Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: Chameleon JawsMount

Category: Antenna parts, accessories, incl. baluns, hardware, etc.

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
Review Summary For : Chameleon JawsMount
Reviews: 4MSRP: 39
Description:
The Chameleon Dipole Jaw Mount has been assembled to
offer portable antenna versatility for Chameleon Antenna
owners. The mount orientation can easily be changed with
a simple 3/16 Allen Key. The mount can also be used for
NVIS antenna configuration.
Product is in production
More Info: http://chameleonantenna.com/ACCESSORIES/ACCESSORIES.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
1444.8
K1PJR Rating: 2022-10-04
Nice Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Nice jaw mount but now it’s $66. You can get it on Amazon for $27.
N0NZ Rating: 2021-07-31
Built very well, Works very well Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
For years I have used the standard mast mounts using u-bolts with various success or lack thereof. For myself, I have found these traditional mounts to be somewhat clumsy to use, especially when using something like the mount to use HamSticks (and similar antennas) for portable dipole and NVIS use. Also you need to pack an adjustable crescent wrench or deep-well socket wrench as an antenna accessory for field use. Not very optimum for SOTA use where every bit of weight is measured, unless you have a pack mule for a pet!

Enter the CHA-Jaw Mount. Easy and quick to set up and tear down, comparatively light weight, compact, very well built, and best off you can rotate it 0 - 90 degrees so whether clamped onto masting oriented either in vertically or horizontally you can easily set up your antenna in the orientation you desire. This is done by loosening and setting an Allen Head cap screw allowing you to rotate the antenna mounting platform in relation to the jaws. This however is its greatest flaw as well. The screw adjuster to operate the jaws is easy to grasp and permanently mounted.

However the Allen Head Cap screws require an Allen wrench which when operating in the field is easy to lose or misplace in your go-pack/box or worse yet on the ground and hidden in the grass. It would be better if Chameleon Antennas came up with a way to make it totally tool-less, so tearing down in the field on a cold windy rainy day with gloves on would be just that much simpler. i.e. Everything you needed was integral to the unit.

The best part I like is that it can use a HamStick or whip antenna as a vertical or a pair of them as a dipole. Six to nine feet off the deck your antenna becomes an NVIS antenna, we deployed such an NVIS setup communicating with Search and Rescue Aircraft working flood response. The jaw mount makes deployment of such an antenna deployment super quick and easy. For POTA outings it mounts easily to the end of a picnic table, or park bench to deploy your antenna. Talk about flexibility.

It's made of high quality components and ruggedly built. Yes, it's not cheap, but worth every penny. It's easy to use if I can find the wrench! If you do lose the wrench on tear-down it still packs easily without it, till you get home to your tool box, and replace the Allen wrench in your kit. Ask me how I know! :-)

What I like best about Chameleon products is they all integrate for flexibility. You can mix-and-match components to make many different antennas, and the Jaw Mount adds immense usability to the set up. It has its own manual which may give you use case ideas you may not have thought of. Additionally read Chameleon's Hybrid documentation for additional deployment suggestions.

Now if I can only figure out a tool-less adaptation. Maybe change the cap screw with a thumb screw. Other than the flaw I described it's great! Thinking of buying another.
M0KED Rating: 2019-07-31
Very effective antenna mount Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I've spent a couple of years trying to find an antenna mount as versatile as the "Jaw Mount" but cheaper, bottom line is, I couldn't! A few months ago I bought one from a U.K supplier for £50, I've modified mine by adding a binding post to enable easy attachment of wire counterpoises. A brilliant bit of kit, I use mine with either Hamstick mobile antennas or the MFJ 1979 17ft whip when out portable or operating from my mobile home. Wish I'd bought it years ago!
VE3IPS Rating: 2017-04-17
A Versatile Antenna Mount Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This antenna mount has its own operation manual and speaks volumes to the versatility of its use. You will buy 2 of these and be thankful for its multi-purpose capabilities in deploying Chameleon antennas or other brand antennas. I have used this on tripods, railings, roof mount, for verticals, dipoles and even slopers and long wires.