreso now that i try to run CW exclusively)

if you can find one of these used snag it! it will be a handy item for endfeds, slopers, loops, etc. the micro is also robust and will hold up to rough handling and inclement WX

i will get many years of use out of the CHA micro...highly recommended
DL4QB Rating: 2023-02-17
Compromise? Yes but not for /p Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have the MPAS that includes the Hybrid Micro and I´am very satisfied. It is a compromise antenna, yes, but when I'm /p this is very quickly built and I do not need to worry about the SWR. SWR is good! Since I /p only in CW or sometimes in digital on the road, this Anenna is really absolutely super and recommended! I use it with the KX3 and thus also only with 10W. It helps a lot to have a sufficient counterweight!
But keep in mind, it is not a miracle antenna! For what it was built for, it does a super job!
SP9HZX Rating: 2021-08-18
Very good portable antenna Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have been using Micro Hybrid + Milwhip for a year in different locations.Nothing to complain of.
Very good portable system!Small and easy to transport.
I've had a lot of far and fantastic QSOs.
I am very glad of it.
VE3IPS Rating: 2019-04-03
Best Portable Antenna System for Rapid Deployment Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have a various Chameleon products and from other manufacturers, as I enjoy field and portable ops.

I expect my investments in antennas to last a long time and cannot tolerate poor design or quality. You will not be disappointed with the Chameleon line of antenna products as its very much built on the Mil-Spec concepts. Rugged, built to last and operates as designed with out any fuss.

The base unit is the balun and its the key to the antenna design. It is efficient and allows the built in radio tuner to match quickly and get a signal out without delay.

I can go for a hike and toss the 60 foot radiating element into a tree and hit the tune button on my manpack radio and check into a net or make contacts within minutes.

Its plug and play.

I was on a road trip and I wanted to test propagation with my buddy back home. I found a nice rest stop and threw the antenna into a tree , connected the Micro to my radio and contacted him on 40m in a few minutes. I asked him to jump on 20m and lo and behold I worked a guy in Spain (my friend was not able to with his noisy vertical) and then QSYed up 10 to work my friend.

15 minutes later I was back on the road and I did the same thing several times as I drove down the turnpike.

The build quality is excellent.

We had 4 inches of snow on the weekend and smelling a chance to get out in the snow one last time I went on a hike. I tossed a puck and paracord into a tree, connected the radiator with a carabiner and hauled it up. I then walked back to the radio with the antenna at a roughly 45 degree angle and started tuning around during the CQ WPX contest. I hit tune on my trusty Icom 703 and either 20m or 40m I had no problem making contacts up and down the USA and the Caribbean stations with good reports running 10 watts. I had no worrys about the weather affecting my antenna due to its excellent build quality. Unlike other antenna kits from competitors that fell apart in weather affected environments (they are now only used in dry sunny conditions) the Chameleon worked like a champion.

I have it all contained in a Cammo pouch and clip it on my backpack or radio pack and walk out the door with confidence that it will work as it should without any headaches or disappointment.
AE7YD Rating: 2017-10-03
very happy Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have the antenna since about a month now.
It has been used with a long wire, with a MFJ 16.5ft whip and with a
sloping wire from the window of my shack at the second floor with a
ca 20ft counterpoise dangling down to the ground
I work exclusively QRP with sometimes 20w and was able to make
solid contacts despite the poor propagation.
Very good craftsmanship.
KV4AN Rating: 2017-07-21
Perfect Portable Antenna System Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have the Hybrid-Micro that I use for my military-style FT-817 manpack, but wanted the heavier Hybrid-Mini for use with a portable vertical, so I didn't have to keep taking the Micro out of the pack. I use the Mini with the Mil Whip, Extension, Spike, and four Radials for a really superior performing easy to setup portable vertical. Outstanding on 30 meters and higher and good on 40 meters. I've not used the included wire yet, which would make it work better on 40 and 80. Chameleon antennas are amazing for their broadband characteristics and are perfect for portable operation. Using 1 Watt, a station in New Zealand heard me from Alabama on WSPR and there were many reports from all over North America.

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Earlier 5-star review posted by KV4AN on 2014-08-16

With just the Hybrid Micro and the included wire you get a 160 to 6 meter portable antenna good for hiking or camping or temporary / emergency use. Add the MIL Whip and MIL extension and you get a versatile antenna system that allows you to use a radio like the FT-817 as a manpack radio with adequate performance with the whip and very good performance with the wire, depending upon how much time and space you have. You need an antenna tuner, but with my FT-817 and Elecraft T1, you get 160 - 6, even with just the whip. I set mine up in a manpack bag and with just the whip on 20 meters I worked Germany on CW with 5 Watts. With the MIL EXT whip extension, the signal strength was better than my G5RV on 15 meters. Signal strength was a few "S" units less on 40 meters than my G5RV, and much less on 80 meters, all as expected. Use the whip when you have to or on higher bands and use the wire when you can and on the lower bands. Still, it is an excellent antenna for portable use. Mine stays in my FT-817 bag ready to go.